A Story About a Handsome Girl Having Her First Kiss Stolen by an Equally Handsome Classmate - Episode 32

July 7 (Thursday)

The two-day class match is coming to an end.

As I was working and looking at the shifts for each sport with only a few games left, I heard a voice coming from somewhere.

“Wakamatsu!”

It was Wakamatsu’s best friend Masuda who came running towards him, yelling loudly. When he asked her what was going on as she ran towards him, drenched in sweat, she told him that they needed a substitute for the dodgeball team.

I quickly put my luggage down and rushed over to find Mizuhara Shizuku sitting in the dodgeball management tent.

“Eh, Mizuhara?! What’s wrong?”

“Sorry, I jabbed my finger…”

Mizuhara shows us the fingers he had been cooling with ice. Indeed, the ring finger on his right hand appears to have discolored.

While Wakamatsu was busy managing the event, it seemed that three groups of girls’ dodgeball teams had made it to the finals.

“Wakamatsu, there’s still the second half left. Can you come out?”

“Of course! Infield or outfield?”

“Infield, please!”

After talking with the team leader, Wakamatsu agrees to participate.

“Sorry, Wakamatsu. I’m already busy.”

Mizuhara Shizuku bowed her head apologetically. Wakamatsu gave her a gentle pat on the head.

“What are you talking about? That’s what I’m here for.”

“Yeah… sorry.”

Noguchi-san, a health committee member, led Mizuhara away. Watching her leave, Wakamatsu took a deep breath.

He removes his executive armband and puts on the same green shirt as his teammates.

Wakamatsu’s fighting spirit is burning now. He wants to avenge Mizuhara Shizuku, and the corners of his mouth turn up abnormally.

“Wakamatsu Hanae will be replaced by Mizuhara Shizuku!”

As he made this oath and stepped onto the court, cheers erupted from the stands.

The timing was perfect for a helper to show up. It was no wonder that the atmosphere was getting lively. As she rolled up the sleeves of her gym uniform to her shoulders, a high-pitched voice rose from the cheering section. When she turned to see what was going on, the voices had gotten even louder. The volume of the voices was so great that Wakamatsu was surprised.

“What, am I looking so weird?”

“What’s your train of thought? Come on, let’s get started.”

Shaking off all evil thoughts, I stepped onto the court. This was to fill the gap left by Mizuhara Shizuku. I wanted to win this match, become the champion, and be praised by Mizuhara Shizuku no matter what. I showed a bad side in the class volleyball match. This time, I didn’t want to lose.

“It’d be cool if I won this!”

Wakamatsu raised his voice.

“Oh, oh, oh! You’re so popular!”

“This is awesome, Wakamatsu!”

“Student life is all-you-can-play!”

In response, Masuda, Ariyoshi, and their dodgeball teammates also join in.

The umpire throws the ball into the air.

Wakamatsu and the other student jump at the same time and knock the ball into their court. Wakamatsu is the one who is delayed. The ball is passed to the other team.

“Sorry about that! I’m short!”

“noisy!”

Encouraged by his teammates, he dodges the balls thrown by the opposing team.

The infield passes the ball, and the outfield attacks. This technique is repeated over and over.

They want to get the ball back somewhere. They are on the defensive, but they keep looking for an opportunity.

“Sorry!”

Teammates who are targeted at their feet move to the outfield.

Unfortunately, the ball bounced off and ended up in the opposing team’s court, forcing them to go on the defensive again.

The ball just kept going back and forth on the court. The opponent had two players in the outfield, and we had three. There were just under four minutes left.

The only thing we could do was to get the ball back. The opposing player started throwing balls at Wakamatsu. Wakamatsu fought back, not wanting to be outdone.

“Ah!”

A few steps too late, the ball hits Wakamatsu’s foot. He leans forward to try to catch the ball before it bounces, but the ball mercilessly flies off into the distance. The spectators are left scratching their heads.

“Sorry! I’ll pass for now!”

Wakamatsu recovered and ran straight to the outfield.

The outfield is the outfield. All they can do is pull themselves together and wait for an opportunity to return to the infield. Fortunately, the ball is in the hands of Wakamatsu and the other three teams.

“Go, go, Class 7!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! Group 3, calm down!”

The support for both teams was enthusiastic.

Just like the opposing team’s seventh group, they passed the ball back and forth between the infield and outfield. They were pressed for time, but they had no choice but to wait for an opportunity. After several passes, Wakamatsu raised both hands and shouted when the opportunity was right.

“A fast one!”

The classmate understood his intention and swung his arm to throw the ball towards the outfield.

He ran towards a fast ball thrown by a teammate and caught it at the edge of the court. Without losing momentum, he threw the ball with all his might towards the students gathered in the corner.

“Came!”

Wakamatsu’s wild ball hits a nearby student and flies diagonally, maintaining its momentum. If it continues like this, it will be two outs. The opposing team chases after the ball that bounced off the ground. However, their outstretched hands can’t reach the ball.

“All right! Let’s go, everyone!”

He surprisingly managed to get two outs.

Wakamatsu also shouts and pumps his fist in excitement. The cheers grow louder, and the boys are in a festive mood. He rushes back to the infield and joins his teammates, who are gathered in the corner.

“It’s okay, it’s okay! I’ll get the ball!”

“I feel like I can catch any ball now,” Wakamatsu said, turning around and calling out to his teammates.

Perhaps in revenge, the student who had been chased off the court by Wakamatsu earlier started throwing fastballs at Wakamatsu.

However, for Wakamatsu, who was in good form, it was no big deal. He crouched low to catch the ball, twisted his body, and threw it into the opponent’s court.

The ball caught here is returned forcefully to the third group.

Two teammates were hit by that ball, which circled and flew out of the court.

“You can get it!”

Wakamatsu shouted, as if convincing himself.

Wakamatsu chased the ball that had gone beyond the boundaries of the court, diving to the ground. He stretched out his arms to touch the ball, then rolled over, clutching it to his stomach.

A high-pitched whistle sounds.

The ball stayed there, without escaping from Wakamatsu’s arms.

The three groups cheered loudly. Wakamatsu also raised his fist and shouted.

I feel great. I feel great right now.

He smiled from the bottom of his heart and waved to Masuda and the others in the cheering section.

Amidst the thunderous cheers, Wakamatsu broke into the biggest smile of his life.

In dodgeball, the girls from Group 3 won.