When I Told the Most Beautiful Girl in the School That My Confession Had Failed, She Suddenly Started Coming at Me With Unbearably Heavy Feelings - Chapter 30: Cats and Dogs

Chapter 30: Cats and Dogs

The midday heat of summer began to show its face little by little. Our class, second-year class two, was holding a joint practice with class three.

Before the sports festival, each class was given practice time, and joint practices were included among them. This was how they checked their own abilities while competing against other classes.

Volleyball had finished one match, and it was break time. My gaze was fixed on the women’s basketball being played on the adjacent court.

“Rinne, pass!”

Rinne received the pass and dashed across the court. She dodged the defender in her way with a feint, slipped under the basket in an instant, and made the net shake.

Rinne was also excellent in athletic ability, and in this basketball event, a lot of points were expected from her.

Rinne shouldered everyone’s expectations. Just thinking about that pressure made my stomach ache, but she would probably live up to everyone’s expectations anyway. She had that much trust and track record.

However, the larger the brilliance, the larger the shadow became.

“What’s with that, it’s cheating… She’s the only one having fun.”

“She’s just trying to stand out by herself. In the end, she just thinks she’s cute.”

The hate from the girls gathered at the edge of the court was directed at Rinne.

Because of her brilliance, it was impossible to prevent unreasonable anger or jealousy from being directed at her in advance.

People’s ugly sides were things that didn’t usually show on the surface. It was common for one’s own shadow to stretch when exposed to the light of someone who shone brighter than oneself.

The moment I moved to intervene, I saw a silver-haired guy coming from over there.

“…You girls, instead of whispering here, why not say it to her face? If you don’t have the guts for that, then since your class is losing, get back to practicing.”

Nekomiya said it across the net in a languid tone laced with fatigue and a flat manner, then watched the girls hurry away before coming over to me.

And he held out a sports drink he had in one hand.

“Here. Good work. …What’s up?”

“…No, I just didn’t expect you to do something like that, Nekomiya.”

“It bugs me, that kind of thing. Talking behind her back doesn’t change anything, and saying it directly might create an opportunity for change.”

I thought he seemed docile but surprisingly ferocious as I quietly drank the sports drink I’d received. The moisture that had been depleted soaked into my parched body, feeling pleasant.

“…Rinne-san’s doing great, huh.”

“Yeah. At this rate, the women’s basketball should be fine…”

“…Hey, are you two really dating?”

I ended up spitting out the sports drink at the sudden question. While I caught my breath from choking and steadied my disordered breathing, I asked back at Nekomiya, who looked perfectly composed.

“…Why?”

“Well, you two have the complete distance of a couple. You were in middle school together too. Watching her like this, I figured maybe you’re concerned about her or something.”

“No, we’re not dating or anything…”

“Then you don’t want to date her?”

“It’s not that either…”

I didn’t hate Rinne at all. It was just that I couldn’t imagine a future where I was dating Rinne.

I felt there were many parts where Rinne and I didn’t match, and just gaining happiness alone made me scared.

The more things I gained, the more I thought about what it would be like to lose them. I’d tasted the pain of loss more than enough to hate it.

I hadn’t chosen Nonoka because we matched. It was just that Rinne shone too brightly.

I stared blankly at Rinne dashing across the court. Could I become a person worthy of her?

“Ah, Nekomiya, watch out!”

“Eh——-”

It probably hadn’t even been a few seconds since I heard the voice.

The ball hurtling toward Nekomiya’s face was aiming to hit his frozen expression.

“Yo.”

I caught the ball flying toward Nekomiya with my left hand.

Having big hands let me do cool stuff like this, which was a good thing.

“That was close, huh. Be careful.”

“Sorry, sorry! Thanks!”

“Nekomiya, you okay? No injuries?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. …It’s the left hand this time.”

“…Huh?”

“About Rinne-san. Look, she scored.”

My eyes suddenly met Rinne’s as she made the goal. For an instant, she relaxed the corners of her mouth and hit me with a wink.

“…That wink just now was to Hinate-kun, right?”

“Yeah.”

“…For real?”

“Totally real. …I’m gonna go cool off a bit.”

Thinking too much negative stuff didn’t lead to anything good. I decided to step outside and cool down for a while.

I sat in the shade of the tree planted beside the gymnasium and gazed at the sky.

The gradually strengthening sunlight made me feel the approaching summer. …I was starting to miss seeing Grandpa’s face around now.

“May I have a moment, my master’s lord?”

A voice echoed from somewhere.

I looked around at the emotionless voice, but I couldn’t see anyone.

“I’m in the tree. …I don’t want to be noticed by other people much, so please just listen like that.”

“…It’s been a while, huh. Come to think of it, you guys had practice at this time too. Something you need?”

“Long time no see. …Well, to apologize.”

“Apologize?”

The girl’s voice echoed flatly from above.

“Yes. …That my master was struck by illness. The illness of love, and a cold.”

“Shut up.”

“Please forgive this me for not being at my master’s side in her time of need…”

“I wasn’t worried about it. You had your own stuff going on too, right?”

“Yes. …If there’s anything troubling you, feel free to ask this Alice anything.”

“Ah… Then, can I ask one thing right away?”

“What is it?”

“…Can you drop that ‘my master’ thing?”

There was no reply. When I looked up at the tree, there was no one there. …No, it was scarier that someone had been there.

She had probably left already. She appeared out of nowhere and then vanished without a sound right away. That was her.

“Same as always…”

“What’s the same as always?”

Without time to savor the farewell, Rinne peeked out from the gymnasium side.

A gentle breeze carried a refreshing floral scent. It was probably the scent of the deodorant spray Rinne used.

“Nothing. Is the match over?”

“Yes. A total victory. How about yours?”

“Well, we’re still rough around the edges, but it feels like we can win. This time, everyone’s energy is different, so I can’t drag them down.”

“It’s a chance this year, after all. I have to work hard too so I can deliver a victory to you.”

Rinne sat down next to me and leaned her head on my shoulder. This was why our classmates made a fuss, but when I saw Rinne’s profile smiling happily, it felt awkward to refuse her outright.

Suddenly, Rinne’s index finger traced my nape. I shuddered down my spine and instinctively covered my neck.

“Wh… What?”

“I see the hickey’s gone. …Should I put another one on?”

“I got bombarded with questions because of that one, so spare me…”

“Hmm~? For my part, I’d like you to let it slip like that, lose everyone’s trust, and end up with no one to rely on but me.”

“What are you even thinking… First off, I’m not doing anything that would get found out and make me lose trust.”

“Who knows? If it got out that we were hugging alone in an empty classroom… right?”

Rinne’s sticky gaze bound me in place. …It seemed the initiative was on her side. If I ruined her mood, my head would probably fly off in one shot.

“Hehe, I like that expression. It’s tantalizing.”

“Give me a break…”

“If you want to keep it a secret, give me a reward.”

“What would please you?”

“A date if you win the championship. How’s that?”

“Sure. If we win the championship, that is.”

“Who do you think I am? For your sake, I’m a woman who would even commit a crime?”

There was no cloudiness in Rinne’s eyes. I could only pray she really wouldn’t resort to crime.

“Renji~? The next match is starting… Oh!!! Renji’s getting all lovey-dovey with Rinne-san!!!”

“What the hell!? Hey, you idiot, what are you doing messing around with a girl!!!”

“Crap… Rinne-san? Could you let go of his hand for a sec?”

“Hehe… Since it’s a good chance. I have to make them see clearly whose you are, and whose I am…”

After that, I ended up getting teased by the guys, and rumors started spreading in the class about my indecent relationship with Rinne—that’s another story.