Month C, Day □
To put it briefly: it was half a success and half a failure. As per my plan from yesterday, I did manage to make Sakakibara and Amagiri a pair for the three-legged race. Since Sakakibara is popular for being genuinely handsome, a lottery was held to decide who would pair with him. Or rather, I suggested, “If it’s going to cause such a fuss, why not just do a lottery?” The suggestion went through surprisingly easily. Perhaps my title as “Sakakibara’s friend” worked in my favor. You think that’s too underhanded? As long as it turns into a rom-com, it’s fine.
Here was the trick: First, prepare a box and a bunch of losing tickets. Then, make sure Amagiri is the last one to draw. At that stage, I secretly slipped the winning ticket into the box through a small hole I’d made. I’m a real scumbag, even if I say so myself. I’m certain I’d be killed if I were found out. I’ll take this secret to my grave.
And so, the three-legged race practice began. Amagiri had a truly wonderful expression. It was a great mix of anticipation and embarrassment. She didn’t seem to have great motor skills and would occasionally stumble, but every time she did, Sakakibara would support her. If they continue to become conscious of each other at this rate, I can promote her from “heroine candidate” to “heroine.” By the way, Sasaki was paired with Umihara. Good for him. Though I doubt it will ever bear fruit. A shame.
I was spectating. Or rather, apparently one of the girls was absent today, so one boy was left over. That boy was, of course, me.
As the practice continued, an “incident” occurred. Amagiri sprained her ankle. I thought, This is it! The situation where Sakakibara carries Amagiri and they’re alone together in the nurse’s office!… but other girls, perhaps seeing Amagiri’s injury as an opportunity, started swarming Sakakibara. Thinking about it, they usually couldn’t get close because Takashiro and Shironami were always around. This was likely the backlash. Sakakibara is a “super high schooler” who excels in both studies and sports. It’s only natural he’d be popular with the girls.
I couldn’t just leave an injured person alone, so I ended up being the one to carry Amagiri to the nurse’s office. This was my failure for underestimating Sakakibara’s “popularity power.” I’ll reflect on this and apply it to the next time.
I carried her on my back, and honestly, it was a bit of a perk. Her proportions were very… favorable. As expected of a rom-com heroine candidate (my personal label).
The school nurse was out, so I applied some basic first aid myself and went to look for a teacher.
As I was leaving the nurse’s office, Amagiri thanked me. Being thanked so purely to my face actually made my heart ache a bit. After all, the root cause was my own shoddy plan. After telling her not to worry about it, I quickly went to find a teacher.
After finding a teacher and telling them to go to the nurse’s office, I went back to spectate the three-legged race. Sakakibara was being mobbed by the girls, and Sasaki seemed to be enjoying the three-legged race with Umihara. His face was exquisitely disgusting.
But surely, this honesty is Sasaki’s charm. I hope he meets someone who can appreciate that. Good luck.
Month C, Day α
Today is a day off. It’s the last holiday before the Sports Festival. Since it was the release date for a new volume of a rom-com manga I read, I made my way to the bookstore—and there, I had a “convenient” chance encounter. Just as I entered the bookstore, I ran straight into Sakakibara and Amagiri.
I thought they might be on a date alone together, but apparently not. It seems they just happened to run into each other. For now, I teased them by asking if they were on a date, and Amagiri immediately denied it, so there’s no doubt about it.
Feeling a slight bit of disappointment, I asked how her injury was. It seems the pain has mostly subsided. I felt relieved since I did feel some guilt. You say I shouldn’t have rigged the lottery in the first place? That is true.
Sakakibara apologized for not being able to take her to the nurse’s office despite being her partner. His seriousness is one of his good points. Amagiri was flustered, but I took this “golden opportunity” to follow up. Simply put, I egged Sakakibara on, saying, “If you want to make it up to her, why not treat her to something at a cafe or something right now?”
They tried to take me along too, but I made up a random excuse and left. It’s bad manners to get in the way of a boy and a girl alone together.
After leaving the bookstore, I decided to watch the two of them from a distance. It was a chance for rom-com observation. I changed my clothes and watched them secretly from inside the cafe.
I couldn’t hear the contents of their conversation, but Amagiri was blushing and acting all flustered and cute, so I’m sure it went well.
After observing for a while, the two of them left, so I left the cafe a bit later. My “Rom-Com Acceleration Plan” seems to be going well. I’m starting to look forward to the Sports Festival. I’ve been practicing enough not to be a drag, so I’ll keep doing my best.
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Month C, Day β
The day of the final practice before the Sports Festival. On this day, I was looking back on the days of grueling practice… or rather, the days I spent siccing heroines (including candidates) on Sakakibara.
When Umihara and Sakakibara were talking, I’d pretend to accidentally push Sakakibara’s back to make him “kabedon” her. When Amagiri and Sakakibara were practicing the three-legged race, I’d subtly bump into Amagiri on purpose so Sakakibara would catch her. When the White Team’s Student Council President for some reason spoke to me, I’d bring up Sakakibara and praise him excessively. When the White Team’s Vice President was staring at me and Sakakibara, I’d passionately lecture Sakakibara about the Vice President’s charms (according to Sasaki’s research). And when the White Team’s “Twin Castles,” Takashiro and Shironami, approached Sakakibara, I’d read the room and distance myself. I did all sorts of things. Some of it feels a bit forced, but I’ve decided not to care.
The setup for the main event is complete without a hitch. All that’s left is for Sakakibara to be insanely active at the Sports Festival. I’m honestly a little scared of my own talent for orchestrating rom-coms.
My job on the actual day is simply to observe the rom-com to my heart’s content and to participate in the final event—the relay—which Sakakibara forced me into. Honestly, I have no confidence in my legs, but I suppose running might be interesting in its own way.
Furthermore, I wouldn’t budge on my request to be the first runner. I shoved our protagonist, Sakakibara, into the anchor position. This way, if I just run at the very beginning, I can focus the rest of my time on rom-com observation.
Another slightly unusual thing was that before the Sports Festival, under the pretext of deepening the bonds between the Red Team first-years, Sasaki called out to Sakakibara, Amagiri, Umihara, and me to go to karaoke. The Twin Castles tried to force their way along, but surprisingly, Sakakibara turned them down with an apologetic look. Apparently, he was being considerate of Amagiri, who doesn’t go out with people much. A handsome-type rom-com protagonist is handsome even in his consideration. Amagiri is definitely falling for him now. It’s really starting to feel like a rom-com work.
What was even more surprising was that Amagiri was an incredible singer. She was hitting 97 to 100 points repeatedly on light novel anime songs.
The flow turned into singing anime songs in general; Sakakibara sang everything well as usual, Sasaki sang high-tension comedy anime songs, and Umihara sang sports anime songs. I sang a rom-com anime song, but as expected, everyone burst out laughing. Incomprehensible. When I asked Sasaki on the spot why he was laughing, he said:
“It’s just way too surreal when you sing lyrics like ‘My heart’s throbbing won’t stop~’ with such a serious face and an emotional voice!”
Apparently, it’s called “gap moe.” Understandable.
Afterward, we split up to go home: Umihara and Sasaki, who live in the same direction, and then Sakakibara, Amagiri, and me. Honestly, it would have been more interesting to say I was going home early and then tail Sakakibara and Amagiri once they were alone, but I accidentally ended up singing until the very last minute. That was careless.
Later, while we were walking home and chatting about trivial things, I got a stomachache and ran to a nearby convenience store. By the time I got back, Amagiri was blushing in front of Sakakibara… Did I miss a rom-com scene…? Even now, my frustration hasn’t cleared. I’ll clear this resentment by observing the rom-com during the Sports Festival.
Month C, Day γ
It’s the day of the Sports Festival. A lot really happened today. It was an epic spectacle of laughter and tears. I’ll try to write it all down in order.
The merry band of “Rom-Com Members” led by Sakakibara was overflowing with motivation. The “Twin Castles,” Takashiro and Shironami, were sparking at each other despite being on the same White Team, trying to show their best side to their enemy, Sakakibara. Sasaki on the Red Team was fired up to show off to Umihara. And our new heroine (my personal label), Amagiri on the Red Team, was for some reason full of motivation despite being bad at sports. It’s likely because Sakakibara is here. A good trend.
Note that the Student Council President and Vice President had a lot to do with management and such, so they didn’t appear in many events. Several patterns of my plan to sic them on Sakakibara went down the drain. Incomprehensible.
And so, the Sports Festival began. The morning was for clearing the common events. The 100-meter dash, the long-rope jump, and so on. Honestly, not many interesting events happened in the morning.
However, as expected, Sakakibara—or rather, the usual Rom-Com Members—really stood out. Sakakibara and Sasaki showing off their speed. The Twin Castles showing off their… bouncing energy. Umihara running across the track refreshingly… Cheers went up every time they were active. I joined in the cheering while finishing my common events. There were no particular cheers for me. Well, obviously.
By the way, Ryuchi, a friend from middle school, came by. We went to different schools, but we still keep in touch occasionally.
“I came to see those friends you talk so happily about,”
Or so Ryuchi said, while going around greeting the Sakakibara Harem members (my personal label). With looks that good, it was no surprise that attention naturally gathered…… There’s an oddly mature air about Ryuchi, along with an inexplicable hint of sex appeal. Back in middle school, there was even a mysterious fan club known as “The We Want Ryuchi-sama to Look Down on Us Squad.” Looking back on it now, they were a pretty dangerous bunch……
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