Chapter 73: Anyone Who Dates On Another College Campus Is A Spy


TL: Akabane


***


I have no experience in the Undo club activities. To be honest, I think of myself as a person who is far removed from the hot sweat and tears of youth, even in terms of my own personality. However, I enjoyed the days of baseball practice this time. I was coached by Ayashiro, received guidance from Yuzuriha, had my face wiped with a towel by Milan, and spent my days running with the other members of the club. I felt like I was becoming more and more of a true human being as I spent those days. Now I am a ballplayer! Aim for the Koshien! ...Well, I'm already a college student. So, I aim for the Tokyo Five College Baseball Championship! Fi-oh! Fi-oh! Fi-oh!











And finally, the day came when the starting lineup was announced. Of course, I knew that much. I have an image of a strong hitter and a home run in a comeback.


"I think I'll leave the fourth spot to you, Hagiri."


"Leave it to me!"


Manager Kyogoku placed Hagiri at No. 4. Naturally I protested. Yuzuriha also protested. But the manager dismissed it with an apologetic look on his face. But at least, he put me in the starting lineup too, at number 8! What is it? This exquisitely subtle feeling! Why did I have to be No. 8 when I could have been No. 9? It's a very half-hearted feeling. When I became No. 8, Hagiri chuckled for a moment, so it must have been his fault. He used his power to intervene in our club activities, but I think he's too selfish to be the pitcher and number four.


"Please, don't get out of line. I'm the one who's going to have a hard time if you keep scratching the situation."


"Huh? I'm the one who's being inconvenienced."


Me and Hagiri don't get along. That's why our contact with each other during practice sessions was kept to a minimum. On the contrary, all day.


"Go to the enemy team's university and make a hostile inspection."


"What are you ordering me to do? Why don't you go?"


"I've heard that Momiji need data on the players for her calculations. If that's the case, shouldn't you be the one to get that data?"


"Are you kidding me? I'm not going to lose valuable practice time. Send the right people to do it. I mean, your information network should be enough to get the players' data, right?"


"That's right. If you put it that way, that's true. Then, I'll send in a spy now."


Saying that, Hagiri pulls out his phone from his pocket and makes a call.


"Halo, Riri? Yup. It's me. Can you go to Hayao University from now on today? Yes, I'll be there. Okay, then."


Then, he immediately hangs up the phone.


"Screw you! Why the hell did you let Igarashi do it!"


"...Which do you take? Stay here and practice? Or do you want to throw this Ririse Igarashi woman into Hayao University and see what happens? Take your pick."


Hagiri grins coldly. It's no joke to throw Igarashi to another university after what happened just a few days ago on a circle trip. In other words, this is Hagiri's sabotage. He's trying to cut down my practice time as much as possible. I'm so angry! I really think this guy is the best in the world when it comes to this kind of manipulation. Of course, I'm not going to praise him. I click my tongue.


"Damn! I know, I know! I'll just go! You son of a b*tch!"


"Well, good luck with that. Oh yeah. If she attracts anything that's not good, you're responsible for handling it."


It's none of your business. I'm always responsible for her, even if she doesn't tell me to.












I quickly changed my clothes and caught up with Igarashi, who was heading to Hayao University, in front of the university station.


"Hey, Tokiwa, are you going to Hayao University, too?"


"Yeah. I have to go."


"Fufufu. Oh, you have to go. Heh."


Igarashi had a nonchalant look on her face. I thought it was impossible, but I asked her about it.


"You were told by Hagiri to go to Hayao University. Do you know the purpose?"


"What? I don't know. I was told to go anyway."


Too random. I couldn't help but want to hold my head. After all, the relationship between Hagiri and Igarashi is strange and distorted.


"Why are you going to Hayao University, Tokiwa?"


"It's a hostile situation inspection."


"Wow! Sounds interesting! That's the one! We're going to see the team like rivals in a sports manga! Sounds fun! I don't have anything special to do at Hayao University, can I go with you?"


"......I don't mind......."


Disgusting. I'm creeped out. A feeling of dread runs through my body. Igarashi was honestly trying to carry out Hagiri's order even though she had no purpose in doing so. She was ordered to go to Hayao University for no purpose, and Igarashi doesn't have any doubts about it. It's too eerie. The twisted bond between the two is terribly deep. Did that depth lead to the affair in the previous world? I her relationship with Hagiri even deeper than my love for her? I am almost overwhelmed by this fact.


"Well then, let's do our best!"


"Ah..."


Smiling happily, Igarashi takes hold of my left hand and pulls me along. It's warm and soft in her hand. That's why I couldn't let go of that hand, even though I was terrified of her.











And with our hands still in each other's hands, we came to Hayao University in Okubo. The campus of Hayao University, one of the top private universities in Japan, was filled with the energy of students.


"I'm kind of nervous about other universities! Look! I feel like I'm not supposed to be here! I feel like I'm doing something wrong! Kyah!"


Igarashi's eyes sparkled with excitement. University campuses are basically open. No one cares if students from other schools come in. The University of the Imperial Capital is so open that the madams who live nearby take their dogs for a walk.


"Well, that's true if you're still in high school. Usually you can't get into other schools."


"Yes, yes! I'm kind of resistant to other schools. But when you enter another school for club activities, it's a different school building and a different schoolyard from your own, right? I liked that different atmosphere."


"I see. So, do you want to enjoy something different first? Why don't we go to the school cafeteria for now?"


"Yes! I want to go, I want to go!"


And we headed for the cafeteria.










We walked leisurely hand in hand through the campus of Hayao University. The campus of another university was very fresh.


"The buildings look different. Is this one more modern? Like that?"


"This one is closer to the city center. Maybe that's why?"


Unlike our university, the buildings are closer to each other. If you are used to Komaba, it feels kind of small.


"Hikara, bankara, Hayao University! Like that?"

[TL: I don't know what it means.]


"I don't know about haikara, but I've heard that they have a bankara spirit. Do they wear long school runs and cheer and stuff?"


"Haha! That's a very bankara feeling!"


With that said, we arrived at the school cafeteria. I chose the daily special, and Igarashi happily agonized over his choice before choosing the "Bankara-don." It was a bowl of pork cutlet served with a secret sauce that can only be found here.


"This is delicious!"


Igarashi was smiling as she ate. I watched her. When I see her happy smile, I feel the fear I had felt earlier disappear. I hope that feeling is an illusion. That's what I think.


"Why are you staring at me like that? Do you perhaps want to eat this specialty?"


Somewhat shyly, Igarashi grabs a pork cutlet with an egg and holds it out to me with his chopsticks.


"Oh, oh...what? Can I eat it?"


"...Yeah. Here you go..."


I'm so embarrassed. This is a school cafeteria. There are many other people here. If Igarashi, who is a very beautiful woman, was to say "ah" to them, she was bound to attract attention. I took a bite of the pork cutlet offered to me.


"Is it good?"


"Yes, it's delicious. It's delicious."


To be honest, I was so thrilled that I couldn't taste it.


"I see. I'm glad."


Igarashi smiled kindly. But her cheeks are a little reddish. And we both looked down at each other. What is it? What is this freshness? It was never like this in my previous world. It's so fresh that my heart is jumping painfully. And we finish eating silently, without exchanging any words. After putting the tray back, we naturally held hands again.



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