Chapter 8 – So This is the Strongest Protagonist

What should I do? Did she find out? She didn’t find out, right? But Ayane-san is looking at me with that sharp glare. She must be on high alert, thinking I’m some suspicious person because I’m dressed so weirdly, right? That’s definitely it.

But wait. Judging by the reactions of those two earlier, the current me should look at least a little bit like Leo-kyun, the guy Ayane-san allegedly stole away. Even so, why is she glaring at me?

“………! …………!”

Eek! Ayane-san, Ayane-san! She’s biting her lip so hard! It looks like she’s going to grind her teeth! Your eyes are scary, Ayane-san!

Intimidated by her sheer intensity, I averted my gaze downward, only to see her gripping her hands so tightly it looked like she’d cut off her own blood circulation.

A-Am I going to get punched? Why!?

Oh, I get it! She doesn’t like that I’m imitating the person she likes. That must be it. So she hates it so much she can’t stand it, huh?

Good grief. If she cares about him that much, then my heartbreak is completely guaranteed, isn’t it? Not that I ever thought this love would come true, but getting to this point still hurts.

I mean, look — Ayane-san’s legs are trembling from sheer anger and hatred, so much so that it looks like she’s rubbing her thighs together.

Her leaning forward slightly must also be so she can step in at any second and slam those clenched fists into me.

……Alright, let’s run away. That’s the only thing I can do. But I’ll apologize first, even if it’s a lost cause — because it’s got to be better than saying nothing at all. Just in case, I can’t forget to change my voice and tone—

“Sorry.”

“!?”

Saying only that, I dashed down the hallway and headed for the audiovisual room. The moment I got inside, I locked the door, stripped off that crazy uniform, stuffed it into the cute, empty bag Watase-san and the others had left behind, put my own uniform back on, and stepped outside.

Yeah. No one’s around, and no one saw me. Let’s go home right away. And let’s just erase the memories of the last hour or so.

I walked as if absolutely nothing had happened. My luggage had increased, but I walked on without a care. It’s a bag that doesn’t suit me at all, but surely no one will mind.

“Ah.”

Oh no. I completely thought she’d be gone, but Ayane-san is still in the same spot. Moreover, her legs are shaking, her breathing is ragged, her face is flushed, and her eyes are moist. There are even drops of water on the floor — the remnants of her tears.

I see. She likes him so much that she’s crying out of sheer anger. Now I finally get it. Is this what true love is? I’ve never felt like that before. In other words, I guess I still don’t know what true love really is.

Now then, what can I do in this situation?

Apologize for being in disguise? That’s no good. If she finds out it was me, she might fall into despair. Then what?

And so, after agonizing, agonizing, and agonizing some more, the answer I came up with was this.

“Umm… Watase-san, are you okay? Are you feeling sick?”

I played dumb and called out to her with a worried tone. I figured if I was lucky, I could get promoted from [Hated Classmate] to [Kind Classmate Who Worries About Me].

True love? I don’t know anything about that.

Also, since we’ve never actually talked, I can’t call her by her first name. She shares the same last name as her little sister Miori, but since only Ayane-san is here, Watase-san is fine.

“…………”

Hmm. No reply. Ayane-san is just leaning against the wall, continuing to glare right at me.

She looks like she’s in pain, but that part of her doesn’t change, huh. Bummer.

But what should I do about this? It’s after school, no one’s around, and the nurse’s office isn’t open anymore. I’m not sure whether the school nurse is still here.

It can’t be helped. If I’m hated this much, then whatever happens, happens.

Steeling my resolve, I wrapped my arm around Ayane-san’s shoulder. I figured as long as I got her to the classroom, she’d manage somehow on her own after that.

“Ngh! D-Don’t… touch me!”

However, I was immediately brushed off. Shocking.

“Ah, sorry… Right. You hate it.”

“N-No!? That’s… not it… Fwah! Kuh…”

Ayane-san averted her gaze from me and collapsed to her knees. Her shoulders were trembling.

Hey, what was that “kuh…”? Was she trying to say “humiliating” or something? If that’s the case, it can’t be helped.

“Then I’ll be going. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Saying that, I walked away. I didn’t hear a voice calling me to stop, nor any suggestive “Ah…”, so I just walked briskly straight to the shoe lockers.

After changing my shoes, just before passing through the school gates, I took a moment to fully appreciate the sight of the girls’ tennis club skirts swaying. Then, through a small window beneath the gym, I burned the image of the girls’ volleyball club’s bouncing chests into my memory. Just as I was about to head home, I spotted Watase-san and Fujimiya-san chatting while watching the baseball club practice.

Alright, I’ll just hand over this bag while I’m at it and go home.

“You two.”

“! Leo— Oh. It’s just you, Akasaka-kun.”

“Don’t get our hopes up. You’re not even wearing Leo-kyun’s uniform.”

What a cruel way to speak. I should have just quietly left the bag without saying anything and gone home.

“Here, the bag with the uniform in it. You forgot it.”

“We didn’t forget it. We entrusted it to you, Akasaka-kun.”

“So that if we ever want to see it again, we can have you put it right on.”

“Eh, no way.”

“Eh…”

No, why are you making such surprised faces? I’m the one who’s surprised here.

Right then, a sharp crack rang out from the sports field. At the same time, a baseball came flying straight toward where we stood.

Hmm. At this rate, it’s going to hit one of us three. Even if we dodge, it looks like it’ll hit the school building. It’s a hardball, so it’ll probably hurt. And even if I tried to catch it, both my hands are full.

Is there anything I can use around here… Let’s see. Ah, there is.

Checking that there was a slightly thick tree diagonally behind me, I stepped in front of the two girls.

Then, I kicked the side of the incoming hardball, changing its trajectory and smashing it into the tree behind us.

Hitting the tree weakened its momentum, and it rolled — clatter, clatter — right to my feet. Skillfully using my toes, I popped it onto the top of my foot and kicked it flying back toward the field.

There, that does it.

“That was dangerous.”

“…………Eh, ah, yeah……”

“…………Huh?”

“Well, I’m heading home then. Here’s the bag. Am I never wearing it again, okay? Bye-bye.”

Alright, time to go home, time to go home. I wonder if my brothers are still at the house?

◇◇◇

Now then, back to the hallway after Takuma had left. There, Ayane rested a hand on the shoulder where Takuma had touched her and muttered softly.

“Takuma-kun hugged me…”

And Ayane’s tremors simply would not stop.