33 Estranged - Part 4 (2/2)

It's okay, I don't mind being the sacrificial pawn. I don't mind, but I also want to win. So I'll do my best to survive.

”… Huh?”

But as it turns out, things go much better than I expected.

Surprisingly enough, I make it to the center of the court much quicker than my opponent.

I guess running away from all of your problems does come with its share of benefits, huh? Haha!

I grabbed the ball in front of me, then nervously twisted my head to scan the court.

”…”

And then, it hits me.

Another shocking revelation.

My evaluation of the field had left me in a state of disbelief.

Dammit, I messed up!

Something strange had happened between the time the whistle was blown and the time I ran off to the center of the court.

It was such a fundamental thing that you couldn't miss it even if you weren't familiar with the rules of dodge ball.

In fact, the only reason I missed it was probably because I was so focused on not being a coward.

The truth of it is…

Not a single one of my teammates had ran alongside me.

I scan the backlines.

They're all just standing there.

Grinning.

Dammit, they planned this.

They're planning on letting everyone on the other side grab the other seven balls so that they could end me right off the bat.

Shit, they really were planning to crucify me!

”Hup!”

Without turning back to the other side of the court, I drop the ball and leap away from the spot I was kneeling at.

A strong wind brushes past the side of my face.

A narrow miss.

If I'd moved even half a second later, it would have nailed me right in the face.

I quickly turn my gaze to get a quick glance of the situation.

”Damn man, it wasn't your turn yet.”

”Ah, my bad my bad. He just has such a puncheable face that I couldn't resist.”

From the other side of the white line that separates the teams, a lineup of male students holding dodge balls are all towering above my figure.

Gazing down at me like I'm a piece of garbage.

The sound of rainfall that still refuses to let up outside the gym fills the atmosphere with a sense of hopelessness.

They still have six left– seven if you count the one I just let go of.

But for some reason, they aren't throwing them.

They're just sizing me up as if deciding how to end me.

”Aight guys, let's fuck this little shit up. I'm going first.”

”Man I've got dibs, remember? Don't screw up the order.”

”… What the hell is going on…?”

I clench my fists.

First we just 'happened' to be playing dodgeball, then my teammates left me to die in complete unison, and now this.

Even this… Even gym class isn't going my way.

It's like everything that's happened today has been carefully orchestrated with the intent of breaking my spirit.

Can this even be called a coincidence anymore?!

I slam my fist into the ground.

”GodDAMMIT!”

I'm barely awake. My body isn't moving the way I want it to. I've been stressed out from the whole Scarlet situation, and I'm worried about how things between her and Momo are going. I'm hurt that Nick and Sig may not see me as their friend anymore.

And deep down, I'm still hoping that my brother and sister managed to make it to school safely today.

Adding this whole situation on top of that is just cruel.

It's cruel, dammit!

”Hahahaha! He looks like he's about to cry!”

”Relax bro, we'll end it quickly. Then we'll make sure your girlfriend knows aaaall about it later.”

”…”

These guys…

They're so obsessed with this.

Even though the way I live my life has nothing to do with them.

They're going this far just to inflict physical and emotional pain on me…

Am I really…

That bad of a human being…?

Do I really deserve all of this?

”…”

Regardless of how I feel, they all wind their arms back and aim carefully.

Whatever, just get it over with.

I close my eyes and tense my body up in order to lessen the damage.

Just get it over with.

Please.

…

After a brief moment, the sound of balls getting tossed through the air fills the court.

I clench my teeth and await the imminent pain.

I wait.

I wait.

I wait.

I wait for a while.

I wait, but…

That pain never comes.

”Huh..?”

I open my eyes.

And I almost can't believe what I'm seeing.

”Nick…?”

It seems they focused most their fire on him instead, but…

Ah.

One of the members of the other team is walking away from the court.

Did Nick use the ball that missed me to launch a surprise attack?

That's so… sneaky.

But unfortunately, he suffered for it.

He ended up taking the full fury of the barrage that was meant for me…

Nick, you really are…

”Ow!”

A ball nails the side of my head.

I lose consciousness for about a split second, but I manage to catch myself before I completely pass out.

”Haha, YEET!”

”Bro he got fucked up. I wish we didn't waste all our shots on that other nerd though.”

”Yeah for sure. He almost ruined everything though so he kinda deserved it.”

”…”

Nick picks himself up from the ground and walks over in my direction.

His expression is still as empty as it was back in the classroom.

Despite getting assaulted by the entire enemy team, he doesn't seem to care too much about the pain.

I want to talk to him and explain everything, but at this point I barely have any energy left.

Well, I suppose the least I can do is say something, right?

”Thanks for helping me out, Nick.”

Once he approaches me, I muster up the courage to say those words to him.

But he does not turn to face me.

He walks past me without acknowledging my existence more than necessary.

”It wasn't for you. I was just playing the game.”

After adjusting his glasses, those were the only words he left me with.

”…”

Cold.

Somehow, it was even colder than when Scarlet ignored me earlier today.

After he left with those words, the loneliness, the hopelessness of the situation finally started to sink in.

”N-Nick!”

I yell from behind him.

”I'll be waiting in the clubroom after school! I'll tell you and Sig everything then, so please…”

”…”

Please don't just let it end like this…

You two are all I have left…

Nick… Sig…

Please give me the chance I need to explain everything to you two…