Chapter 34: District qualifying

Volume 3: Relationship Development

It was the middle of Golden Week, and I was at the venue for the Inter-High Athletics Regional Qualifier.

　In the spectator stands were my family, Shino, Himari’s best friends Kitahara and Komatsu, and even the book club member Hoshi.

“Soma!　Get the gold medal!”

“Soma-chan!　Show us how proud you are to represent Japan!”

　My father and mother probably thought it was the Olympics. It’s probably because there are foreigners among the athletes.

“Brother!　Please give victory to Tsumugi!”

“Senpaai!　Good luck!”

“Yagami!　Take first place!　First place!”

“If you don’t qualify, I’ll kill you!”

“Yagami!　Good luck!　Soisoisoiya!”

{1 [“Kitahara, I’ll take first place for you.”] (Take first place.) }

{2 [“Kitahara, if I win first place, you’ll be my girl.”] (Get first place.) }

　That Kitahara chick, she’s got a lot of nonsense to say. ……!

　The qualifying round can be passed if you place high enough, so there’s no need to aim for first place.

　But after her words, I had no choice but to take first place.

“Kitahara, I’ll take first place for you.”

“O-ou ……eh?　For me?　Seriously, ……?”

　I get to the starting line, looking at Kitahara who is flustered, and Shino and Tsumugi who have their eyes agape.

『The first set of preliminaries for the men’s 1,500 meters will now begin.』

　The announcement announcing the start of the competition rang out in the hall.

　In the 1,500-meter race, there were four groups in total.

　Only those who make it through the preliminary rounds can move on to the finals.

　In other words, I had to run twice to get through the regional qualifiers. It was tedious as hell.

“On your marks!”

　The gun sounded, and all the competitors started at once.

　In order to save my energy for the race, I won’t give it my all in the qualifying round.

　I joined the lead group, but decided not to run at the top.

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to compete with the representatives from each school, but I guess I was wrong….”

　This is a normal thing. It’s no different than running against Kinomura.

　I was able to relax and practice my normal running style.

　In the end, I did what I love to do, I overtook them at the end of the race and came in first place.

　Waving to Shino and the others, I took a break.

“You did it, Yagami!　Here’s your drink!”

“Thank you, Himari.”

　I took Himari’s special sport drink and gulped it down.

“Stop flirting, Himarin!”

“Don’t try to run away!”

“You’re being annoying!　I’m just doing my job as manager!”

Himari replies to Kitahara and Komatsu’s criticism with a red face.

” …… Those girls seem to have taken a liking to you.”

“Eh?　Seriously ……?”

　That double bitch, Kitahara and Komatsu, are liking me…..?

“Yeah, …… you never run away from something you don’t want to do. …… you’re a man.”

　No, it’s not that I don’t run away, it’s just that I can’t run away…..

　It seems that my likeability has increased in an unexpected way. Well, it’s better than being hated.

“…… You don’t by any chance think Sayaka and Reina are a thing, do you?”

　Himari looks at me with a frown.

{1 [“I only love you, Himari.”] (Stroke her hair.)

{2 [“Those two look so sexy!　Oh, I want to fuck them!”] (Shake your hips back and forth.) }

{3 [“Did you forget what I said to you?”] }

　Uumu.. 3 is the best, but it’s a bit weirdly suggestive.

　I don’t even remember what it was about.

“Did you forget what I said to you?”

“Eh!?　Well, of course I remember. ……!　I’m not stupid…….!”

　I don’t know what it is, but Himari seems to know what it is. That’s good.

“Well, that’s how it is.”

“Fu Fuun, that’s how it is!　Ah, hot!　It’s getting kind of hot in here!”

　Himari, red-faced and fanning her face with her hands, went to the other club members with awkward movements.

　A few hours later, I participate in the 1,500-meter men’s final and pass the regional qualifying round in first place.

　The next day, I also made it through the 5,000 meters in first place, making me the double crown winner of the regional qualifier.

　That night, we celebrated again.

　It was a big party with not only my father and mother, but also Kitahara, Komatsu, and Hoshi.

　I thought it would be a bad idea for people to know that I’m under the care of the Rurikawa family, but Himari brought them along on a whim.

“Eeh?　”Himarin, you’re living with Yagami?”

“You guys are definitely having sex!”

“Idiot!　We’re not!”

Himari is furious, her face bright red.

　How can you say such a thing in front of Sensei and my parents, Komatsu ……

“Oi Yagami!　What’s the real story!”

{1 [“Yeah, every night I’m doing the **** exercise by putting my ****’s on Himari’s ****’s.”]

{2 [“Yeah, we’re having sex every night.”] }

　Oi!　You’re playing a bad joke on me!

　The first is a medical term, but on the contrary, it gives a sense of vividness. I think we should go for the more casual “2” here.

“Yeah, we’re having sex every night.”

“EEEEEHHH?!”

“Wait!　What are you talking about, Yagami?　It’s not true!　He is lying!!”

　See what I mean? That’s what you get for calling Kitahara and the others.

　The two of them are laughing while everyone else is frozen in place.

“You’re right, Soma!　You’re a real player!　Hahahaha!”

“You’ve really become a nice guy just like your dad!　Fufufu!”

“No, that’s not a compliment!”

“Yagami’s parents are so bad……”

“This is wrong, no way, no way!　Neither you nor Himari have the guts to do that!　This is a joke!　Isn’t that right?!”

　Shino questioned me with a fierce sword. Scary!

“Yeah, I’m kidding.”

“…..Right. It’s really gross, so please don’t make jokes like that, Senpai?”

　Shino returned to her normal state.

“But, you know, when you live under one roof, there’s bound to be something.”

“Maybe he’s having an affair with Sensei?　Thoughts on that, Yagami?”

　I glanced at Sensei.

　She’s twirling the pasta around her fork at a crazy speed, as if in a hurry.

　Thanks to this, a dumpling-like object was formed at the end of the fork.

{1 [“Yeah, we kissed like adults, and we slept together in an Internet cafe.”] }

{2 [“Yeah, we have sex every night.”] }

　1 is less severe, but it would be a bad idea to mention the fact.

　The more jokey “2” is less damaging.

“Yeah, we have sex every night.”

“EEEH?!”

“Yagami-kun!　Don’t say anything stupid!　You’ll get us in trouble with the police!

　The angry teacher slaps me with a poke and prod. –Cute

“Senpai!　Please don’t make jokes like that because it’s really gross!”

“What’s wrong with Himarin’s sister?　She’s obviously jealous.　Could it be this guy?”

“Hey Yagami. Are you having an affair with Himarin’s sister?”

{1 [Yes, I am. We had a date in Yokohama.] }

{2 “No, I’m not, but I did have a date with her in Yokohama.”] }

　Seriously? …… Either way, do I have to tell them about Yokohama?

　Well, nominally, it’s a practice date, so I guess I can say that?

“No, I’m not, but I did have a date with her in Yokohama.”

“Wait a minute, Senpai ……!”

　Everyone is staring at Shino’s flustered behavior.

“Eh.　Seriously ……?”

Himari asked Shino.

　Shino fiddled with her bangs and faltered.

“Uhm, you see……yes……”

　What are you doing? Why don’t you just deny it, Shino ……?

　Unlike me, there is no forced choice.

“EEEHHH!?　Seriously!?　You’re my sister!?”

“Hahahahaha!　Himarin’s being taken by her sister!”

　Kitahara and Komatsu laughed like tambourine-strumming monkey toys.

“Wait, you are lying, Shino!”

“Shino, don’t joke. I’ll get angry, okay?”

　Shino didn’t say anything, but continued to play with her bangs in embarrassment.

“Wait wait.　When did you go?!”

“C-Can we stop talking about this now?”

“Shino, come here for a minute!”

“T-this sounds interesting!”

“Let’s go.”

　Shino was taken to Himari’s room by all the women.

　The only ones left were me, my father, and my mother.

“Soma, it’s great that you have so many lively and fun friends!”

“Soma-chan is very popular with everyone!”

　My parents smiled happily.