It Made The Rounds On LIME
It happened during the break time between the first period and the second period.
Another one of my friends appeared.
“Hey, Director Takagi. Heavy traffic this morning as well huh”
I say jokingly.
“Cut me some slack, Amagi. Also, morning”
“Oh, morning”
“Heyo, morning”
Katou and I greet back.
“Did you come to school from the school infirmary as well this morning?”
“Uh-huh. I wasn’t feeling well”
This fellow is Takagi. He’s sickly, so he regularly arrives late and leaves early. He has it tough.
Nevertheless, there’s a reason that I can’t sympathise this gentle guy at all.
His frail constitution shows in his body’s slender outline, and it portrays a delicate image.
Furthermore, his pale skin, androgynous looks, and silver hair inherited from his quarter blood of some part of Europe, perfect his beautiful appearance.
If I’m to express it to an extent that doesn’t cause misunderstandings, I can say he’s at least more beautiful than any of the girls in our class. I guess he’s between beautiful and adorable.
He’s actually popular amongst the girls with his gentle demeanour, meek characteristic, and these looks of his.
And then, I also give it to Takagi straight like how Katou gives it to me; it seems this guy prefers that as well.
“You’re beautiful as well today, Takagi. Hiihiihii”
“Geez, especially that, cut me some slack, Amagi……”
Huh. That Takagi, why is he slightly blushing? My heart skipped a beat for a moment, didn’t it, please take responsibility.
――but, this fellow is a man!
“Wellー, I really do think you’re beautiful. At the very least, several times more so than that violent woman over there, you know?”
I say and glance at the seat beside me.
Ooーps, don’t get angry, Mai. I prepared such a response, but――.
That fellow wasn’t in her seat…….
Looking at it closely, she’s at the back entrance of the classroom. It seems she has guests; girls from another class, and furthermore, two of them. I wonder what’s going on?
Well, it doesn’t concern me.
Hence, I tried reigniting the conversation that I was slightly curious about but had died out.
“Nonetheless, it’s amazing that you have information about something that happened yesterday this morning”
I naturally switch to a whispering voice.
“Eh, are you possibly talking about the conversation about Kanzaki this morning?”
Katou brings his face close and similarly switches to a whispering voice.
“What is the conversation about?”
Takagi, who does the same as well. ……wai, Takagi, your face is close. Also, your eyelashes sure are long huh.
“Kanzaki-san’s, you know……”
As expected, it looks like it’s hard to say huh, Katou. As I thought, I guess I’ll change the topic.
“Aah……the rumour that yesterday, Kanzaki-san was confessed to huh. I know about it too”
Eh, Takagi!?
“――why even you?”
Isn’t everybody quick at acquiring their information! And, why don’t I know??
“It made the rounds on LIME”
“Ah, it’s the same for me”
……eh? LIME, you mean the app that can message and make calls, that LIME? Everybody uses it for things like that too huh. Well, it doesn’t concern me though……it doesn’t though!
“Uchimura-kun from B Class coincidentally caught sight of Yoshida-kun calling Kanzaki-san out yesterday. He could’ve just left it alone, but he LIME-d it to one of his friends”
Takagi who’s always polite explains to me.
“Haha. The friend, who received it, sent it to another friend on LIME……that’s how it went”
I get the gist of it and nod by myself.
Over there, Katou threw down another piece of new information.
“Yoshida……. Don’t tell me, it’s the soccer club’s Yoshida!? The one rumoured to have never run out of girls!”
I also remember it when I heard that.
If it’s the soccer club’s Yoshida, he’s a fellow that comes paired with the phrase,『Who’s Exceptionally Popular Amongst The Girls』. In his club, his sense of existence as the leader is strong, and his mannerism is that of an Emperor. Well, I guess he’s the haughty type of character. It’s 80 per cent my prejudice though.
And, of course, he’s also popular amongst the girls. Hence, Yoshida is constantly surrounded by his female fans, and as a result, he’s,『spoiled for choice』.
Which means the next one that haughty king of popularity selected amongst the large number of people was, Kanzaki Mai huh.
Leaving that aside, there’s something puzzling. That’s why I ended up muttering instinctively.
“In that case, I wonder why didn’t it make the rounds to my LIME?”
Both of them go silent for some reason. I tilt my head.
In the midst of that, Takagi opened his mouth, in a way that looks like he’s finding it really hard to speak.
“Amagi. Besides us, do you……have any other friends?”
“――――――――――――fuu”
I look up into the sky. I wonder if it’s slightly cloudier, compared to this morning.
I’m sure it’s just my imagination, that it looked slightly blurry.
“You know, Amagi. I……well, I think the same goes for Takagi as well, we had a hard time deciding whether we should let you know about the matter this time. That’s why, we naturally didn’t LIME you either”
Takagi heard what Katou said and nodded silently as well.
“That’s why, amongst the people you know, there’s nobody to tell about this matt――no, there’s another person”
Nn, I have another friend? Is it Fukube-kun? Or is it Kazama-kun?
“No, that’s even more unlikely huh”
I followed Katou’s eyes, and over there, as I had expected, was my archenemy. I just left those eyes of his alone as they are.
Mai is still dealing with her two guests.
It seems I was right on the mark when I felt that she was『dealing with her guests』; the two of them came with some kind of a request.
In any case, I have no adequate means of eavesdropping. ……although I have no means.
“Come onー, Mai-cchi. Please. Here, this is how it iーs”
“After school today, the softball practice match’s helper. Come on, please”
“Hol, hold on. Lift your heads, Naru-tan, Mi-cchiー”
Your voices are loud, both Naru-tan and Mi-cchiー! Also, you’re the loudest one, Mai!
I’m going to end up hearing it even if I don’t want to, aren’t I. Please talk in whispering voices like us.
“We can’t lose today’s practice match against Kuzugaoka High School no matter what. During this morning’s morning training, the coach――ah, the advisor, Shirase T. So, the coach suddenly said it”
“That’s right, that’s right. That we absolutely have to win today’s practice match. That for the sake of that, she doesn’t care what method is used……”
Wai! I have some doubts about that form of guidance though, Shirase T!?
Ah, by that way, T is the abbreviation for Teacher. It goes without saying though.
Rather, Kuzugaoka High School huh……. Because the nearest train station is two stations away, practice matches on the weekdays are indeed the most ideal huh.
Hmmー, Kuzugaoka High School, is it――abbreviated, Kuzu1 High……huh.
“But why is Shirase T, going that far?”
Well, Mai asked the right question.
“That! It actually goes back to last weekend. Shirase T’s boyfriend was, stolen by Kuzu High’s softball club’s advisor”
……fuaah!?
“So, Shirase T snapped and imposed her authority to reach her goals. Well, she wouldn’t even let him kiss her after two months of dating, it’s bound to happenー”
“Rightー. It’s because of that that Shirase T is still a virgin even though she’s 24, isn’t it?”
“That’s・so・right!”
Err……, ladies? Aren’t your voices loud, for the contents of your conversation……?
Well, it may or may not be the truth but……her demeanour is to the point that it gives birth to such rumours huh, Shirase T.
“That’s right! Of course, we won’t tell you to do it for free. Come now, Mi-cchiー, bring it here”
“I hear you, Naru-tan. Erm……, jajan! Here!”
In a good combination, what Mi-cchiー took out was……a ticket?
“Fufufu, get ready to have your mind blown. Behold, this is what I got my hands on last week, in front of the train station……”
“Cou, cou cou cou cou, could it be――Gracias・Garden’s……!?”
Mai, she showed a huge reaction. And……. Ahー, I can tell even from the corner of my eyes. These two, they’re thinking『it’s sealed』.
“Yup, exactly so! It’s tough even getting into the store. However, according to those who have eaten there, it’s very well credited to be a cafe where you can experience heavenly deliciousness and an elegant atmosphere. It’s that Gracias・Garden’s――”
Naru-tan paused there for a moment. Nn, what’s wrong?
“”Spe・cial・Tic・ket!””
Ohー, they matched each other spectacularly. These two, they really are in sync.
“They will provide a pot of your preferred black tea”
“The time limit is 90 minutes. There are constantly more than 24 types of cakes provided in a buffet-style. Each and every one of them is on the special menu which you can enjoy whatever you like as much as you like!”
“And that! We’re saying that we’re offering it to the special you!”
“That’s right, to the special you!”
Is that ticket some kind of candy? The type a grandfather gives to his grandchild, the special kinds2.
“Fuaah…………. Can, can I?”
Oi oi, to receive that, don’t you have to take on some kind of a request?
Well, it’s no problem if you’re okay with it though.
“We’ll offer it to you, of course, Mai-cchi. How・e・ver. Be our helper for the practice match after school, please!”
It feels like the two of them over there have it pretty much in the bag.
Well then……what will you do, Mai?
“Mumumu……. But after school today……it’s really, slightly――”
She’s strangely hesitant. She could’ve just accepted it without a second thought like she normally does, couldn’t she.
Mai, she has many friends regardless of the class. At the same time, she’s also popular. Regardless of gender.
One of the reasons for that, is exactly what’s unfolding before my eyes right now.
She’s the sports clubs’ helper.
She――Kanzaki Mai, is exceptional at sports. Frankly speaking, she’s a heaven-sent in all sports.
Despite so, she’s not attached to any particular club activity. According to the person herself, apparently, it’s,『because I want to enjoy all kinds of sports and activities that move my body』.
For example, if there are practice matches like this time, there’ll be offer for her to be the helper.
Mai gets to enjoy softball, and the softball club gets to secure a powerful player. It’s a win-win situation.
And because of that, this woman leaves behind visible accomplishments; whatever the sport may be. If I were to summarise her capabilities, she produce results without fail even if it isn’t sports.
She’s synonymous to success.
That’s the person Kanzaki Mai is.
It’s just that――.
It seems she’s terrible with negotiations. Uh-huh, I knew itー.
“Err, err……”
Hmm, what? Mai, she seems to be glancing over here――looking at me……?
“After school today, there’s a little……something that I have to attend to……”
After school……after school today huh.
Over there, I recall the exchange this morning. The reason this fellow is indecisive. I grasped the reason that appears to be responsible for her behaviour.
“I wonder……, will it rain――?”
“I see, it’ll rain huhー. I see, I seeー”
Ahー. That’s what it’s about huh.
I got it, understood.
By the way, it’ll probably not rain during the practice match after school. Of course, I can’t be certain since I’m not a weather forecaster though.
What I want to say is that Mai’s concern isn’t literally about the『rain』…….
I’m sure the only one who can identify that, is me.
Hence, I picked the timing when Mai glanced over here and gave her a gesture in a way that only she can tell.
I wave my hand like I’m going it’s no big deal. 『Go ahead, go ahead』, or it can also be taken as,『Shoo shoo』.
As I expected, it seems it got through to her, and for a moment, she made an expression like she’s saying, ‘I’m sorry’.
It’s nothing to worry about thoughー, I thought.
“Un, I got it. I’ll accept it. However, how about limiting it to three innings3? I think my batting turns will come around two times as well after all”
Hoh, I see. It looks like she found a good middle ground, didn’t she, considering it’s Mai. I wonder how the other party will respond.
Immediately after, the two from the softball club at each other’s faces.
“Un, that’s fine but……today’s match, isn’t by innings, but by time, you know?”
“Hu, huh!?”
“But, well, OK! In any case, it’s probably faster to finish it in 3 innings, so let’s go with that!”
“Yeah!”
“Th, thanks……”
It seems their conversation came to a conclusion. I’m glad, I’m glad.
“In that case, I’ll go and report to the coach that Mai-cchi will be our helper”
“Mai-cchi will be the first in the batting sequence. As for the second round, let’s move the regulars from the first, second, and third to the seventh, eighth, ninth”
“I guess……. Mai-cchi, which side do you strike?”
“Right……I guess?”
“In that case――――”
Hmm, Naru-tan and Mi-cchiー are discussing weird things. Well, if the physical monster Mai can display her ability to the fullest, and also be useful to the softball club, then there’s nothing better.
As I was thinking about such things, I noticed strange gazes.
It’s Katou and Takagi. They were looking in my direction and smirking.
“Hiihiihii, we saw it～～, Amagi. Just now, you made eye contact with Kanzaki-san, didn’t you? What, did you wish her good luck being the helper? Nn……? Hey?”
“…..that’s not it. It’s nothing like thatー”
It’s really nothing like that. It’s not something that, sparkly――.
While we’re having such an exchange, the pair finished off by saying,『thanksー』, and left the classroom.
After sending the two of them off, Mai returns to her seat and takes out her smartphone from her bag without a moment’s delay. While hiding it below the desk, she seemingly started fiddling with it.
In our school, the school regulations prohibit the bringing of smartphones and cell phones4.
Nonetheless, the teachers also understand it’ll cause unthinkable disruption to the students’ daily lives if they did something like that, so they give their『silent consents』.
We too understand that, so we『hide』and use it.
It’s a given that we don’t use it during the lessons.
Like this, our school maintains a certain degree of order regarding smartphones.
“I guess it’s about time for the second period to start. In that case, I’ll return to my own seat”
After saying that, Takagi, who was sitting beside Katou, stood up from the seat. That seat originally belongs to another female student.
“Hanazawa-san, thanks. Sorry for always doing this”
“It’s fine～, Takagi-kunn. Use mine whenever you like!”
Oi, Hanazawa, the way you put it…….
Also, don’t rub your face on the spot of the table where Takagi was resting his elbow. Furthermore, don’t wriggle your butt on the surface of the seat that Takagi was sitting until just now!
Katou is put off as well. It’s no wonder, I thought, that the seats of these two are strangely far apart…….
As I was silently retorting, my smartphone vibrated inside my bag.
I too abided by the smartphone-using『manners』and checked my screen while hiding it underneath the desk. The LIME app’s icon was displaying that I have an unread message.
I feel that who it is that sent me the LIME isn’t of significance. That’s right, it isn’t……. It’s a life-saver that it didn’t cause a fuss.
Neither Katou, who’s before my eyes, nor Takagi, who returned to his own seat at the front of the classroom, look like they’re meddling with their smartphones.
My parents don’t use LIME. Next will be, my younger sister, Ruko, but she rarely ever LIME me. Rather, she doesn’t contact me. She could at least send me some occasionally. Which means, I suppose it’s most likely that fellow. Well, it’s something that I’ll know once I check.
I start up LIME, and as I thought, it was Mai.
……we’re this close, just talk to me directly.
But, I know why we can’t, so I decided to have an exchange on LIME for a bit. With somebody who’s right beside me…….
Kanzaki Mai{ That’s how it is, sorry
Amagi Takaomi{ It can’t be helped. It’s great that you’re being relied on, isn’t it. We’ll find another chance next time
Kanzaki Mai{ No! It’s just three innings, so wait for me
Amagi Takaomi{ By the way, I’m not angry or anything, you know? Good luckー
Kanzaki Mai{ Softball plays fast! It’ll be over in no time, okay!!
Amagi Takaomi{ Kanzaki Mai-san sure is desperate huhー
Kanzaki Mai{ (Angry symbol5) Shall I make you know what’s desperate as well?
Amagi Takaomi{ I’m sorry, I’ll wait
Kanzaki Mai{ Thanks, sorry
Like that, we, who finished messaging, put our smartphones away in our bags. In no time, the chime that announces the start of the second period rang.
I then think absentmindedly.
‘After school, I wonder how should I kill time……’.
- くず(Kuzu): It means trash, rubbish, garbage.
- It might be a reference of some sort, but I’m not quite sure.
- I have zero knowledge about softball, so I might have misinterpreted what they said
- 携帯(Keitai): Older models like the flip phones.
- 怒マーク(Ikari maーku): The symbol often seen in manga and anime when somebody is angry. 💢
