39 Waiting Is Also Important
In the morning, I arrived at school much earlier than usual.
I went to the empty gymnasium.
Seiran Academy is a preparatory school and doesn’t focus heavily on club activities.
Therefore, the gym is empty in the morning.
I had just sent Riri-chan a message saying, “I’m leaving early this morning, so I can’t go with you.”
If I told her in advance, she might say, “Then I’ll go with you.”
Still half-asleep, I held a volleyball in one hand.
Yes, I came for morning practice.
“An introvert in the gym this early in the morning… so out of character.”
I couldn’t help but scoff at myself.
But what’s driving me to do this?
The scene from yesterday wouldn’t leave my mind.
The image of Riri-chan and Tachibana-san playing volleyball together so harmoniously kept flashing through my mind.
It’s probably because I feel embarrassed that I’m friends with Riri-chan, who’s so good at volleyball, while I’m so terrible at it.
So I felt like I couldn’t allow myself to remain bad at volleyball.
I’m sure this hazy, unsettled feeling feeling will disappear if I get better.
But I won’t improve if I don’t practice.
And I don’t want to be seen failing repeatedly.
The answer I came up with was morning practice.
—Thump, thump
I bounced the volleyball on the floor, and it returned to my hand.
Yeah, I feel like I’m getting a better feel for the ball than yesterday.
I tossed the ball into the air and swung my arm.
—Whoosh… Thump, thump…
The sound of my miss and the ball rolling across the floor echoed through the morning gymnasium.
“…Hmm. Am I swinging too early?”
Then maybe I should swing more slowly.
I tossed the ball again.
—Thump, thump… Whoosh…
This time, the ball hit the floor first, and then the sound of my swing followed.
“Too late this time…”
My timing is off.
Is a ball really this disobedient?
It looks round and harmless, but it’s not cute at all.
“Um… Amatsuki-san, what are you doing so early in the morning?”
A clear, dignified voice cut through the tense morning air.
I turned around, and Kanaori-san was looking at me with a puzzled expression.
I didn’t expect an audience.
“As you can see, I’m practicing volleyball.”
“I apologize. The movements you were making were quite different from the volleyball I know…”
It was hard to tell if she was being sarcastic or if she was genuinely confused.
“…Was it… that strange?”
“It was… peculiar.”
“…I see.”
I felt my spirits sink.
I knew I was bad, but it hurts to be told that directly.
And more than anything, there’s no point in practicing early in the morning if someone sees me.
“What are you doing here so early, Kanaori-san?”
“I always arrive at school around this time. I heard noises coming from the usually empty gymnasium, so I came to check out of concern.”
…As expected of the student council president.
She’s so exemplary that I’m speechless.
“I see. Then there’s no problem. I’m just practicing volleyball, as you can see.”
I wanted her to leave if she had no business here.
I don’t want her to see my peculiar movements.
“You’re practicing volleyball… by yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to practice with someone?”
…Doesn’t she understand that I’m alone because I don’t want to practice with anyone?
“It’s fine, I’m practicing alone.”
“Volleyball is a team sport, so I think practicing alone is inefficient.”
Kanaori-san wouldn’t leave.
What does she want?
Do I have to be more explicit?
“I’m bad at it, so I don’t want to be seen. That’s why I’m practicing alone. I’ll play with everyone after I get better.”
She’ll understand if I say this.
It’s embarrassing to say, but I’ve just been through a much more embarrassing situation, so my sense of shame is numb.
“I see. That’s why.”
Even though she sounded like she understood, Kanaori-san still showed no signs of leaving.
Instead, she picked up the volleyball that was at my feet.
“Then you’re mistaken about what you should be ashamed of.”
“Eh?”
“You’re trying to improve yourself, and that attitude is commendable. You should be more confident.”
Kanaori-san stood opposite me and got into position to hit the ball.
“I’ll join you in your practice.”
“Eh, no, that’s too much trouble.”
“If you’re worried about being embarrassed, I’ve already seen you. There shouldn’t be a problem.”
“…Well, that’s true, but…”
Even so, I’m hesitant to take up the busy student council president’s time.
“Here we go.”
—Toss
But Kanaori-san tossed the ball without hesitation.
The ball arced towards me.
“Eh, ah, th— Hiya!”
—Whoosh… Roll, roll…
The same thing happened again.
“Amatsuki-san, may I offer some advice?”
“…Please.”
“Why are you trying to spike every ball?”
“…Hmm?”
What is she talking about?
“Well, I thought it might be because you’re trying to hit every ball with a spiking motion, which is making it difficult.”
“Kanaori-san, with all due respect, it’s not volleyball if I don’t hit the ball back.”
“…No, if you receive the ball, you can return it if you wait for the right timing.”
Kanaori-san extended her arms and clasped her hands together.
Since she said “Go ahead,” I tossed the ball.
Kanaori-san positioned her hands to receive the ball as it fell.
—Thud
The ball arced beautifully and returned to me.
I see, this is what they call a rally!
I swung my arm with all my might.
“Hiya!”
—Whoosh… Roll, roll…
“…Amatsuki-san.”
“…Yes?”
“Were you listening to me?”
“I was.”
“Then why are you trying to spike again?”
“…A habit?”
“You’re not that good yet!”
This is painful, so painful.
Even unskilled people have habits!
“Well, I understand. I need to learn how to receive.”
“O-Okay…”
The start of class was approaching.
I could hear people in the school building.
It’s about time to stop.
“Thank you very much. You’re good at volleyball too, Kanaori-san.”
“I only received the ball…”
Kanaori-san was being modest.
That also showed her magnanimity.
“Compared to me, you’re a god.”
“…No, but everyone starts out unskilled. You worry too much, Amatsuki-san.”
People say that, but people with natural talent are good from the start.
“So you were also bad at it at first, Kanaori-san?”
“Yes, I’m not very athletic. I was just like you at first, Amatsuki-san. I just practiced.”
“Hmm…”
Even Kanaori-san experienced that.
“So you shouldn’t worry too much about what others think and be afraid to show your weaknesses. If you do that, someone will teach you how to improve, like today.”
…I see.
Such insightful and mature advice, unexpected from someone my age.
But I felt a slight dissonance in her words.
“Then, Kanaori-san, maybe you should also… relax a little?”
“…Eh?”
“Well, you have this image of being talented, beautiful, and perfect. But you’re actually not good at some things, like sports, right?”
“Well, yeah…”
“But aren’t you trying too hard to live up to the ideal image of a student council president?”
“…I can’t say that’s not true.”
“Then you’re being contradictory. Isn’t that the same as what you just told me?”
“You shouldn’t worry too much about what others think and be afraid to show your weaknesses. If you do that, someone will teach you how to improve, like today.”
Those words should also apply to Kanaori-san’s approach as student council president.
“But I felt that everyone expected that ideal image of a student council president from me.”
“Ah… that’s such a boomerang statement. No one cares that much.”
“…Is that so?”
“That’s what I think.”
“…I see.”
“That’s very insightful.”
Kanaori-san nodded repeatedly.
I just repeated her own words back to her, though.
40 A Game of Catch with the Heart
“Amatsuki-san, why did you decide to practice alone?”
Even after leaving the gymnasium, Kanaori-san continued to talk to me.
Since we’re both second-years, our routes home are mostly the same, so she apparently intends to walk with me to the classroom.
“Well, I thought it would be bad if I remained unskilled…”
“Why did you think it would be bad to remain unskilled? There must have been a trigger.”
She’s being quite inquisitive.
I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.
“My friend was good at it, so I thought… I’d be left behind if I didn’t improve… I guess.”
“I see. You wanted to be on the same level as your friend.”
“Well, yeah… I guess.”
Even as I said that, something didn’t feel right.
I’m not that competitive. I’m more of a pacifist.
So I don’t get along with sports, which are based on competition.
It’s strange that even I felt motivated to practice…
“A friend who motivates you to improve is a rare find. You have a good relationship.”
Ah, I wonder about that…
In my case, I only receive stimulation from Riri-chan; I don’t think I’m giving anything back.
So in that sense, maybe it’s not a good relationship.
“Well then, I’ll excuse myself.”
“Ah, okay.”
We had just reached the second-year classrooms, so I parted ways with Kanaori-san there.
◇◇◇
“Eh…”
When I entered the classroom, someone was already in my seat.
A beautiful girl with long legs crossed, resting her chin on her hand while looking out the window.
It was Riri-chan.
Noticing me, Riri-chan immediately turned around.
Her furrowed brow told me she had something to say.
“Suzuna, good morning.”
“M-Morning…”
Even her greeting felt different from usual.
“So, what was that about today? Why did you leave me?”
I sent her a message this morning saying, “I’m going to school early,” but apparently, she wants to know more.
“Eh, was something wrong…?”
“Not wrong, but… it was too sudden, and you didn’t say what you were doing, and you weren’t in the classroom when I got to school. It was a bit… confusing.”
No, it was wrong…
Riri-chan was swinging her crossed leg.
Her displeased mood was evident in her attitude.
“Well, I had something to do at school early this morning…”
“…Hmm. Well, that’s fine, but… you’ll tell me what it was, right?”
She’s… that bothered by it…?
Well… Kanaori-san also told me not to worry so much about what others think, so maybe I should be honest.
“I was… practicing volleyball. I can’t use the gym freely except in the morning.”
“Eh, volleyball practice? Suzuna, you liked volleyball that much?”
“No, I actually hate it…”
“I know. Then why?”
Because I felt uneasy after seeing Riri-chan and Tachibana-san playing volleyball so well together?
Or because I’m disgusted with myself for being so unskilled that I can’t join them?
Both seem true, and yet not quite true.
“…I wonder why.”
“You don’t even know yourself?”
It’s true that waking up early and doing something I’m not used to requires considerable effort.
What’s the driving force behind this uncharacteristic burst of energy?
I’m sure it has something to do with Riri-chan.
—Clatter
The teacher entered the classroom.
Noticing the teacher, Riri-chan stood up.
“Well, whatever. Don’t do that again.”
“Ah, okay…”
I don’t understand why I shouldn’t do it again, but it seems like she won’t budge unless it’s absolutely necessary.
It’s not something I’m passionate enough about to argue over, so I just nodded obediently.
Riri-chan left, and I sat down in my seat.
(It’s warm…)
I must have been sitting there for a while.
The chair felt slightly warm, like someone had been sitting there.
Thinking that it was Riri-chan’s body heat made me feel like I was doing something wrong.
But then I thought, isn’t it strange that I’m being affected by something like this? And I became confused.
◇◇◇
After school.
Riri-chan cheered up after that.
But since I can’t do morning practice anymore, it’s impossible to improve in secret.
Well… I’m so bad at it anyway, so maybe it’s fine as it is.
Maybe accepting my limitations is part of growing up?
I was thinking the complete opposite of what I thought this morning.
“Amatsuki-san, are you free now?”
“…Huh?”
An unexpected voice called out to me.
It was Kanaori-san.
Why is she talking to me?
“It’s not ‘huh.’ It’s volleyball practice time.”
“B-But it’s after school…”
Don’t you have club activities?
“You’re in luck. The volleyball club has their spring tournament coming up, so they’re only having a meeting today. Half the court is free.”
“Wh-What?”
I wasn’t sure if this was good timing or bad timing.
Or rather, that’s not even the main issue.
“Kanaori-san, are you going to teach me again?”
“Yes, I couldn’t just leave you like that. I’ll teach you the basics.”
Th-Thank you… but I’m not happy about it.
Why are the heroines so concerned about me instead of Shindo Minato?
I wish they’d direct their attention towards the protagonist a little more.
“Hey, Kanaori, what are you doing with Suzuna?”
Riri-chan’s voice was colder than ice.
It was a tone I’d never heard her use with me. Even when she’s angry, she’s usually more gentle.
“Oh, Hinase-san. I was just suggesting volleyball practice.”
“…Huh? Why are you doing that?”
“It was just a coincidence. I saw Amatsuki-san practicing alone this morning, so I offered her some advice.”
Hearing that, Riri-chan’s head turned slowly, like a rusty machine.
Her sharp gaze pierced me.
“Suu-zuu-na? What’s that? I wasn’t told anything about this.”
“I told you…”
“I wasn’t told you were practicing with her.”
Riri-chan pointed at Kanaori-san.
…It’s true that I might not have mentioned practicing with Kanaori-san.
But that’s only because Riri-chan was giving off such a scary vibe that I didn’t have the chance to explain everything…
And is it really such a big deal that I practiced with Kanaori-san…?
“Hinase-san, don’t point at people. It’s rude.”
“I’m the one who’s offended! Why were you practicing with Suzuna?”
“…? As I said, it was a coincidence. If you have a problem with that, shouldn’t you be blaming yourself for sleeping in this morning?”
“I would have woken up if Suzuna had told me!”
“You can’t do anything unless you’re told? That’s something a child would say. Ah, my apologies. You’re not even a child, considering you can’t even wear your uniform properly.”
“Why you…!!”
“Did I say something wrong?”
Why are they suddenly insulting each other…?
This is scary…
“Come on, Amatsuki-san, let’s go. Let’s ignore this delinquent.”
“Wait a minute! I’m going too!”
“Eh…”
I, the person involved, felt the most left out.
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