TL: learning2tl
TLC: Kagefij
ED: N/A
「Tomozaki.」
「Eh?」
After school. My name was called out by a voice I wasn't used to being called out by.
Turning, I found one of Nakamura's buddies ── Takei, glaring at me with his arms crossed. Next to him was an expressionless Mizusawa, looking in my direction with a surveying gaze. The two who had followed Nakamura's lead during that incident in the Home Economics Room.
「Come here a sec.」
「Sorry?」
What's this? A summons? If it's these guys doing it, then there's almost no mistaking that Nakamura is involved. But, why? The build-up from the AtaFami incident should have been successfully deflated by Hinami, so had I done something to annoy him? Or else, might this not be a particularly negative kind of summons? Nah, given this tone of voice, there's no way that'd be the case.
「Hurry up, this way.」
There's probably no point in attempting an incoherent verbal resistance, so it looks like I have no choice except to go with them. I scanned the classroom, wondering if Hinami was observing the situation, but she was nowhere to be found. ……Most likely, she had gone on ahead to the second Sewing Room. Which meant that for this surprise boss fight, I would have no choice but to hold out by my own strength.
I was led away, or rather, taken away, and we eventually reached our destination just diagonally opposite the staff room. A place that apparently used to be the principal's office, but was now a vacant room, no longer in use. Remnants from the time when it was the principal's office, there was a sofa and a desk, rather old-looking, but not necessarily unused, as well as various other furnishings, including a small CRT television.
And in there was not just Nakamura, but also several other males from the riajuu group.
「……Uhhh?」
With Takei and Mizusawa included, a total of six people. Just what is going on. Am I going to be lynched or something?
「Ohh, Tomozaki.」
Nakamura. I felt a sense of intimidation simply from getting my name called. When I instinctively averted my eyes, a familiar object entered my vision. Eh. Is that a game machine?
「Ah, wait. Is this to do with AtaFami?」
The unexpected development is confusing me. Eh? Could this be the revenge match?
「That's right. Hurry up and sit down.」
Doing as I was urged, I sat down in front of the controller that had been prepared, upon which the gaming machine was started up. On the television screen, a familiar opening clip began to play.
「Uh, wait, wh, what's this for?」
Ignoring my confused self, Nakamura's followers distanced themselves from myself and Nakamura, lining up along the back of the room.
「It's just as you think.」
In a low, resounding voice, Nakamura announced that to me. In other words.
「So a revenge match?」
Nakamura lightly clicked his tongue, and spat out the words 'The way you said that… don't get carried away'.
「Uh, but.」
I looked behind me. There was a gallery of spectators. In other words, whatever happened here, there would be witnesses to all of it. When we had previously fought, to put it bluntly, I had won an overwhelmingly overwhelming victory. However, those who knew just how big a difference there had been at that time were probably only myself, Nakamura, and Hinami. Which meant it wouldn't be unnatural in the least for people to think that the difference had been marginal.
But, having a showdown in this place was different. Everything, up until the very details, would be perfectly visible to everyone.
It's true that Nakamura may have practiced a lot these past few weeks. Considering that he started with that level of ability, if he had on top of that seriously practiced, then defeating the likes of his followers currently present with no deaths would be a breeze. However, this and that are completely different. After all, I'm just too strong. For that short a span of time, no matter how much practice he put in, it would still be a drop in the bucket. [1] No, on the contrary, I'm even confident that no matter the breadth of his improvement since that time, the breadth of my own will be larger. Supposing for argument's sake that I were to play while avoiding risks to the maximum, with the resolution for a long, drawn-out battle, then it would even be possible to take no damage. Even supposing that I were to not play in that way, no deaths would be a breeze for me.
That is why this is something we have to avoid doing. It wouldn't be on the level of simply losing face. If I were able to hold back it would be fine, but holding back in AtaFami is something I absolutely cannot do. Which is why, this has to stop.
「I really think it would be better if we didn't.」
「Seriously……don't get so full of yourself.」
Since I had made that remark while looking behind us at the gallery of spectators, now that I think of it, that had probably conveyed a meaning like「It'll be embarrassing, you know?」to him. So it had angered him even more. Well, of course it would. That kind of roundabout way of saying it is still way too advanced for me, though.
「No, that's not what I mean, I'm being serious. It's certainly all well and good that you've been practicing every day……but even so-」
That was as far as I got before stopping mid-sentence. Had I continued with something like 'But even so, that won't be enough to cover the gap', there's no mistaking that I would have provoked his wrath yet again. Though, since I had more or less already said as much, it was probably too late anyway.
……Or so I thought, but here an unexpected reply came.
「The thing about me practicing every day, who did you hear that from?」
The most overbearing way of speaking to date. Eh? That part?
「Uh, well.」Since I had no need to hide it, I told him.「From Izumi.」
「……Thought so.」Nakamura furrowed his eyebrows.「Haven't you been getting along pretty well lately?」
「Eh?」
……Wait a moment. Well, it might be too early to tell, but wait. I had suspected that the reason he had summoned me for a revenge match so prematurely was because I had angered him in some other way, but could it be that this guy……?
「What's the big deal with you suddenly getting so close to Yuzu? Something's really off.」
Just as I thought, that's what it was. But really, good job being able to say that so openly with all these people watching. Still, seriously, what do you take me for? You know, the whole reason I've been talking with Izumi a lot lately, is that she wants to be able to play against you, and she's been trying so hard with her AtaFami practice as a result. The fact that I've been helping Izumi work so hard 『For your sake』, doesn't that make me the cupid here?
Just why do I have to get caught up in a fight due to your jealousy over me getting along with Izumi?
「No, us getting along isn't-」
「Isn't what?」
Nevertheless, that didn't mean I was going to explain the real situation to him. Revealing to him the secrets of a girl giving their all in the name of love just to save my own skin would be awful. Inexperienced in love I may be, but that is something even I understand. Which means, I have no choice but to get through this by my own power.
「Look, it's not like that, and even if it were, we shouldn't be fighting here, right? Better someplace like your house or mine.」
「House……? That reminds me……you went to Yuzu's house, didn't you? Someone saw you. 」
Oh come on, did I just make it even worse? Well that's no good. Of course that would make him angry. A kimo-ota who had beaten him up in a game and who kept on getting carried away with their words, was now getting closer to the girl he likes — well, still unconfirmed, but anyway, that girl — and finally, even stepped foot in her house. Not good at all. He's angry. This problem isn't one I have any chance of evading.
「Ahhー, umm, there's some circumstances to that……」
「……Which are?」
「……Uh, sorry, can't say……」
I couldn't even come up with a lie……. I don't know if me being unable to say it gave him an impression like『It's a secret between Izumi and me』, but here Nakamura completely lost his cool, and with a「Whatever, let's start.」tightly gripped his controller.
However,「But……」「What now?」「Uh……」「The way you're talking is seriously gross.」, in that kind of fashion, I kept on buying time with use of my specialty grossness, holding out in the hope that the situation would somehow change. Hinami, I beseech thee. It should be a simple matter for that person to suspect something when I don't turn up at the second Sewing Room, gather information, and rush here. Actually, if I could just buy enough time, there’s no doubting that she would come. That's the type of person she is.
As I kept up with the meaningless dialogue while supplicating as such, suddenly, with a bang, the door to the room was thrown open. Ye gods!
「Coming throughー, wha, ehh!? Tomozaki!?」
This was probably what they call a 'LOL too bad' situation. Now Izumi had turned up. Unbelievable.
「Yuzu, really? I thought I told you don't come.」
「Ah, sorry, Shuuji, um, it's just I thought I was……about ready to be……your……opponent……」
Perhaps sensing that something wasn't right with the atmosphere in the classroom, her voice quickly trailed off. Nakamura, I'm sorry. This is probably the worst possible situation for you. It's my fault for suggesting to Izumi that she might be able to take you on by the end of this week, as well as for pointlessly wasting time earlier. That's why it's really all my fault now. We really should have played right away. In this situation with Izumi watching, there's really no way you can withdraw. I wonder if there's any way for you to get her to leave.
「Well whatever, just watch, we're starting now.」
「Eh……!? O-Okay!」
Oh boy. Now you've done it. There's no going back now. Izumi blended in with the rest of the onlookers lined up at the back.
「Yuzu～ like I was saying, it's useless to try～, let's go back～」
The door was flung open once again, and along with her voice, now entering the room was none other than the Konno Erika from Izumi's rant, together with her followers. Brightly bleached hair and a short skirt. Even within that group, Konno Erika noticeably stood out.
「Oh? What's going on?」That was from one of the people within her group of followers.「I'm gonna have a match with Tomozaki, watch.」That was from Nakamura. Ohhh boy. Now the Konno Army Corps are joining the crowd of spectators. Just what is going on? Attack Families with an all-star riajuu cast? Now why would he carry out such a suicidal act? I don't know anymore……
「That's enough, Tomozaki. It's too late to run away now.」
「Haah……」I resolved myself. I'll say it in advance, but the moment it becomes a matter of AtaFami, I become unable to hold back.「……The one who can't run away now is you, Nakamura.」
In every possible way.
Translator Notes:
[1] Original is kind of a Japanese idiom, 雀の涙 (A sparrow's tear), used to convey just how tiny an amount is.