After the starving wolf disguised as the ‘Prince’, Takatsuka Reo, left.

“Hah…”

Letting out a sigh, I trudged along toward the school’s front gate.

‘I feel kind of… tainted…’

Because of what just happened, my understanding of the world changed drastically.

‘I thought she was amazing but she was… that kind of awful person…’

Realizing how poor my judgment was made my mood sink.

With the strong feeling of what am I going to do now and thinking that from tomorrow on days of Takatsuka-san coming after me would begin, I was filled with gloom.

‘And on top of that…’

Feeling my cheeks burning, I pressed a hand to my lips.

‘My first kiss… I used to secretly imagine it’d be in a much more romantic and wonderful situation…’

Like wearing a summer yukata when the fireworks go boom and stuff!

My already hunched back curled even more.

‘Takatsuka-san… you’ve carved a trauma into me…’

After something like that, there’s no way I could start liking Takatsuka-san.

‘Man… I don’t want to go home feeling this down… I don’t want my sisters to see my gloomy face.’

Unable to bring myself to go straight home, I was walking along the dim path between the school building and the wall, stepping on the grass as I went.

“Huh? Hayama-kun, what’s wrong?”

A voice that felt like it purified my dark-side mood rang out and I looked up without thinking.

“Iwabuchi-san… why are you here?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? This is the gym, you know. After school at the gym basically means me, right?”

Iwabuchi-san looked puzzled, but it was true where she’d popped her face out was the path leading to the gym. The large double doors separating the gym from outside were open, probably for ventilation and loud calls, the bouncing of a ball and the squeak of basketball shoes on the floor leaked out.

Iwabuchi-san was in practice gear, a black T-shirt and white half pants, a light sheen of sweat on her forehead and her cheeks flushed red. A towel hung around her neck.

“What’s up? Wanna talk?”

Smiling, Iwabuchi-san twisted the faucet at the nearby wash station and shoved her head under the running water. She must’ve wanted to rinse off sweat. It was pretty bold, but that not-sweating-the-small-stuff side of her is part of her charm.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Ehh, really? Actually, I’ve been watching for a bit and you were wobbling around with this spaced-out face so I was even hesitating on whether to call out to you.”

“Huh, you saw me from that far?”

It made me want to cover my face with both hands from embarrassment.

“Well, I’ve known you for over a year. I can tell when something’s off.”

With wet hair, Iwabuchi-san scrubbed her head roughly with the red towel that had been hanging around her neck. At the end of the towel, the words ‘Fighting Spirit’ were embroidered in gold.

“Talking can make you feel better and if you want, why not talk and clear your head? There’s still a little time until break ends, so I’ll keep you company.”

She put the towel back around her neck and smiled.

I didn’t have the ability to see through Takatsuka-san’s true nature, but it reassured me that the person I fell for really is a good person.

That’s exactly why I didn’t want to put an extra burden on Iwabuchi-san.

“No. It’s fine. Thanks to talking with you, it’s pretty much solved.”

It doesn’t matter if Takatsuka-san comes after me.

All I have to do is keep my feelings for Iwabuchi-san strong and swat away Takatsuka-san’s temptation.

Everything depends on my mindset.

As long as Iwabuchi-san stays close, I won’t lose!

“Ehh, really? Just from talking a little?”

“No. It’s more like… just having you here gives me strength… ah.”

I realized mid-sentence.

What an embarrassing thing to say…

Iwabuchi-san is special to me, but to her, I’m just one classmate.

“I see. Now that I look, you don’t have that ‘I’m troubled’ face anymore. Good. I’m glad I could help you, Hayama-kun.”

Seeing Iwabuchi-san smile like she was happy for herself made me think again that she’s a good person.

“Yeah. Thanks to you. I’ll do my best. For your sake, Iwabuchi-san!”

“Huh? Is it something to do with me? I don’t really get it, but then I’ve gotta cheer you on too. Oh right. I’ll lend you this. It’s actually a lucky charm. I used it when we won our first tournament.”

Saying that, Iwabuchi-san wrapped the red towel from her neck around mine.

How could she do something so bold?

From the towel that could be called a holy relic wiped by her precious hair, a faint sweet scent drifted that wasn’t sweat and it made my brain feel like it was refusing to work.

Ugh, I’m being creepy again…

Maybe in terms of worldly desires, I can’t really criticize Takatsuka-san either…

“Um… I’m happy, but I can’t take something that lucky from you.”

In a panic, I gave the towel back. If I wore it around my neck, I’d feel like I was being hugged by Iwabuchi-san the whole time and I wouldn’t be able to calm down. I might space out walking home and get into an accident.

“Just the thought makes me happy… thanks.”

“I see. Next time, I’ll cheer you on in some other way. Hm, what would be good…”

Holding the towel, Iwabuchi-san put it back around her own neck.

“I’ll think of something. Anyway, I’m going back to practice.”

“Yeah. Thanks for listening.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. We’re classmates. This much is nothing. See you.”

Iwabuchi-san went back into the gym, grabbed the ball and resumed practice.

Without thinking, I pressed both hands to my cheeks.

‘Oh no… I like Iwabuchi-san…’

Unlike the smiling way she’d talked just moments ago, once she steps onto the court it’s like she becomes a different person. The way she fires off crisp instructions at teammates, raises the energy around her and makes practice meaningful makes me feel the real leadership she should have.

She’s not like Takatsuka-san, who’s just forceful.

Falling for her all over again, I try to keep watching to burn the sight of Iwabuchi-san in motion into my eyes, but remembering the time sale I hurriedly left the school.

Iwabuchi-san matters, but I can’t neglect my sisters after all.