Vol. 1 Chapter 31 – Something I Absolutely Have to Tell You

The first time I became strongly aware of her existence was in the dead of winter, as the first year of my high school life was drawing to a close.

That day, having missed the bus on my way home from my part-time job, I decided to walk home, partly to make up for my usual lack of exercise.

In the kind of cold that made you think it might start snowing, just as I began regretting not waiting for the next bus—

I heard an unfamiliar sound coming from an unfamiliar facility facing the sidewalk.

As if drawn by the sound, I peered through a gap in the roadside trees, beyond the tall wire fence.

Illuminated by night-game lights that shone brightly even in the dark, several tennis courts were lined up.

It didn’t take long to realize the sound I’d heard was the hitting of tennis balls.

In an instant, my eyes were captivated by a figure standing on the court.

A girl about my age, clad in long-sleeved tennis wear, dashing relentlessly across the court despite the winter cold, sweat flying.

I immediately recognized her as Asahi Hikaru.

“Alright! This is the last one!”
“—Hah!!” (Hikaru)

The woman, likely her coach, hit the ball to a difficult spot, but Hikaru reached it in no time with her nimble legs and returned it with a sharp trajectory.

She was, by far, the most famous person in our grade.

Naturally, I knew her name, her face, and that she played tennis.

But seeing her on the court in person gave a completely different impression.

“Yesss! That last one was pretty good, wasn’t it? It would’ve definitely been a winner in a match!” (Hikaru)
“Alright, then let’s do twenty with a slightly faster tempo next so you don’t forget that feeling, okay?”
“Okay! But I’m finally warmed up, so maybe even thirty balls would be fine!” (Hikaru)
“You say that now… You won’t whine later? We’ll keep going until you can do it, you know?”
“Totally fine, totally fine! But first, I’m getting hot, so I’m gonna take this off… Bring it on!!” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san stripped off her long-sleeved wear, leaving her in just a short-sleeved shirt.

Just looking at her made me feel cold, but she paid it no mind and resumed practice.

The coach hit balls alternately left and right, and she ran side to side, hitting them back to the opposite side.

An anaerobic exercise of continuous dashing that lasted over a minute.

Even though it must have been tough, a smile remained on her face the entire time.

A smile that seemed to say she couldn’t get enough of how fun tennis was.

Watching her shine brighter than anything else on the court, I thought she was cooler than any game protagonist.

Looking back now, it was nothing more than a ridiculously simple case of love at first sight.

There were surely dozens, maybe hundreds, of other guys who had the exact same experience.

However, there was no way that I, a gloomy type mob character at the bottom of the school hierarchy, could ever get close to her.

She and I lived in completely different worlds.

Her, shining dazzlingly under the lights, and me, just watching from the darkness.

That relationship, separated by the wire fence, clearly represented the difference in our positions.

And so, those feelings became a thing of the past within less than a month… or so I thought.

Until that day, on that bus, when she spoke to me.

＊＊＊＊＊

“Reiya-kun, please take this to table two.” (Ichiru)
“…Okay.” (Reiya)

Inside Mizumoritei, I carried the dishes Ichiru-san had lined up on the serving counter to a table seat.

‘It makes you think even geniuses are surprisingly fragile, huh?’

Ever since then, the conversation between those two girls wouldn’t leave my head.

Even I, who had nothing to do with it, felt this frustrated.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine how frustrated Asahi-san must feel.

I wanted to do something, somehow.

But clinging to the back of that thought was the inferiority complex telling me someone like me couldn’t do anything.

“Reiya-kun, next take this… Hey, are you okay? You look really pale…” (Ichiru)

Ichiru-san peeked out from the kitchen, asking worriedly.

Apparently, my dejected feelings were showing on my face.

“R-Really…? I feel normal, though…” (Reiya)
“If you’re feeling sick, don’t push yourself, okay? Tell me properly. I can manage the restaurant by myself.” (Ichiru)
“I’m really fine. This goes to Taiju-san’s spot, right?” (Reiya)
“Yeah, please. And tell him thanks for always coming.” (Ichiru)

Pulling myself together, I carried the next dish, this time to the counter seats.

“Oh, here it comes.” (Taiju)

Taiju-san moved aside the laptop he was working on and prepared for his meal.

Just as I thought, he had started coming to eat Ichiru-san’s omurice about once every three days.

“Sorry for the wait. Also, Ichiru-san says thank you for always coming.” (Reiya)
“No, no, if I can eat food this delicious, I honestly feel like coming every day… Hey, could you tell her that for me?” (Taiju)
“I’ll tell her… but why don’t you just say it yourself…” (Reiya)

Seeing as there seemed to be absolutely no progress on that front, maybe despite his looks, his inner self wasn’t that different from mine.

“Well… about that… Anyway, more importantly, Reiya. It’s finally been announced.” (Taiju)

Just as I placed the food down and turned to leave, he suddenly brought it up.

“What is?” (Reiya)
“Plum’s new game. Just when I thought it was suddenly announced, the release is at the end of the year too. There was gameplay footage out, looked like a Souls-like open field, seems like it’s gonna be a huge blockbuster, much bigger scale than before.” (Taiju)
“Huh… Is that so.” (Reiya)
“Oi oi, what’s with that lukewarm reaction?” (Taiju)
“Well, I’m working right now…” (Reiya)
“Kah! You call yourself a gamer?! This is the new title the whole world’s been waiting for, you know? Who cares if you’re working! Here, watch the video, even you’ll get hyped up! Let’s watch together!” (Taiju)

Saying that, he turned the laptop screen towards me.

He seemed genuinely excited, his breathing slightly heavy.

“I’ll watch it myself when I get home… Well then, enjoy your meal.” (Reiya)

True, normally I might have gotten so excited I couldn’t focus on work.

But right now, with Asahi-san on my mind, I just wasn’t in the mood at all.

Just as I turned my back to him and started heading back behind the counter.

“Che… What an unsociable guy. Release date’s end of year, huh… Still far away, but I gotta clear up all the troublesome stuff before then, gotta greet it in the best condition.” (Taiju)

Those words, casually uttered behind me, stopped me in my tracks.

“Taiju-san, what… did you just say?” (Reiya)
“Huh? I said, Plum’s new game is coming out at the end of the year…” (Taiju)
“Not that, the part after that!” (Reiya)
“Wh-What’s gotten into you all of a sudden…? I just said I wanna enjoy a big title in the best condition without any worries… It’s like, gamer etiquette, right?” (Taiju)

Taiju-san said, looking up at me, slightly flustered.

“I see… That’s right…” (Reiya)

There was…

Something only I could do…

“…! Ichiru-san, sorry! I’m heading home after all!!” (Reiya)

The moment I realized it, I couldn’t stay put any longer.

“O-Oi! What’s wrong all of a sudden!?” (Taiju)
“Eh? R-Reiya-kun!? Wait, it’s fine if you go home, but your uniform—” (Ichiru)

Ignoring Ichiru-san’s voice calling from behind, I burst out of the restaurant still in my uniform.

Without a second thought, I started running full tilt down the road leading towards my house.

Friday, just before 7 PM.

I pushed forward relentlessly, weaving through the people heading home on the street.

Even one minute, one second faster.

To reach her side, where she was surely fighting desperately right now.

But naturally, not even a few minutes after starting to run, I was out of breath, my legs growing heavy.

“If this was gonna happen… I should’ve… exercised… more… regularly…” (Reiya)

Gasping for air, I forced my heavy legs forward, step by step.

I’d impulsively rushed out, but I didn’t even know where she was right now.

I was starting to hate my own stupidity.

I really am useless.

A gloomy type, an otaku, bad grades, bad reflexes, always slacking off.

I’m not the type of character to do something like this, like some passionate youth drama scene that even popular types wouldn’t do these days.

But, precisely because I’m such a useless guy, I finally found the words I could say.

Without stopping my legs, I kept moving forward.

I had no proof, but I had a feeling she would be there.

As the place drew nearer, the sound I heard back then echoed again.

“Asahi-san…!!” (Reiya)

Leaning my exhausted body against the wire fence, I mustered my last bit of strength and called her name.

It was the exact same court as that time.

Sitting on a bench beside it, next to a woman who looked like her mother, she looked up.

Realizing a moment later that the voice was mine, she wiped her eyes and ran towards me.

“K-Kageyama-kun…? Eh? Wh-Why…?” (Hikaru)
“Hah… hah… Sorry… So suddenly…” (Reiya)

Gripping the wire fence, I looked her straight in the face and spun my words.

“But, there’s something I absolutely have to tell you, Asahi-san…” (Reiya)
“…To me?” (Hikaru)
“Yes… To you, from my own mouth… Something I absolutely have to tell you directly…” (Reiya)

Maybe it was from running, or maybe from nervousness, I couldn’t tell, but my heart was pounding like it was about to burst.

“…What is it?” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san stood beyond the wire fence, looking at me with a tense expression.

Lifting my head, I looked into her slightly red eyes, steeled my resolve, and opened my mouth.

“You still… don’t know the truly fun, best gaming experience!!” (Reiya)