“A Promised Victory”
“Refusing a challenge—how pathetic!! Someone as spineless as you is not worthy of Nanami!! If you’re not a coward, then accept my challenge!!”
The senpai’s shout snapped me out of my frozen state.
Nanami-san, what are you doing all of a sudden!? If you’re going to turn bright red and look away in embarrassment, then you shouldn’t have done that in the first place—though it was cute!
…Alright. First, let’s deal with senpai and calm down.
“Senpai, betting a girlfriend on a match isn’t some old drama. Besides, what matters most is Nanami-san’s feelings, right? You were already rejected once, senpai. Even if we settled things between just the two of us, ignoring that fact wouldn’t mean anything…”
“Don’t hit me with such reasonable arguments!! Do you know that sometimes logic can hurt people more than insults!?”
So he knows it’s logical. What a self-centered senpai.
This guy is Shibetsu Shouichi-senpai. Even I know him—the handsome captain of the basketball team. He’s quite a famous player… and one of the many handsome guys who got rejected by Nanami-san.
After hearing that I started dating her, he probably came charging in with a challenge, driven by typical sports-club spirit.
But for me, there’s absolutely no benefit in accepting.
Whether he acknowledges us or not, Nanami-san and I will keep dating. And I have no intention of handing her over to someone who treats her like a prize to be won.
Even if our relationship started as a punishment game, Nanami-san is still my girlfriend right now.
And besides, I need to make her genuinely fall for me. I don’t have time to waste on pointless things.
So once again—I have no reason to accept this match.
Besides… the downside if I lose is way too big. Anyone with common sense wouldn’t take this bet.
Why did this senpai think I would?
“Youshin, let’s go already.”
“Yeah.”
Just as Nanami-san and I, her face finally no longer red, turned to head back to the classroom, senpai shouted angrily at our backs.
“H-Hey! Wait a moment!! Nanami-kun, what’s so good about such a small and plain guy?! At the very least, I look better than him!!”
Well… I can’t really argue with that.
He really is handsome. Like a model.
Calling me small and plain isn’t even an insult—it’s simply the truth.
If the two of us stood side by side, ten out of ten people would choose senpai. The difference is that overwhelming. So I didn’t even feel angry.
…However, Nanami-san exploded in anger.
“If you insult Youshin any further, senpai, then I’ll cut ties with you completely—even as friends! I’ll ignore you even if you talk to me at school!! Youshin is a far better man than you!! I hate people who say things like that! I hate you!!”
Whoa… Nanami-san shouting with such an angry face… and for my sake… it made me strangely happy.
—Wait, senpai just collapsed to his knees.
Since he’s so tall, the sound of his knees hitting the ground echoed even louder than usual.
“H-Hate…? You… hate me? Nanami-kun… hates me…?”
“When you confessed, you were staring at my chest the whole time!! I noticed, you know!! Youshin would never stare at my chest like—”
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
She probably remembered that I had been staring quite a bit at her chest this morning.
…Sorry, Nanami-san.
“—that!!”
She finished the sentence anyway.
Just like that, Nanami-san declared it as if the morning never happened.
While senpai remained frozen in despair on the ground, she glanced at me and stuck out her tongue playfully like a mischievous child.
I couldn’t tell whether it was because she’d told a lie, or because she was protesting the fact that I had looked earlier.
Even if she forgave me, I still felt bad. Nanami-san isn’t used to men…
But honestly, what could I do? Humans instinctively look at things that move.
As Nanami-san tried to leave, senpai lifted his face with a desperate expression, as if clinging to hope.
I quickly stepped between them and crouched down so I was at eye level with him.
“Nanami-san, cutting ties completely might be a bit much. He’s still… a friend? I guess? Well, honestly… I’m not exactly comfortable with such a handsome guy being your friend. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous. I’d rather you didn’t interact with him. But still… senpai looks a bit pitiful.”
“Ohh… Misumai-kun…”
Tears filled senpai’s eyes as he looked at me.
Good. His attention shifted to me.
If he had lifted his head earlier, he would have had a full view up Nanami-san’s skirt.
Even I haven’t seen that yet… I mean—
I sighed in relief that Nanami-san was spared that embarrassment.
“…If Youshin says so… then I won’t cut ties completely… Oh, but don’t worry. I never gave him my contact info.”
Nanami-san puffed her cheeks slightly, looking a bit sulky.
Did she get upset because I defended him…?
Hmm… what should I say in a situation like this?
Fancy words are beyond my ability. For now, I’ll just praise her honestly.
“Thanks, Nanami-san. You really are kind. And I’m relieved about the contact info.”
“…Did you fall for me all over again?”
Her sulky face disappeared as she tilted her head and flashed a bright smile.
…That felt like taking a powerful counterpunch.
Not a bad feeling though.
But what’s the correct response here…?
“Yeah… I guess I did—”
“Hmph! Seems you’ve got some guts after all. I’ll admit that much. But I still can’t fully accept you. Face me in a match and prove you’re worthy of being her boyfriend!”
Right as I finally worked up the courage to answer, senpai stood up again.
I looked up at him and sighed.
Nanami-san sighed at the exact same moment.
Our timing was perfectly synchronized.
I finally had a chance to say something nice to Nanami-san too…
“So? What kind of match are we talking about?”
“A three-point shooting contest. I’m the captain of the basketball team. A ten-shot contest is our club’s tradition.”
Wow. That’s dirty.
The captain of the basketball team challenging someone to basketball?
I’ve only played during PE classes. Everything else I know comes from manga.
Nanami-san also stared at him with wide eyes.
She probably didn’t expect such a ridiculous challenge.
But… senpai probably won’t let this go unless I accept.
Fine. I don’t want him bothering us again tomorrow.
“Alright, senpai. I’ll accept the match—but I want to set three conditions. I’m a beginner at basketball, after all.”
“Hmm? Of course! I’ll give you any handicap you want. Go ahead.”
I wish he hadn’t challenged me in his specialty to begin with…
But saying that probably wouldn’t matter.
This senpai… is kind of an idiot.
I hate saying that about a senior, but he really is.
He agreed before even hearing my conditions.
He must be confident he can’t lose.
But that’s fine. I got his word.
“First—show me about ten… no, twenty practice shots first. Then let me shoot first.”
“Fine by me.”
“Second—if I make even one shot, I win. I’ve never even attempted a three-pointer before. On the other hand, senpai… how about you have to make all ten shots to win?”
“Sure. That much handicap is only fair.”
“Third—regardless of the result, Nanami-san gets to decide what happens afterward.”
“Of course!! I’ll sink all ten shots beautifully and have her choose me!!”
Fully recovered, senpai dashed off with surprising agility for someone his size.
He probably went to the gym.
There was still time left during lunch break, so we could finish this quickly.
It meant less time with Nanami-san, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Youshin… are you sure about this? A match… and a three-point contest at that…”
“Yeah. It’s fine, Nanami-san. Honestly… I’m a little angry too about him treating you like a prize. So just relax and watch my pathetic three-point shooting.”
“But… if you lose, then I…”
Seeing her look down anxiously, I placed a hand on her shoulder to reassure her.
She trembled slightly at my touch before looking up.
…Ah. I touched her without thinking. Was that bad?
Wait—her expression looks relieved…
Huh? Nanami-san? Why are you resting your cheek on the hand I put on your shoulder…?
Whoa—her cheek is so soft… She’s rubbing against it…
Focus. I need to finish my sentence.
“I already said it in my conditions. No matter the result, Nanami-san decides what happens. Well… unless you suddenly fall for senpai after watching him make ten perfect shots.”
…That won’t happen, right?
Nanami-san thought about it for a moment.
Then she clapped her hands as if she finally understood.
“Ohhh, so that’s what you meant.”
“Yeah. Senpai probably only remembers the part where he said, ‘If I win, I’ll take Nanami.’ Honestly… he seems kind of dumb.”
“Ah… yeah… He’s amazing at basketball though.”
“I see… Well, let’s go to the gym.”
I held out my hand to her.
She looked surprised, but slowly took it.
And just like that, we walked hand in hand to the gym.
When we arrived, senpai looked at us with jealous, resentful eyes.
His gaze was fixed on our intertwined hands.
Maybe it’s mean of me… but a little psychological pressure is fair.
Then the three-point contest began.
Exactly under the conditions I had set.
Senpai followed my terms without complaint.
And the result…
Senpai collapsed to his knees again right in front of me, both hands on the floor.
“Impossible… Impossible!! I lost…?”
“Yes. I win, senpai. Nanami-san is my girlfriend… you’ll acknowledge that, right?”
Despite his frustration, senpai seemed unwilling to go back on his word.
He stared blankly at me and Nanami-san beside me.
Then he gave a small, wry smile.
“Yeah… I lost, Misumai-kun. And… Barato-kun… the two of you make a good couple. Damn it… that stings.”
In the end, senpai gave us a refreshing sportsmanlike smile and congratulated us.
Seeing that smile made me feel a little… well, quite a bit… ashamed of the underhanded tactics I used.
But then again, he was the one who suddenly challenged us.
So let’s call it even.
Senpai and I shook hands firmly.
And the people watching around us erupted into cheers.
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