Shamer

“Hey, Tanaka! It’s only been an hour since you started running, and you’re already behind!”

At the soccer field of Seiran High School, while only the first-year students were running, I was scolded by a second-year senior member of the soccer team who was stretching. Incidentally, the third-year students had already retired, so the second-year students were now the oldest in the team.

“Yes! I’m sorry!”

I apologized and then started running around the perimeter of the soccer field again.

It had been a week since I had started attending high school.

My ideal situation would have been to get along well with my classmates, play well in club activities, and gain the trust of my peers… but of course, it didn’t work out that way.

I was still distant from my classmates, and although the club activities were not long, the tournament was coming up, so the first-year students were mainly running, and I was in the same situation.

Well, it has been about a year since I’ve been to school, and I haven’t practiced soccer much, so it couldn’t be helped. I should work up steadily.

“…But, why is she here?”

While running, I glanced toward where the bench was.

There was the advisor there, and Ruri was standing next to him.

She was, to my surprise, the manager of the soccer team. And she had just recently started as well. I don’t know whether the timing was good or bad…

Speaking of which, I wonder how things were going for her with Touya.

I don’t intend to do anything as awful as I did in middle school ever again, but I was simply curious.

Well, I guess they were still dating. Touya, like me, has been in love with her ever since he was little.

“Mmm!”

I looked at Ruri and my eyes accidentally met hers.

We immediately look away from each other. …It was awkward.

I’ve not spoken to Ruri at all since the first time I went to school up until today, except for our initial greeting.

To be honest, I wanted to ask her what she thought of me when I was being bullied in middle school. Or, if she disliked me since she was little? I had so many questions I wanted to ask her.

…I tried to talk to her, but she kept avoiding me.

Well, because she avoided me, it might mean that she really disliked me from a long time ago.

Even if that’s the case, I’d like to hear it from her at least.

And although I hated her so much when I was a shut-in, when I met her, the joy of seeing the person I love again was greater than my hatred. I’m really… pathetic.

But I was relieved that I don’t have to hate the person I love anymore.

“Tanaka! Speed up!”

“Yes!”

After receiving another scolding from my senpai, I started running faster.

I needed to do more running on my own from now on. I was going to die if I didn’t get stronger.

With this thought in mind, I ran, gasping for air.

Then, I passed by the bench, and naturally, stole a glance at it.

To my surprise, I saw that she was smiling.