Iโve Been Working My Hardest as Manager of the Girlsโ Track and Field Team, but Ever Since I Retired, the Team Members Have Been Coming at Me Like Crazy!?
โAlright, is everyone here? Letโs hop on the bus and head home.โ
Our teacher said this energetically to us as we gathered in the lobby at checkout time.
โAlright, everyone, get on the bus. There are other guests on board, so please file in from the back.โ
The three of them were surprisingly quiet both as we boarded the bus parked in front of the hotel alongside the other passengers and when I took my seat.
ใ
Just as I was starting to feel relieved that they wouldnโt cause a scene in public, Shirotori sat down next to me.
โHehe, Iโm sitting next to Mitchi.โ
โโฆWell, I guess so.โ
โAh, the Inter-High is really over, isnโt it? It feels kind of lonely.โ
Gazing out the window, Shirotori murmured wistfully.
โIt really did go by in a flash.โ
โRight? But itโs thanks to you, Mitchi, that we can be here like this.โ
โYouโre exaggerating. Itโs because everyone worked so hard.โ
โโฆYou really are so kind, Mitchi.โ
Shiratori leaned her head against my shoulder.
โH-hey.โ
โCan I stay like this just a little bit?โ
โโฆ Wonโt this cause a big fuss if the other two see us?โ
โAre you worried about Mai or Masa?โ
โN-no, thatโs not it.โ
โThen letโs stay like this. Theyโre both sitting up front, so itโll be fine. Mitchiโs shoulders are bigโit makes me feel safe.โ
A moment of quiet passed.
As I gazed out the window, feeling the weight of Shiratori quietly leaning against my shoulder, I found myself unusually nervous.
Shiratori is one of the most beautiful girls in school, and sheโs usually a cheerful, really nice person.
Itโs impossible not to be aware of her feelings when a girl like that is so into me.
The way she acts so clingy when itโs just the two of usโif I think of it as a contrast to her usual self, I canโt help but find it cute.
โฆโฆMaybe this could actually work?
If I confessed to Shiratori right here, Iโm pretty sure weโd start dating.
Shiratori is cute, weโre close friends, and dating her might actually be funโฆ No, before I even think about that, there are a few things I need to confirm first.
โHey, Shiratori.โ
โHmm, whatโs up? Want to hold hands?โ
โN-noโฆ I mean, what do you think would happen if Yukimura and the others saw us holding hands?โ
โSo youโre still worried about Mai and the others?โ
โW-well, weโre in the same club, after all. I donโt want us to fall out.โ
โHmm. But I donโt really know anything about Mai and the others.โ
โR-right. Then, what if I were to hold hands with Yukimura or someone like that?โ
โWhat are you talking about?โ
Shiratori sat up in a panic and glared at me as if I were something filthy.
โN-no, Iโm just giving an example.โ
โWhy would you bring up an example like that? Youโre notโwith Mai, are you?โ
โNothingโs going on! Absolutely nothing!โ
Please, donโt start frantically rummaging through your bag trying to pull something out!
ใ
โR-really? Seriously, donโt ask me weird questions out of the blue.โ
โH-haha, sorry. Um, come to think of it, you were saying something yesterday about wanting to โmess things upโ or something like that, werenโt you?โ
โYeah. Is it okay if I do?โ
โN-noโฆ I mean, when you say you want to โmess things up,โ what exactly do you plan to do?โ
I mustered up the courage to ask.
If it wasnโt the kind of grim scenario I was imagining, thereโd be no need to be this scared.
โUm, I want to take a bath with Mitchi.โ
โA bathโฆa-a bath?โ
An unexpected erotic turn of events?
N-no wayโฆ if I start imagining it, Iโm going to get a reaction in the wrong places.
Stay calm, just stay calm.
โShiratori, is taking a bath what you mean by โmessing things upโ?โ
“Nnnn, in the bath, weโll do naughty things until Mitchi is completely spent. I mean, weโd do such intense stuff that youโd be unable to take a bath without me.โ
โIntense stuffโฆโ
What on earth is this โintense stuffโ sheโs talking about?
โฆNo, donโt let your mind wanderโmy bodyโs starting to heat up.
โAnd then, Iโd keep making you feel good all night long. To the point where you couldnโt stay in bed without me.โ
โMake me feel goodโฆ gulpโ
Oh no, Iโm droolingโฆ Wait, does this mean this whole situation is nothing but good for me?
โSoโฆ so youโre just going to make me feel good and then call it a day?โ
โThatโs what Iโve been sayingโIโm going to drive you so wild that you wonโt be able to breathe without me.โ
โHuh? Did you say that?โ
โYeah. So every dayโmorning, noon, and nightโIโm going to drive you wild.โ
โโฆMorning, noon, and night?โ
โYeah. I mean, I want to mess you up so bad that you can’t think about anything but me.โ
In Shirotori’s eyes, gazing at me with such rapture, I sensed madness more than eroticism.
The excitement I’d felt just moments ago had vanished, and I calmly concluded that I really shouldn’t get involved romantically with this girl.
โโฆโฆI see. But if we do that, it might interfere with studies.โ
โArenโt you getting in on a recommendation?โ
โHuh? How did you know thatโฆโฆ Oh, wait, why do you think that?โ
โWell, a lot of club managers get recommended admissions.โ
โW-well, thatโs true. But managers from other clubs might take up those spots, right?โ
I desperately tried to cover it up.
If, by any chance, they found out I was going to college on a recommendation, thereโs a high chance theyโd end up applying to the same university.
Whatโs more, all three of themโincluding Shiratoriโare actually pretty good students.
Even the Waseda and Keio universities I want to go toโthereโs a high probability theyโd get in.
I absolutely canโt let them find out.
โHmm. Well, I guess youโre right.โ
โExactly. So, youโd better study hard until graduation.โ
โWhere are you applying, Mitchi?โ
They were already trying to probe me.
But thereโs no way Iโm going to answer honestly.
โI donโt know. My grades arenโt great, so Iโll apply somewhere I have a decent chance of getting in.โ
โA local school?โ
โI donโt know, I havenโt decided yet.โ
Iโll play dumb no matter what she asks.
She looked a little bored, but Shirotori seemed to give up too. She pursed her lips and said, โHmm,โ then turned to face forward.
โAnyway, let me get some sleep. I stayed up late last night and Iโm tired.โ
โOh, sorry. Yeah, I guess Iโll take it easy too.โ
Shiratori let out a big yawn, โAaaah,โ and leaned back against my shoulder again.
Sheโs finally calmed down.
But as was clear from our conversation just now, if I let my guard down with these guys, Iโm done for.
Iโve got to be careful not to accidentally mention anything about my college applications.
I should also warn the teacher not to talk too much about the recommendation.
โMmmโฆ Mitchiโฆ mmmโฆโ
She was mumbling in her sleep.
She looks so cute when sheโs asleep like this.
But calling out my name even in her sleep? Thatโs pretty intense.
I wonder what sheโs doing with me in her dreams.
โMitchiโฆ Iโm going to get into Waseda or Keio tooโฆ mmmโฆโ