I Thought I Was Dead After Getting Stabbed While Protecting a Girl From a Random Attacker, but a Goddess Gave Me a Special Reward and Brought Me Back to Life in My Original Body—Now, All These Girls Are Coming on to Me!?

Chapter 57: Closing Ceremony and an After-School Date

After returning to school from my injury,

I started showing up at club activities, doing light running to gradually get my body back in shape.

I couldn’t do intense training yet, but the plastic surgery doctor said it’d be fine to start soon.

There was more good news.

“Hmph!”

Crack!

“…Yeah, feels good.”

Yes, our team’s pillar, Captain Nogata, was back.

He injured his leg in the semifinals, but luckily, the sprain was minor, and he was already able to throw in the bullpen.

He should be able to play at Koshien without any issues.

“How long until you’re back, Minase?”

“I should be able to pitch next week.”

“Good, looks like you’ll be ready in time.”

“Yeah, I’ll pitch perfectly at Koshien.”

“You’re a reliable junior.”

While I talked with Makabe-senpai, watching Nogata in the bullpen, someone approached from behind.

“Minase, how’s your condition?”

It was our team’s coach.

“Yes, I think I can pitch without problems next week.”

“I see… I’m sorry, Minase…”

“Coach?”

Then, the coach bowed his head to me.

…Did I do something to be apologized to? I couldn’t think of anything.

“In the finals, I pushed you too hard. As a high school baseball coach, I made a decision focused too much on winning, which shouldn’t happen.”

“Isn’t that normal…?”

“For a pro coach, maybe, but we’re teachers first, responsible for protecting you students. Even though I knew you were exhausted in the finals, I didn’t switch pitchers.”

“…That’s…”

“That game, you definitely saved us. Let me say it again: thank you.”

“Coach, please lift your head.”

I grabbed his shoulders, a bit rudely, and made him stand up.

“Next time, if it’s the same situation, I’ll keep pitching no matter what you say.”

“Minase…”

“Coach, keep making decisions focused on winning. That makes us happier.”

“…Man, I’m too immature as an adult. Got it! I’ll work you hard at Koshien, so be ready!”

“Yes!”

To win at Koshien, we’d have to overcome tougher battles than the prefectural tournament. Moments like that last game would definitely come up again.

To get through those, no one could compromise.

To win, everyone had to give their all.

After that, while gradually returning to practice and enjoying school life with them, I lived my usual days and finally reached the closing ceremony.

But, to be honest,

The closing ceremony wasn’t that special.

The usual long speech from the principal, stopped by the vice-principal, happened as expected, and it ended without surprises.

For me, the real big event was what came next…

“Let’s go!”

“We need to shop for the summer break.”

“Don’t buy too much.”

In front of me were three girls chatting happily: Kanade, Makoto, and Yuna.

Today, after the closing ceremony, we had free time in the afternoon, so we decided to go on an after-school uniform date.

Since I’d soon return to practice, and until Koshien was over, it’d be hard to have calm moments like this, it was a good chance.

Our destination was a big shopping mall two train stations away.

“It’s gonna be fun~ Wandering around a place like that without a plan feels romantic, right?”

“Yeah, you end up with shopping bags in both hands. That’s kind of cool.”

“Cool? No way. You have to control yourself.”

…It’s been a while seeing Yuna act like a big sister.

She’s been a bit clumsy lately.

“Ryu, anything you want to buy?”

“Hmm, maybe some undershirts for the trip.”

“Then a sports shop. That mall has a few brands… any preferences?”

“Nah, I’ll try them on and pick what feels good.”

“…Try on?”

“Try on, huh?”

Gulp

…The three girls walking ahead seemed to have a wild look in their eyes…

I’ll pretend it’s my imagination. That’s for the best.

The three of us rode the train for ten minutes or so, and the mall was a few minutes’ walk from the station.

Since it was a weekday, it wasn’t too crowded, but there were still a lot of people.

“We need to stick together so we don’t get lost!”

Makoto grabbed my right hand.

“…Hmm.”

Kanade, seeing that, went for my left hand… or so I thought, but she leaned against my front instead.

“I’m fine here. I’ll give the left hand to Yuna.”

“K-Kanade? I don’t need…”

“No holding back at times like this. We won’t either.”

“Mmm… okay! Here I go, Ryu!”

“Such enthusiasm.”

Encouraged by Kanade, Yuna grabbed my left hand tightly.

She seemed to really want to hold hands, making weird “mufu mufu” sounds and grinning beside me.

Kanade, looking satisfied, rubbed the back of her head against my chest. She seemed happy too.

I glanced at Makoto, gave a wry smile, and gripped her hand a bit tighter.

Alright, the after-school date began.

First, we stopped at a 100-yen shop.

Since the girls were coming to Osaka to cheer for us at Koshien, they, and I, needed to stock up on travel essentials.

“Hey, this is nice, right?”

“This shirt’s cute. Definitely buying it.”

“This towel’s good. Nice material.”

…It felt a bit off-topic, but this was part of the fun of a date, right? It was fun, so it was fine.

Next, we went to a clothing store.

We came to get travel clothes for the girls, but…

“Hey, Ryu. Can you try this on?”

“Hm? What’s that?”

Makoto brought me a bright-colored T-shirt. Simple design, nice vibe.

“Just wear this?”

“Yeah! I think it’ll totally suit you!”

“No problem.”

“Yay! Then hurry…”

As I headed to the fitting room, someone tugged my sleeve.

“Makoto, no cutting ahead.”

“N-No, you two seemed busy picking your own clothes…”

“You could’ve just said something. You were probably thinking, ‘Ryu looks so cool in the clothes I picked! I claimed him…! Blush!’ right?”

“Tch, that’s…”

Makoto’s eyes darted wildly. Bullseye, huh?

“That’s unfair, Makoto. He’s gotta try my pick too.”

“Well, sure, that’s fine…”

Then, another shadow crept up behind us…

“…Ryu.”

“What’s up, Yuna… no way.”

“I… um… I also have clothes I want you to try…?”

“…Alright. I’ll try all your picks. If I like any, I’ll buy them.”

“Really!?”

“Worth a shot.”

“…Yes, Ryu wearing my clothes on a date… nice.”

“Wait a sec, Yuna, what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Agreed. Acting like yours is the obvious choice.”

…Hold on. Why were sparks flying between them?

I was just gonna try on the clothes they picked, right?

Why was the mood so tense, like nothing I’d seen before?

“Ryu-kun.”

“Ryu.”

“Ryu!”

“Whose clothes are you gonna wear!?”

…Looks like I was about to get dragged into a war.

In the end, I bought one piece each of the clothes they recommended, and things calmed down.

They were just regular items, not too pricey, so my wallet was fine. But when I actually bought all three, the girls panicked. Their faces were priceless.

“Hey, that parfait looks good, doesn’t it?”

“True. Since you bought the clothes, I’ll treat you to parfaits.”

“We needed the clothes anyway, so no need for that.”

“We kinda forced our picks on you. Let us do this.”

“Well, if you insist…”

So, we stopped at a nearby café for a break during shopping.