Chapter 28 Sports Festival

Chapter 28: Sports Festival

In October, the sports festival came as scheduled.

Hoshino Haruna had mixed feelings about this event.

As a typical nerdy girl with zero athletic ability, she certainly couldn't derive any pleasure from participating in any of the events. Fortunately, she realized this early on, so she had long since gotten used to experiencing the sense of camaraderie, excitement, and hard work from the perspective of a spectator.

But reality often doesn't go as planned.

Ever since she was a kid, every time such an event was held, there would be not enough participants, so they needed to fill slots, and Hoshino, who hadn't signed up for any event, would always be the first target of the class athletic rep. Then, without any practice before the event, she would be forced to participate, and finally end up in last place by a huge margin, with her name and score recorded for posterity as a legendary failure.

After experiencing this countless times, Hoshino had developed a heart of steel, able to accurately identify the other party's intentions before the sports coordinator could make a move, and then shut down his attempt before he could succeed.

—Just like now.

"No."

When Yamazaki Kenji approached her with a suspicious-looking form during a break, Hoshino said bluntly.

Yamazaki: ?

"Are you starting to talk like Tsukishima from the neighboring class now?" Yamazaki exclaimed. "Could this be the legendary couple—"

"...Shut up!"

Hoshino quickly interrupted him.

"I'm referring to the form you're holding. If I'm not mistaken, it's the registration form for the sports festival, right?" Hoshino pointed with the pen in her hand. "If you're trying to persuade me to sign up, don't even think about it."

"Why?" Yamazaki, a sports enthusiast, couldn't understand. "Just think of it as taking part. Anyway, rankings and stuff—"

"They don't matter either, right?" Hoshino could guess what he was going to say. "Come on, it's not like this is the first time I've been in this situation. I can recite your lines by heart. The problem is, do I look like I have an athletic bone in my body? Is there any difference between me going out there and humiliating myself?"

"But this time is different from middle school," Yamazaki pressed on. "There's still some time before the sports festival. You don't have to go on stage immediately after filling in your name. You can absolutely participate in practice before the event."

"It would take at least ten years for me to train to become like you, the athletic types."

"I told you, you don't have to be like us—"

"Oh, fine, fine! Anyway, I'm not agreeing to it." Hoshino was adamant. "Give up."

...

Unable to persuade her no matter what, Yamazaki made a pitiful expression.

"Please! The whole class is just one spot short now! If you fill it out, I can submit this form—"

"You can just make up a name and submit it."

"No way! I'll definitely get caught! And don't you want to feel more involved in this sports festival?—"

"I've already finished drawing the class poster. I'd say I've already contributed plenty."

"I'm begging you—if you agree, you'll be my sister from another mother—"

"Not even as a biological mother."

"Mom—"

Hoshino: ???

This guy has completely lost his dignity just to fulfill his sports committee performance goals!

In the end, she couldn't bear to watch her longtime friend call everyone 'mom' just for a form. After hesitating for a while, Hoshino finally nodded. Yamazaki, as if relieved, gratefully handed over the form, and Hoshino signed her name in the only blank space.

But after Yamazaki left, she realized she hadn't even looked at what event it was.

...

Oh well.

Hoshino didn't care much.

After all, with her athletic ability, she'd be dead last in any event, so it made no difference.

***

On the day of the sports festival, the school was bustling with people, and it seemed many from outside the school had come to watch. The area near the athletic field was especially lively. From the track to the bleachers, every spot was packed.

"So many people." Sitting in the stands, Hoshino remarked expressionlessly. "My fear of crowds is about to kick in."

Yamazaki, sitting next to her, looked confused.

"Since when did you have this problem?" he asked curiously. "Aren't you the one who loves watching the festivities the most?"

"That depends on the occasion," Hoshino said. "On an occasion like this, where you can bump into ten athletic monsters by walking three meters, I'm still intimidated."

Yamazaki nodded thoughtfully.

Then he noticed something was off.

"Wait, didn't you used to watch the volleyball club's training every day? Isn't that also packed with athletic types? How come you're not scared then?" He caught the inconsistency. "Could it be—"

Hoshino effectively shut Yamazaki up with a standard eye roll.

"I almost forgot you're an athletic type too. Stay away from me as well," she said.

"...Got it." Yamazaki quickly backed off.

Finding it a bit boring just sitting around, Hoshino decided to take a walk nearby. Since she was already here, of course she followed the usual routine—

Hoshino skillfully pulled out a pen and notebook from her uniform jacket pocket, entering observation mode.

Hmm... Over there, a girl is handing a boy a drink. How sweet and youthful. I'll note that down.

Hmm... The cheering in the stands here is so organized. Quite professional. I'll note that down.

Oh... There's a relay race going on up ahead. So intense! I'll note that down.

...

Why am I even noting this down too!!

These are all things she had already seen in middle school!! What's there to write down!!

Hosh

Alright, let's just switch plans!

"Kazami-san—Nika-san—"

She pulled out a stack of game cards from her other pocket and waved enthusiastically at the two girls sitting in the front rows of the spectator stands as she ran toward them.

"Do you have time now? Let's play cards—!!"

***

A few moments later, on a small empty spot in the corner of the stands.

"So, what events did you two sign up for?" Hoshino asked as she dealt the cards.

"Hmm... I got a doctor's note recently, so I didn't have to sign up for any events," Kazami said. "But I did promise Yamazaki that I'd help him with some post-event statistical analysis."

"Oh, right..."

Kazami-san often takes sick leave due to health issues—Hoshino knew that. It's just that...

"That Yamazaki guy... he really doesn't let anyone in the class off the hook, does he?" she remarked.

"Well, it's fine!" Kazami didn't seem to mind. "It feels pretty nice to be able to help out."

Hoshino nodded thoughtfully, continuing to deal the cards without missing a beat.

"And what about you, Nika-san?" she asked suddenly.

"Huh? Me?" Nika pointed at herself. "I signed up for a jump rope event. It's pretty simple—I already finished it and came back!"

"Wow, that fast? That's nice..." Hoshino said in admiration.

"Yeah!" Nika nodded eagerly. "So, Hoshino-san, did you sign up for any events too?"

"I did!"

"Ooh, what is it?" Nika pressed.

"It's—"

Hoshino's expression froze, along with her hands that were still in the middle of dealing the cards.

What was it again? Why couldn't she remember?

...

No, wait—she never knew it from the start!

"I don't actually know what I signed up for," Hoshino replied honestly.

Both girls across from her widened their eyes. "Huh?!"

"It's fine—I'm sure someone will come find me when it's time." Hoshino waved it off and kept dealing.

Kazami & Nika: ...

That's way too chill!!

"More than that, I'm more worried about how my manga's going," Hoshino said, her head drooping without her meaning to. "I was hoping to gather some new material at the sports festival, but it turns out it's all stuff I've drawn before... Nothing fresh at all!"

"Huh? Is that what's worrying you, Hoshino-san?" Nika had an idea. "We just watched the volleyball club's inter-club relay race—maybe that could give you some inspiration!"

"Oh? How was it? How was it?" Hoshino leaned in.

"It was amazing!" Nika said. "Nishinoya-senpai even did a diving save!"

Hoshino: ?

A ball? Where did a ball come from? Weren't they running a relay? Could it be a baton that fell out during the pass?

Nika continued, "Tanaka-senpai was also super fast! He even passed Prince-san from the tennis club! The crowd was going wild! Well... except for the girls' teasing."

Hoshino: ???

Can you really just "except" that?? And by "crowd was going wild," does she mean how loudly the girls were roasting Tanaka-senpai?!

Nika went on, "Kageyama-san and Hinata, who were the last two legs of the relay, were also amazing. They passed a ton of other runners and then ran straight out the school gate, baton in hand!"

Hoshino: ???????

That's way beyond the scope of a relay race!!!

"*Cough, cough*..." Hoshino was coughing from laughing. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—it's just that the manga I'm drawing now is a romance shoujo, so that kind of comedy is way over the top!"

"Oh, is that so..." Kazami seemed to be thinking. "Then maybe you could change it to the male protagonist, during the relay, accidentally running out of the school gate..."

"...Then bumping into the female protagonist at the gate?" Hoshino guessed.

"No," Kazami shook her head firmly. "It's that right when he runs out, he's transported to a parallel world without the female protagonist, and then keeps reliving sports festival day over and over until he breaks the school's relay record—only then can he return to the world where she exists."

Hoshino: ...???!!!

What the heck is that?! Is that some kind of sports club conspiracy to break records?! What kind of mind comes up with a plot like that?!

"Um..." Hoshino raised her hand weakly. "I'm drawing a more realistic, down-to-earth school romance manga... I wasn't planning on adding any supernatural elements right now!"

"Hmm, I see. Alright then." Kazami looked a little disappointed.

"So, Hoshino-san, what kind of material do you need?" Nika offered. "Maybe we can keep an eye out for you!"

"Really? That would be great!" Hoshino's face brightened. "Let me think... hmm."

When it comes to sports festivals in shoujo manga...

"The partner race, obviously!" Hoshino said, gathering up the remaining cards in her hand. "Getting a slip that says 'the person you like,' then grabbing their hand and running in the sunlight. When the slip is revealed at the finish line, those feelings come out in the open..."

"Oh, that does sound romantic!" Nika's eyes sparkled.

"Right? Right?" Hoshino dealt out the last few cards. "Even though it's a trope, it's a classic for a reason! But scenes like that mostly happen in manga—not in real life... Huh?!"

Without warning, Hoshino's rambling was cut short.

She didn't have a second to think—she had absolutely no time to think. Because what interrupted her wasn't any spoken words, but the warmth of a hand clasping her right palm.

...

Huh??!! No way??!!!

After being yanked several meters away, Hoshino's brain finally caught up—

Was she... living out a manga scene come to life??!!!

-TBC-

*

Author's Note:

The volleyball club's relay race is from a spin-off by Furudate-sensei.