I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend - 22 - A Conflict Between Two Men

Two days later

Only two days remain before the much-anticipated ‘sports festival’ kicks off. Everyone, including my buddy Natsu, the whole class, and me, is putting in the effort during practice sessions. Generally, the sports festival is just another school event, but it’s held only once per year, so there’s a bit of pressure to shine, especially for the guys trying to impress the girls.

“Is it just me, or are there more people around us?” Natsu remarks.

We’re currently training for the big event of the festival, the relay race. I’m building up my stamina by running around the fields. Natsu does the same, occasionally pausing to check out what’s causing the commotion nearby.

“Hey, isn’t that Shizuka-san and Kobayashi-san?”

“Wow, the top and second-best students in our year are hanging out!”

“You don’t see that every day. How did that happen?”

Since that competition, Airi and Chinatsu seem to have grown closer than anyone expected. It’s unusual, considering they’re the cream of the crop, but maybe it’s a sign of changing times.

“Aww, look at those two, so close you’d think they were siblings. Now I’m feeling lonely without Airi’s warm hug *sniff*.”

“Idiot, she’s just enjoying time with her new friend,” I reassure my friend, knowing he’s just teasing.

While everyone’s distracted by the sight of those two girls, I scan the area for Hoshino, but she’s nowhere to be found. She mentioned entering two events in the festival, including the relay race, which I’m currently practicing for.

“Guess she’s probably practicing for the other event.”

Ever since last week, she hasn’t been looking at me. I’ve tried catching her eye in class, but she always looks away, seeming to avoid me. It makes me wonder if I made the wrong choice.

“You better talk to Hoshino-san when you see her again, you stupid Aniki.”

My sister’s words suddenly echo in my mind. Before she left for our parents’ home, she said that to me with an angry tone. I don’t understand why she was mad at me back then.

As I was thinking on the previous event that occurred to me for the past few days, the school bell rings, signaling the end of lunchtime and the imminent start of afternoon classes.

Afternoon rolls around, and with classes over, I find myself with free time since practice ended a while ago. Classroom is getting fewer and fewer students as they’re now preparing for the upcoming event. Others went home.

“Hey, Ueno-san! Going home early?”

“Yeah. Practice is already over so I’ll be leaving early.”

“Ueno-san! Uhm, even though we’re going to be rivals in the sport festival, I will still be rooting for you.”

“Aww, gee, thanks girls.”

Walking at the corridor, there seems to be a lot of students walking around. Some are looking at me, some, who knows about me, started asking me questions, to which I happily obliged to answer. Takeshi is really popular, I thought.

“Ah, right. I need to go to my club.”

As I’m about to slip on my school shoes from the locker, a sudden thought hits me: my club. I still haven’t submitted that picture the president asked for. I hope they won’t be too upset; it’s been about two weeks since I last visited, according to Hibiki.

“Hey, you.”

Just as I’m heading towards the Photography Club room, someone calls out behind me. I turn around to see Naoki, his face looking mad. It feels like ages since I last saw him.

“Uh, do you need something, Matsuda-san?”

“Did you do something to Hoshino, you bastard?” Naoki’s tone is angry.

“Huh? What do you mean I did something to Nakano-san?” Oblivious to what he’s implying, I ask.

“Don’t play dumb with me.” Naoki steps closer, grabbing the sleeves of my uniform with both hands. Wait, what the heck?

“She hasn’t replied to my messages or answered my calls since last Saturday. I even tried visiting her house, but she shooed me away, saying she needs to be alone. I can only think of one reason behind her unusual behavior: you.”

Well, he’s right about her acting strangely, but the rest? I have definitely had no clue.

“Dude, first of all, I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Second, even if I am the reason behind this, she could’ve told me through text or something, but I haven’t heard anything from her.”

I try to reason with Naoki, but he’s not having it.

“Hey, could you please stop what you’re doing to your fellow classmate?” Someone intervenes as things starts to escalate.