I was cuckolded by my childhood friend, but I want to create a harem in a world where chastity is reversed and be happy. - Chapter 140: Marukawa is a Genius When it Comes to Sports

Chapter 140: Marukawa is a Genius When it Comes to Sports

 After finishing lunch, the four of us cleaned up the equipment used for the dedication dance and sword dance, and Kogarasu retrieved the Kogarasu family’s long sword, which had been kept at the shrine, and loaded it into the Kogarasu family car.

 We also took the cut rolls of straw and the wooden sword from the sword dance. Looking at the clean, flat cut on the wooden sword sent a slight chill down my spine, showcasing the sharpness of Kogarasu’s blade.

 With this group, we parted ways after loading the car. The bento lunch didn’t feel like a proper thank-you, so I wanted to express my gratitude in another way sometime soon.

 Kogarasu left in the car to return to the dojo, while Sango-senpai and Fujioka planned to stay a bit longer to take more photos of the cherry blossoms.

 Since my luggage was still being kept at the shrine, I only had my wallet and phone in my pockets as I headed to meet Marukawa.

 I waited at the torii gate, the same spot we met in the morning, and about five minutes past three, I heard a cheerful voice shouting, “Kyocchin!” from behind, and she jumped on my back.

 She’s small, so she’s not heavy at all, but this is our usual playful banter, so I try to shake her off by spinning and swinging her around. Instead of letting go, she clings even tighter, and this back-and-forth continues until Marukawa finally jumps off on her own.

 Although Marukawa is small and petite, when she’s on my back, she feels significantly bigger and more substantial than Kogarasu, in that department  to be more exact. Out of respect for Kogarasu, I’ll refrain from elaborating on the topic of our conversation.

 Facing Marukawa, who had jumped off my back, I see a petite girl with pigtails, standing in front of me with a beaming smile. Today, she’s dressed in a gender-neutral outfit—pants and a jumper.

“It’s carnival time! Snack time!”

 She must have been looking forward to this quite a lot. Apparently, she had watched Kogarasu’s dedication dance and sword dance and exclaimed, “Hiyoyon was amazing~,” and I agreed, and Marukawa proceeded to recreate the “dedication dance” right there in the empty space next to the torii gate.

 Surprisingly, her dedication dance had an incredible level of accuracy, making me feel guilty for always treating her like a goofy child. It felt like I was watching a miniature version of Kogarasu’s performance earlier.

 I’ve heard from the class president and Fujioka that Marukawa is a genius when it comes to sports in general. Even when I tried my best to shake her off my back, she didn’t let go, and in the end, she effortlessly jumped down and landed gracefully. Her physical abilities are truly impressive.

 Apparently, she doesn’t regularly participate in the usual after-school club activities, but she’s like a sports manga character who gets called in as a helper for various clubs only during tournaments. However, she doesn’t compete in individual events, so she doesn’t hold any personal titles.

“Marukawa, why don’t you join one of the clubs permanently?”

 I couldn’t help but ask, as I had heard about her talents before but never imagined they were this remarkable.

“Hmm, Maru isn’t good at following strict rules and doing the same things every day, so that’s not for me. I find it most enjoyable when someone who understands me invites me to join them.”

 Perhaps she’s a talented individual who doesn’t fit the mold of the typical sports club in a high school with a strong sports culture. She would be a valuable asset for a struggling team, but I could understand how her presence might be frustrating for serious club members who are committed to their regular practices.

 Today, I don’t have much time, but I wanted to make sure Marukawa had a good time.