CH 136

“Towa-kun! Did you see me~? I’ve decided to go all out this time, too.”

Rin seems to have regained her energy after taking a rest during lunch break.

She was as active as ever in the afternoon competitions, and when she found me, she came running up to me with a smile and a wave of her hand after she had finished her work.

“I watched you. You sure did a great job.”

“Fufufufu~! Thanks to Towa-kun, I was able to recharge my batteries. I am now in a position to face anything.”

“That’s good to know. Just don’t overdo it, okay? If you get carried away and get hurt or something, it won’t be so funny.”

“There’s no problem with that. I’ll show Towa-kun a cool spike next time, too.”

Rin said and puffed out her chest with a proud expression on her face.

Due to the fact that she was thinly dressed for exercise, her assertive parts were reflected in my field of vision.

I managed to hold back my gaze from being guided and patted her head in a deceptive manner.

Rin narrowed her eyes happily and showed me a smile, “Ehehe”.

It was the same during the match, but I can’t help but look at her in a variety of ways…

The person in question doesn’t seem to mind, but it worries me.

Well, she’s not going to change her behavior when I tell her, she’s so proud of everything. Haa… damn. Don’t even know how people feel.

I complain like that in my mind.

Then, I wondered if she sensed something. Rin looked at me.

“Towa-kun, is something wrong? You look like you’re trying to escape reality, or rather, you look worried about something.”

“… Did I look like that? Well, it’s not the first time Rin has been as perceptive as an esper.”

“It is said that the eyes speak louder than the mouth. The way you look at me, the way you breathe, and the slightest hint of strength in your cheeks tells me what you’re thinking. By the way, your eyes right now are saying, ‘I’m troubled about a lot of things’.”

“Ehhh…”

Breathe…

She can guess everything with just such a subtle change… It’s really amazing.

Well, but fortunately it seems you don’t even know what I’m trying not to look at.

… Or maybe you’re aware of it, but you’re thinking something like ‘it’s OK if you’re glued to me’?

Hahaha… as expected, isn’t that the case?

I look at Rin’s face with a sideways glance.

Immediately, she noticed the gaze and smiled happily at me.

“Well, it certainly doesn’t feel good to keep getting stared at by people other than Towa-kun, but…”

“If that’s the case, isn’t it okay to hold back?”

“Even if I don’t like it, it’s a plus for me if it makes Towa-kun look at me more closely.”

“Ah…, I see?”

“Fufu~”

Rin smiled thinly and looked up at the sky.

Then she stretched her arms out, before looking at me again.

“Well, Towa-kun. It’s finally time, isn’t it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t be silly. It’s almost time for you to compete. Don’t be late, okay? I’m sure Kato-san will have a pre-game meeting.”

“Ah… about that. Well, I’ll be there as soon as possible”

Normally, a type of person like me should stay quiet at a baseball game festival for the rest of my life. But at this school, it’s hard to do that.

The reason is that there is a rule that you have to participate in one competition, which is hellish for those who are not good at athletics.

I tried not to think about my turn as much as possible, but Rin has my schedule down perfectly.

She seems to know everything about the event I’m going to be in, the time, and everything else without me having to tell her…

I sighed and slumped my shoulders.

“I think the D class is aiming for the championship in the baseball game in which Towa-kun will play. My guess is that Towa will bat ninth in the order.”

“Well, I guess you’re right. There’s not much you can do, and the batting order should have been as unobtrusive as possible.”

“So you hit a home run there.”

“No, no, no. The world of sports is not so easy that a beginner can do it overnight. I don’t know how to hit a ball like that with a thin bat. Like anything else, it’s difficult for amateurs.”

Well, if you’re Rin, I’m sure you’ll be able to adapt quickly to a sport that’s new to you.

To be honest, there’s not much I can do.

And I’m not going to be on the defensive. … I mean, if I were on the defensive, I’d be full of errors and booed off by my classmates.

Based on that, I honestly don’t want Rin to see much of it…, as it will only expose a pathetic figure in all probability…

“Anyway, it’s no fun to come and watch.”

“But you were practicing something, weren’t you? Even if you don’t do well, I want to see you trying your best. Who doesn’t like to see hard work?”

“I know. But you don’t want to get tangled up in the crowd by cheering for me, do you? There are a lot of people who get carried away at festivals.”

“I know, but I won’t compromise on this. I’m going to come and see it, no matter what.”

I turn my gaze away from her and she moves to enter my line of sight.

I glanced at her and she was staring at me with her cheeks puffed out and looking up at me.

It’s … really dazzling …, so straight up, isn’t it?

The look in her eyes showed a strong determination that she wasn’t going to change her mind, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Even so. Rin has other events to compete in, don’t you? Besides, you’re involved in other things, too, and it’s going to be hectic.”

“Yeah. I know that, but … But I still want to see what I want to see! Besides…”

Rin took out the cheering items she had made at my home and showed them to me.

Ahh…, I remember that one.

I was so embarrassed; it’s been relegated to the corner of my memory.

To be honest, I don’t want you to use it, but…

I was watching Rin making it with excitement, so it’s hard to say ‘no’.

But as expected…

“…Please don’t just … big flags. I don’t want to be the center of attention…”

“Towa-kun says so, but … I think it’s too late for that, don’t you? Towa-kun is very prominent right now.”

“Oh, that’s…”

It’s true that the basketball thing was prominent, and you’re right.

‘Tokiwagi and Wakamiya are dating?’ There were also people talking about something like that…

And because of that, they were staring at me a lot…

Hah. That makes me all the more anxious for the competition after this.

I slump my shoulders and sigh.

“Fufu. Thank you for understanding.”

“Why do you look so happy? I’m in a situation where I could be stabbed from all directions.”

“I don’t look happy. I never think, ‘Thanks to Shouwa-kun in that moment, I have a great reason to cheer with dignity!’ How could I think that?”

“… Could you make a little more of an effort to hide your intentions? You’re revealing your true feelings.”

“Oh my, I’m so careless.”

She sticks her tongue out a bit cutely and looks innocent.

Unnecessarily cute… it’s a foul.

“Towa-kun, I am asking you to do me a favor! I’ve prepared so spiritedly for this day, so let me cheer you on with all my might~!!”

Rin looked at me with her eyes that reminded me of a dog in certain commercials.

“I have to witness Towa-kun’s great success with my own eyes.”

“It’s not as cool as Rin imagines. I’m not going to have much of a role even if I support them. So…”

“I understand. If Towa-kun says that much, I give up.”

“……Eh?”

I sounded dumb because of her attitude, which she easily pulled off.

I sounded weird because it was so … rare.

I tilted my head at the sudden flip.

Rin was just smiling and in a good mood.

“I’ve been selfish, but … I really don’t want to get in Towa-kun’s way, so I’m going to quietly step aside here.”

“Eh…really?”

“It’s not the end of the world if I’m not cheering hard and getting in the way.”

“Well, I’m feeling a little uncomfortable about Rin withdrawing…”

I raised my eyebrows at Rin, who was strangely attentive.

Normally, she would have said, “I’ll do what I want to do! I don’t care who’s around! I don’t care about the people around us!”

When I gave her a skeptical look, Rin smiled at me.

“I can tell you that too. I’m not rushing anything, and if I had to say it, I just thought that I should try to be a modest woman who can stand up to men.”

“Is that so …?”

“I’m not sure. Let me at least send Towa-kun off first.”

Rin smiles at me and gives me a push on my back.

She nodded, as though to say that it’s okay to go.

But looking at her smiling face, I couldn’t say anything more.

I only feel uncomfortable that she withdrew so easily, but I can’t help but feel …

Well, I guess that means she understands, right?

“Well, I’m off…?”

“Please do your best! I’m looking forward to Towa-kun’s victory piece!”

“Okay. Well, Rin, do your best too. Do it in moderation.”

“Fufu. Please leave it to me.”

She makes a peace sign with her hands.

I’m worried about her attitude…

Well, it’s no use thinking about it.

I smiled back at her cheerful, encouraging expression.