What's Wrong With Interfering With My Childhood Friend's Love? - Chapter 18 : Fake Theater

Chapter 18 : Fake Theater

The match, with a chance to go on a date in a space reserved for couples, was surprisingly intense.

As expected, the most skilled players were Akito and Chiya. Even Amagishi, despite her small stature, showcased agility and resilience. On the other hand, my pairing with Miumi won our first match against Amagishi and Shino, but we’ve been losing ever since.

After losing to Chiya again and switching out with Amagishi’s team, my eyes met Akito’s, who was sitting on the bench. 

At the same time, I noticed that Akito’s partner, Kozuka-san, would be stepping away as the next referee. 

This meant Akito and Miumi had a chance to talk.

“Man, we were doing well during practice, but I guess I just don’t have the stamina. Maybe Miumi and I aren’t a good match.”

“Seriously. I feel sorry for Miumi, Riku.”

“Um, no, that’s not true at all—”

“It’s okay, Aihara-san. I think it’s my fault too. I wish I played a little better… I’m really sorry.”

“See? Even Riku is saying that. Miumi, you don’t have to push yourself.”

“In that sense, Akito really is amazing. Even though it was his first time teaming up with Kozuka-san, he supported her well.”

“It just means I had the luxury to do so. But yeah, winning consecutive matches is getting tough.”

As things stood, Akito was still in the lead with three consecutive wins. We had planned to wrap up the event after another one or two matches. 

If Chiya and Suisei’s pair won this round, they’d also reach three consecutive wins, making for a fitting final match.

But even if that happened, Chiya was already exhausted from playing back-to-back matches. Akito and Kozuka-san’s pair had the highest chance of winning the championship.

To be honest, Akito and Kozuka-san winning wouldn’t benefit me directly. But at the very least, it could serve as fuel to fan the flames of Shino’s jealousy.

“Honestly, I wanted to go on a date with Miumi.”

“Huh…?”

“I never got the chance to talk to her because of Amagishi, but I wanted to bring up the last time we met.”

“Akito-kun… that’s kind of rude to Niko-chan.”

“Oops, pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“In that case, why not talk about it now? I was curious too, so this is a good opportunity, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right. I think we met around evening last time.”

“Evening, huh…”

“Yeah, we bumped into each other. Miumi was carrying a suitcase…”

Surprisingly, Miumi was the one keeping the conversation going. She must be interested in Akito. After all, he’s ridiculously handsome. As a girl, Miumi was probably drawn to him, even if she didn’t realize it.

“Hmm… Now that you mention it, I think that did happen!”

“You remembered!?”

“Sorry, I guess I forgot your face. Funny how we ended up meeting again like this.”

“I was surprised too. You look different from back then. Of course, you look even better now.”

“I-Is that so…”

“Yeah. Honestly, I was worried you didn’t remember me.”

When Akito said, “You look different from back then” it seemed to have catch Miumi’s attention.

I was curious too. The Miumi I was with today didn’t seem like the Miumi I knew. If the version of her Akito met and the version of her at home were the same, then maybe that was the real Miumi.

“Sorry, that moment was just… so unexpected.”

“Yeah, I get it. If someone suddenly caught you when you were about to fall, it’d be a shock.”

A story I didn’t know had just surfaced.

Akito and Miumi had collided, yet Miumi showed no signs of injury. I had found that strange, but now it made sense.

Of course, this wasn’t something one would usually brag about. But Akito was exactly the type to boast about such things. The fact that something this romantic had happened… No wonder he went on about fate.

“Still, it’s kind of shocking that you didn’t remember my face.”

“I really am sorry. I was looking away and bumped into you.”

“Oh yeah, you were holding a map or something, right?”

“You remember that?”

“Yeah. Well, if you were in a rush, it couldn’t be helped. Did you make it to your destination?”

“Yep! I got there just fine after that.”

There were way too many things in Akito and Miumi’s conversation that I recognized. 

Before I ended up giving myself away—or rather, before I interrupted them—I decided to slip away.

“I’m gonna go to the restroom for a bit.”

As I stepped away, I glanced at the ongoing match. The score difference wasn’t too big, but Chiya’s side had the upper hand.

Ideally, the match would last longer so Akito and Miumi could talk more. But it looked like it would end soon.

However, when I returned after taking my time, the score had flipped. Chiya and Suisei’s pair were now on the back foot.

Chiya was clearly exhausted, but more concerning was Suisei’s poor movement. When I watched closely, I noticed Suisei was acting oddly — my eyes kept darting elsewhere.

What was she looking at?

Following her gaze, I figured it out.

She was glancing at Akito and Miumi talking.

Chiya, positioned behind him, wouldn’t have noticed her distracted gaze.

I instinctively quickened my pace.

Something about Suisei’s behavior felt unsettling. I had seen it before.

Then, I remembered the conversation earlier — about Akito and Miumi bumping into each other.

At that moment, Chiya hit the shuttlecock and Amagishi responded with a high return — right toward Suisei’s head.

Before I knew it, I was running.

“Suisei—!!”

—Thud!

The shuttlecock hit Suisei’s head. At the same time, she lost her balance.

I managed to slide into the court just in time, catching her before she fell.

It wasn’t just my imagination.

Suisei was safe. And for a brief moment, I felt like I had become a little more like Akito.

I had always wanted to be like him. Ever since forever.

But I wasn’t blessed with fate.

So I had to take matters into my own hands.

Yet… he still seemed so far away.

“Ahh!!”

Suisei’s eyes met mine — and she screamed, pushing me away.

“S-Sorry, Riku. You startled me.”

“Ah, no… Are you okay? Can you stand?”

“Y-Yeah.”

I must have scared her. Miumi had said earlier that she was so shocked she forgot Akito’s face.

A sudden event — this reaction was only natural.

That’s just how things were.

So, I couldn’t blame her for rejecting me.

Even if she pushed me away… that was the obvious response.

I realized once again the vast difference between me and Akito.

I wanted to die.

Like I had lost the meaning of living, like I couldn’t breathe — like my brain was burning.

“Riku-kun, are you okay?”

“I’m fine! Worry about Suisei instead.”

The match was paused, and the first to rush over was Miumi. She must have been worried.

But in doing so, I had pulled her away from Akito.

Nothing was going right.

Then, behind Miumi, Akito stormed toward me with an angry look on his face.

“Hey, Riku! What the hell are you doing pushing Suisei like that?!”

“…Huh?”

“Suisei, are you okay?”

“Yeah, thanks for worrying about me.”

“Akito-kun, that’s not what happened! Kaidou-kun caught Suisei-san when he was about to fall!”

Surprisingly, Amagishi was the one to defend me.

“Wait, really? Oh. My bad, Riku. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“…It’s fine.”

Akito must have misunderstood from afar.

Being doubted like that hurts. But I had interrupted his time with Miumi.

It was all my fault. I was just getting in the way.

“Alright then, let’s count this as a point for Amagishi… Can we continue the match?”

I directed my words toward referee Kozuka, who stood at a distance, looking unsure of what to do.

Now that the panic had settled, I wanted to resume the match as soon as possible. 

No real accident had occurred, and Suisei wasn’t injured… that was enough for me. Besides—

“…..”

There was one person who gave me an unsettling feeling.

Chiya remained silent, staring at me with a complicated expression. Her gaze was eerily quiet and subtle, yet it sent chills down my spine.

While Amagishi and Miumi seemed more concerned about me being misunderstood by Akito, Chiya alone was unreadable. 

I didn’t know what emotions lay behind that stare, but if it was pity — I’d rather not have it.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

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TL : zenon_xt