I’m Back in the First Grade of Elementary School, so I’m Going to Live Well

“Sorry, Kakeru. I’m leaving first.”

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

It was after school when I finished my gym class.

Rinta, who went home with me yesterday, said that he had something to do today and would go home first.

Rinta, whose house is located in a slightly different direction from my original route to school, took the trouble to accompany me on my detour.

He’s a kind guy, after all.

I wouldn’t have minded taking a long way home with him today, but he seemed to have some urgent business to attend to and didn’t have time to talk about it.

As proof of this, he left the classroom as soon as the class was over.

The only friend I have left before me, I have no reason to stay in the classroom, so I’ll just go home.

I have to study and exercise, right?

So, as I was packing my school materials in my school bag and getting ready to leave.

“Hey, Itosaki-kun.”

“Hmm? What?”

A group of my classmates, led by Imai-kun, came over to me.

What the hell do they want? Don’t tell me……!!

(TN: = ま、まさかッ……！？= “Ma, masaka……!?” )

(My imagination)

“I don’t like that you’re wearing the same clothes as Imai-kun.”

“Don’t get cocky, you lazy bastard!”

“Let’s beat him up and bury him, mister!”

“Kukuku, you’ll regret being tied up with me when you die…!”

(End of fantasy)

What a mess and a mass lynching.

“Come play soccer with me.”

“…………………… yes?”

I couldn’t help asking back at the sudden invitation.

“We often play soccer after school.”

“Since we’re here, I thought I’d invite Itosaki too.”

“It’s more fun to play in a big group!”

………….

I’m really ashamed of my dirty thoughts.

How petty can I be to be so paranoid about such a generous offer…?

I just want to beat myself up and bury myself.

“So, do you want to join us?”

I-I-I have to answer!

The self-loathing would have to wait, but for now, I had to answer.

――Of course, there is only one answer.

“――Yeah, let’s do it!”

I shook my head and they smiled at me.

◆

I decided to play with them.

We played three on three for as long as we could on a large court with two goals – about two hours passed.

“Zeh, …… zeh, …… can’t do it anymore.”

I was completely exhausted and fell to the ground.

No matter how much I work on my fitness, if I’m running as fast as I can after chasing a ball for two hours straight, I’ll run out of energy in no time.

I had a fair amount of confidence in my physical strength, though…

“Itosaki-kun, are you exhausted already?”

Imai-kun asks, looking down at me as I lie on my back on the ground.

He, as well as the rest of his classmates, seemed to have plenty of energy left in them.

It’s amazing.

Unlike me, who was only able to kick the ball a few times while chasing it, they dribbled and shot as hard as they could many times, and even though their energy consumption must have been higher than mine, they didn’t seem to be exhausted at all.

They say that a child’s physical strength is limitless, and it’s true.

Well, I’m just a kid myself.

“I, I, I’m sorry, I, I didn’t exercise at a, a, all until a w, while ago.”

I said with a mixture of excuses as I was losing my breath.

There is a big difference in physical strength between those who start building their strength during the summer vacation and those who have been playing outside every day since childhood.

A month or so of training is not enough to build up physical strength in front of them.

At this moment, I knew firsthand that the length of time you spend exercising is crucial to improving your physical strength.

“Well, let’s get this over with. It’s getting late in the day.”

One of the guys I was playing with said.

He was right, the sun was setting and the area was turning into a sunset.

It was time for the kids to go home.

“Then let’s go to the beach today.”

“I don’t know. My place is on a tight budget.”

“I’m going home too.”

When the time came for them to disperse, they put their school bags in the corner of the schoolyard and started their way home.

I’m still lying on my back in the middle of the field as they disperse.

“Thank you for today, for playing along with me.”

I looked down at him as I lay on my back and he thanked me politely.

“No, no, I’m the one who should be thanking you for inviting me.”

“You’re welcome. Let’s play together again.”

With a fresh smile and a wave of his hand, he too left for school.

… I should go home too.

I forced my creaking body to sit up and sweep the sand from my clothes.

I left my school bag in the classroom.

I’m exhausted, but I can’t not go get it.

I moved my heavy body and walked towards the school building.

◆

I changed into my flip-flops and headed straight for my classroom.

As it was after school, there were hardly any children left in the school, and the corridor on the first floor of the school building, which should be crowded with people, was deserted.

I felt as if I was the only one in this huge school building with no people in sight.

As I walk down the corridor, immersed in this special feeling, I see the library open even after school.

I wondered if the library was open to students after school.

I hadn’t had a chance to stop by the library before, so this was the first time I learned about it.

In my previous life, I had only been to the library to do research and study, and I was not familiar with it at all, only that I knew it existed.

…… Since I’m here, I’ll stop by for a bit.

(TN: Famous “Flag” words~~.)

There are not many children who stay in the library for more than two hours after school. Now, I can see the library as if it were a private room.

It’s an elementary school library, so they probably don’t have materials for junior high school students, but I’m sure they have some books that I can study.

With that in mind, I stepped into the library and looked at the bookshelves.

It’s a library, so of course, there’s a lot of books.

History books, illustrated books, children’s literature, and many other types of books are neatly lined up by genre on the shelves.

I looked at the counter, but there was no librarian in sight.

I wondered if she was out of her seat for a while.

Well, if no one is around, it’s a good thing.

I could browse freely without worrying about what anyone would see.

That’s what I was thinking.

I saw a shadow on the window seat.

Is that… Mizui-san?