Chapter 110

* * * “Ah…” Miss Misaki hugged my shoulders tightly. “You’re not warriors. You’re fighting girls.” My heart bubbled up like the Ramune we drank that day. The marble rolling in the bottle sounded like church bells. The heavy dark curtain that hung deep inside my chest became white and transparent, like a wedding veil. Crazy thoughts went through my mind, but I was starting to feel like maybe it was okay to vacillate between the moon and the sun. I didn’t want to let my feelings show in a smile. I tensed my lips, but I could feel my cheeks glowing. “Huh? You didn’t notice?” Mai’s eyes softened in amusement, the corners of her lips quirking up. I realized that Aki, Suzu, Kei, and Miss Misaki, too… Their expressions were all a little different, but they were watching me warmly. Mai kept peering at me. “It was the same during the game in July, too. After talking to Saku, you really reached your peak, Haru.” “Don’t be stupid…!” But it’s true. I’d said the same thing myself. Suzu burst out laughing. “You didn’t even realize it! In the first half, you were as sad as an abandoned cat caught in the rain, but as soon as I made fun of your man, you started trying to tear my throat out.” “Well, you provoked me…” But Aki continued. “Seeing you chitchatting with your boyfriend on the phone during halftime actually really annoyed me, though. I was serious when I went over to tell you to knock it off.” “H-he’s not my boyfriend!” I protested weakly. “You’ve started something you can’t give up on, Umi,” said Kei, looking thoughtful and mature. “Kei…” I once had a conversation like this. At that time, it was about Nana. And it turned out exactly as we said. “So…,” Mai said. “That’s why I asked you so much about Saku. I’ve never really cared before, but I thought maybe if I learned about love, I’d become even stronger.” Ugh, you’re so annoying! And she’s talented and dedicated enough to make anyone fall for her. However, I couldn’t keep from smiling. “I won’t give him away. He’s mine.” “Whatever. If you want him, grab him. And if he turns you down, drop him. Right?” “Argh, don’t be stupid!” Tsk, she can’t be serious, can she? Having a basketball rival is fine, but having her as my love rival? No way! As I was musing over that, Miss Misaki clapped me on the back. “…You won’t be young for long. Fall in love, girls.” … After a short silence… “““We don’t wanna hear that from you, Miss Misaki!””” The three seniors all spoke at the same time. Then Mai spoke. “By the way, I forgot, Tommy asked me to give you a message, Miss Misaki. It was: ‘Looks like you won’t be getting married anytime soon, right?’…” Ah, friends always cut the deepest. I rolled my eyes a little as Miss Misaki frowned. “All right. You girls are gonna get it today. Better prepare yourselves. And Todo… You call Tominaga here for a little chat.” Grinning, Aki picked up a ball and started dribbling. “Let’s change up the teams anyway. I want to pass to Umi, so I’ll give you Kei,” Suzu said, stretching. “It would be interesting to attack together with Mai. You can have Kei.” “So nobody needs me?!” Listening to Kei admonishing the others brought back some nice memories, and I closed my eyes. The cicadas were quieter now this time of day, somehow listless. The early setting sun that came in through the second-floor window spilled across the court, brilliant even through my closed eyelids. The breeze blowing through the open door smelled like twilight. The sound of the balls being hit by the baseball team practicing outside echoed like the end-of-day bell. Summer was coming to an end anyhow. And I was changing. But, I thought, slowly opening my eyes. Though I may lose my way, get lost in worries, get hurt… I have people around me who are saying it’s okay. Because there’s a place where I can face up against my weaknesses and fight with everything I’ve got. So, I… I kicked off against the court with a squeak of rubber. …Good-bye to the summer that changed me. Let’s meet here again next year.