It's a Chastity-Reversed World, But It's Different From What I Imagined? - 23

Chapter 23: Club Observation Day 1 – Sports Clubs Part 2

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The sports ground was ridiculously huge.

Two practice fields for the soccer club. Two practice fields for the baseball club. One each for the track and field team and the rugby team. How many more fields were there?

There was even a dome, and facilities where an entire mountain had been remodeled into a training area. I gave up counting halfway through.

“Is this really a high school facility? It’s not some kind of hero training academy or something, is it?”

“What? Hero training?”

“No, I just thought maybe that dome was for disaster training or something inside.”

The dome was so big I couldn’t tell how many people it could hold. If someone told me professional matches were held there, I would have believed it.

“Yoru, you have such an imagination. Disaster training? What kind of athletic drills are those? That’s the dream stage where high schools from all over the country hold sports tournaments—Aoba Dome. It was written in the pamphlet, remember? They built it so schools from all over the nation could host their national tournaments there at different times.”

In the pamphlet we got from the staff room, it was listed as a winter sports training facility.

Inside the dome, they said, there were facilities for speed skating, figure skating, even ski jumping. When tournaments were held, parts of it could even be rented out as changing rooms or lodging for other schools.

“How much money did this all cost?”

“Exactly. Aoba is officially recognized by the government. They put together massive budgets and subsidies to make it co-ed. That’s why there are far more male students here than at other high schools. At a normal co-ed school, having even ten boys in a grade is considered a lot.”

Originally, they aimed for facilities so large that even if the number of boys increased, they’d still have enough space to practice separately from the girls. But with the number of boys decreasing year after year, they were making use of the facilities by increasing female enrollment instead.

“Sounds like a lot of trouble.”

“Yeah. Anyway, where do you want to look around? The sun’s starting to set, so we’ve only got time for one, maybe two more.”

Looking at the clock, it was almost six in the evening. The grounds where the clubs were practicing had their lights on, so practice was going to continue for a while. But visiting hours ended at six, so we really could only see one more.

My plan had been to be surrounded and pampered by girls, but in the gym Seiya had been the one encircled, and in the pool building, seeing Yuuna had left me in such a sour mood I’d walked out.

“We hardly saw any clubs at all.”

“Yeah. That’s why I told you, when it comes to athletic clubs, only managers get close.”

Even when the beautiful boy stood with his hands on his hips in mock anger, I couldn’t feel the sense of being rewarded from the sight. I couldn’t help but think to myself. 

If only he’s a girl…

But looking at his chest, there wasn’t the slightest curve.

“Hmm? I feel like I’m getting some wicked stares.”

“Don’t mind it. What’s the nearest club?”

“Soccer club, around here.”

“Then let’s check that and head back.”

The two of us walked toward the nearest soccer field. Over a hundred girls on the soccer team were running around, chasing the ball. They were tanned, healthy, sweating girls, and it was a sight you never got tired of.

“Is Aoba’s soccer club strong?”

“Yoru, you really don’t know anything. Aoba’s sports teams are regulars at the nationals. Especially soccer, baseball, rugby—they’re so strong they’re called unbeatable.”

Listening to Seiya’s explanation while watching, two players in particular caught my eye. One had strikingly short hair. She shouted loudly, giving directions to the others—a lively girl.

The other had shoulder-length hair tied back with a band. She ran around following the directions.

“Love! I’m sending it!”

“Shika! Bring it!”

Their teamwork was flawless. The girl with tied hair ran right along the edge of the field with the ball. The short-haired girl cut through the center, timed her run perfectly, and headed the ball into the goal.

“Impressive, huh? Those two are still first-years.”

“You know them?”

“They’re famous. Supposed to be the next ace and playmaker of the soccer team. They’re even in the pamphlet.”

When I opened the pamphlet, sure enough, it listed their names as two first-years chosen for the regular lineup. The playmaker who scored the goal was Shikae Baba. The ace who carried the ball downfield was Ai Souda. The two high-fived and took a breath—then Baba-san’s gaze suddenly turned our way.

“Eh? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!”

Her scream, more like a shriek, drew the attention of the entire soccer field.

“Whoa! You idiot! Don’t just yell like that all of a sudden!”

“B-but, but, but!”

The cool Baba-san from moments ago started fidgeting shyly like an ordinary girl. Her partner Souda-san noticed the strange behavior and followed her gaze.

“Ah!”

Our eyes met. The two of them hurried over.

“Uh, um, we’re first-year regulars. I’m Ai Souda.”

“I’m Shikae Baba.”

Even though Baba-san had been the one taking charge before, in front of a male, it was Souda-san who stepped up.

“We have the Inter-High preliminaries this weekend. If you don’t mind, could you come cheer for us?”

Seiya and I looked at each other. We’d just come for a club tour, and now we were being asked to cheer. But supporting hardworking girls wasn’t a bad thing.

“Sure, we’d be glad to come cheer.”

Before I could answer, Seiya replied with a smile. As expected of the super-handsome extroverted protagonist. His smooth moves always looked good. While we were talking with Souda-san and the others, it seemed the rest of the team had noticed us too. Nearly a hundred members were silently closing in on us.

“…Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

“Good luck, you two.”

I gave my encouragement in a voice only the pair could hear. Both of them had already turned their backs, so there was no reply. Before we could be swallowed up, we dashed away from the pressing crowd of the soccer club and headed for home.

Along the way, I thought I saw flashes go off a few times. …Or was that just my imagination?

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