Yuzuki Yasuda’s words made Koharu Miura feel a bit surprised.
“Eh?”
“Why are you all against Kondo Haruka…?”
The others were students from Class 1, but Yasuda Yuzuki, Hori Yui, and Sato Mio were all from Class 5, just like herself.
It was understandable for her and Kondo Haruka to be connected because of Kanzaki Sou.
But why were Yuzuki Yasuda and the others also at odds with Kondo Haruka?
“I get it~ Koharu, you also think that a girl like Kondo Haruka should be popular at school, right?”
Yui Hori joined in.
“After all, she’s cute and has a lively personality, right?”
“From that perspective, she’s certainly popular.”
Yuzuki Yasuda pursed her lips.
Her usually innocent tone carried a hint of disapproval.
“Athletically talented, cheerful, cute… Those are all obvious traits—but that’s only for boys.”
“When it comes to girls, if it has nothing to do with Kanzaki-kun, it’s fine—”
“But as soon as someone shows even a little interest in Kanzaki-kun, Kondo Haruka immediately gives off this vibe of ‘other girls are forbidden from approaching Kanzaki-kun’s side.'”
“Eh, that’s way too possessive! It’s like she’s treating Kanzaki-kun as her personal property.”
Yuzuki Yasuda narrowed her eyes, raising her voice.
“Right, right, that’s exactly it.”
Yui Hori complained as well.
“Last time, when the Literature Club was organizing an event, they wanted to invite Kanzaki-kun to help out… But before they could even finish speaking, the Executive Committee member from the Literature Club was glared at by her so intensely they couldn’t utter a word. It was terrifying.”
“That’s right, I also have a friend… It was just a casual comment when they happened to run into each other in private, mentioning to her friend that Kanzaki-kun seemed cool—then Kondo Haruka, who happened to be with Kanzaki-kun, overheard it.”
“That look at the time… Oh my god—”
“……”
…No, where did you all hear these things from… Besides, even if you say it like that, it sounds exaggerated and made up.
Listening in silence, Koharu Miura couldn’t help but complain inwardly.
“So, Koharu.”
“——! I’m here!”
Called by name out of nowhere, Koharu Miura shuddered.
The conversation turned to her, and Yui Hori’s tone suddenly became serious.
“The honor of our Class 5, and the dignity of other ordinary girls, rests on your shoulders!”
“Koharu! If you really want to be with Kanzaki-kun, you have to show some spirit!”
“That’s right. If you truly have such intentions… Then first, you must overcome Kondo Haruka, who assumes that just because she’s a childhood friend, she can act as if she has the right to ‘reject others on behalf of Kanzaki Sou.'”
Following Yui Hori, Yuzuki Yasuda and Sato Mio spoke up one after another.
…No, so what honor, and whose dignity are you talking about?
Even if Yui Hori made it sound like a serious request, and Yuzuki Yasuda and Sato Mio nodded earnestly beside her—
Koharu Miura could only feel that the three of them were just fooling around.
“No… Actually, I don’t want to be with Kanzaki…”
“Koharu! There’s no need to be shy or hide anything in front of us!”
Yui Hori stood up again, pressing her hands on the table.
“Aren’t we friends! Open up your heart in front of friends, Koharu! Aren’t we people you trust!”
“That’s right, Koharu!”
Yuzuki Yasuda also stood up alongside Yui Hori.
“If you have to hide your feelings of liking someone, isn’t that just too pitiful, Koharu! The Sports Day is coming soon—if you truly like him, are you really okay with just letting the possibility of being with Kanzaki slip away like this?”
“You two~ Sit down~”
Sato Mio, overwhelmed by a headache, could only quietly remind them as she tried to pull the two excited high school girls back to their seats.
***
It looked like a small commotion full of youthful energy, caused by high school girls with restless curiosity and passionate feelings about first love.
But after Sato Mio ended the fuss, and the two sat back down, restoring the previous atmosphere, Koharu Miura no longer felt it was just a joke.
Even though the passionate Yui Hori and the innocent Yuzuki Yasuda spoke in a joking manner, Koharu Miura had indeed been reminded of something important.
Because of Yasuda Yuzuki’s words, she couldn’t help but recall the warning issued by the System on the day they first met.
[No matter what it is now, after the Sports Day, it will escalate to an outrageous level.]
This was the System’s exact wording—a message that Koharu Miura couldn’t ignore, no matter how much she relaxed on Saturday, how she interacted with Kanzaki Sou and Kondo Haruka on Monday, how hard she tried before the Final Exams, or how she relaxed after the Results Announcement.
Sports Day.
That was the real battleground, the final Trial Grounds that would determine who would win or lose between her and Kondo Haruka, and whether she could even survive a little longer.
No one could predict what would happen afterward.
But.
If she couldn’t get through Sports Day, then everything that came after would be nothing but empty talk.
…Without even realizing it, the long-haired girl’s expression shifted, changing the mood entirely.
Yui Hori and the others naturally sensed the change in atmosphere.
“Ah… Sorry, sorry, did we get too serious?”
Yui Hori hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
“Haha, it’s not that big of a deal! We were mostly joking!”
“We didn’t mean to pressure you or anything! Koharu, just be yourself!”
Suddenly feeling she’d gone overboard, Yui Hori started to ramble.
“Um, Koharu, what they mean is, don’t shrink back just because you’re afraid of Kondo. That would be too sad and not worth it.”
Seeing her friend struggling to explain, Sato Mio sighed and helped Yui Hori clarify.
“Right, right, that’s it!”
Yui Hori quickly agreed.
“Eh? But I really do find Kondo Haruka annoying. Someone needs to teach her a lesson—”
“Wait, let’s not go there right now, Yuzuki!”
Yuzuki Yasuda, as always, remained airheaded and oblivious to the mood, saying whatever was on her mind. Sato Mio hurriedly tried to stop her, but couldn’t keep her from saying most of what she wanted.
“……”
“——It’s fine, Sato-san.”
Koharu Miura, who had been silent, suddenly spoke in a calm tone.
The three girls who had been entangled in the commotion all turned to look at Koharu Miura.
“Mm… Thank you all for caring about me.”
Koharu Miura smiled.
…Yui Hori, Yuzuki Yasuda, and Sato Mio had no idea that, for her, the Sports Day was not a playful game of gossip or a contest to outshine someone.
Sports Day was a battlefield—a war where, no matter what, she had to surpass Kondo Haruka.
Even though she still had no concrete idea of how to achieve victory.
She could feel an unprecedented resolve welling up inside her heart.
She wasn’t fighting alone.
Even if their positions were different, and their reasons varied—
The three girls in front of her, at least, had shown their support.
——For the often-confused Koharu Miura, that was already a tremendous source of strength.
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