I, Who Acquired the Ability to Read Memories, Am Being Swallowed by Darkness - While I Should Be Protecting Beautiful Girls, I Am Being Drawn into Darkness Each Time I Use My Power, Yet for Some Reason, My Harem of Beautiful Girls Keeps Growing - Chapter 21: Cheering For The Volleyball Team

Chapter 21: Cheering For The Volleyball Team

“Hayami-san, here’s your handkerchief.”

In the morning classroom, I offer her a handkerchief that I’ve washed and ironed with care.

“Oh, thank you! It’s so clean…”

Hayami takes it with a dazzling smile.

The image I saw yesterday overlaps in my mind.

Her distorted expression when wrestling.

Her wild, animal-like fight, with her hair drenched in sweat.

The roar she released in the midst of a serious match.

It’s unimaginable from her current self.

Hayami, illuminated by the morning sun streaming through the classroom window, is truly refreshing to the sight.

With her model-like height of 175 centimeters and healthy, tanned skin, she stands out.

Her bright brown hair, which reaches her shoulders, always sways gracefully in the wind.

The muscles developed through volleyball practice form graceful curves beneath her uniform, but it’s not masculine; rather, it enhances her femininity.

During class, Hayami sits up straight.

Her note-taking gestures are beautiful, and she listens earnestly to the teacher’s words.

Her test scores are excellent, not just in sports but also academically.

During breaks, she talks to everyone without distinction.

She advises her juniors and chats happily with her classmates.

Her personality is like the sun itself.

At lunchtime, Hayami practices on the school grounds.

Her skipping rope movements are flawless.

She maintains a steady breath and a beautiful rhythm.

“Hayami-senpai, you’re amazing!”

The underclassmen admire her with envious eyes.

Hayami’s practice is their goal.

In volleyball practice, she’s always the one leading the team.

During the sports festival, she’s the class’s pillar.

At the cultural festival, she’s the organizer.

Even in yesterday’s incident with Sagara, she showed kindness and concern for Akita, and had a resolute attitude.

Her every move is picture-perfect: walking down the corridor, eating her school lunch, erasing the blackboard.

But behind that, she shows a serious expression.

Her earnest gaze during sumo training.

The pure fighting spirit as she challenges her limits.

Perhaps only I and Akita know about this side of her.

“Sato-kun, thank you so much for yesterday.”

“It was just a coincidence.”

“But… I…”

“Hayami-san has a tournament to prepare for.”

At these words, Hayami’s eyes sparkle.

Her passion for volleyball shines through.

“Yes! I’ll definitely win the championship!”

There’s no lie in those pure eyes.

The training with Akita is probably a manifestation of her determination.

After school, the volleyball practice begins.

I watch the gym from the library window.

Hayami’s spike cuts through the air.

Her jump height rivals that of the boys.

Even her landing is graceful.

“Hayami-san’s spike is sharper than ever!”

“She’s jumping even higher than yesterday!”

The team members’ voices echo.

No one knows that the results of their secret training are blooming here and now.

Hayami’s records are remarkable:

– Three consecutive wins at the prefectural tournament

– Jump height surpassing the male average

– Spike speed exceeding 100 km/h

– Outstanding endurance and reflexes

But what’s even more impressive is her humanity.

The kindness to comfort opponents after a loss.

The willingness to guide her juniors during their practice.

Her attitude of respecting every opponent.

Her relationship with Akita is never shown in a sweet light.

There’s a sincere gaze between them, striving to elevate each other.

“Sato-kun, you’re still here?”

Suddenly, a voice comes from behind.

I turn around and see Misaki and Reiko standing there.

“You were watching Hayami-san’s practice?”

“Yes. It’s… dazzling.”

The two of them stand next to me.

Through the window, we see Hayami.

There’s a definite radiance about her.

Everyone admires her, but behind that admiration lies unseen effort—effort quietly supported by her inner strength.

Of course! Here is the revised translation with double quotes for the dialogue: 

Thinking about it, perhaps yesterday’s events were truly for the best.

Because we were able to protect something precious to her.

“Let’s go watch Ryoko’s match.”

During the break, Reiko suggested that.

It was Hayami’s district tournament final.

“I’m going too! I want to see the cool Ryoko!”

Misaki also replied instantly.

As for me, I had no reason to decline.

***

Saturday.

At the Prefectural Gymnasium.

The audience was already filled with excitement.

“So many people…”

The high school volleyball district final.

The venue was packed for the match against a traditional school.

“Ah, Hayami-san!”

I spotted Hayami warming up.

Her usual refreshing aura was gone, replaced by a determined atmosphere.

The match began.

The whistle sounded.

First set.

The opening was intense and gripping.

With each of Hayami’s spikes, cheers erupted from the audience.

“Incredible…”

Reiko held her breath.

Misaki was gripping her hands tightly.

Unconsciously, I leaned forward too.

“Hayami!”

“Go! Ryoko!”

Cheers naturally escaped us.

The stands shook as one.

The training we saw that day was paying off here.

Stability in the lower body.

Jumping power.

Everything was in full bloom on the final stage.

They lost the first set after a series of deuces.

The second set was overwhelming from the start and was theirs.

The third set was also won after a close battle.

Then came the final set.

The score was 23-24.

They were facing a match point.

“Ryoko…”

Misaki whispered, her voice trembling.

Reiko was praying, her hands clasped in front of her chest.

On the court, Hayami shook the sweat from her hair and took a deep breath to steady herself.

The opponent’s serve.

She picked it up with a perfect receive.

The toss went up.

“Let’s go!”

Hayami’s voice echoed.

Her body seemed to be in slow motion, like a movie, as it soared through the air.

Her back arched, and her arms formed an arc.

Her entire body, just as we had seen during training, was beautifully in motion.

“Sei!”

The spike was released.

The sound of it cutting through the air.

The ball pierced the opponent’s court.

24-24.

Deuce.

“Hayami!”

“Go!!”

“Come on! Ryoko!”

The venue united in a single voice.

Akita’s voice could also be heard somewhere.

Then, another point.

They scored on the serve.

25-24.

Now it was their team’s match point.

“The last chance…”

Reiko’s hand tightly gripped my arm.

Misaki was frozen, still standing.

The toss went up again.

A silence like time had stopped.

Hayami’s run-up began.

The sumo training of that day flashed through my mind.

The power in her lower body, honed through sumo, was about to explode.

“Uoooooh!”

Her 175-centimeter body jumped to an unbelievable height.

The muscles in her back formed a beautiful arch.

Sweat danced in the air.

“This will decide this match!”

The voices of the venue united.

The spike was released.

It skillfully evaded the block and struck the opponent’s court in a blind spot.

Shhhh—

The sound of the ball hitting the floor.

Whistle.

Absolutely! Here is the translation with double quotes: 

26-24.

The match ended.

“Yayyyyyy!”

An explosive cheer.

The players embraced each other in joy.

The stands rose to their feet.

Hayami had collapsed to her knees.

Her tears seemed uncontrollable.

In the audience, Akada was crying.

It was a childlike, innocent sob, like nothing I’d ever seen before.

After the award ceremony, Hayami rushed over to us.

Her sweat-soaked uniform.

The gold medal hanging around her neck.

Her tired expression, yet she shone endlessly.

“You came… thank you!”

Her voice trembled.

Was it the excitement that hadn’t faded, or the overwhelming emotion?

“You were amazing.”

“I was truly moved!”

Reiko and Misaki rushed over.

The three of them hugged, and I felt a warmth in my eyes.

“Thank you, Sato-kun too.”

“No, I…”

“Because you protected me that day. That’s why today exists.”

Hayami said it with a shy smile.

The way she proudly showed off her gold medal was somehow innocent and adorable.

Her brown hair was stuck to her neck with sweat, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement.

But I felt that this was the look that suited her the most.

Akita also came closer and bowed deeply to me once more.

“Thank you, Sato, for the other day.”

“Akita-senpai, you were a great cheerleader too.”

Akita scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

There were still traces of tears on his hands.

On our way back, the three of us talked.

About Hayami’s incredible abilities.

The excitement of the match.

The moving moments.

“But Ryoko is really mysterious,”

“She’s so strong, yet so kind.”

“Yeah, she treats everyone equally.”

Misaki nodded in agreement.

I listened in silence.

I knew more than anyone about Hayami’s multifaceted personality.

The wild fighting spirit behind her refreshing smile.

The earnest gaze during training.

The radiance she exuded during matches.

All of these aspects came together to form Hayami Ryoko, a single young girl.

And today, we had the privilege of witnessing her brightest moment with our own eyes.

“How about we get some ice cream on our way back?”

Reiko suggested, and we all nodded.

It was a fulfilling afternoon, a well-deserved break.

With a pleasant sense of fatigue, we headed towards the café in front of the station.