Episode 73: My Beloved Tutor

My private tutor is a truly amazing person.

No matter what question I ask, no matter how difficult the problem, she always explains it in a way I can understand. Above all, she’s so kind, and listening to her, I realised she’s a person with a pure heart.

At first, she was someone I simply looked up to, but it didn’t take long for that to turn into romantic feelings.

　I’d play the spoilt child with Hoshizora-sensei and ask for all sorts of rewards for studying hard. However, there are some requests she simply won’t grant.

Those are the ones involving physical contact.

I’ve asked her to hold my hand, to give me a big hug, and to kiss me. I’ve asked for all of these things.

But every time, she’d either get angry and tell me to do those things with someone else, or she’d just ignore me.

I want to do those things with her… My heart races like this precisely because it’s Hoshizora-sensei…

　I used to think she wouldn’t do it because she was my tutor.

Because she’s a teacher, because it’s her job.

So, I thought if I went to the same high school as her, we wouldn’t be teacher and pupil but rather junior and senior at the same school, and that would be enough. But that was a naive thought.

When I went to the classroom to see Hoshizora-sensei, the ultimate boss character was sitting next to her.

‘I’ve never seen Hoshizora-sensei look so happy before.’

The thought slipped out before I could stop it.

Where Hoshizora-sensei’s gaze was fixed was Hina-senpai, whom I’d met during the club visit. Hoshizora-sensei looked happy and content, but I realised that the look Hina-senpai gave her was exactly the same as mine.

That wasn’t the look she gives a friend.

My heart ached with a sharp pang.

　That’s why I wanted to get in the way.

Since they looked so happy together, I hoped that even if only for a short while, I could make that time shorter, so I often called out to Hoshizora-sensei.

Hoshizora-sensei is kind, so she’d come whenever I called.

I thought that, at least for those moments, I could have her attention all to myself.

But I was wrong about that too.

Hoshizora-sensei is just being kind by spending time with me; the person she truly enjoys being with and wants to be with is Hina-senpai.

　I could tell just by looking at her face.

So I asked her once. I asked if she had someone she liked.

But Hoshizora-sensei hadn’t realised it herself.

That made me furious too.

If the two of them were actually a couple, loving each other, I could accept it. But as long as there’s a gap like that, I can’t bring myself to give up hope.

Why doesn’t Hoshizora-sensei realise?
　Why hasn’t Hina-senpai told her how she feels?
What on earth is Hina-senpai doing?
That feeling of anger wells up inside me.

I had absolutely no intention of pushing them together, but I provoked Hina-senpai in order to make myself give up on these feelings. Yet, even then, I realised that what I was doing was wrong.

Hina-senpai always acts with Hoshizora-sensei’s feelings in mind.

　I was so preoccupied with my own problems that I had no room to spare. I just wanted my own pain to go away.

It’s a complete defeat on every front.

Well then, I want to win at least at basketball, which is my forte. With that in mind, I challenged Hina-senpai to a match.

Hina-senpai accepted the challenge.
She declared she had no intention of losing and took me up on it.

I need to concentrate on practice…

‘You’re really fired up, aren’t you?’

Mai-senpai spoke to me in a carefree manner.

‘I’ve got a reason why I have to do my best.’
‘I heard from Hina that you’re going to compete on points, right?’
‘Eh? Why?’

‘Hina said to pass to whoever’s moving best between her and Miumi-chan. Regardless of whether they’re first-years or not. Of course, I was planning to do that anyway. She also said not to pass to anyone who disrupts the team’s coordination. When I asked Hina why she’d suddenly said that, she told me it’s because she’s competing with Miumi-chan for points. When it comes down to a points competition, it’s not unusual for players to become self-centred. So she wants me to judge the situation properly before passing. Goodness me, what a bother.”

Mai-senpai let out a sigh that sounded straight out of a manga.

Hina-senpai is an incredibly conscientious person.

She could have just asked Mai-senpai not to pass the ball to me, but instead she insists on passing it to whoever makes the best move.

I don’t know if she’s so confident she’ll win, or if she just won’t rest until the match is played on equal terms.

I thought she was someone I couldn’t possibly beat, it was infuriating.

‘Mai-senpai, who do you think will win this match, me or Hina-senpai?’

‘Hmm, it’s a toss-up. Hina’s good, but I get the feeling she can’t quite match Miumi-chan’s potential. That’s probably why she’s working her absolute hardest right now. The sheer determination Hina shows is having an impact on the whole team. At the meeting the other day, she flat-out declared she’d take everyone to the prefectural tournament. Our captain’s pretty cool, isn’t she?’

　Whenever I look at Hina-san, she’s either out running or practising.

“I don’t know what you’re competing for or why you’re working so hard, but you both look so radiant and cool.”

Mai-senpai replies with the broadest of smiles.

“That’s because it’s for the person we like.”
“Oh, so Hina has a crush on someone. That’s lovely, she’s really living her youth to the full.”
“I thought she’d told you, Mai-senpai. Surely you’ve noticed, even without her saying anything?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. I’d prefer them to tell me when they feel like it, and unless I hear it from their own mouths, I try not to speculate.”

Saying that, Mai-senpai gave a gentle smile.

I thought to myself that she was the one person I understood the least.

“Well, let’s just do our best for now. We might just miraculously make it to the prefectural tournament this year, after all.”

With a hearty laugh, Mai-senpai returned to her practice.

　I have no intention of losing to Hina-senpai.

However, it’s not me but Hina-senpai who can make Hoshizora-sensei happy.

I don’t want to admit it, but I have no choice.

That’s why I don’t want to lose this contest, at least.

I’ll tell her how I feel and be done with it.

Having made up my mind, I returned to practice.