The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 15.2

Chapter 15.2: Apparently, a Lot Happened After That

She yelled so loud that the whole gym turned to look.

Renji, you idiot. Stop saying unnecessary things.

…Wait, that’s way too selfish, isn’t it?

I mean, I came here to build confidence.

“What do you mean by ‘super beautiful woman’!? Where’s the picture!?”

“There isn’t one. And even if there was, I wouldn’t show you.”

“Why!?”

“Bwahaha!”

My junior looks furious.

Renji, who knows the situation, bursts out laughing.

This couldn’t be more difficult to deal with.

“So, ‘Inoue.’ We’re about to start training now.”

I gesture for her to go away, signaling, “Don’t bother us. Go over there.”

She puffs up her cheeks in protest.

“…Wait, Inoue? Why are you calling me by my last name?”

“Well, why not…?”

“Ah! Don’t tell me it’s because you got a girlfriend, so now you don’t call other girls by their first names!? No way! No, no, nooo! Call me ‘Asahi’ like before!!”

“H-Hey, don’t cling to me!!”

“No! I won’t let go until you call me that!”

“O-Okay, okay! ‘Asahi’! There, is that fine!?”

“Heh, as long as you understand.”

She finally lets go.

I breathe a deep sigh of relief.

“So, we came here for training, right? Okay! Leave it to me, Asahi-chan will teach you everything you need to know!”

“Uh… no, it’s fine. I’ll just train with Renji.”

“No need to be so reserved! I’m actually a hardcore sports type! I know how to use all the machines perfectly! You can totally count on me!”

“Uh… well…”

If she insists that much…

Just as I think that—

“…Huh?”

I suddenly notice the atmosphere around us has changed.

“Oh?”

“What’s going on?”

Renji and Asahi seem to have noticed too.

I follow the gazes of the people around us.

“……”

A long-haired woman with black hair is looking around the gym as if searching for something.

“…What?”

What the hell is she doing here?

“Hey, Iori. That’s…”

“No way… Y-Yukimura-senpai!? That’s Yukimura-senpai, right!? The one everyone says is super beautiful!?”

Before Renji can finish, Asahi shouts.

“Wha… It’s the real Yukimura-senpai… She’s way too beautiful…!”

Clenching both hands in excitement, Asahi trembles.

But hearing her voice, the woman also notices us.

“…Ah.”

The moment she spots me, she steps inside and starts walking over.

W-Wait…!

At school, you…!

Ignoring my panic, she finally reaches me.

Yukimura Mizuki.

Everyone in the training room watches, wondering what’s going on.

“U-Um… Yukimura-san?”

I instinctively step back, nervous.

She silently holds out a booklet.

“…Amano-kun, you were supposed to write the report today, right? The teacher was troubled.”

“Ah…”

Crap.

I completely forgot because I was too focused on the gym!

“S-Sorry! I’ll go back and write it right away…”

“Okay. That’s all.”

With that, Mizuki turns to leave.

But—

“U-Um! Excuse me!!”

“……?”

“You’re… Yukimura-senpai, right?”

“…Yes, I am.”

Mizuki looks slightly puzzled at being suddenly called out.

“I-I’m Inoue Asahi! First-year! I’ve heard a lot about you… It’s an honor to meet you!!”

“Uh… okay…”

“W-Wow… Seeing you up close is even crazier… Your face is so small, and your eyes are huge… I know what this is! People like you are called ‘Top-Tier Girls,’ right!?”

“Pfft!”

Renji bursts out laughing.

Holding his stomach, he cracks up.

Meanwhile, Mizuki looks completely bewildered.

“…Hey, Asahi. That’s enough.”

“…Ah!? S-Sorry! I got carried away… Um, could I at least shake your hand…?”

“Eh? Uh, sure, I guess…”

Mizuki gently takes Asahi’s dramatically outstretched hand.

“Waaah… So smooth… So soft… Totally different from my rough, hardened hands from basketball…”

Asahi holds Mizuki’s hand with both of hers, squeezing it in awe.

…Yeah. This is definitely something only girls can get away with.

Just as that thought crosses my mind—

“Um… Amano-kun, what are you all doing here?”

Mizuki asks, mainly looking at me.

“Uh, well… Just some training…”

“Oh, Iori-senpai is actually trying to stop being a timid guy and become more manly! That’s why this sports-loving beauty—me!—is here to help him out!”

She grins and puffs out her flat chest.

Hey, cut it out, idiot. I never asked for that, and I never will!

I panic, but Mizuki—

“……”

—just stares at Asahi in a daze.

Then, after a moment, she nods slightly.

“…I see. Do your best.”

“Yes! Thank you very much!”

With that, Mizuki turns away and walks off.

I watch her go, still in shock.

“…Oh man. This could be bad, huh, Iori-kun?”

Renji suddenly slings an arm around my shoulder and whispers.

“H-Huh? What do you mean?”

“C’mon, you know. A gym date with a cute junior? That’s cheating, man. Straight-up cheating.”

“…Wait, it counts as that?”

“How would you feel if it were the other way around?”

“…Crap, I gotta go.”

“Knew it.”

Leaving Asahi to Renji, I quickly followed Mizuki.

“—M-Mi—Yukimura-san…!”

“……?”

I almost call her by her first name but quickly correct myself.

She turns around.

I glance around—nobody’s here.

“U-Um… That was nothing, really.”

“……”

“Asahi is just a junior. We don’t usually even talk…”

I desperately try to explain.

But—

“……”

She gently presses a finger against my lips.

“—It’s okay. I understand.”

Mizuki smiles.

Even though I’ve seen this expression countless times, it still makes my heart skip a beat.

The stunning beauty, wearing a soft smile, slowly lowers her finger.

“But next time, make sure to say it properly.”

Got it? She raises her index finger as if warning me.

“…Y-Yeah, I got it.”

“Good.”

With that, Mizuki smiles once more, turns, and walks away.

I stand there for a moment, watching her go.

(…I think I managed to fix it.)

Letting out a deep breath, I finally relax.