The Salty Princess Told Me That I Was a ‘Convenient Keep’, so I Tested What Would Happen if I Introduced the Most Beautiful Girl at Another School as My Girlfriend
And so the opening ceremony was over and the gymnastic festival began.
“But my part in the event was yet to come.”
The only events in which I would participate were the interclass relay, the tug-of-war, and the three-legged race with Sakaki-san. The class relay and tug-of-war will be held in the afternoon, and in the morning there will be only the three-legged race with Sakaki. And that tripod is still to come, so I was cheering along with everyone else right now. ……
“Sakashima-kun, may I have a word?”
I was called by Sakaki-san and came to the back of the school building, a little distance away from the school.
“……….”
I looked around just in case, but Miwa-kun was nowhere to be seen. Well, he probably had no intention of moping around here by himself forever, especially since his sister had come to support him.
I switch my thoughts and turn my gaze toward Sakaki-san. Sakaki-san looked at the ground for a moment and then said,
“Sakashima-kun, is your cold gone?”
“Yes. Thanks to Sakaki-san’s visit. I’m sorry ……? I couldn’t offer you much hospitality at that time.
Besides, I think my father and I had a bit of a row. ……”
“No, that’s no problem at all. The only thing is, you might be going …… overseas, Sakashima-kun. I didn’t know that Sakashima-kun was in such a situation, and I forced my own convenience on him again. ……”
“No, it’s fine, it’s fine! It’s just my fault for hiding it from you!”
I smile as much as I can to cheer up Sakaki-san who seems depressed. Sakaki-san’s beautifully shaped brow furrowed and her cheeks puffed out in a sultry manner.
“But I’m a little shocked because I thought Sakashima-kun trusted me a little. It’s such a big deal, and you didn’t tell me anything about it. ……”
“No, I hid it from you, but it’s not that I didn’t want you to know. It’s just that Sakaki-san might be annoyed if I suddenly told her something like that when I haven’t even made up my mind. …..”
“If it’s Sakashima-kun, I don’t mind being bothered by him. I’m more than happy to be bothered”
“I’m happy to hear you say that… but I still haven’t decided what I want to do. That’s why I couldn’t talk about it.”
I turned my gaze away from Sakaki and looked up at the sky. It’s a beautiful day today. It’s still early in the summer season, but it’s warm enough to make you sweat just standing here. This summer will probably be hot too.
It has been a little over a year since I quit soccer. Time has flown by in the blink of an eye.
“Sakashima-kun, do you still have any regrets about playing soccer?”
“I don’t know about that. Immediately before I quit, I thought I didn’t want to see a soccer ball anymore, but now when I see a guy playing soccer on the field during lunch break, I just stop in my tracks.”
“……I’ve never been as passionate about one thing as Sakashima-kun, so I don’t know how he feels now. But …… I don’t want him to regret it. So if my feelings are a burden to Sakashima-kun, I…”
“No, that’s not true. I’m sorry ……, I don’t think it’s fair to say this when I haven’t given you a proper answer yet. But …… I don’t think you’re a burden. I just want you to know that.”
“Sakashima-kun,……”
A loud voice can be heard from the field. Someone had done something amazing, or maybe they just fell down. Either way, there was something I needed to do before I could talk like this here.
“Sakaki-san, let’s go back over there for now, shall we? Mori kun, he looks lonely like that, so if we don’t cheer him up, he might sulk later on.”
“That’s true…But before that, why don’t we practice the three-legged race just once? Sakashima-kun has been taking a break and we haven’t been able to practice for a while.”
“I’m sure you’re right. Then, after we do that, shall we go back?”
There are no strings to tie our legs now, so I took off the blue hachimaki I had on my head and tied my legs lightly with it.
“………..”
Thus, when I approach Sakaki-san, I get a little nervous because of the nice fragrance in the air. ……No, how long am I going to be nervous about that much
I put my arm around Sakaki-san’s shoulder, expressionless so that she wouldn’t notice my unnecessary nervousness. Sakaki-san stared straight ahead and spoke.
“……Sakashima-kun. Tripod, if we can come out on top in the show, can I ask you one thing?”
“Sure. Is there something you want me to do for you? Do you want me to take you out to dinner to thank you for the other night?”
“No, not like that. I don’t mean that. …… If I win, I want you to hug me tightly and tightly. …… no?”
Sakaki-san looks up at me. Her eyes are slightly moist. With her arm around my shoulders, I can’t escape her gaze. …No, there’s no need to run away.
I looked back at Sakaki from the front and answered.
“I understand. That’s fine. That’s a small price to pay… Though, it would be embarrassing to do that in front of everyone, so please spare me.”
“I-I’m not going to go that far. ……It doesn’t have to be today, just give me a big hug sometime when it’s just the two of us.”
“…… got it. I’m going to get serious.”
The two of us laughed at each other and then ran once more. The last time I practiced with Sakaki-san, we were still in the middle of a struggle. I remember it was very awkward because I didn’t know if I could touch his shoulder or not. I could feel that Sakaki-san was also being reserved with me.
But that is not the case now.
Just knowing that, I moved forward as if my legs were lighter. I don’t practice at all, but I can run much faster than before.
“… feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. This really could be a winner. I’m looking forward to it.”
When I untie the hachimaki that ties my legs, Sakaki-san smiles happily at me. After seeing …… such a lovely smile, I can no longer say that she is a salty princess.
“I’m going to be in the next ball game, so I’m going to go back first.”
“Yeah. Good luck, I’ll be rooting for you.”
Sakaki-san waved her hand cutely and then walked quickly back to the ground.
“…I don’t know.”
Until recently, I had never imagined that Sakaki-san would laugh like that. I had assumed that she always had a blank look on her face. But when I thought about it, there was no way that anyone could stay expressionless all the time. Even my father had laughed before. …Well, I guess he was trying not to laugh in front of me on purpose.
And then he went to Spain for a year and his mood changed a little. I did not talk to him directly, but I could somehow feel it just by talking to him on the phone.
Maybe I was still a child when I dyed my hair and thought I had changed.
Anyway, I should probably get back on the ground now, too. So I started to walk away. ……
“You seem to get along quite well, don’t you?”
Miwa-kun appeared from the shadows. He looked at me with a self-deprecating expression, different from before. I let out a big sigh.
“Eavesdropping is good taste, isn’t it, Miwa-kun?”
“Ha, you guys came where I was first, right? While everyone else was working hard at the sports festival, you were flirting with girls behind the school building. Don’t you think you have better hobbies?”
“I wonder. By the way, I met your sister just now. She went out of her way to come and support you. She’s such a nice sister. But if you stay here for too long, won’t you end up worrying her?”
“I don’t care. I didn’t ask for her support. That person is just like you. She thinks that because she is a good person, she is allowed to be unaware of others. I hate people like that.”
I thought, “You are the one who is unaware of others, aren’t you?” I thought so, but I didn’t say it. I can’t speak for others either.
“Well, I’m going now, but I think you should come back soon too, Miwa-kun. It seems like a lot of people have been saying all sorts of things, but there’s no need to worry about what other people think…”
“Then play with me.”
“Play ……?”
Not understanding what he meant, I tilted my head. Miwa glared straight at me with his narrow eyes.
“I’ve been put in charge of the anchor role in the class relay race, so you should also play as the anchor.”
“Don’t be so ridiculous. Besides, what’s the point of having a contest? If you win, are you going to tell me to leave Sakaki alone? That’s what I call old-fashioned.”
“No, it’s not that. This is proof of my worth. I will beat you and prove my worth once again. Not for anyone else, but for myself.”
“No, you just said …… what you wanted to say and walked away. ……”
Without waiting for me to say anything, Miwa-kun ran off… Well, it seemed he was heading towards the field, so there was no need to stop him.
“But it’s a game.”
I’m not an elementary school student anymore, so I don’t really know what value winning a relay race will prove… But conveniently, in the inter-class relay race, I’m the one who’s been put in charge of anchoring, ahead of the other guys from the sports clubs.
Sakaki-san and Koga-san are watching. I don’t intend to lose either.
“I understand, Miwa-kun. I’m in.”
I muttered this at the end of the race, and ran toward the field.
Maiban