Chapter 64: Hado NejireAuthor: Geraint
The team arrived at Tokyo Station and traveled by train, reaching Akita Prefecture by noon.
"Finally!"Ichika stretched his arms as they stepped onto the school campus. While the coach went off to talk with the opposing team's coach about the practice game, Ichika suddenly felt a chill.
"This is bad, Captain."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Something's coming. It's terrible…"
"What?!"
Ichika's face turned pale."I need to take a dump!"
"Damn it, just go already!" the Captain slapped his shoulder.
"But where's the restroom?"
"Behind the gymnasium! Go!"
"Thanks, Captain!"
Ichika sprinted off.
"That kid…" the Captain sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"Let's go!" their coach called as he entered the gym.
Ichika emerged from the restroom, drying his hands with a towel, looking relieved.
He glanced around the school campus."Huh?"
His eyes widened when he saw a girl with long periwinkle hair—it looked familiar.
"Isn't that…?"
Curious, he followed after her.
Around the corner, he saw the girl leaning against a tree, reading a book. She wore glasses and looked like she was waiting for someone.
Ichika looked around before approaching."Uhm…"
"You made me wait," she said coldly.
"Huh?"
"I was told you'd come, but I arrived first. I can't trust someone who keeps me waiting. Do you even like me, like you wrote in the letter?"
"Huh? I think there's a misunderstanding…"
The girl glanced up—and froze."You're not the one I was supposed to meet... You're not from this school, are you?"
"Well, yeah. I'm from a middle school in Tokyo. I'm here for a practice match with my basketball team."
"I see… The gym is over there." She pointed and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
"What is it?"
"You were waiting for someone, right?"
"Yeah. But you should get back to your team now. Your game's probably starting."
"It's fine. I'm just a benchwarmer since I'm still a first-year."
"What?" The girl looked surprised. He was taller than any boy in her class.
"Oh, that uniform… You must be a senior. Then I'll call you Senpai."
She gave him a suspicious glance as he smiled."Hello, Senpai! My name's Yagi Ichika. Just Ichika is fine."
She took off her glasses and wiped them with a handkerchief."Well then, Ichika… Go back to your team."
"Eh… So cold."
When she left with an indifferent expression, Ichika turned toward the bushes and shouted:
"She's finally gone! You girls can come out now!"
RustleRustle
Several delinquent-looking gal girls stepped out of the bushes.
"Acting like a cool guy now, huh?"
"You got a death wish, punk?"
They glared at Ichika, who just smiled.
"You're the ones who called her out, right? You shouldn't be bothering her."
"What'd you just say?! She's got a bad attitude! Just because she's pretty and has a strong quirk, she thinks she's better than us!"
"Yeah, we hate her guts!"
Ichika raised his hands."Wait! You're misunderstanding her!"
"Misunderstanding? She talks to us like we're trash!"
"What I mean is… you girls are beautiful too!"
…
Silence. Then all their faces turned red.
"You're just flattering us."
"That won't work on us!"
"No guy at school ever said that before…"
Ichika sighed."Every girl has her own charm. Sure, guys like pretty girls—but that's just an ideal. What we really care about is chemistry. A good connection is better than just good looks."
"…Really?"
"You don't believe me?"
They looked at each other. The leader muttered:"Nejire isn't just beautiful—she also has a strong quirk. She might get recommended to a top hero school."
"I see… But let me tell you—quirks are overrated. A good quirk doesn't mean a good future. You can't even use it in public unless you're a Pro Hero. Things have changed. If you feel bad about your quirk, just walk in the park—you'll see Pro Heroes cleaning up trash. Someday, you might even see Nejire doing that."
"That's true… I saw a Pro Hero cleaning my backyard."
"Me too! I saw them picking up trash in the park."
Instead of feeling envious, you should focus on yourself. That's why—huh?"
Ichika stepped closer and reached for the leader's hair.
"There's a leaf on your head. Let me get that for you."
The girl froze as he gently plucked it off, his face close to hers.
"There… Hehe…" He smiled, holding the leaf.
"Waaaaa…"
Her face turned beet red.
"Aneki?!"
"You okay?!"
Poof!She fainted, and her friends caught her just in time.
"ICHIKA!!!"
Ichika heard his Captain screaming from the distance.
"Ugh… Sorry, girls! Gotta go! My team's looking for me. You can watch the game at the gym—but please keep this secret or I'll get scolded."
He winked before running off."I'm coming!"
The girls stared after him, starry-eyed.
"He's so charming!"
"He's like a prince!"
"Kyaaaa~!"
They all fainted under the tree—starting the new school mystery: "Girls Fainting by the Tree."
Unbeknownst to them, Nejire had been watching from behind the building, book in hand and glasses on.
"Yagi Ichika… I just don't understand that guy."
She was curious about him.
When Ichika entered the gym, the Captain was fuming.
"Where have you been?! I've been looking everywhere!"
"Relax, Captain. It's just a practice game. Coach won't let me play till the final minutes anyway. Team chemistry comes first—Huh?"
He looked at the scoreboard:
Tokyo [14] - [47] Akita
(To be continued)
A/N: Hahaha! I was super tired writing this and made a lot of mistakes trying to finish with my eyes half closed. Fixed now!