Being the Best Friend in a Romantic Comedy Isn't Easy! - Chapter 8: Hinata Kawasaki Smiles Cheerfully

Episode 7: Hinata Kawasaki Smiles Cheerfully

“Wow, Hinata, you were amazing!”

“Yeah… Seriously, it was something.”

After watching the red-white scrimmage in the second gym, Shino-chan and I finished preparing to leave and moved to the entrance hall.

Shino-chan still seemed excited, clutching her bag with her left hand in front of her chest. She looked adorable.

But it was no wonder Shino-chan was still excited.

Hinata’s red-white scrimmage— It was beyond what I had imagined.

I knew Hinata was good at basketball, of course. I had watched her play many times since junior high.

I knew that, yet I couldn’t help but be moved by Hinata’s game that I had just seen.

“Hinata, you had a remarkable performance in last year’s summer tournament… You were even selected for the selection team, right?”

“Huh? Selection team… Our middle school’s basketball team wasn’t particularly strong, though, right? Neither the boys nor the girls.”

“Yes. But as the captain, Hinata worked really hard. We didn’t win the championship, but…”

Shino-chan’s words made me reflect on the scrimmage again.

I noticed faces of classmates among Hinata’s teammates and opponents, so the teams were probably a mix of first and second years.

Even among them, Hinata was the smallest, and I worried she might get pushed around by the opposing team.

But…

Despite being the smallest, Hinata shouted the loudest.

Regardless of seniors or teammates, she encouraged her team and cheered louder than anyone when they scored.

Moving her small body more vigorously than anyone else.

“‘Come on, we can still do this until the whistle blows!'” “‘It’s okay! Let’s switch it up!'” “‘Ah, so close! But nice shot! You’ll make the next one!'”

Basketball involves constantly running around a small court during the game.

In terms of energy consumption, it’s probably top-tier among sports.

Yet Hinata kept shouting loudly while sweating.

Winning or losing didn’t matter.

She simply enjoyed basketball with all her might, and I couldn’t help but be moved by that.

“Come to think of it, she’s been like that since junior high.”

“Hehe, you can report this to your brother, right?”

“In the end, Hinata’s team achieved a stunning victory.”

Even among second years, her presence was formidable.

Though they were losing until the middle, they made a strong comeback in the second half.

Perhaps it was due to Hinata’s encouragement?

Even as an amateur, I felt that way about the game.

This must have been a big appeal to the coach.

“Well… yeah. Kind of annoying, though.”

“Make sure to praise her properly, okay? She worked so hard.”

“If I praise her, she’ll just say, ‘Ugh, it’s impossible to take praise from you, Senpai. Can you stop?'”

“Wow, your impersonation is surprisingly good…”

She melts when praised by Shino, but she gets mad when I praise her.

What a difficult girl.

“It’s okay. I’m sure she’ll be happy.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Shino-chan nodded with a gentle smile toward me.

With such a cute smile directed at me… I couldn’t possibly deny it.

Understood, I nodded back softly while exhaling.

She did work hard, after all.

…As we were talking,

“Shino!”

In the corridor connecting the entrance hall to the second gym, we heard a loud voice calling for Shino-chan.

As we turned our faces toward the voice, Shino-chan’s expression brightened instantly.

“Hinata! Good job! Is practice over already?”

“Yeah! Sorry for making you wait! Oh, Aoba-senpai, you’re still here?”

Unlike Shino-chan, she casually greeted me. Irritated, I smiled.

“What do you mean, ‘made you wait’! Whose fault does she think it is that we’re still here?! You, idiot!”

“Ow ow ow! That hurts! Hey, stop it!”

I pressed both fists against Hinata’s forehead and rubbed.

Hinata grimaced in pain and pleaded, “Okay! Okay! I’m sorry~!” as she pounded on my arm.

Geez, what a cocky girl.

After I let go, Hinata immediately embraced Shino-chan.

“Shino~! Senpai’s bullying me~!”

“There, there. It must have been tough~”

Shino-chan gently stroked Hinata’s head.

Can I stroke it too? Eh, will I get caught? Oh, right.

“More importantly, Hinata, you were amazing today. I got so excited, it felt like watching a real game.”

“Huh?!”

When the topic of the game came up, Hinata separated from Shino-chan with momentum.

Then she grinned happily and started wiggling her body.

“I-I was?! Hehehe!”

“You were really amazing. You’ve gotten even better at basketball, Hinata.”

“Ah, hehe! Hehehe!”

Episode 7: Hinata Kawasaki Smiles Cheerfully

Hinata, overflowing with joy from her best friend’s praise…

Hmm. Given the flow, maybe I can say something too?

I turned to Hinata, completely relaxed…

“Honestly, you worked harder than anyone. It was amazing.”

I conveyed my honest feelings.

Then…

“Huh?”

Just moments ago, Hinata was all smiles, but now her expression stiffened.

After about three seconds, she abruptly turned her back on me.

“…Hmph! I’m not happy just because you praised me, Senpai!”

…

Hey, Shino-chan.

I shot a protest-filled glance at Shino-chan.

However, she looked at Hinata with a fond smile.

I went out of my way to praise her, and yet she… Should I administer the forehead flick punishment again?

As I contemplated how to handle this cheeky junior, Hinata theatrically cleared her throat and slowly turned back towards me.

“Senpai, if you could just tell Aoba-senpai, that would be fine! Got it!?”

She leaned in closer to me.

Was it my imagination, or did her face look a bit redder than before…?

I lightly flicked her forehead.

“Ouch!”

“Yeah yeah, I get it. I’m just standing in for Shino. That’s all.”

“T-That’s right! If you understand, then it’s fine!”

Hinata held her forehead with both hands and pouted.

“Um… Subaru-san.”

Shino-chan intervened, sensing the tension.

But I already knew what Shino-chan wanted to say.

It was about Hinata’s current attitude.

“It’s okay, Shino-chan. I understand.”

“Hehe, really? That’s a relief then.”

Unfortunately, I’m not as dense as some rom-com protagonists.

I naturally understood why Hinata was acting so tsundere.

She’s embarrassed.

She really is… quite easy to read.

“W-What are you two whispering about so intensely? Include me too~!”

“Huh? We were just talking about looking forward to the end-of-month tests. Are you interested too?”

“Hehe, yeah, Hinata? Want to talk about the tests together?”

“Huh?! W-Well… maybe I don’t want to participate in a discussion about tests, you know…”

Ahaha… at Hinata’s deliberately forced laugh, Shino-chan smiled kindly.

“Club activities are important, but let’s work hard in our studies too, okay? Hinata?”

“Guh!”

Shino-chan’s pressure tactic! It’s super effective on Hinata!

Judging by this situation, it’s clear that Hinata struggles with studying.

For both of them, this test marks their first high school exam.

I hope they both do reasonably well.

I’m not worried about Shino-chan at all, but Hinata is another story.

If she ends up failing the first test… I really hope that won’t happen.

If it does, Shino-chan’s thunderbolt will surely strike.

“Well then. We’ve been chatting here for quite a while, so let’s head home.”

“Oh, right! Can I join you?”

“Of course. I have to make sure you get home safely or Shino will kill me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean already?”

Since Shino and I are childhood friends, our homes are reasonably close.

It’s about a fifteen-minute walk, so we can easily visit each other’s homes.

Naturally, since Shino-chan lives in the same house as Shino, our way home is usually together.

We’ve walked home together countless times since middle school, so there’s nothing to be conscious of now.

“By the way, Subaru-san, are you okay with the tests?”

“Haha, leave it to me. Despite my appearance, I have decent grades.”

“Right, I should do my best too…!”

As Shino-chan and I started walking side by side…

“W-Wait for meee!”

Hinata interrupted us.

“I can’t just leave you two alone, so I’ll come with you!”

Hinata hurriedly inserted herself between me and Shino-chan.

Perhaps she’s worried about leaving Shino-chan alone with a guy.

She must know that I’m an old friend of hers, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m a guy.

In her own way, this proves that Hinata cares about Shino-chan.

“Don’t worry, Hinata. Even if it’s just the two of us, I’ll walk you home some other time—”

“I-I don’t care about that, Senpai! I’m just worried about Shino!”

…

So, could you please stop being so serious?

Your usually expressive face is kinda scary.

Interrupting my joke, Hinata, with a serious expression, started walking, pulling Shino-chan along, and said, “Don’t worry, Shino.”

Hey, what’s that ‘don’t worry’ supposed to mean?

Sighing deeply, I looked down.

Hinata was already calling us, having changed into her shoes.

Unaware of others, carefree.

“Yeah yeah, we’re coming now.”

Well, it’s not boring, at least.

I started walking towards them.

And thus ended this eventful day.

…With the arrival of a transfer student named Reo Tsukinose, the heroine race around Asahi Tsukasa began to intensify.

That feeling, swirling around.