Episode 83: The Silly Senior

I still don’t really understand why she brought up that bet in the first place. I just assumed she’d said it on a whim, as was typical of Mai-senpai.

However, seeing how her attitude towards club activities had clearly changed from that day onwards, and seeing the serious look on her face during the actual match, I regretted having underestimated her like that.

　Mai-senpai, who was always messing about, spent the time leading up to the final match relentlessly cramming in running drills and basic training. I don’t know if the bet with me was that important to her, or if she suddenly got serious because it was the last one.

　I was completely baffled during the actual match too.
　Mai-senpai was making moves she never usually makes.
　During the match, she, who is usually the calmest and most cautious member of the team, seemed to be the one most determined to win, throwing herself into it with everything she had.

　Why……?

　Thanks in part to Mai-senpai’s unexpected actions, it turned into a fiercely contested match. Even with her unusual plays and movements, she maintained her composure throughout and saw the match through to the very end.

　We lost in the end, but I think it was the best match ever.

　After the match, we all went our separate ways. I parted with Hina-senpai, who had accompanied me part of the way, and walked home with Mai-senpai.

‘We lost the match, didn’t we? Which means I’ve lost the bet with Miumi too…”

　As she said that, tears threatened to well up again in Senpai Mai’s eyes, which had been crying just a moment ago. As if to blow them away, she spoke to me in a cheerful voice.

“Since I lost the bet, I’ll do whatever you say!”

　She was trying hard to force a clumsy smile. She’s usually such a joker, but at times like this she’s so considerate of others that it just makes her even more baffling.

“So, could you tell me why you brought up that bet in the first place?”
“Is that your ‘win the bet’ request?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… do I have to answer honestly?”
“Yes.”

　I wanted to know. Why was Mai-senpai acting like this? I didn’t know what I was nervous about, but my chest felt tight.

“I don’t really understand it myself, but I just want you, Miumi, to be happy and smiling. That’s all. After the preliminaries, Miumi, you looked a bit miserable at times… So I thought, ‘I’ll make you happy!’ That’s why I brought up this bet. I had this strange confidence that I could make Miumi smile and be happy.”

　Mai-senpai said all that whilst giving me a peace sign. I don’t understand why Mai-senpai, who has absolutely nothing to do with me, wants to make me happy or see me smile, and I felt pathetic that my misery had shown on my face enough for her to notice.

“You really are a silly senior, aren’t you?”

“What!? Calling a senior ‘silly’ is rude, you know! Oh dear, I shouldn’t have said anything… oh dear…”

I wasn’t entirely pleased that she’d reverted to her usual silly self, so I decided to say something equally nonsensical myself.

“—Well then, you’d better take responsibility and make me happy, Senior.”

　I’d said it… but I just wanted to get to know this silly senior a little better.

As expected, Mai-senpai froze.
Lately, I’d been the one caught off guard, so this felt rather satisfying.

“Do you know what that means?”
“I do, actually.”
“Is it okay if it’s me?”
“Weren’t you the one who said you’d make me happy?”

Having said that, I felt embarrassed and couldn’t bring myself to look at Mai-senpai’s face. Mai-senpai looked as though she was thinking for a moment, but then continued straight away.

“Miumi, let’s keep getting along from here on. Well, I’ll do my best, in my own way.”

　When I looked over at Mai-senpai, she was looking back at me with her usual cheerful smile. Seeing that face of hers made me feel relieved.

　Mai-senpai always warms my heart.
　Even during tough times, she’d hang out with me and try to cheer me up; during club activities, she’d look out for me and try to make me laugh.

　I really do think she’s a silly senior.

　But I was saved by that silly person.

　I ran past Mai-senpai and stepped in front of her.

　Placing my hands on the shoulders of Mai-senpai, who’s about the same height as me, I stretched up slightly and pressed my lips against hers.

　Mai-senpai had the most daft look on her face I’d ever seen, and it was so funny I couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Being lovers means doing things like this, you know, Senpai. I’m not the type to feel happy with the ordinary, so you’d better be prepared, okay?’

　Saying that, I walked ahead of her so she wouldn’t see my bright red face.

　Thinking I wouldn’t be able to look at Mai-senpai’s face for a while, I hurried home.