166 - Ayaka Tōjō’s Resolve⑤ – Part 2

RAW

After Shizuku-chan’s mysterious team introduction, we parted ways with her and began practicing baton passes.

The practice routine was led and planned by Saki, who had experience in track and field.

To start with, we lined up in a single file at short intervals and repeatedly passed the baton in rhythm. The goal was to get our bodies used to the underhand pass motion.

After completing the full routine and taking a short break, I watched Shizuku-chan and her group practice.

She happened to be running the 100m dash at the moment—and her speed was shockingly fast.

Watching her finish the 100m in the blink of an eye, I leaned toward Haruto next to me and whispered.

“Hey, Haruto, is Shizuku-chan seriously that fast?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah. Maybe it’s because she’s been doing karate since she was little, but her athletic ability is freakishly good.”

“I see...”

Could it be that Shizuku-chan is actually super high-spec?

She’s always expressionless and says random weird stuff, so that’s the impression I’ve had of her... but she’s really cute, and her personality is great too. She’s mentally strong, principled—almost admirable. Cool, even.

She seems to have a lot of friends, too. Judging from how her classmates react to her, it’s like she kind of rules the room... She gives off that popular-girl vibe.

“Shizuku-chan is amazing.”

“She really is,” Haruto nodded in agreement to my quiet words. His expression even looked a little proud.

I glanced at that proud-looking Haruto, then quickly turned my gaze away and returned to practicing the relay.

After that, we did a few more baton passes before calling it a day.

“Man, underhand passes are hard!”

“I told you so. Want to switch it up?”

“No way! The harder something is, the better it feels when you pull it off!”

“Why are you so hyped for this relay, anyway?”

“I’m always hyped, dude!”

After practice, Haruto and the others chatted as they walked toward the school building. I followed behind them absentmindedly, still watching Shizuku-chan.

It looked like her team was also wrapping up practice. After a short conversation with her first-year teammates, Shizuku-chan ran over to us.

“Senpai, about this Sunday—I confirmed with Kazu-senpai yesterday. He said Dreamland is fine with him too.”

After saying that, Shizuku-chan turned her gaze to me.

“When he heard Ryota-kun was coming, Kazu-senpai looked really happy.”

“I see. Thanks for checking, Shizuku-chan.”

“No problem. Though he did flash an evil grin and say, ‘I’ll destroy Dreamland and build a dystopia with Ryota-kun! Gwahahaha!’ Like some evil overlord.”

There she goes again, saying something ridiculous with a straight face.

Back when we made sweets together, I realized that even though Kazuaki-senpai looks scary, he’s actually a kind and decent person.

As I smiled at her usual nonsense, Haruto gave a tired sigh and warned her.

“If he finds out you’re saying that, he’ll be mad, you know?”

“Hmm? I won’t get in trouble. If Kazu-senpai truly loves me, he’ll forgive everything.”

“Don’t abuse his feelings for you.”

“I’m a femme fatale who wraps men around her finger.”

Haruto and Shizuku-chan talked so naturally, like it was second nature.

They’ve known each other since they were kids, so their conversations flow easily and comfortably.

I watched the two of them talking from just a little behind.

Then Saki looked at the time and quietly muttered, “Ah.”

“Already this late? I have to catch my train. See you!”

With that, Saki started walking off. Akagi-kun then made a face like he just remembered something.

“Oh, right! The instrument I pre-ordered is arriving at the music shop near the station today. Aizawa-san, I’ll go with you.”

He decided to accompany Saki.

Seeing the two of them, Shizuku-chan narrowed her eyes.

“Oh ho. Is this what they call a ‘going-home date’?”

“It’s not!!”

Saki immediately denied it and stepped closer to Akagi-kun.

“Akagi-kun! I’m in a rush because of the train, so I’m running back. You can’t come with me!”

“R-right. Got it.”

With Saki firmly refusing to walk with him, Akagi-kun simply nodded.

Shizuku-chan then gave another playful “Oh ho,” clearly amused.

“So Saki-senpai is conscious of Tomo-senpai, huh?”

“What!? No way! I’m not conscious of him at all! We’re just friends!”

“That’s a lie. If you’re just friends, and your destination is the same, then it’s normal to go together.”

“I said I’m in a hurry, so I’m running!”

“Then just run together with Tomo-senpai. Refusing that is proof you’re conscious of him.”

Like a detective, Shizuku-chan pointed dramatically at Saki.

Saki stared at her finger, then let out a flustered “Ugh!” before turning to Akagi-kun.

“Whatever, let’s go home together, Akagi-kun. But seriously, we have to hurry, so get ready fast.”

“Yes, ma’am! I’ll be ready in forty seconds!”

“Good.”

He saluted and rushed off to the changing room. Saki waved and jogged after him with a “See you!”

Watching them leave, Shizuku-chan rested a hand on her chin with an approving nod.

“Hm hm. Those two are interesting too.”

“Don’t mess with them too much, okay? Aizawa-san will actually get mad.”

Haruto warned her again, but Shizuku-chan shook her head.

“No way. I won’t let Saki-senpai stay in the safety zone.”

“Safety zone? What are you talking about?”

“This doesn’t concern dense, clueless Haru-senpai.”

“You’re still going on about that...”

“Of course. I’ll keep saying it for life.”

“Please don’t.”

“Nope.”

After Akagi and Saki left, Haruto and Shizuku-chan continued chatting about them.

To me, they looked like they were having so much fun—and at the same time, a thought rose in my heart.

Haruto and Shizuku-chan... they really do seem like they’d make a good couple.

The moment I thought that, Shizuku-chan’s words from before came back to me.

“I... liked Haru-senpai. No, I still do.”

“I liked him long before you ever met him, Aya-senpai.”

When she said that, she told me not to apologize.

To not worry about her.

But... if I weren’t dating Haruto, then maybe the one next to him would’ve been Shizuku-chan...

Shizuku-chan is definitely high-spec enough to be worthy of him...

She looks the same as always right now, but I know she must be hurting—about Haruto, about Kazuaki-senpai...

As I was lost in those thoughts, Shizuku-chan—still chatting with Haruto—suddenly looked at me.

“Hm? Aya-senpai, what’s wrong? You’re staring off into space at me.”

“Eh? Ah, no, it’s nothing... Um, Shizuku-chan...”

Conflicted between my feelings for Haruto and the care I felt for my precious friend Shizuku-chan, I hesitantly began speaking.

“About the amusement park on Sunday... Am I really okay to come along?”

“Hmm? What are you saying? Of course you’re coming. Actually, it’s mandatory. No refusal allowed.”

She looked slightly puzzled, breaking her blank expression just a bit.

“But...”

“Ryota-kun’s coming too, right? He’s probably looking forward to it.”

“Yeah, but... maybe I should be the only one not to go...”

Thinking about her, I started to believe that maybe it would be better if I didn’t go at all.

That’s when Haruto, sounding concerned, chimed in.

“Ayaka, are you feeling sick or something? If so, maybe you should rest this time—”

“No, that’s not it...”

Haruto hasn’t noticed Shizuku-chan’s feelings. And she herself is hiding them from him.

So I can’t tell him the truth.

I looked down, struggling to speak.

Then came a loud sigh from Shizuku-chan.

“Haru-senpai. I’m borrowing Aya-senpai for a moment. Senpai, let me have a word.”

“Ah, Shizuku-chan!?”

Without waiting for Haruto’s reply, Shizuku-chan grabbed my arm and started pulling me.

We headed back into the school building, and after checking several empty classrooms, she found one that was unlocked—the Physics prep room—and pulled me inside.

Once we were in, she let go of my arm.

“So? What was that all about just now?”

“Ugh...”

She stood in front of the closed door, voice sounding more serious than usual—almost angry.

I couldn’t organize my emotions and just looked down.

“You’re not actually going to be sick on Sunday, are you?”

“No...”

“Then why are you the only one who won’t come to the amusement park?”

I slowly looked up to meet her eyes.

Usually expressionless, her eyes now looked slightly sharper than usual.

“...Because I don’t want to hurt you, Shizuku-chan...”

“How would me getting hurt have anything to do with you coming?”

“Because... you like Haruto... but Kazuaki-senpai also confessed... and you’re going through so much...”

I averted my gaze again, overcome by guilt.

Another big sigh came from Shizuku-chan.

“Do I really look that pathetic to you, Aya-senpai?”

“No! That’s not it at all!”

I turned toward her in a panic—and she suddenly stepped closer, raising her hand in front of my forehead.

“Take this! The Shizuku Special Forehead Flick!”

She gently flicked me on the forehead with her finger.

“I told you before, didn’t I? If you start holding back your lovey-dovey stuff with Haru-senpai out of pity for me, I’ll forehead flick you.”

“But... you’re an important friend to me. I don’t want to hurt you...”

I pressed my hand to my forehead and murmured.

“If I’m there, then you’ll...”

“Cut it out already, Aya-senpai.”

She cut me off mid-sentence.

Her tone was calm, but there was a strong will behind it.

“I’m really happy you consider me a precious friend. And you’re precious to me too. But honestly, I hate how things are between us right now.”

Her direct words made my chest tighten and I looked down again.

“...I’m sorry.”

“I told you not to apologize, didn’t I?”

“Sorry... Ah—”

I slapped a hand over my mouth instinctively.

“Ugh... Fine. If you’re that worried about me—”

Shizuku-chan leaned even closer, forcing eye contact with me.

“Aya-senpai, please break up with Haru-senpai right now. I’ll be his girlfriend. Problem solved.”

“Wha—!? Th-that’s...”

Shizuku-chan’s words were flat and emotionless, but they gripped my heart tightly, painfully.

My vision swayed as a powerful storm of emotions surged inside me.

“I… I can’t break up with Haruto…”

“Of course. I’m not actually hoping for you two to break up, either.”

Those words eased the storm just a little. But Shizuku-chan didn’t stop—she held my gaze and continued.

“But I’ll be blunt: I don’t like you right now, Aya-senpai. Watching you frustrates me to no end.”

“I… I’m sorry…”

All I could do was apologize and bow my head to her.

Then Shizuku-chan straightened up, put her hands on her hips, and let out a sharp “Hmph!”

“Aya-senpai. I want to build a genuine friendship with you. So I’m going to be honest. A friendship where you can’t say what you really feel is poison.”

“Poison…?”

“Yes. You keep saying you don’t want to hurt me, but isn’t that just you running away?”

“!?”

Her words pierced straight through my chest, scraping my heart raw.

“Your concern is just self-satisfaction. It’s true—I still like Haru-senpai. That hasn’t changed. But you’re not breaking up with him. Which means, no matter what, you will end up hurting me.”

“But I don’t want to hurt a dear friend…”

“I hate that way of thinking. Even if I get hurt by you, Aya-senpai, that’s just how things go sometimes.”

Her words were so unexpected I looked up in surprise—and our eyes met, firmly locked together.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Shizuku-chan.”

“Aya-senpai, I have my own will. My own values, my own thoughts. And I’m sure you do too. Just like Haru-senpai, Saki-senpai, Tomo-senpai, and Kazu-senpai.”

She didn’t look away for a second as she spoke—everything came from her heart.

“When people with their own beliefs are together, there will be clashes. There will be times things don’t go smoothly. There will be times you hurt each other. That’s unavoidable—no, I think it shouldn’t be avoided.”

“But what if getting hurt ruins the relationship…”

“I don’t believe that. Sometimes, it’s because we hurt or get hurt that we truly understand each other. Of course, doing so maliciously on purpose is completely out of the question.”

Shizuku-chan spoke with unshakable conviction in her gaze.

“On the flip side, if you keep twisting your thoughts to avoid hurting others, keep swallowing your words, keep pretending—that kind of friendship won’t last. And honestly, I think friendships like that are garbage.”

Then, her expression softened—just slightly—as she took a step closer to me.

“I like you, Aya-senpai. You’re a dear friend, and I want a real friendship with you. So please—don’t run away.”

As she said that, she gently placed her right hand on my chest.

“Wounds heal. And when they do, they become stronger than before. So don’t be afraid. I’m your friend. A real, genuine, forever bestie—your mabudachi zuttomo.”

“Shizuku-chan…”

Her words washed over me, and I felt my heart finally begin to calm.

Everything she said was right.

Maybe I was just running away. Pretending I was protecting her, telling myself I didn’t want to hurt her—but really, I was just protecting myself.

I placed my hand over hers, still resting on my chest.

“I’m sorry, Shizuku-chan. I won’t run anymore. I want to be your forever bestie, too.”

“Hmph. As you should.”

And just like that, Shizuku-chan returned to her usual expression.

But then—

“Wah!? Shizuku-chan!!”

She suddenly started squishing my chest with both hands!

“It’s these boobs’ fault! These damn boobs seduced Haru-senpai!”

“No, they didn’t! Stop it, Shizuku-chan!”

I shook off her hands and covered my chest protectively.

“Geez!”

“Hmph! Listen up, Aya-senpai. I like Haru-senpai. And I’m flustered because Kazu-senpai confessed to me. But those are my problems to deal with. If I ever get overwhelmed and need help, I’ll send you an SOS. And I’ll complain endlessly. Until then, I want you to just sit quietly and watch. That’s what I’m asking. End of message!”

She had completely returned to her usual self. And that made me smile as I nodded deeply, feeling truly refreshed.

“Got it. When you send that SOS, I’ll be ready to listen—no matter what.”

Shizuku-chan really is so strong and cool.

I need to take after her more.

The fog that had clouded my heart these past few days cleared away, and I felt so much lighter.

Even her usually unreadable face seemed a bit softer today.

As those thoughts passed through my mind, I opened the door to leave the physics storage room with her—

And there, standing in the hallway with his arms full of teaching materials, was Haruto.

His expression was blank, frozen in shock.

I froze too, eyes wide in disbelief.

From behind me, I heard Shizuku-chan’s quiet voice.

“Did you… hear all that, Haru-senpai?”