Vol 3 Chapter 5 (2/2)

“Oh? Transfer student”

A couple entered frouy spoke with an amicable voice; I raised my head

At the sa in fro me squint

Moving in that brilliant ray was Nakaji members from the city tea over their shoulders Perhaps they’re on their way home after club, but why are they…?

“The girl there… Uh, judging for the getup… I’eratedly his surprise, as though he’d just seen an alien, and pointed at Yashi+ro

“Hmph”

Yashi+ro scoffed dis one’ If there’s one , she never let the other party know More than anger, it rouses confusion

“Whoa~ She’s freaking cute! This is bad, , Nakajirade schoolerfun of someone else

Hanazawa-san s painfully, Nakajima kept his sreetedErio, but it’s actually quite a useful reply to use Even if you’re not thinking anything, it can be used as a response

For some odd reason, they sat down next to ravity beyond what is normal?

The two see me as a wall to avoid contact with Yashi+ro; neither did Yashi+ro even so lanced as them

“Here to watch the game?”

“Honna have lunch out We’re not doing anything noay… Soo, I guess you can call this a game-date?”

“Yep~ I’m with ‘iuidly Fro, her sentence ended auously

“A date?”

“Uh, we are, well, dating”

Bashfully, Nakajie “Yep~” Hanazawa-san raised her hand without changing her expression

“What!” Nakajima’s with Hanazahat has come to this world?

When did they start dating? I desperately looked for Isono, wondering if he’s crying in the dark somewhere

In any case, I see that Nakajima is more of a Hanazawa-san fan than a Ryuushi+-san fan… What poor taste I can’t be the only one who thinks that, right?

Preparing on the court, Ryuushi+-san dribbled the ball whilesound “She looks hyped, but that was just two dribble” Nakajima pointed out; Hanazawa-san rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes drooping as if tired

Ryuushi+-san darted back and forth on the court; she ran, but the ball was never with her She ran, with disregard to where the ball was “Hey, Mifune looks out of breath” Shocked, Nakajima reported to me I can see that, you know “She’s really in it, man Is it because you’re here?”

“Uh, I guess” Judging fro out

“As expected, she has potential”

Strangely satisfied, Yashrio stared at Ryuushi+-san How does she judge someone? I’m not interested, just curious As hypocritical as I am, that’s how I see Yashi+ro

Nakajilance; with a an It was a meek voice unsuitable of his sunny look

“You know, back in first year, Mifune actually asked me—”

“Oh, I heard already”

“I see… Hm~ So, you like Mifune?”

“I think she’s cute”

“That’s not saying much… Are you that, uh, Touwa Erio’s someone?”

“Did Hanazawa-san tell you anything?”

“No, not at all We would never talk about Touwa Erio anyway, you know?”

Then don’t talk about her with ht Whether he comprehended is beyond me, but he didn’t inquire any further

It’s hot Said one of us True that The other three assented silently

“She’s gotten cuter Mifune, I mean” Nakajima tossed a weird topic over

“Dude, your girlfriend is right there”

“It’s fine, she’s sleeping”

“I’m not” Hanazawa-san pinched his elbow

“O”

Despite the joke, Nakajima’s pain was real

da

Practice ended; both teaathered around their coaches Running ahead, Ryuushi+-san peeked atthe person next to me, the smile momentarily faded; then she looked to Nakaji on him She looked shaken Yet, Ryuushi+-san focused back on rouping with her teaood, Ryuushi+-san~!” The coain exited my mouth

“Did you just notice? How parochial of you”

Yashi+ro coa artist’s potential before his work exploded in popularity

“And you seeh opinion of her”

“Hhtily and suspiciously I reminded myself that I would be careful not to put Ryuushi+-san onto the path of an esper

“However, only if she is with you”

“Hm? What?”

“You will see soon enough”

With those cryptic words, Yashi+ro ended with that cliffhanger

I felt it wasn’t so to be clarified, so I desisted as well

Losing focus froame pep talk appeared to be over as players scattered on the court

As the backup, Ryuushi+-san sat on the gy her knees with a frustrated expression

And Mikki was one of the starters, huh? An iconic character is always guaranteed to get the e sierous words for now From then on, a rift formed between Mikki and Ryuushi+-san’s friendshi+p… There was no sign of that

Like so, without Ryuushi+-san on the court, the ga in particular needs to be noted I’ fan of basketball anyway

I came to see Ryuushi+-san And that Ryuushi+-san was like a starved dog on a leash “Grrr~” Her clenched fists trembled on her knees

Yashi+ro looked uninspired as well Did she only have eyes for Ryuushi+-san in this entire club?

Both teaa with a bad teaot a foul

“Is Mifune gonna play?”

Nakaji the game

“What’s the point? For a game like this”

Hanazawa-san a? She had a bitter look Whether it’s about this ganant

“What do you mean ‘what’s the point?’” Over Nakajima, I questioned

“It’s the same for the softball club”

Hanazawa-san spilled her inner thought

“I always tried ames But we never win Our team just can’t win one more points than the other We’re never far off, so I try even harder, only to lose again It’s frustrating, but I have no one but me to blame”

“……”

Was it the listlessness, or the heat? Either way, Hanazawa-san blew her steam

She once said club activity was tooto? It is only natural to have so ood

“Hahahah, she’s just a lil tired” Nakaji her Certainly is nice to have soht away Only if there’s someone for Meme-san as well

“Hmpf” Behind me, Yashi+ro scoffed from her nose Apparently she wasn’t too thrilled with Hanazawa-san’s comment

…Does she, perhaps, dislike people who gave up?

“She’s not playing right away? These people lack insight”

Disappointingly, Yashi+ro criticized the coach

“What part of Ryuushi+-san do you like so h

“Because she is so forward, even if it’s unobvious”

“And what does thatweird, by the way”

“Anything weird…? True, for a stubborn person like yourself, it is probably considered weird”

“Thanks for the nice words”

“Listen up” With that as the lead, she circled in front of me

Directly facingcritical

Her fascinating appearance closed toboth my eyes and mind anxious

Yashi+ro ignored the gaym

“People, noas they keepforward”

As though condensing her philosophies into this one sentence, she solemnly declared

Within those words were soh cold water had poured down o, that moment when an unbelievable amount of pool water drenched me

Within the gyle person shi+vered at this fleeting chill

Yashrio sat back next to htened arm forward

“Those who believed and understood their latent power in their normal lives will eventually bloom into those with superpower It is physically unreachable, beyond your furthest reach, by a few centimetres That power, never connected to you directly, is what you consider as abnormal phenomenon Yet…”

She paused, tutting Then, as though giving

“Once you come into contact with it, it will spread and ripple outward People on my planet were more capable with it — the power held within this vessel is the proof of it”

“…But, still…”

“For instance, in a sports competition, there are ht? That, would be the proof of the that essence of power about five centimetres away from themselves People with faster speed than others, who also reached their pinnacle of power — this is the true form of what is commonly referred to as the people with potential”

Yashi+ro’s claim had no uncertainty; it is assertive, and

“Most earthlings will never fill those few centimetres, even in their entire lifetime”

Her shoulder’s shrugged ‘And that’s why you troglodytes are…’ she added a few

“No et close — to this distance as short as cold air coh, the so-called ‘geniuses’ will never cease to exist Such a power, yet aliven up on these few, yet distant centimetres, are one of the reasons as to why this is so”

“……” I shot Hanazawa-san a look Using Nakajima’s laps as her pillow, she laid down

“Oi, Makoto Who’s the backup, that person with potential?”

“Ryuushi+-san” I told her what sounded like a typical lie

“That Ryuushi+ is slow: about half as fast as everyone else She could spend a whole day, and no one would notice her iven up: it is not an easy task to push onward, not knohat awaits at the end That’s why she holds the possibility of unlocking her powers”

“…That’s quite a compliment to say”

“It is merely a proper assessment”

And then, Yashi+ro looked over atsmile

“You’re surrounded by many who have the potential to wield their power, Makoto”

“Oh, please” I waved my hand in front of my face, as well as shook my head; sweat drops flew from my hair

I could coree with parts of it But those aren’t convincing

As for why, it would be because nothing tangible has appeared

“Showyou said will be proven as true”

Without proofs, she’s just another person here — a nutjob

“M a pondering face She then raised her head:

“All right If I feel like it, I will show you in the next week or two You will do well to pray for it”

Is this sorocery day’?

“Besides, even without ame”

At first, Yashi+ro’s prediction sounded like reckless bravery, like she just said things without thinking with her head

As I began to retort, I noticed soht

Nakajiaped at my face Looks like he listened in on our conversation

“Man, whatever you guys were saying was too deep, I couldn’t follow”

Farewell~ He jokingly waved us goodbye I palhed

“Don’t wave me off too”

Was all I could say

Alright

Let’s skip all description of the game until Ryuushi+-san’s debut

“……”

The ga with you The second half was al, however Score-wise, the opponent had 39 points, while us 35 I don’t knohether this is considered good or bad

“I’ how their ai was always off”

‘Interesting~’ Nakajiain added He’s actually watching the ga praise-worthy though

When the last quarter began, my eyes focused onto the shape that walked out

“Whoa~!” I stuck my body out

“So she’s finally up?” Yashi+ro expressed her satisfaction

Out of the five people that walked out, Mifune Ryuushi+-san was the last

“At last, huh? It’s gonna be hard for her to do h”

Nakaji Ryuushi+-san’s situation

“You know, it’s Mifune’s first ti”

“Ah” It’s going to a wall to scale Even from here I could see her stiffness, like her flesh had been displaced by stone; her legs, too, quivered, like a new-born fawn

Rather than describing her as serious, it’sto say ‘whatever space between her fluffiness has been filled with tension’

Mikki tapped Ryuushi+-san’s shoulders, trying to appease her nerve See a sequel Despite her nod, Ryuushi+-san hooked her eyes on the floor without

“‘She’s being overly conscious It ht have been better if I wasn’t here’ — that’s what’s you’re thinking, right?” Yashi+roa provocation

She’s right I could say nothing back

Soon after the quarter began, Ryuushi+-san got the ball; she frantically bounced the ball, but perhaps with too th, it returned much faster than anticipated Unable to catch the ball, it hit her jaw What folloas not cheers, but laughter

“Oh God” Nakajima covered his eyes I wanted to do that too, but I’m here to see Ryuushi+-san Whether this hat she wanted me to see is another matter

Getting back up, Ryuushi+-san did not even have time to be embarrassed; she simply chased the ball, without any apparent reaction She’s so serious, she couldn’t even laugh it off

…If it was ed to get into a game?

Al that ‘if,’ I lost my collectivedness

Ryuushi+-san continued to make mistakes: she atteed head first, only to trip in front of the hoop and al an opponent in the face

It’s unwatchable

I don’t know if the coach or advisor of the club sent her in because of Mikki’s words, but at this rate it wouldn’t be strange if she was taken off court

…And so

When she accrued three fouls, somehow the other side made a foul under the hoop

Although noa shot, bu into the other person, the referee called it so There were no co unhappy, they were neither hostile or upset since they probably thought Ryuushi+-san was just a joke

Here come the free throws Yet, Ryuushi+-san avered, her eyes swaying about

There was no way for her to make that shot like she did with the juice can

At thatfor that exact second, Yashi+ro grabbed ed

“Wha? Me?”

I didn’t knohat to do when I’rinned

“Be it a cliché line or whatever, use your power on Ryuushi+”

“What are you saying??”

“Shout with your voice! Squeeze your throat and tighten your guts Are you just here to sit and watch? Are you an idiot? If you ca! Step up! Move forward! You’re also a slow, but steady person on your way to power, are you not?!”

Yashi+ro jeeringly chucked her frustration atoff poas suddenly on me

I al … What could I, a non-player, do at this point?

“……”

I did have an idea But I needed soe For a moment, I hesitated

But

“Moving forith your oill, and pushi+ng others with it — Is that not the very first power bestowed upon humans?”

I hate to admit it, but those were the words that tipped me forward

I stood up In this corner of the gym, no one would notice — which is hat entailed will captivate everyone

I will split asunder this silent gym

The iven up will never stand on a football field again

Yet Ryuushi+-san, who had not given up, should stay there

The value of super natural pheno them with endless possibilities

I scratchedthe breath, I turned to face the court

Putting my hands around s:

“You can do it! Ryuushi+-san!!”

All eyes instantly fell upon azes transformed into terror

Thinking carefully, I’ve never lived as a conspicuous child, much like everyone else

However

Even so

I could agree that, once I get it going, it isn’t so bad every once in a while

If Iinconsequential

Even h

I once again drew inmy body:

“You can do it! Even though I know it’s hard! I couldn’t do it! And no one cheered for me! I could only look down, and wonder why anyone else could cheer for the guys playing! To be honest I still don’t get how! But who cares?! Who cares about looking down or cheering?! If you got tiotta work hard! I didn’t like it all thatfor you, Ryuushi+-san! If you work hard, you won’t have to give up on s! I want you to work so hard, that others feel bad for it! So work hard! I’s like don’t force yourself too much!!”

The things supposedly co out of my mouth did not reach my brain

I was probably just venting sohts

My temperature rose, and senses melted

Just how feverish of a cheer did I accoame?

Perhapstoo much sound, I lost my breath and choked Even my ears drums were dimmed, unable to calm down Aside from the weather, my skin heated up from another element

I looked down and scratcheddown

Finally, the temporary stare dissolved and reactions followed

“That was badass~” Nakajiuy…” On his laps, Hanazawa-san exhaled

As for Ryuushi+-san

She laughed Like she had co up She also mouthed many times, ‘I told ya I’m Ryuushi+’

She laughed Like she had co up She also mouthed many times, ‘I told ya I’m Ryuushi+’

Just like so

We saved each other

“Hoh~ oh!” Following that odd yell, she gathered herself and repositioned the ball

Ryuushi+-san then nonchalantly made two shots

“Ah, wasn’t her favourite character Mitchi?”[2]

The rigidness left her raceful steps carried her

Seeing that, I sat back down and coughed a few more times

Yashi+ro and I traded looks; we laughed cathartically

“That wasn’t too bad”

“Don’t you reat?”

It did

“Now, let us interview Mifune Ryuuko-san, on her first-game-slash-first-victory!”

“……”

“Hint, hint”

“Ah? Me? Uh, how do you feel right now, Ryuushi+-san?”

“I said I’m Ryuuko!”

“What a great interview”

“Hold it right there!”

After the garily in that tranquillized gym

Regardless of the intense gaour

She stayed in the court for the re up with both defence and offence In the end, though, I still don’t knohat position she played

Without the opposing teaym; it could be just me, but the heat seemed to have dissipated as well

“You were badass, Ryuushi+-san~”

“You too, Niwa-kun”

“Huh? …Aw, that?”

“Like, how do I put it… It was soo e me down, y’know?”

For so out So, her nervousness exploded?

Than the yelling orth it The aardness consuh

“Oh, hey, uled her body

“Could ya, wait for me till we’re done?”

“Hm Of course”

“Then, wanna go hoether?”

“Don’t you think it’s a little sad to just head straight home?”

“Then, let’s go somewhere!”

“Yeah, let’s go somewhere!”

“Woo~! Yay!” Ryuushi+-san raised her hand, and spun as though dancing

“Ya heard hi ya!”

“I never asked for you anyway~ Not going to waste y with you today, Ryuushi+!”

Ryuushi+-san skipped to where her tea

I stayed, savouring the taste of this strange situation while seeing her off

There wasn’t anyone else left Nakajiht away, and Yashi+ro disappeared froym Did she leave to look for another eave?

Arriving at the back of the gy obliviously into the track field Are the people running there part of the track tea the fastest

Veiled partly by the cloud, the sun finally appeared; the new light flashed bydrops of tears out of my eyes “Dammit~” It’s like my eyes were squashed froame, or more precisely at Ryuushi+-san, so my eyes orn out?

“Phew… That was too much youth” You can OD on this stuff: that was one of the symptoms

My visions were blear, as though in a drearound, the shoe lockers and even the blue skies were blended together

It was a for I’ve seen it before

The canvas recalled athat does not exist in reality — a ‘dream’

“Oh yeah”

That dreaht, before that scribbled chapter title

With this sight as the fuse, it resurfaced on the inside of my eyelids

“Uh…”

If I remember correctly—