A Pretty Girl Has Her First Kiss Stolen By an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 2.20

Thursday, July 7

The class match, which lasted for two days, was reaching its climax.

As I worked while looking at the remaining game schedules, I suddenly heard a voice from somewhere.

“Wakamatsu!”

The one shouting loudly and running towards me was Masuda, Wakamatsu’s best friend. She was drenched in sweat. When I asked what was going on, she told me they needed a substitute for the dodgeball team.

I quickly put my things down and rushed over. At the dodgeball operations tent, Mizuhara Shizuku was sitting there.

“Huh? Mizuhara!? What happened?”

“Sorry, I hurt my finger…”

Mizuhara showed me her finger, which she was cooling with ice. Her right ring finger was visibly discolored.

While I was busy helping with event management, it seemed that our class’s girls’ dodgeball team had made it to the finals.

“Wakamatsu, we still have the second half left. Can you play?”

“Of course! Should I be in the infield or outfield?”

“Infield, please!”

After talking with the team leader, I agreed to join.

“Sorry, Wakamatsu. I know you’re already busy…”

Mizuhara lowered her head apologetically. I gently tapped her on the head.

“What are you saying? That’s what substitutes are for!”

“Yeah… sorry.”

The health committee member, Noguchi, took Mizuhara with her. Watching her leave, I took a deep breath.

I took off my event staff armband and put on the same green jersey as my teammates.

Right now, my fighting spirit was burning. I was determined to win for Mizuhara’s sake. My lips curled into an almost unnatural grin.

“Wakamatsu Kaede will be taking Mizuhara Shizuku’s place!”

As I stepped onto the court, cheers erupted from the crowd.

The perfect timing for a substitute player to join—of course, the excitement was high. I rolled up the sleeves of my gym uniform to my shoulders, and suddenly, a high-pitched scream came from the cheering section.

Wondering what was going on, I turned toward them, only to be met with even louder cheers.

It was so loud that even I was shocked.

“What? Do I look weird or something?”

“What kind of thought process is that? Come on, let’s start already.”

I shook off my distractions and focused on the game.

This was my chance to fill Mizuhara’s spot. I had to win no matter what, take the championship, and make Mizuhara proud. I had already embarrassed myself in the class volleyball match. This time, I refused to lose.

“If we win this, we’ll look so cool!”

I shouted.

“Ohhh! You’ll be too popular to handle!”

“You’ll be drowning in admirers, Wakamatsu!”

“You’ll rule the school!”

Masuda, Ariyoshi, and my dodgeball teammates cheered along with me.

The referee tossed the ball into the air.

I jumped at the same time as my opponent, trying to smack the ball toward my side.

But I was a bit slow. The ball went to the opposing team.

“Don’t worry! You’re just short!”

“Shut up!”

Encouraged by my teammates, I dodged the opponent’s throws.

We passed the ball from the infield to the outfield and attacked. It was a repeating strategy.

But we needed to take back control. We were stuck in a defensive position, just waiting for an opportunity.

“Sorry!”

One of my teammates got targeted at her feet and had to move to the outfield.

Unfortunately, the bounced ball landed in the opponent’s court, and we had to defend again.

We kept running back and forth across the court, with no chance to fight back.

Their outfield had two players left, while we had three. Less than four minutes remained.

There was no choice—we had to get the ball back.

One of their players threw the ball directly at me. I braced myself and fought back.

“Ah!”

I was a little too slow, and the ball hit the tip of my foot.

I leaned forward, trying to catch it before it bounced, but it flew off to a bad spot.

The crowd groaned.

“Sorry! Just pass it to me!”

I quickly got up and moved to the outfield.

Now that I was in the outfield, I had to wait for a chance to return to the infield.

Luckily, we had possession of the ball.

“Go, Team 7!”

“Stay calm, Team 3!”

Both sides were cheering intensely.

Like Team 7, we kept passing between the infield and outfield.

We were running out of time, but I had to wait for my chance.

After a few passes, I raised both hands and shouted.

“Fast one!”

My teammate understood and threw a powerful pass toward the outfield.

I sprinted toward it, caught it at the edge of the court, and, without losing momentum, aimed for a corner where their players had gathered.

“Here it comes!”

My wild throw hit a nearby player and continued flying at an angle.

If it went like this, we’d get two outs!

The opposing team scrambled to catch the bouncing ball.

But no one could reach it.

“YES! Let’s go, everyone!”

We had managed a surprising double out.

I clenched my fist and cheered loudly.

The crowd’s cheers exploded, and the boys were practically throwing a party.

I quickly returned to the infield and stood in front of my teammates, who were huddled together.

“It’s okay, don’t worry! I’ll catch the ball!”

Right now, I felt like I could catch anything.

I turned back and shouted to my teammates.

Was it revenge? The player I had just eliminated threw a fastball straight at me.

But now that I was in my rhythm, it wasn’t a problem.

I lowered my stance, caught the ball, and twisted my body to throw it back at their court.

The returned ball was caught and sent flying back toward us.

In one throw, two of my teammates were hit, and the ball curved toward the outside of the court.

“We can get it!”

I yelled, reassuring myself.

I dove outside the court, stretching my arms toward the ball.

I clutched it to my stomach as I rolled across the ground.

A sharp whistle blew.

The ball was still in my arms.

The entire Team 3 cheered loudly.

I raised my fist and shouted.

It was the best feeling.

At this moment, I felt amazing.

With a big smile, I waved toward Masuda and the others in the cheering section.

The crowd screamed with excitement, and I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.

The dodgeball championship belonged to the girls of Team 3.