Chapter 6: Treatment

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Translator: Soafp

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[Sendou High has both high academics and a strong basketball team. That's why I want to go to Sendou]

I remembered those words from Fukase when we had just entered our third year of middle school.

Before I knew it, I found myself walking toward the gymnasium. The practice match had already started, and many spectators were cheering loudly.

The gym was divided into two courts. On the front court, the regular players were probably playing. Their movements were quick, and even though it was just a practice match, the tension of not wanting to lose was palpable.

Kaisei High's girls' basketball team seemed to have a decent number of members, but Sendou's girls' team had even more, and the reserve players cheering from the sidelines stood out. Their depth was clearly impressive.

On the back court, only first-year students appeared to be playing a practice match. I scanned the players and the cheering members but couldn't see Fukase anywhere.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

A voice called from behind me. I turned to see Endo looking annoyed.

“Eh, Endo? Why are you at school?”

“I figured you'd be studying hard, so I made you a bento and brought it over.”

Endo replied, holding a lunch bag in both hands.

“Why are you watching the basketball match then?”

“Well… it was the topic of conversation… and a way to clear my head.”

That's right, just a distraction. It wasn't that I was hoping Fukase might be here or anything…

“She's not here.”

“Huh?”

I was surprised by how Endo seemed to read my mind.

“She apparently didn't join the basketball club.”

“W-Why do you know that?”

“I asked some first-year students here at Sendou while you were casually watching the match.”

Endo continued speaking because I looked like I wanted to know more. She's really sharp and proactive.

“I see. So she didn't join the basketball club…”

“Curious, huh?”

“It's just that…”

Maybe the reason Fukase didn't join the basketball club was because she was worried about me…

“No… it's nothing.”

Right now, Fukase and I are just strangers. No matter what reasons or choices she makes, it doesn't concern me.

“By the way, you can cook, huh? Kind of surprising.”

“That's rude. I've mastered the basics of ‘bride training'.”

“Bride training? What era are you from?”

I wondered if some families really put their daughters in that kind of environment.

“Anyway, it's fine. I'll eat alone… Looks like someone else is really into watching the basketball match.”

“Hey, don't be so cold.”

Endo's attitude was unusually curt.

“Oh! Asano-kun, you came to watch the game.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Shiraki, who had told me about the basketball practice match earlier, came over cheerfully.

“Asano-kun, wanna have lunch together later? The baseball team's all eating together.”

“Hey! The popular Asano-kun, let's eat together!”

Following Shiraki, other baseball team members also called out to me. Being invited to eat by classmates… If the me from middle school knew, he'd probably faint.

While I was taken aback by their invitation, Endo started walking away from me. Though she looked annoyed earlier, I couldn't read her expression now as she kept her head down.

“Sorry, I already have plans. Maybe next time.”

I rejected Shiraki and the others' persistent invites and then hurried after Endo.

“Wait, Endo. You're going to the empty classroom, right? I'll come too.”

“…Is that okay? Not with those guys?”

“No, it would be out of place for me to be with that lively bunch. It's more comfortable to be with you.”

Having someone or a place where I can relax and be myself is ideal for me.

“Alright… I guess I have no choice but to hang out with you then.”

“Yeah, do that.”

Endo and I headed toward the empty classroom, chatting about trivial things as usual.

---

High school classes had more subjects than middle school and were more difficult.

Midterms, finals… I prepared carefully and approached each test with tension.

At this school, the top 30 students' names were posted in the hallway. Many students worked hard to get their names on that list.

“Asano-kun, that's amazing! Fourth place in the advanced course!”

Shiraki, who belonged to the sports course, was loudly celebrating as he looked at the ranking next to me. I wished he'd keep a low profile since many people were looking at the list.

“What place are you, Shiraki?”

“Better not ask that.”

He proudly said it'd be quicker to count from the bottom, and somehow that was endearing.

“Asano, you're great, but Endo's amazing.”

“Yeah.”

Endo had topped the special advancement class rankings. That meant she was the best student in the entire grade.

“Asano, fourth place is amazing.”

“No, you're the amazing one.”

Endo, who came over beside me, boasted that it was only natural.

“But still… me getting fourth place…”

“Surprised? You worked hard every day, so it's only natural.”

Compared to middle school, I've been able to focus on many things better… Maybe I've grown a lot since becoming a high school student.

“Asano, let's go to the bathroom.”

“No way. I've never heard of guys and girls going to the bathroom together.”

“Then we'll just make it a precedent, won't we?”

“Stop saying weird stuff and just go already.”

As we walked down the hallway toward the bathroom, Endo attracted the attention of many male students.

She was such a strikingly beautiful and neat-looking high school girl, yet her behavior was still as rough as ever.

“Hey, Asano… is it true that you're not dating Endo?”

I had explained many times that we weren't dating, but even Shiraki asked me that, so I was a bit exasperated.

“I think it's pretty well known that we're not dating, isn't it?”

“Ah, yeah… Actually, since middle school, I've… kind of liked her.”

“What do you mean?”

“Uh, Endo…”

I knew Endo was popular.

But hearing Shiraki say that made me think maybe someday Endo might get close to someone else instead of me, and that thought unsettled me a little.

---

“Hey Endo, do you have someone you like?”

One Sunday, near the end of the first semester, now used to high school life, I was playing video games with Endo at my house.

“What, you mean romantically?”

“Yeah. Lately, a lot of people have been asking me to introduce them to you, and it's kind of bothering me.”

Once it became common knowledge that Endo and I weren't dating, many guys started trying to get closer to her through me.

“If they're interested, come tell me themselves. I'm not interested in cowards.”

Endo was ruthless, cutting down the hopes of boys with shy feelings in a single stroke.

“What about you, Asano? Got someone you like?”

“I don't really want to think about that stuff for a while.”

I had liked Fukase. I thought our feelings were mutual.

But I never wanted to feel that cruel reality again, that despair that hit me after.

“You've become a popular guy now, it's a waste not to take advantage.”

“That's more like you. Maybe among the guys hitting on me, there's someone you like.”

“What!? Are you trying to set me up with someone or something?!”

Endo suddenly got up, her loud voice echoing through the room.

“No, not really…”

“Well then, don't say things like that!”

No need to get that angry… That wasn't like Endo at all—usually calm and easygoing.

“I just feel… that you, who are smart and popular at school, being with someone like me feels like a waste…”

I enjoyed spending time with Endo, but maybe it wasn't good for her.

“I'm here because I have more fun with you than with anyone else! What's wrong with that!?”

“Th-That's not wrong.”

By process of elimination, it's me… That's not so bad, I guess.

“Well, I also like being with you… Hey! Let go!”

Suddenly, Endo grabbed my hand tightly.

My breathing became a little uneven. I got goosebumps all over.

“Let go!”

“No.”

I tried to shake her hand off, but she didn't let go.

Her grip was very strong. Actually, it hurt.

What kind of grip strength does a girl have, seriously?

After struggling to get her hand off for more than a minute, I started to feel like I was calming down.

“You're calming down, right?”

“Y-Yeah. How come?”

“This is called exposure therapy.”

A treatment method where you deliberately face your fears to gradually relieve anxiety… apparently.

“We'll do this regularly from now on.”

Even though I don't really need it—my fear of women doesn't cause any real problems in daily life.

“You're really pushy.”

“Well then, let's continue the game holding hands!”

Endo's mood suddenly became energetic for some reason.

“How am I supposed to play with one hand?”

“There's something called a challenge run in games. You set limitations on yourself—”

While Endo was explaining something, my heart was pounding a little.

Or was it racing? I couldn't tell.

The hand Endo was holding was really warm.