Chapter 15 Hate

Chapter 15: Hate

The second exercise in P.E. class was bump passing.

Considering the limited space inside the gymnasium, the P.E. teacher gathered everyone on one side of the outdoor field.

After stationary bump passing came paired bump passing—in short, two people use their receiving form to pass the ball back and forth to each other, with the goal of continuing for as many rallies as possible.

But for the pair of Hoshino-san and Kazami-san, the result was very obvious. The number of rallies they could complete—

was, once again, zero!

"Something feels a little off," Hoshino thought seriously about why. "Kazami-san, maybe we should try lowering our center of gravity a little; that should make it easier to receive."

"Ah, okay." Kazami noted it attentively.

"And when we receive, we need to keep our forearms straight and together, and when the ball comes, move our legs first, then our hands—meaning, get to the right position first, then use our hands to receive. That should improve our success rate a bit."

Kazami looked at Hoshino, who was earnestly summing up her experience, and there was a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"Hoshino-san, you seem to know quite a bit about volleyball as well!" she exclaimed.

Hoshino: Huh?

"N-no, not at all! It's all just theory, haha..." She felt a little embarrassed. "And it's all stuff I picked up from watching others play. When I try it myself, I'm still a complete mess..."

She would never admit that every single one of these points came from when she used to accompany Hinata and Yamaguchi during extra practice. Tsukishima had been right there, pointing them out mercilessly. These were hard-earned lessons she'd paid for with her dignity from that sharp-tongued Tsukki!

...

Wait, hold on—did Kazami-san just say "too"?

"Ah, because I've also been hearing a lot about volleyball recently," Kazami explained.

"I see..." Hoshino nodded.

For the next little while, both of them adjusted their movements. Although they still couldn't manage a successful rally, at least the ball wasn't flying everywhere anymore.

"Kazami-san, over here!"

It was Hoshino's turn to bump again. She gently tossed the ball up, then with her arms locked tight, she bumped it hard, managing to send it close to Kazami instead of into some random corner.

Perfect chance!

Hoshino's spirits lifted.

This was the best bump she'd made since they started. Whether they could succeed or not all depended on this one!

Please receive it, Kazami-san!

Hoshino watched Kazami with hopeful eyes, but instead of moving toward the ball, Kazami rushed toward her.

...

Huh?

Before she could react, Kazami grabbed her arm and pulled her entire body toward her. The next second, a sound like something tearing through the air whizzed past her cheek, and an unidentified object whizzed by, finally crashing onto the ground behind her with a thud.

Hoshino: !!!

So close! If Kazami hadn't pulled her, that thing would have definitely hit her in the head!

Wait, what was that thing? A soccer ball?

Hold on, has her current 100% headshot debuff expanded from basketball to soccer now?!

Before Hoshino could figure out what was happening, Kazami let go of her arm and turned to the group of boys who had come to retrieve the ball. "Please apologize."

The leading boy: "Huh?"

"Your ball almost hit someone. It's only right that you apologize."

Kazami repeated herself, her cold tone carrying undeniable authority.

"Why? We haven't even blamed you for being in the way!" another boy retorted stubbornly.

...

Wow, scary. Hoshino didn't even need to turn her head to feel the anger radiating from Kazami beside her. She was a completely different person from the good student she'd been practicing with just a moment ago.

"I saw everything. You two have been at it for ages and haven't managed a single complete rally. And you still have the nerve to keep going? I'd be embarrassed for you!"

That tall, leading boy sneered and continued, "By the look of you, you're first-years, right? Be grateful that we senpai interrupted your little kiddie game! Sports aren't for people like you. Go back to sewing your dolls!"

As they were about to leave, Hoshino stepped in front of them.

"Oh, what, still not convinced?" the boy found it amusing.

Compared to Kazami, Hoshino was shorter and had a baby face, making her even less intimidating.

But Hoshino simply put one hand behind her ear, pretending she couldn't hear properly.

"Ah, sorry, what did you say?" she said with an exaggerated tone. "What do you mean by 'people like us'? People like us who are just taking P.E. class normally? Since when did taking a normal class become such a rare thing at Karasuno? Huh—really?"

The boys were all stunned, seemingly not expecting Hoshino to be so sharp-tongued.

But Hoshino's rapid-fire wasn't done yet: "Senpai, huh? Oh—how impressive! Senpai indeed! Senpai who have lived a year or two longer than us! Is your senpai status the only thing you can use to bully people? Because you have nothing else to show for yourselves besides your age? Is that it? Oh dear, I didn't think we two first-years would actually force you to show your hand so quickly! How embarrassing for us!"

"You—"

"By the way, this isn't club activity time, is it? There's no advisor around here, so that means you're cutting class to play soccer on your own, right? Wow—senpai really are impressive! But why aren't you wearing the soccer club's uniform? Is it because you're too bad at it and don't want your clubmates to see? Or is it because you never got a uniform? Or maybe you didn't even make the club? Either way, it's super pathetic, right?"

...

The boys were practically fuming.

Kazami, who had been really angry, almost couldn't help but laugh at the scene, but then she glanced at the boys' faces and quickly composed herself, saying coldly: "With all due respect, it's because of people like you that so many people develop a misunderstanding of sports. I don't expect you to understand that. All I want is for you to apologize right now. Otherwise, if the commotion gets bigger and draws my classmates over, I won't mind letting everyone see the true faces of you 'senpai'."

...

After a few seconds of standoff, the boys muttered a 'sorry' and slunk back to their soccer ball, slinking away.

Hoshino watched them run farther and farther away until they completely disappeared, and then she finally jumped up from where she stood—

Yay! Their first mission as the Team with Normal Physical Stats (don't ask why it's called that, she couldn't think of anything else for now) was a huge success!

***

"Um, Kazami-san."

"Hm?"

“Because our bumping was so bad, we accidentally wandered out of Group 3's area. Now we're only around Group 2's area.”

“Ah, I know.”

“Huh? You knew? Then why did you threaten them just now by saying our class was nearby? Do you know anyone in Group 2?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then…”

“But they definitely don’t know anyone either, since we’re different grades.”

“…Right! Kazami-san, you’re amazing!”

“…Pfft, I should be saying that to you. First-years who openly provoke upperclassmen are rare. I originally thought you were the type to respect upperclassmen.”

“…Hmph, that depends on the kind of senior. There’s no need to respect rude ones like that.”

Wait, that sounds familiar. Where have I heard that before?

“But I never expected you to have this hidden side, Hoshino-san.”

“Huh? What hidden side?”

“Sharp-tongued Tsukki.”

“Me? Sharp-tongued? Ha ha, stop joking. How could I be sharp-tongued? That word is clearly used to describe—AH!”

As if realizing something huge, Hoshino suddenly gasped.

“What’s wrong?” Kazami was startled.

Hoshino: …

She remembered—that line was something Tsukishima said during the cultural festival!

Oh my god, how many times today has she thought about Tsukishima? Does that even make sense? He hasn’t even shown up recently, yet she keeps bringing him up like some kind of passive ability that keeps triggering. More importantly…

Hoshino took a deep breath, a look of despair on her face.

When she was mocking those older boys just now, she was practically channeling Tsukishima. How is that even fair?!

***

“I’m beyond saving.”

Hoshino slumped to the ground, hugging her knees.

“I never thought the day would come when I'd become Sharp-tongued Tsukki. It’s like the dragon slayer becoming the dragon, when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back into you, growing up to become what I hated most…”

Kazami: ???

What is all this about?!

“Um, Hoshino-san…”

Kazami automatically squatted down too.

“Actually, I've been wanting to ask—who exactly is this ‘Sharp-tongued Tsukki’?”

Hoshino: …

“It’s hard to describe in words,” she said.

After all, words can't fully capture how sarcastic Tsukishima is.

But Kazami took it her own way.

“So, is it someone you like?” she asked point-blank.

“Cough, cough…”

For the first time ever, Hoshino choked on her own saliva.

“No way! More like someone I hate!” Hoshino quickly clarified.

And who would like someone like Tsukishima anyway?! Not her!!

“Oh, I see…”

Kazami nodded thoughtfully, then patted Hoshino’s shoulder and promised, “If you ever need help with anything, you can come to me.”

Hoshino: Huh?

“For example, I can tutor you so you can outrank that person in the final exams.”

Hoshino: Huh?!

“Wait, no, given the difference between me and that guy’s rank, that’s still way too hard…” she said sheepishly.

“Or exploit his weaknesses to make him look bad in certain situations. Next cultural festival, how about luring him into the haunted house?”

Hoshino: Huh??!!

“Well, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it, but that guy isn't scared of ghosts at all! I'd probably end up getting scared…” she explained quietly.

“That’s fine. How is he at sports? If he's not great, you can sign up for the same event as him at the sports festival and beat him soundly. We still have a few months before the sports festival. You're more athletic than me, so we could do some intensive training.”

Hoshino: Cough!

“It's not about the time! Beating a guy from a sports club at the sports festival…”

Just as Hoshino was about to say “that’s impossible,” a light bulb suddenly went off in her head—

“Oh, does e-sports count as a sport? Would we have that event at the sports festival? I think I'd have a better shot at that!” she raised her hand excitedly.

But Kazami looked at her with a complicated expression.

“Hoshino-san,” she said, “you say this ‘Sharp-tongued Tsukki’ is someone you hate, but you know quite a lot about him!”

Hoshino: …Huh?

No, wait, let me explain!

But Kazami was already onto her next deduction: “So then…”

Hoshino: ?!

So then what?!

“Wait, no, it’s not what you think, Kazami-san!!”

Hoshino almost held her breath, only to hear Kazami suddenly say—

“This must be a person you super, super hate, right?”

...

...

...

...

“Yes, exactly! That’s right!” Hoshino nodded firmly.

Tsukishima Kei? I hate him the most!!

*

-TBC-

Author's note: Kazami, the backseat strategist (confirmed)