Chapter 3 – The Unforgettable Style

Amamiya Haruka was the vp of the woman’s volleyball membership.

Being the exact opposite of the strict and severe president, she was the one who was entrusted to teach the youthful members of the membership whereas maintaining the ambiance of the membership amiable.

“Don’t simply comply with the ball aimlessly! Plan your motion correctly as you do it!”

“““Sure!”””

Her latest illness didn’t cease her from fulfilling that obligation. As quickly as she felt that her physique had recovered, she went to the sphere to teach the primary years.

Contained in the health club, after faculty. Although summer season hadn’t arrived but, the ambiance inside was scorching. They opened the window to let the new air out, but it surely didn’t work. The quantity of scorching air they generated was merely an excessive amount of. As time glided by, the temperature was getting hotter.

Even so, Haruka’s expression didn’t chill out. She took a step ahead, bracing her fairly face and referred to as out to the first-year college students.

“Your motion is simply too gradual! Don’t be afraid of the ball, it gained’t harm you! Do your greatest to obtain it correctly!”

“““Y-Sure…”””

“I can’t hear your reply!”

“““Sure!”””

Listening to her offended voice, the primary years replied in a panic.

“That’s it, maintain that up. We gained’t end this session till everybody can obtain the ball correctly.”

Wanting on the clumsy actions of the primary years, Haruka sighed quietly. ‘I assume we gained’t make it to the regionals after the third years retired.’ She thought.

Their highschool wasn’t well-known for its volleyball workforce. They merely didn’t have a adequate atmosphere to observe critically. Their advisor didn’t know something about volleyball and nobody was adequate to show everyone. The second years solely joined in for enjoyable, so after the third years retired, it was uncertain that they’d take observe critically anymore.

To not point out that because of the strict president, folks have been postpone from becoming a member of, so the membership didn’t have many members to start with. Haruka wished that they may get somebody who was skilled to hitch this 12 months, however seeing the scene in entrance of her, it was clear that not one of the first years even knew the fundamentals.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t simply forcefully make them be taught from the fundamentals. She was the one who mediated the battle between the strict third years and the easygoing second years, she knew that in the event that they have been to be strict with these new members, they’d simply depart the membership fully.

That was why she allow them to use the courtroom regardless that they weren’t adequate to make use of it. Additionally, she coached them in order that they’d really feel motivated in the course of the observe. Her presence because the vp and her reputation might function a superb motivation for the brand new first years.

“Alright, that’s all for at present! First years, tidy every little thing up earlier than you permit! Mop the ground and put the balls away!”

“““Sure!”””

After receiving Haruka’s instruction, the primary years responded energetically and commenced to maneuver.

Earlier than Haruka began to teach them, they felt pissed off as a result of their seniors didn’t allow them to play on the courtroom and made them do fundamental coaching over and over. Now, these frustrations appear to be lengthy gone. Not solely that, Haruka additionally chatted with the primary years and purchased them sports activities drinks to win their coronary heart.

“Sorry, Haruka. Coping with the primary 12 months have to be robust.”

Haruka was wiping her sweat off her face when the president of the volleyball membership referred to as out to her.

“Don’t fear about it, that is a part of my obligation. In addition to, I simply recovered, so I ought to coach them as an alternative of working towards like regular.”

“Who was it that ran the quickest in the course of the warm-up once more? You may’t idiot me, I do know you’ve been itching to maneuver your physique round.”

“Aw, you bought me~”

The president was a head taller than Haruka. To explain her, she was like a lump of muscle born to play volleyball. She was expert, her sturdy physique and spikes have been the power behind her workforce’s victory and her enemies’ demise.

“The regional prelim is subsequent month. Actually, the primary years ought to simply deal with working towards the fundamentals correctly.”

Regardless of her expertise although, she was the form of one that’d assume that if she was capable of do one thing, then it was a on condition that others would have the ability to do it too. That was the explanation why the observe was often so unfun and laborious. If it was her and never Haruka who coached the primary years, they’d in all probability resign from the membership in a heartbeat.

“Effectively, don’t be like that. Try to be lenient with them every so often. In addition to, it’s laborious for everybody to match your requirements, you understand?”

“…Sorry, Haruka. It’s a must to undergo this due to me… Wait, might it’s the explanation why you have been sick was due to the psychological exhaustion that I brought on?”

“No, no, in fact not. Severely, cease overthinking issues, Prez!”

Nevertheless, her robust physique and character didn’t imply that she was invincible. The president was fast to fall into melancholy and wanted to be consoled every so often. That was why she was distraught after they fell out with the second years. She was additionally involved about Haruka, who had a severe stalker drawback.

“Thanks in your concern although. That made me really feel higher.”

“…Jeez, Haruka~”

Due to that although, it was simple for Haruka to know her. In flip, that made it simpler for Haruka to help her because the vp.

For Haruka, her position as a supportive vp was simple position for her to play.

*   *   *

Amamiya Haruka was at all times attempting to reside as much as the expectations of everybody round her.

Her dad and mom, who have been busy at work, at all times anticipated her to be obedient. Resulting from her seems to be, her pals anticipated her to be cool and dependable.

In spite of everything, to Haruka, if she have been capable of fulfill everybody’s expectations, every little thing could be high quality. Although in fact, she was pathetic, dumb and a large disappointment as a human being, so long as she might follow her position and fulfill everybody’s expectations, every little thing could be high quality.

That was why she ought to by no means, ever expose her true self.

There was a case when she was youthful. Somebody that she regarded as slightly sister confessed her like to her, however she stayed true to her emotions and determined to reject her. Instantly after that, she needed to undergo from everybody’s disdain and disappointment towards her. Fortunately, that case was resolved by now and he or she bought alongside rather well with that woman who confessed to her, however when the case was nonetheless taking place, she was underneath quite a lot of strain and stress.

However that wasn’t the one case the place exposing her true emotions introduced catastrophe to her. Final 12 months, she determined to assist a kouhai from being bullied. The end result? That very same kouhai was stalking her.

Then there was the latest case the place she tried to enact justice towards somebody that harm the woman she regarded as slightly sister. Turned out it was her personal misunderstanding and he or she ended up falling into the fountain due to it. On high of that, her chest was groped by the exact same particular person she tried to assault.

The record went on. Because of this, Haruka concluded that except she was attempting to fulfill somebody’s expectations, she was certain to make irreversible errors.

This was why Haruka positioned her full belief in everybody who accepted her because the pathetic particular person she was.

[Tomorrow evening at 6.30! After I go home, I’ll dress up in my best clothes and meet you there!]

[Yes, yes.]

Even when that particular person was somebody that she by no means met earlier than, a good friend from the web.

*  *   *

So far as Aoi was involved, her cousin, Amamiya Haruka, was a cool lady.

It wasn’t referring to Haruka’s look, nicely, reality to be informed, Haruka’s look was cool, however that wasn’t what Aoi was occupied with. Aoi appreciated her cool character greater than her look.

Haruka dared to do the issues that she thought have been proper. For instance, again when she rejected younger Aoi’s confession. The sturdy will to not be carried away by the folks round her was the cool a part of her that Aoi appreciated. Effectively, generally, she made a mistake due to that, however to Aoi, it was part of her allure. Although she scolded Haruka each time she made that form of mistake, that didn’t imply she hated her for doing it.

To summarize, Aoi thought that Haruka was a cool and courageous lady.

“U-Um… Aoi? D-Do you assume this seems to be good on me?”

And that very same cool and courageous lady was dressing up cutely in entrance of her.

“I-I used a vogue journal as a reference, b-but I-I don’t know… W-What do you assume?”

In entrance of her was a wonderful maiden with flaxen hair.

A white gown with frills, embellished by cute equipment right here and there. Footwear with a design that prioritized cuteness slightly than velocity. Her apparel made Haruka look particularly fairly to the purpose that the passersby couldn’t take their eyes off her.

“In fact you look good. Actually, you look so fairly proper now– Wait, are you certain you’re simply assembly an acquaintance at present? It’s not a date, proper? If it’s a date, I’m going house.”

“I-It’s not a date! I-I informed you that my acquaintance can assist me resolve my stalker case! I-I simply need to depart a superb impression on them…”

“I see. I assumed your mind bought tousled while you caught a chilly the opposite day.”

“Why are you so imply to me?!”

Haruka let loose a wry smile.

Seeing Haruka like this, Aoi sighed, “No matter.”

A couple of days after Aoi’s go to to Takayuki’s place, Haruka requested her to accompany her to fulfill up with a ‘dependable particular person’ that she discovered on the web. Aoi informed her that if she actually wished assist, it was higher to ask Takayuki for assist as an alternative of some random man on the web, however Haruka insisted that she wished to ask for his or her assist.

“Anyway, are you able to even belief that particular person? What made you assume that the particular person isn’t a creepy outdated man attempting to hook up with a highschool woman? You didn’t ship them your selfies or something, proper?”

“Don’t fear, they’re reliable! Truly, each time I introduced up the subject of assembly them in actual life or exchanging selfies, they’d lecture me for hours earlier than letting me go. They solely agreed to fulfill up at present as a result of I informed them I’ve a stalking drawback.”

“Have you learnt the time period ‘web privateness?’”

Each of them have been strolling to a restaurant the place they have been supposed to fulfill Haruka’s acquaintance.

The presence of the 2 beauties naturally attracted all of the folks round them, however they have been so fairly that nobody managed to collect the braveness to speak to them, so nothing occurred alongside the best way. The general public solely stared at them for a couple of seconds earlier than turning their heads away.

“Uh, Aoi? I find out about web privateness, you understand? That particular person is a particular case! I gained’t simply give every other particular person the identical supply as I did with them!”

“That’s actually what everybody who fell for web scams stated. In any case, it gained’t harm to organize ourselves for the worst. Give me a rundown on what sort of particular person we’re going to fulfill. If it comes all the way down to it, we are able to name the police on them.”

“Ah, nicely, that particular person informed me that as nicely. Make sufficient preparation in order that I can name a cop instantly and produce somebody reliable with me. Ideally somebody that appears mature…”

“I see, in order that’s why you didn’t ask my sister to return with you. Effectively, I can see that the particular person cared about you, however we nonetheless shouldn’t let our guard down.”

As they walked, Aoi glanced sideways at Haruka’s determine. As an alternative of the cool expression that made her kouhais fall in love together with her one after one other, Haruka was at the moment sporting the face of a maiden in love.

“So, what sort of particular person are they? Out of your phrases, I might inform that they’re a worrywart, however I don’t know a lot else…”

“Glad that you simply requested! That particular person is—”

Haruka’s cheeks loosened as she began to speak about her good friend.

As a lot as Aoi wished to help Haruka’s love life, the outline that got here out of her mouth was simply, outrageous to say the least.

In keeping with Haruka, that particular person was a good-natured tsundere. They at all times made the time to take heed to all her troubles with out many complaints. It was borderline delusional to assume that somebody like that existed in actual life.

“Uh, Haru-kun? I’m shocked that you’ve the willpower to alternate texts with this particular person all day, however greater than that, I’m shocked that there’s somebody who really might stand all that.”

“Ehehe~”

“Don’t chortle, that was sarcasm.”

Aoi confirmed her dismay, however on the identical time, she started profiling what sort of particular person Haruka’s good friend was.

“So, Haru-kun, you informed me that you simply first contacted this particular person again while you have been in your third 12 months of center faculty, proper? You bought to know one another due to a manga and began to befriend one another after that?”

“Sure. Once I requested them about varied issues, they’d at all times say, ‘I don’t know something about this,’ or ‘You’re so persistent,’ however regardless that they stated that they’d at all times assist me in the long run!”

“Have you ever ever thought of that this particular person isn’t being tsun? They only straight up hate you?”

“However they at all times deal with me so nicely! We’re besties!”

From Haruka’s cheerful tone, Aoi speculated that the particular person was a affected person, hard-working particular person and somebody who wouldn’t simply hand over. In spite of everything, solely a really good-natured particular person would exit of their manner to assist out somebody on the web that they’ve by no means even met earlier than. Even going so far as to fulfill them instantly to assist.

“That particular person might be an older lady in faculty. However, each time I informed them this guess, they at all times stated that they’re a person.”

“Positive, certain. Anyway, how are we supposed to fulfill them?”

“We have now a secret code~ We’ll convey a manga and browse it contained in the restaurant. We agreed on a lesser-known title so we gained’t mistake one another! After we get to the restaurant, we’ll simply name out to the one who’s studying stated manga!”

Haruka then took a romance manga out of her bag. The duvet seemed fairly, however Aoi didn’t acknowledge it in any respect. As Haruka stated, it was a lesser-known title.

“Hehehe, I’m wanting ahead to discussing this manga together with her…”

Along with her pink cheeks, Haruka’s smile was the brightest that Aoi had ever seen.

“I hope that this particular person is an honest particular person.”

“That goes with out saying!”

Aoi wished Haruka good luck.

*   *   *

““…””

Haruka managed to fulfill up together with her acquaintance with out incident.

Fortuitously or not, the restaurant the place they have been supposed to fulfill was just about empty. Reasonably, just one particular person was sitting inside. Until some bizarre coincidence occurred, for the reason that particular person was studying the identical manga Haruka introduced together with her, that particular person must be the one which she was supposed to fulfill.

“…Are you Sunny?”

“…Sure. Are you Baku-san?”

“Sure.”

““…””

After a number of years of interacting with one another on the web, this was the primary time the 2 of them met in actual life.

Sunny, or Haruka, wearing a manner that made her seem like a princess from a contemporary empire.

Baku, or Takayuki, dressed like a mafia govt who was about to exit for blood. (T/N: These two traces are in all probability references to one thing, that’s why it feels bizarre.)

“Uh… I assume you possibly can name this destiny, huh?”

Shocked by the scene in entrance of her, Aoi muttered. As a result of she was a very unrelated get together, she managed to get well from the shock rapidly.

“In any case, we must always sit down first, Haru-kun.”

“???”

“Ah, she’s gone. Alright, I’ll be speaking on her behalf till her thoughts finds its manner again to her physique, Satou-kun.”

“…Positive.”

With a reluctant look on his face, Takayuki nodded. Aoi then pushed the frozen Haruka to a close-by seat.

“Very first thing first, a affirmation, Satou-kun. You’re Sunny’s– Haru-kun’s web good friend, right? And also you need to assist her out together with her drawback?”

“Sure, me and that fool— I imply, Sunny, have the identical desire in manga and we’ve got been interacting for some time on social media. This time, she appears to have a major problem on her fingers, that’s why I made a decision to assist her out instantly in actual life.”

“I see. Now every little thing comes collectively. So, the opposite day, while you stated that you’ve a previous appointment with a good friend, you have been speaking about this appointment?”

“…Yeah.”

“I see.”

As soon as once more, Aoi took a better take a look at Takayuki’s look.

The very first thing that caught her consideration was his black-rimmed glasses. The glasses made him look much less irreverent than regular they usually gave him a extra mature look. His garments made him look older than his age, nobody would doubt him if he have been to introduce himself as a university pupil. Whereas his mixture of garments seemed like one thing that will be displayed by a model, Aoi might inform that he put quite a lot of effort into this.

Realizing this, a slight irritation rose in Aoi’s coronary heart, however she lined it together with her regular smile. Not like she had a alternative. She didn’t even know why she felt this fashion, so as an alternative of constructing a fuss about it, she determined to cover it.

“Anyway, with this, I assume you’ll be able to tackle our request with no worries.”

“No. Sorry, I’ve to refuse that request. I’m serving to out a good friend, I don’t have to be paid for it.”

Takayuki denied Aoi’s phrases calmly with none hesitation. The phrases got here out of his mouth naturally and his severe face expressed his sincereness clearly.

“I perceive your feeling, however let me say this to you. You’re such an fool, you understand that?”

“I’m conscious. However I solely do that as a result of she’s my good friend. If it was every other particular person, I’d count on to be paid handsomely for my service.”

“Positive, certain, no matter, you say. Severely… So, Haru-kun, what do you assume? …Come to your senses already!”

“Hii!”

After Aoi poked her on her aspect, Haruka lastly regained her senses. Then, she instantly despatched a pointy glare towards Takayuki, who sat in entrance of her.

“No manner! There’s no manner that you simply’re Baku-san! The place did you retain her?! Launch her!”

“Ah, saying that form of idiotic nonsense with out pondering is such a Sunny factor to do.”

“U-uu… S-Cease it! Cease appearing like Baku-san! Baku-san is a reliable older lady!”

“I’ve informed you numerous occasions that I’m a person. It was you who refused to take heed to me. Additionally, cease shouting. Positive, this place is empty, however that’s rude and impolite to different folks which may come right here..”

“See? Baku-san is well mannered! There’s no manner that Baku-san will give me such a tough order!”

“Sunny, be quiet.”

“Sure.”

Aoi felt amusement from seeing her cousin slowly turning into an lovable creature.

“Ughh… The extra you discuss, the extra I might see the resemblance between you and Baku-san…”

“We’re actually the identical particular person.”

“D-Did Baku-san, your sister, let you know to return right here to interchange her for this assembly?”

“Haru-kun, he’s an solely baby.”

“Ugh! …F-Fantastic, I can admit that he’s Baku-san logically talking, however my coronary heart refuses to confess it!”

As Haruka spouted these infantile phrases, her face turned pink.

Takayuki was amazed by this motion and it was clear that he was troubled by it from his expression. However, there was a cause why Haruka’s coronary heart refused to confess the reality that was laid down in entrance of her.

“Should you’re actually Baku-san, then persuade me! Persuade me sincerely like Baku-san at all times did!”

Haruka pointed her finger at Takayuki’s face. Even Aoi felt that her cousin’s demeanor was pathetic, however for Takayuki, who was used to coping with this troublesome woman, this order that got here from her mouth was nothing value fussing about.

“Alright. Miyama, are you able to cowl your ears? This can be a little embarrassing, you see…”

“Simply faux that I’m not right here.”

“Ugh, that smug face of yours… No matter…”

Seeing Takayuki turning to face Haruka with a decided look, Aoi let loose a smirk.

“Sunny, even when you can’t belief me, I don’t care. I’ll nonetheless assist you to.”

And so, Takayuki laid his emotions naked. Utilizing the tone that ‘Baku’ at all times used. As if she was struck by lightning, Haruka’s physique stiffened. After some time, she let loose a deep sigh, her face was stuffed with feelings.

“That tsun tone… You’re actually Baku-san… I… I’ve at all times wished to fulfill you!”

“Solely Sunny would act this stupidly trustworthy to me…”

The wave of feelings coming from Haruka surprised Takayuki, however he didn’t reject her.

“…”

However contained in the room, there was somebody who was utterly unamused by this scene. Usually, watching this sort of interplay would amuse her, however Aoi couldn’t really feel something resembling that emotion in any respect.

For some cause, Aoi simply couldn’t convey herself to really feel glad towards the each of them.