Silent Preparations for the Sports Festival... Impossible.

“Well, Tokiwagi. I'll leave the gloves and stuff there. Take care of the rest!"

"I'll take care of the rest! Thank you."

I bow to the captain of the baseball team and count up the equipment I have received.

Hee, phew, mi... and now I've got all the equipment I need for the sports festival.

After that, I'll carry each of them to the place where they will be used in the match. ...It's going to be a lot of work because there are quite a few of them...

Huh. Bats, helmets, why are there so many tools in sports?

With a sigh, I put the equipment for the sports festival on the cart that I had brought beforehand.

I handled it with care because it was borrowed.

It would probably break during the sports festival, but if I just carried it and I broke it, it would be an embarrassing situation...

It would definitely cause resentment.

If that happens, the muscular members of the gymnastics team could, at worst, beat me to a pulp... Scary!!

I shudder just thinking about it!

While I was having such a silly imagination, someone must have stood behind me. My vision was suddenly darkened by shadows, and I felt the presence of someone.

As I was working on it without looking back, thinking I was just there, I got a little poke on the back - and I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of it.

I'm just glad that ... Rin shows up no matter where I am.

I was a little happy to think so, and embarrassed to be so honestly happy, I looked back with annoyance.

But, there was an unexpected person.

"What are you doing this morning, Tokiwagi-kun?"

“Eh… Yoko…mura-san?”

Why is Yokomura-san here ...?

Why is she talking to me??

I flinched at this unexpected event.

In contrast, she looked calm.

She tilted her head curiously and smiled.

The wind was blowing and her hair was swaying around her shoulders, shiny andbrocade-like, enough to induce one's gaze.

"Why the questioning? We're in the same class and you forgot my name?"

“…I didn't think I'd be ... addressed ... So, what can I do for you ...?"

“I heard you earlier, but I was wondering what you were doing."

"Eh, no... I mean, preparing ...for ..., independent action??"

"You see, usually you act with your own sense of ethics. Am I wrong?"

"Well..., if you say so."

I was so disturbed by the sudden conversation that my words came out somewhat stammering.

It was understandable.

It's just an excuse, but I've never talked to anyone alone before, and now this person suddenly appeared in front of me.

It would be difficult not to be agitated.

Usually, she and Ainoya-san are together, so I don't get nervous because of her energy. However, when Yokomura-san exudes a calm atmosphere that is unique to her, I feel strangely nervous.

She probably doesn't even dream that I'm that nervous.

She spoke to me at her own pace.

"It's hard to carry all that stuff alone, isn't it? I'll help you."

"No, that's okay. Yokomura-san is going to compete in the morning, right? Ignore me and just go warm-up."

"Never mind, just getting ready is a good exercise."

"You say that, but don't you have class meetings and stuff? Just the feeling is enough for me, thank you."

When I softly decline, Yokomura-san smiles at me.

I was wondering if this would be enough to get her back to the classroom, but then she started putting the tools I hadn't yet put on the cart.

“Yokomura-san? I'm grateful. Did you hear what I just said ...?"

"I did listen, but I didn't reply, 'Yes'."

"Eh..."

"Fufu. Then, since you want a convincing reason, Tokiwagi-kun, let's say 'my classmates are working hard on their own, and it's not good for me to stay awake and do nothing'.'"

"That's a line coming from someone who has other reasons."

“That's very perceptive of you. But what does it matter what the reason is? It's not wrong to lend a hand when you see someone in trouble."

"When you say it like that, all I can say is, "Yes". Yokomura-san is a bit more forceful than I thought."

"Maybe so."

Yokomura-san looked at me bewildered and smiled at me in a funny way.

There was some deja vu in her smile and I raised my eyebrows.

…I wonder what.

I didn't really get involved.

Did we meet somewhere?

Hmmm, I don't remember at all.

If I did know Yokomura-san, should I ask her ... it would be rude, so...?

No, but if she says I'm self-conscious, I'm going to have a mental breakdown... Hmmm, I'm torn.

I look at her face with that thought in my mind, and our eyes meet.

"Is there something on my face?"

"Oh, sorry... I'd like to ask Yokomura-san a question.

"What is it?"

"We haven't talked much, have we?"

"I guess so. Isn't this the first time the two of us are talking alone? Usually, Sayaka is there."

"Right."

I thought there was a reason why she was helping me, but ... she was simply being kind.

I had the impression that Yokomura-san was kind, and she couldn't stand to see me working by myself.

I decided to accept that must be the case.

Finally, her behavior became clear to me, and I exhaled with a huff.

Then, as I went about my work in silence, she struck up a conversation with me.

"Oh, by the way, you don't have Wakamiya-san next to you today, do you?"

"She's not always with me, you know. I'm in a different class from Rin, and the only time we get to see each other at school is during breaks."

"You call her by her name naturally, aren't you passionate?"

"Don't tease me. If you get to know someone well, you'll start calling them by their first names. Even Kenichi calls me by my name."

"Hmmm. I see. So that's how you draw the line."

She stares at my face.

What ... this look that's different from goodwill, it's like I'm being ... observed.

I turned my face away from the awkwardness.

Then she nodded as if she was convinced of something.

“Tokiwagi-kun says so, but I have a feeling that you are usually with her. Wakamiya-san is very prominent, so I can feel it immediately. The other students in my class say, 'They're together again', and they recognize you more than you think."

"It's so unusual and unbalanced with me and Rin that it's no wonder we stand out. ... I'm not surprised that people call us 'the moon and the garbage' behind our backs."

"There are certainly people who say that."

"Haaah... is it really true?"

I meant it as somewhat of a joke, but I knew they were there.

Well, it's not unreasonable to be called that, but it's even more depressing to be aware of it...

She patted me gently on the shoulder as if to comfort me as my shoulders slumped.

"Don't worry about it, don't worry about it."

“No, you should be concerned.

"The road huh ... but I don't think it's unbalanced, do you?"

"It's okay. Don't worry about it... but thank you."

"Why don't you just be honest with me?"

I just found out that they call us "moon and trash"!

I mentally clicked my tongue.

Yokomura-san looked at me with a puzzled look, not understanding what I had just said.

"Hey, I want to ask you one thing too, is that okay?"

"You want to ask me something? I know all you're going to get out of me is disappointment, but if you still want to ask me."

"Fufu. What's that?

"Well, it's true. So what is it??"

"Uhh..."

Yokomura-san looks a little troubled.

Perhaps she is choosing her words carefully, thinking it is something difficult to ask.

“Tokiwagi-kun, you've played the game before..."

"Kanami~!!!"

Ainoya-san made a mad dash toward us from the top of the bank near the ground.

She looked small just a moment ago, but in no time at all, she came closer and jumped on Yokomura-san.

--She was held by the head before she could embrace Yokomura-san.

"Saya? Remember what I said before?"

"Let's see... Oh, that! I remember!"

"Well, say ...?"

I wonder.

Yokomura-san, who had a kind face earlier, is kind of scary even though her expression is calm.

When Yokomura-san asked her a question, Ainoya-san stuck her finger in the air with a proud expression on her face.

“Sayaka is a family of four,..... Gefu!"

And then she gave an answer that, by all accounts, missed the point.

Well, before she could finish, something sunk in.

Ainoya-san, who had been hit by something with blinding speed, leaned against Yokomura-san and didn't move an inch.

"...Tokiwagi-kun. I'm going to go discipline this little animal for a bit."

"Oh, oh ... Well, in moderation?"

"Yeah. Of course."

Wow ... full smile.

I guess I'd lose it if I poked at the blue streak on her forehead...

Yokomura-san's back was quickly out of sight as she took Ainoya-san away.

"It's scary when someone who normally seems so kind gets angry. The thought of it sent chills down my spine..."

"Is something wrong?"

"No, just now Yokomura-san ... Rin!?"

"Yes, it's Rin?"

Surprised, I take a step back.

I mean, Rin and Yokomura-san are both like that, girls with high specs can mask their presence!?

This isn't a game, so don't sneak up on me like a ninja.

No matter how many hearts I have, it won't be enough!

"Um, what's wrong, Rin? In a place like this..."

"Why is that? Towa-kun's expression shows 'the frustration of a man who has been found cheating on his wife'. This is ... mmmm ..."

"No, Rin? I was just talking to her, nothing more, okay?"

"It seems like you're deceiving me... Hah!?!? Ko-Kotone-chan said you couldn't possibly be!?!?"

"Uh, Rin? Are you listening to me...?"

"This requires urgent consultation... Excuse me, Towa-kun. I have something urgent to do. Then..."

"Wait ... ah. You're so fast... Doesn't our school have a lot of people with monster-like specs?"

Left behind, I shrugged and sighed loudly.