It's a Chastity-Reversed World, But It's Different From What I Imagined? - 38

Chapter 38: The Swimming Tournament

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The day after I talked with Seiya, I felt oddly refreshed inside. I hadn’t known that letting out the feelings I’d been carrying all this time could calm me so much. Last night, I sent Yuna a message.

『Good night. Do your best tomorrow.』 

From Yuna, I only got back a simple message.

『Good night.』

Surely, the distance between us had opened up somewhere along the way. But to me, Yuna was still my precious childhood friend.

“Yoru. Are you ready?”

Seiya, dressed in his uniform, asked me.

“Yeah, no problem.”

Today’s uniform matched the swimming club’s style. A rash guard, swim shorts down to the knees, beach sandals, and a straw hat. Each member of the cheering squad had a rash guard prepared in their theme color.

“Why am I purple? Shouldn’t it be black?”

“Hmm. Purple just fits your image better. And your eyes, Yoru—they’re black, sure, but depending on the light, they look purple sometimes.”

“Is that so?”

Seiya was white. Youhei was green. Hayato was red. I was purple. The four of us stood before the swimming club in our colored rash guards.

“Members of Aoba High School Swimming Club! Today, we, the Men’s Cheer Team, will do our utmost! To cheer you on with everything we have!”

The one who raised his voice at the front was Hayato. Normally, Hayato never spoke up, yet here he was, the first to rouse the swimming club. To change Hayato’s nature of being unable to step forward, he needed him to stand in front and build his confidence.

“Captain!!! Osu, please!!!”

Called by Hayato, I stepped forward.

“Osu! I am Yoru Kurose, the captain. Right now, I have words I want to convey to you, members of Aoba High School Swimming Club!”

I looked at each face as I delivered my opening speech.

“You joined Aoba High School Swimming Club, and you have endured harsh and grueling training every single day. Under a coach and manager with world-class experience, you have received excellent instruction. You have carried dreams as the next generation of world-class swimmers, and you were given permission to stand here today. You are the chosen ones. You are strong. You endured training that makes you worthy of being called strong, and as chosen ones—you will not lose.”

I paused, thrusting out my fist toward each of them, meeting their eyes one by one. When my eyes met Yuuna’s, she wore a surprised look.

“Third-year, Club Captain, Shizuku Minase-san!!!”

When I called her name, a beautiful girl with pale purple hair stepped forward.

“Yes!”

I nodded in response to her clear voice.

“Thanks to your remarkable leadership, the members were able to keep up with the practice! You are stronger than anyone! Faster!! Unbeatable!!! As long as you don’t lose, the other athletes will keep winning! We believe in you and will cheer you on with all we have!!!!”

When I shouted, tears welled in Minase-senpai’s eyes.

“I will never lose.”

I looked at Seiya. Seiya stepped forward to take over from me.

“Third-year, Vice Captain—”

Following me, Seiya and Hayato fired up the other athletes one by one.

This time, it was Captain Minase who had requested support from the Men’s Cheer Team. We had listened to information about each member from the captain and coach, then called out to them directly. We, from the cheer team,  conveyed what each member had worked hard for, and why they were recognized as athletes.

“First-year, Yuuna Aoyanagi-san.”

When I called Yuna’s name, she looked at me in shock.

“As your childhood friend, let me say this.”

I looked only at Yuna and spoke as if addressing her alone.

“Yuuna Aoyanagi! You started swimming back in elementary school, and you have spent more time in the water than anyone else. Now, with your talent recognized, you’ve worked hard enough to win a regular spot in high school. All of that effort is your strength. I’ve been cheering for you all this time. Do your best, Yuuna!!!”

With a smile, I thrust my fist forward to cheer her on. Yuuna stood there in a daze for a moment, then stepped back in tears.

“From here, the cheer team will perform a dance and sing our cheer song.”

Prepared in advance, Youhei operated the computer, and music began to flow from the speakers. It started with the deep bass of a large drum echoing in our stomachs, followed by the lively sound of taiko drums.

First came the four of us dancing the Sōran Bushi. We danced in unison, shouting “Sōran, sōran!” as we made a show of pulling the girls toward the goal instead of drawing in herring. We poured into it our feelings of pulling them forward to victory.

When the dance ended, we performed the cheer song composed by Youhei. The rhythm of the big drums and taiko shifted, and a melody was added.

“Go! Go! Aoba! Go! Go! Aoba!”

We had looked up creative dances on NewTube that combined karate punches and kicks, then worked them into our routine. With me at the center, Seiya and Hayato moved in sync to the rhythm, shouting as we danced. 

Youhei played along with the synthesizer. For the final pose, we thrust out our fists and locked eyes with each of the girls in the swimming club.

“Osu! During the tournament, we will keep our voices strong to cheer you on! Do your best!”

After the closing words, we exited the stage.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー