The Guy Who Messed Up Is Gradually Doing His Best - Chapter 29

What a situation. I, Sunaode Naiyo, was dragging my well-worn sneakers back to my group.

Even though I finally got first place, I ended up taking it from Taketo-kun out of embarrassment.

I was looking forward to the hug, but I couldn’t stand the way he was looking at me and ended up running away.

“Haa.”

When I was finally face to face with Taketo-kun, my heart was racing so much that I felt like I might lose consciousness if I let my guard down for even a moment.

Even though everyone hasn’t had this kind of experience with men, why are they hugging so casually?

“Not true! You were a fan of Kazuya-sama, Gouda…”

Hmm! This guy just called Taketo-kun by his name without honorifics.

“Oh my gosh, Gouda-kun. Gouda-kun was so stunned, not understanding what had just happened for a moment, I couldn’t help but laugh. Haha.”

When I called Gouda-kun by his first name, the surrounding students were glaring at me and saying it was dangerous, dangerous, I just laughed it off and this person, Itsuka Ramu, casually patted my shoulder.

Not a friend or anything, just a classmate. They often get involved with me, so people around us think we’re friends, but it’s really annoying.

“Hmph. It has nothing to do with Ramu.”

Right now, I feel like crying. Go away.

“Come on, we still have time until the next performance, so let’s watch Kazuya-sama’s video together.”

Hmph, I don’t care about Kazuya-sama’s videos. Recently, Kazuya-sama has been cool, but that’s it. On the other hand, Taketo-kun appears in female netTuber videos and supports them. I’ve heard rumors that he doesn’t receive any compensation or anything.

Taketo-kun seems to have put his own needs on the back burner, but he does it so naturally that it doesn’t feel forced. That’s why I can’t help but want to support him.

Even so, I… ugh.

I walk past Ramu, who is taking out their smartphone, and return to my seat.

“Huh, no way? Wait a minute.”

After that, I gazed at Taketo-kun through my distorted vision.

————————

“Oh, I-I’m sorry!”

While I was looking for a third-year student and got distracted, I bumped into someone and reflexively apologized.

“No, it was my fault for not looking ahead.”

——Hmm? Me…

“…You’re skateboarder-senpai, right?”

“Gouda-kun!?”

Skateboarder-senpai opened her eyes wide in surprise. I was surprised too. The girl I met at the riverbank seemed to be a student from the same school and apparently knew me as well.

Well, that’s all, but more importantly, the folk dance is about to start… I need to hurry.

Yes, if I look closely, the lines on the gym uniforms are different colors. The third-year students wear blue. The blue students are gathered over there.

“Senpai, you’re also a third-year student, right? If you don’t hurry, everyone will gather without you.”

“You’re right, let’s run a bit.”

————————

When the entrance music plays for folk dance, I walk with my partner, holding hands, to the designated spot.

Then the first song, “Hiku Tea Mata,” starts playing and the dance begins.

“Gouda-kun, please take care of me.”

“Likewise, I look forward to working with you, Ichinomiya-senpai.”

My first partner was the student council president, Ichinomiya-senpai. She was a beautiful type of senpai, someone who seemed good at both studying and sports.

By the way, it seems that skateboarder-senpai is dancing the male part and is lined up right behind me.

I stand next to Ichinomiya-senpai and extend my right hand. Ichinomiya-senpai also reaches out with her left hand, and if our eyes meet unexpectedly, she gives me a bright smile.

——Hmm.

If my memory serves me right, I remember that high school students would feel embarrassed to hold hands and would walk with a very subtle touch, barely even making contact. However, Ichinomiya-senpai is firmly gripping my hand.

This is called “interlocking fingers,” but do you know about it, senpai?

“Was it strange that it was my first time holding hands with a man?”

No good. Did it show on my face?

“No, it’s fine. I thought I would be nervous at first too, but since it was you, Ichinomiya-senpai (because we know each other), I was a bit relieved.”

That was close. The first time I held hands with someone was with Kaori-san, who accompanied me to practice folk dance.

I thought I managed to cover it up somehow, but I didn’t say anything weird, did I?

“Hehe.”

Ichinomiya-senpai was still smiling, so it should be fine.

♪〜

“Shall we go, senpai?”

“Yes.”

When the announcer read the program, the entrance music started playing immediately, so we walked to our designated spots and continued walking until we formed a single circle.

——Hmm?

There are teachers among the group of third-year students. Since Niiyama-sensei is also there, it’s not just the homeroom teacher for the third year, right? Ah, I see, there were many girls in the male section, so they are in the female section.

However, since the circle here is the largest, there might not be enough time to dance with all the women. I wonder if I can dance with half of them…

When the entrance music stops, move to the left rear of Ichinomiya-senpai… I place my right hand on senpai’s right shoulder and my left hand slightly forward from the teacher’s left side.

Somehow, it feels like Senpai’s position is closer to me, but no, Kaori-san was even closer, so I guess this is about right.

♪〜

Then, when the music starts and I begin to dance, I feel good, have fun, and naturally, smiles overflow. In my past life, due to the number of people, I always danced the female parts.

Dance while moving forward for about 10 seconds for one person. It’s a very simple dance, but even so, the memories of my past life got in the way, and I practiced it over and over again.

When I was parting ways with senpai, I lightly bowed my head and smiled as I sent her off, but she wouldn’t let go of my hand, and I panicked.

“President.”

It was good that the next partner was Vice President Sakurada, who could stand up to the president.

Ichinomiya-senpai reluctantly stepped away, quickly wrapping my arm around Sakurada-senpai and starting to dance. Sakurada-senpai was even shedding tears.

The first song, “Hiku Tea Mata,” has about 15 different partners due to its length.

But every time the partner changed, the girl who had been my partner wouldn’t let go of my hand, and it was always a beat behind.

I was really nervous. Skateboarder-senpai behind me was really annoying. She was smirking too.

“Hehe.”

However, after the first song ended, the pressure from the first and second-year students was intense. Even if I tried not to notice, I could feel it, so it was quite a lot of pressure.

“Oh, what a pity. It was my turn next, but it’s already over.”

I don’t know who they are, but they seem classy and have a lady-like vibe. Apparently, they wanted to dance “Hiku Tea Mata” with me instead of “Yoridorimi Dori.”

“I am Kumiyaji Michi. I think my sister is in the same class as you, so nice to meet you.”