185 – Competition
When I returned to school, I felt like I knew something had happened, even if I didn’t know it.
I could tell right away by looking at the reactions of Haruna, Yuuki, and Shiraishi.
Furthermore, a meaningful text from Takase-senpai.
As a result of making my own guesses until after school came, it occurred to me that my senior was retiring from track and field or was leaving for a distant place after graduation.
For electronic ramen, it was understandable for us who had supported our seniors all this time to feel dejected and sad, but it was not something to hide from me.
Of course, it is sad for me as a former manager of her track and field team, but it is okay if we all support her future senior and watch her from her side like we have done so far.
However, if it is the latter…. I also understand why Yuuki and the others bothered to hide their words from me.
Leaving far away from us and taking a step into a new world is such a shocking thing.
Farewell.
Yuuki and Haruna have been close friends since she was young.
Shiraishi also became close to his senior by spending time together.
It makes sense to be heartbroken and to hide it from me.
In this matter, I would have thought it would be polite for the senior himself to tell me directly, rather than hearing it from someone else.
That’s why they also hid it from me.
Then what should I do?
You have to catch your senior.
What I had to do was simple.
How about the problem?
How do we catch a senior who has made such a firm decision and wants to go out into the wider world as a track and field athlete?
Please stay here for my harem?
That kind of persuasion is completely unconvincing.
Of course, that was my goal, but it never occurred to me that I could persuade my senior with such snobbish content alone.
Some method is needed.
The senior himself naturally came to terms with the process and decided to stay here.
Until after school came, I was only focused on coming up with the method.
“Minsu.”
“Ah… “Haruna.”
When I came to my senses, the bell had already rang and students were leaving school.
I looked at Haruna and Yuuki standing in front of me.
“Then we’ll go first.”
Yuuki said, waving his hand.
However, his expression was full of heartache.
Shiraishi, who approached from behind, had a similar expression to them.
Will I soon be able to make the same facial expressions as them?
As I wait for her to break up, I wonder if she will be disappointed and sad at first, but towards the end, will her efforts convince her and let her go?
“…… Wait for a sec. “Everyone has something to say.”
I stood up and said.
“What to say… “What do you mean?”
Haruna asked.
They were also waiting for me to hear the news from my senior.
But now there is no need to hear that.
Graduation is approaching, and as time goes by, we must face change even if we don’t like it.
I also know that it cannot last forever.
I just wanted to change the trajectory a little.
Because I don’t want a bitter ending.
***
A reply has arrived from Manager.
It was said that something would come up and it would be delayed to visit the track and field team.
I always stayed behind and practiced alone after club activities ended anyway, so it didn’t matter, but what on earth was going on?
He was always busy.
Even when I was the manager of the track and field department, and even after I left the department.
Seeing him like that, I always felt anxious.
I remembered how anxious I was, looking at his back with my eyes, unable to express it outwardly.
It was the same even now.
Because soon it will be goodbye to me.
Will I be able to maintain my composure in front of him?
Will I be able to show my usual self while delivering such sudden news? My heart was shaking, but I had no choice but to do it.
Just like I told Yuuki, Haruna, Shiraishi, and Yuuko.
I will definitely be able to speak in my own way.
Just like me….
As a dignified and dependable senior that everyone expects.
I will soon say goodbye.
The door to the clubroom was opened.
I rubbed my forehead with a white towel and took a deep breath.
After all the members left, I tried to concentrate on practicing alone like always, but I was particularly unmotivated.
So today I sat down all day and waited for him to come.
With what expression and eyes should I look at him?
Will I be able to be my usual self? I pressed my pounding heart and took a deep breath.
I tore time apart, crumpled it, threw it away, and waited for him to come.
“…… “Are you inside?”
His voice was heard along with the knocking sound.
“Ah. “You can come in.”
I raised my head.
The door opened and the manager came in.
Looking at that, I was reminded of the man who would always go in and out of the club room and smile whenever our eyes met when he was the manager of the track and field team.
Deja vu.
I almost looked at him blankly, filled with longing without realizing it, but I soon came to my senses and turned around.
“Sit anywhere comfortably. “There are only you and me now.”
“I get more nervous hearing that.”
He smiled mischievously and sat across from me.
“He suddenly called me because he had something to say… “I was pretty nervous.”
“It’s nothing special.”
I shook my head and laughed.
“It’s just my job. “I don’t really want to ask you a favor.”
“Is that so?”
He said as he looked back at the club he had been in for a long time.
“Nothing has changed here.”
“I’m always trying to maintain the neat and tidy environment you created.”
“hahahaha… “It was very messy before that.”
He smiled bitterly.
It was he who created recycling bins for club members who threw away trash anywhere or left what they ate and drank in the clubroom.
Nevertheless, the manager was the one who cleaned the dirty room every time and tried to maintain cleanliness at all times.
The managers who came in after him were also trying, but of course they were not able to do as much.
“I was active for about a month, but… “You have brought so much change to this place.”
“That’s… “It’s a good change, right?”
“Of course. “It’s okay to be proud.”
It was cute to see him smiling and lowering his head as if he was embarrassed.
I felt weak, but I cleared my throat and gathered myself again.
I didn’t summon him to talk about the past like this.
“I feel like I’ll spend the evening just talking about memories.”
“It’s good because it’s fun for me.”
“Then it would have been better if Sayoko and other club members were there.”
A wave of calm laughter flowed.
I feel comfortable being with him.
The tension, urgency, and pressure to accomplish things are disappearing like snow melting.
All I could see before my eyes was his image, the image of him smiling at me, and that became everything to me.
There was a time when I wanted to run for him, but….
“Manager.”
He is my precious sister’s boyfriend.
And I knew that this unrequited love could not last forever.
“Listen. I am….”
I am.
What were you trying to say?
The words that came out so naturally during lunch time didn’t come out at all now.
“I…” .”
Swallow your saliva.
I felt my throat getting clogged and my eyes getting wet.
No, if you do this….
Are you planning to say goodbye while crying?
I like you, and I still like you, but… I had no choice but to leave with this feeling of regret.
Are you planning on saying that?
The manager looked at me quietly.
I was waiting until the end to speak.
I had no intention of leaving with unrequited love in my heart.
I wanted to hug them as I greeted them with a happy farewell, shaking off all negative emotions.
But, for now.
“…… Senior.”
My eyes were very wet.
He spoke to me, who lowered my head with my lips tightly pursed.
“Can I speak first?”
“…… What… “I mean.”
I was the one who called you.
I didn’t want to show him my ugly side.
“This is what the senior is trying to say now. “Can I play first?”
“……… ….”
Is it consideration?
Is it his own kindness to comfort me, who cannot finally say goodbye?
Even that kindness has become bitter now, but I couldn’t show myself to be any more foolish.
After quietly nodding, the manager spoke.
“I wish my senior would stay here.”
“…… What….”
That was a completely different answer than I expected.
“…… What?”
“If what you are trying to say is that you are leaving us… “I don’t want to accept it.”
The manager stared at me, brazenly insisting on that claim.
“You can build your career as a player here as well. Of course, it would be helpful if we moved to a better environment, but… For me… “I don’t want to let go of my senior.”
I couldn’t understand what they were saying.
However, the manager spoke seriously and with such confidence.
It looked the same as when he asked me to join the track and field team as manager.
“Of course, this is purely my greed, so I won’t be able to hold onto my senior with that alone.”
“……… ….”
The story progresses as it pleases.
I still don’t even understand what that man is talking about.
“So, I would like to place one condition.”
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Manager stood up.
“It’s a very unfavorable match for me, but….”
Rolling up his sleeves, he snorted.
“Please compete with me in a 100M race.”
“What…” .”
“If I win there, please stop studying abroad.”
“……… ….”
Of course, Yuuki and Haruna, please think again. He expressed disappointment and asked if he really had to go.
However, they did not ask for a match with these ridiculous conditions.
Even if they desperately begged me not to go, my decision would not have changed.
“How do you feel? “Don’t you think it would be fun?”
Manager asked with a playful smile even in this situation.
As I looked at that man, my sadness, hesitation, and regrets suddenly sank beneath me.
Instead, what fills my heart is….
“Okay. “I will accept it.”
Joy and excitement.
The happiness of being alone with him in the club room without any worries.
Manager. You are still an unknown man.
I also smiled and stood up.
If it were a race, there was no way I could lose to him.
I cannot understand his true intention in requesting such an obvious match.
That’s why my heart was fluttering.
We left the club room and headed to the playground.