Episode 79: The Rival

It seems I’ve challenged the King of Beasts to a duel.

I’ve always managed to excel at both my studies and sports simply by putting in a moderate amount of effort, so I thought I could win this contest if I tried hard enough.

However, Hina-senpai was in a completely different league.

She was a natural genius to begin with, but she was also a genius when it came to hard work.
When someone that strong puts in that much effort, there’s no chance of winning.

　She truly is the King of Beasts, reigning supreme at the very pinnacle.

‘Hina-senpai, you’re really fired up, aren’t you?’

‘I can’t let a junior beat me, after all.’

Hina-senpai glances briefly in my direction.

I’m putting in the effort too, so as not to be outdone.

However, the sheer volume of Hina-senpai’s effort far surpasses my own.

　I realise that Hoshizora-san, who drives Hina-senpai like that, must be deeply loved.

She won’t give me the slightest opening, will she…?

Even so, I put in a tremendous amount of effort right up until the day of the match. My form on the day was excellent. My movement was better than usual, and my shots were going in.
Mai-senpai even passed to me as I was moving well.

　But the result was cruel.
The points gap between me and Hina-senpai was about fifteen points.

‘Hina’s scores are insane, so it’s amazing that you managed to get almost the same, Miumi-chan.’

After the match, Mai-senpai ruffled my hair.

‘I was no match for her at all.’
‘That’s not true. Personally, I’m glad I got to see Hina playing as seriously as she has in the last three years. “Thank you, Miumi-chan.”

Saying that, Mai-senpai ruffled my hair again.

“Hoshizora was here, but are you sure you don’t want to say hello?”
“Hoshizora-sensei wouldn’t give me the time of day anyway.”

I felt like letting out a sigh.
Seeing me like that, Mai-senpai gave me a hug.

“You did your best. Well done, well done.”
“Do you think I’m a primary schooler or something?”
“I don’t think that at all. You were absolutely sparkling and looked brilliant. Part of the reason Hina could shine was because you caught the other person’s attention. You’re the unsung hero, after all.”
“Mai-senpai, you’re saying something nice, but you’re reading it flatly.”

It was a huge shock to be shown the gap in ability between me and Hina-senpai. And, as promised, I have to keep Hina-senpai’s promise…
I wonder what Hina-senpai is going to say to me. Will she tell me to stop getting involved with Hoshizora-san?

A promise is a promise, so I have to keep it.

Perhaps because I looked so gloomy, Mai-senpai looked at me with a serious expression, which was unusual for her.

‘Why don’t you just do it for me instead of Hoshizora-san?’

Huh????
I reckon about thirty question marks popped into my head.

As I stood there dumbfounded, Mai-senpai, grinning, ruffled my hair.

　I really have no idea what she’s thinking.

‘Come to think of it, do you remember our promise?’

Ah… Mai-senpai had said she wouldn’t give Hina-senpai any special treatment and wouldn’t pass the ball just to her, but as I didn’t trust her, I’d asked her to pass to me as well.
Did I say something like I’d do whatever Mai-senpai said if she kept her promise…?
I regret saying something so unnecessary.

“Let’s go out together sometime.”

Huh?
She’s saying something incomprehensible again.

“It’s a promise, you know.” With that, Mai-senpai walked away.

I was thinking about it so much that my head was starting to ache from all the questions, when Hina-senpai called out to me from behind.

“Can I have a word?”

“Yes…”

We moved to a quieter spot.

“Since I won, it’s okay for me to ask Miumi-chan, isn’t it?”
“Yes…”
“Right, then, just carry on treating Takizawa as you always have. Also, when it comes to confessing your feelings, do it whenever you feel like it, at the moment you choose.”
“Eh?”
“No, I mean exactly what I said.”

What on earth is she on about?
Is she that confident in herself, or is there some other reason?

“Why is that…?”
“As I said before, Takizawa is working really hard because she finds teaching you so much fun. I have no right to take that away from her, and I certainly don’t have the right to dictate how you feel or when you want to confess your feelings. I just want you to choose your own path as you see fit.”

Hina-senpai smiled, saying something I couldn’t tell if she meant sincerely or not.

“You seem so calm about it.”
“Of course I’m not calm. No one’s going to just leave someone like Takizawa alone. In fact, Miumi-chan is a rival too.”

Me, a rival…?
When I’m nowhere near Hina-senpai’s level…?

“If you realise that, this contest is over. If you play any disgraceful basketball at the prefectural tournament, I’ll ask the teacher to make the summer training camp extra tough for you.”
“Isn’t that a bit of a cheat, just because you’re retiring?”
“What a cheeky junior you are. If you get it, this conversation is over.”

With that, Hina-senpai walked off.

I couldn’t help but smile a little, thinking that both Hina-senpai and Hoshizora-san were rather clumsy people.

The thought that things could stay just as they were made my heart feel all warm and fuzzy.

I’d started to like Hina-senpai a little.
I absolutely adore Hoshizora-san.

So, I found myself hoping that the two of them would be happy.