Volume 2 - CH 4

“You know there are going to be a lot of practice games soon for the qualifying rounds of the national tournament, right? Well, I have a lot of things I want to buy, but it’s going to be hard for me to do it by myself, so I was wondering if you could come with me.”

“Oh, of course, I’ll go with you! I mean, you can rely on me more.

I think Kanade is a really top-notch manager.

She prepares the necessary practice tools and equipment for efficiency improvement, studies the latest practices, and incorporates them into our practices. My teammates, who were skeptical at first, started to win games when they followed Kanade’s advice, so I think she may be more reliable than the coach.

The coach, by the way, is Heike-sensei, who teaches English. He is, of course, an amateur soccer player. There was no way he could be trusted from the beginning.

The next general competition will mark the retirement of the third-year students from club activities, and the loss of Kanade will be a bigger blow to the team than the loss of regular members. Kanade is such an indispensable member of the team.

“By the way, where do you go to buy stuff?

“Do you know that there is a new large sporting goods store just a short train ride away? There, they have a special section for soccer, and they display products used by foreign teams. I’d like to go there and check it out.”

“I didn’t know they had such a thing! I want to go there! But is Kanade there for those items on display? I don’t think we can afford it with the club’s expenses…”

“Ah, sorry, sorry. I’m not actually buying those things. I’m looking for sports drinks, protein, and that kind of thing. However, I’d like to see the equipment that foreign teams use for training. I’d love to see that.”

“Kanade is really curious, isn’t she? It’s because of this that the team has become stronger, so Kanade is great.”

When I glanced at Kanade, I could tell at a glance that her face was bright red and she was embarrassed. It has always been like that with Kanade. Whenever I give her a compliment, she immediately starts blushing and fidgeting. It was fun to watch, and I would get carried away and give her lots of compliments.

“Looking back over the past three years, I realize how much Kanade has meant to me. I can say with absolute certainty that I wouldn’t be where I am today without you! I’m glad you’ve always worked so hard with me.”

Kanade said “uuuuuu”, squeezing her skirt and glaring at me…

“Yuu-kun’s mean. That’s how you always enjoy making me embarrassed…”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll buy you a drink at the café when we go shopping to make up for it.”

“Mouu! I can’t help it! You promised okay!”

———

“Wow! This sporting goods store here is really insanely spacious!”

This sporting goods store, one of the largest in Japan, stocks items for major sports such as soccer, baseball, and tennis, as well as minor sports such as cricket and squash.

“It’s true. I can’t see the end!”

Kanade jumps and jumps as she makes an effort to see the edges of the store. You’re wearing a skirt today, and you’re jumping around so much that I can almost see what’s going on inside! You should know you’re a pretty girl already!

“Hey, Kanade… I can almost see the inside of your skirt. Be careful!”

“Mwaaa!… Did you see it by any chance?”

Holding your skirt down with your hands, and looking up and jittery eyes is a… reward isn’t it…!

…No, no. Now is not the time.

“No, I-I didn’t see it! I didn’t look!”

“Really? But today’s light blue underwear is my favorite, so I wouldn’t be too embarrassed if you saw me!”

“What? Wasn’t it light pink?”

………Ah

“Hnnn… Yuu-kun no bakaaa!!!”

———

“I’m so sorry! I’m remorseful! So it’s time for you to get in a better mood. I’ll even buy you some sweets at the cafe.”

Then Kanade, whose cheeks had been puffed out earlier, grinned.

“Pfft! Yuu-kun, you said that, right? Well then, there’s a fashionable cafe near here, let’s go there! I hear they’re famous for their basque cheesecake!”

“Oh, you! No way, you’ve sulked to get me to buy you sweets!”

“Hmmm. I don’t know. But you already said you’d buy me a drink, so you can’t just quit!”

“My goodness. I really can’t compete with Kanade.”

I scratched my head and said to Kanade, who looked satisfied and started looking around the store. As I watched her back, I wondered why Kanade cared so much about me. I don’t think she would be so sympathetic to me just because we’ve known each other since childhood…

Maybe Kanade is about me…

If I’m not a misunderstood b*****d, that’s probably how Kanade feels about me. But unlike the other girls, I didn’t get much of a sense of calculation from Kanade’s favors.

Thankfully, since people around me started to notice that I had broken up with Hazuki, I have received invitations from many people, regardless of gender. However, there were many invitations that seemed to develop into romantic relationships, and I have to admit that it’s a little hard for me right now. Incidentally, the invitations from men were for blind dates. It was never that kind of invitation.

So, being with Kanade, who I don’t feel is trying to get me to do anything, is the most comforting thing for me right now.

———

“Mmmmmm! Delicious! It’s been all the rage lately, so I had to try it.”

She looked like a squirrel as she mugged and ate her bask cheesecake with her hand on her cheek. Kanade isn’t very tall, and she doesn’t look like a little animal. I felt my heart warm just watching Kanade looking so happy in front of me.

“Hey, hey, don’t eat so fast. No one is going to take it.”

“Because! It’s so delicious! I’ve never had a cheesecake with such a rich and moist cheese flavor! And it’s not at all bland, so I’m sure I’ll be able to enjoy it all the way through!”

“I knew Kanade liked sweets, but I didn’t think she would talk about it enough to do a food report.”

When I said this, she blushed and turned her head over while adding the tip of the fork with her mouth, as if she thought she had gotten too excited herself. Then she looked at me with an upward glance.

“I hadn’t had such a delicious meal in a long time, and Yuu-kun and I had always only gone to chain restaurants in front of the station. I’d like to go to more places and have fun with Yuu-kun from now on. …Is it okay?”

“No man would say no to Kanade when she says that! Let’s go play together in various places!”

“Yes! Thanks! Also, I want to invite Satoru-kun and Kozue-chan to hang out with us too!”

“Oh, yes, that’s right. We’ll have a break from club activities after the tournament, and after that, we’ll go out and have fun. Next year, we will have to take the entrance exam, so we won’t be able to play every day, but I want to make memories of my senior year with everyone!”

“I want to do it! It’s definitely fun! I’m really looking forward to it. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“I don’t think it’s too early to say. Let’s just do our best together until the competition.”

“I’ll do my best to support you. I’ll give it my all.”

After that, we had a lot of fun talking about the upcoming qualifying rounds for the national team competition and the gymnastics festival. I haven’t had this much fun in a long time. I really can’t thank Kanade enough.

TLN: I’m looking to pick up another series. Join the discord server and tag me on #novel-recomendations if you have any suggestions.