Chapter 145 Sports Festival (End)
With electric wires crisscrossing each other, Toru Watanabe ran through the narrow residential alleys. In the distance was the blue sky that blended into the skyscrapers of Tokyo.
Arriving at Suga Shrine, he bought a box of milk from the red vending machine and drank it while sitting at the top of the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs, a cat was squatting there, washing its face with its front paws.
October 23rd, Friday, is the last day of the sports festival and two days left until the National Orchestra Competition.
On the train to school, Toru Watanabe leaned against the door and used his mobile phone to search for food and fun things to do in Nagoya, the venue of the competition.
Kamikawa High School is still immersed in the atmosphere of the sports festival. On the way to school, many people simply wear autumn sportswear.
Those in sports clubs are even more awesome, they just wear competitive sportswear - sleeveless and shorts, and they are not afraid of the chilly autumn wind.
"Watanabe!" Kunii Osamu caught up from behind.
As long as the baseball team doesn't have morning practice, this guy will immediately be the last one to arrive at school.
Kunii Osamu put his elbow on Watanabe Toru's shoulder: "Remember to cheer me up today!"
"Come on, there's a cheerleading team that wears short skirts." Toru Watanabe shook his hand away.
Since they were on the baseball club, it was natural for him to take part in the 3,000-meter event—this was the consensus of everyone in Class 4, including Koizumi Aona.
"Does this 'specialized' describe wearing short skirts or cheerleading?"
"Of course I wear a short skirt. Cheerleading is totally unimportant."
"Watanabe, you are so bad. The cheerleaders are working so hard to cheer for us."
"Who was the person who paid for keys in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds last night and wanted a little skirt?"
"Hey, hey!" Kunii Osamu pretended to be incredulous. "I just drew the little skirt. Think about it yourself. How much did you spend to draw the voice pack of Hanazawa Kana? And you have the nerve to say that to me!"
"Don't mention this! Why do you always get Ono Kensho's voice packs? Can I complain to the authorities about this? I seriously doubt that Ono Kensho has any ill intentions here."
It's well known that Toru Watanabe has always had bad luck.
"You're using someone else's wife's voice, so of course she has to come out and get in the way. But don't you have Taketatsu Ayana's voice pack? She's a wife too, so just make do with her." Kunii Osamu patted Watanabe Toru's shoulder comfortingly.
"Hey, don't talk nonsense, I don't like other people's wives." This is something that must be made clear.
"Yeah, I get it. You don't like other people's wives, but the person you like happens to be someone else's wife."
"I..." Toru Watanabe was determined not to swear.
Originally, he had almost forgotten about last night's lottery after a good night's sleep and a morning run, but when Kunii Osamu mentioned it, he was branded as a man who liked someone else's married woman, and he became depressed again.
"Oh, I'm so mad!"
At the shoe cabinet, Qingye Rin, who was changing shoes, was startled by him.
"What's wrong with you so early in the morning?" she said, frowning.
"I spent a lot of money yesterday that I shouldn't have spent, and now I feel very regretful." Watanabe Toru skillfully stuffed the love letters that began to appear again in the cabinet into his schoolbag.
"What boring things did you buy again?"
Because he had a mission to spend one million yen every month, Kiyono Rin also knew that Watanabe Toru was buying things blindly.
“The thing itself is not boring, but the result makes me dissatisfied.”
"So, what did you do?"
“Games are paid for.”
Feeling the contemptuous look from Qing Ye Lin, Watanabe Toru argued: "Don't underestimate the game krypton gold, people's instinct is to pursue differentiation, and krypton gold in the game is the easiest way to achieve differentiation. I am observing humans."
"How much did it cost?" Qingye Rin was too lazy to expose him.
If she told truth or lies in every sentence, her conversations with Watanabe Toru might be in the format of "lies..." for the rest of their lives.
"30,000 yen." Watanabe Toru closed the shoe cabinet and stretched out his hands to her as if it was a matter of course. "Boss, this is a club activity, right? Please help me reimburse."
Qingye Rin looked at him as if he were a stranger, turned around and left.
Before eight o'clock, Toru Watanabe stayed in the classroom, chatting with the boys in the class about what kind of grip is better for M4, whether 98K is better or SKS is more practical.
At eight o'clock, everyone moved to the playground, and fifteen minutes later, the last day of the sports festival began.
Today was full of life-threatening events like the 3,000 meters, which were of course more exciting, with cheers and encouragement never stopping.
"All class competitions are over, and the committee has started counting the points!"
“Everyone is so awesome~”
"Yes, the next game is the last club entertainment competition, which is also the last game of the sports festival - the borrowing race."
“I’m really looking forward to it~”
"The rules of the competition are that the contestants from each club must first run to the box containing the note, then find the item or person written on the note, and bring them through various obstacle areas to reach the finish line."
"Just a reminder, there are ten ropes in the skipping area. If you are not careful, you may hit them or fall down. Please be careful. Also, I am responsible for writing the notes. It is very interesting. Please look forward to it with me~~"
"Written by the president himself?! Can you reveal one or two topics?"
"For example: Student Council President. Oh, by the way, this note is specially written for Watanabe-kun. I hope he can hold my hand and run with me on the playground, through all kinds of obstacles, to reach the destination of love. If other students accidentally draw it, please put it back quietly, I will pretend that I didn't see it~~"
"Miyashita-san!"
"I'm just kidding~~" Then, the student council president muttered, "It seems that the broadcasting department is no longer necessary."
"Master President! I heard it!"
"Eh? Oh, sorry, the broadcasting department won't be abolished! I won't do that kind of thing~~"
"You swear in front of the teachers and students of the school!"
"How annoying, Tanaka-san. No matter how you think about it, I have no right to do that. At most, I can only withhold the club fees~~"
"Principal, please save the broadcasting department--Ugh! Woohoo! I still..."
"Uh-huh, okay, the contestants are in place, please ask the news department to give Watanabe-kun a close-up~~"
The photographer from the news department adjusted the lens at the fastest speed in his life and aimed it at Toru Watanabe.
"Please shoot from top to bottom, yes, yes, yes, go slower, very good, um, finally aim at the side face, yes, that's it, the news department did a great job, there will be a huge bonus~~~"
The photographer wiped his sweat.
Toru Watanabe turned around and looked at himself on the big screen, the camera was zoomed in very large.
This made him very embarrassed, and he pressed the corners of his mouth and moved his mouth as if there was a piece of candy in his mouth.
"The contestants are in place, the competition is about to begin!" The people in the broadcasting department were unblocked, "Brazzaville, keep playing! Cheerleaders, keep dancing!"
The exciting music started playing, and the cheerleaders, who were wearing short skirts but unfortunately had safety pants, shouted "Come on" in their cute girlish voices.
On the big screen, contestants from various clubs have already taken their positions at the starting line, and people from the Sports Committee are covering their ears with one hand and holding up a signal gun with the other.
"Bang--"
As soon as the gunshot rang out, Watanabe Toru rushed out first. Compared with his speed, the others were no match for him.
It has been five months since the Ochanomizu incident in May. Even on typhoon days, he would insist on exercising at home, not to mention that he is almost finished with a bottle of [Qi and Blood Medicine].
The 200-meter distance was reached in the blink of an eye, and Toru Watanabe reached into the box on the desk.
"So fast, so fast, the others can't catch up at all!"
"Hmm, camera, look at what Watanabe-kun drew! It must be me!" From the voice, I felt that the student council president had stood up and was about to walk out of the broadcasting room and come to the playground.
The photographer from the news department focused instantly, but the angle was not good and he couldn't see the contents on the note clearly.
The audience and the people in the broadcasting room all sighed, blaming him in their hearts for being useless.
But it doesn't matter, as long as Toru Watanabe goes to find the object or person, he can still guess what is written on the note - just as they were thinking this, the other contestants were about to catch up, but Toru Watanabe hadn't taken any action yet.
"What happened? Why isn't Watanabe-kun moving?"
"Watanabe-kun, what's wrong?"
Amid everyone's curiosity, Toru Watanabe turned around and pointed the note in his hand towards the camera.
"Actually, it's..."
Everyone in the stands burst into laughter, even the teachers couldn't help laughing out loud.
"Girlfriend? Ah, now I remember, I did write that."
"Kujo-san, where is Kujo-san?" As the female member of the broadcasting club spoke, the camera kept showing the audience in different areas, "He didn't come today?!"
"Great~ My chance has come~ Watanabe-kun, as the student council president and the chairman of this sports festival, I allow you to treat me as your girlfriend~"
“President!!!”
The student council president sighed with regret and said, "Well, since Kujo didn't come, after everyone else has drawn lots and found the corresponding items and people, Watanabe-kun will be allowed to draw again. What a pity! I'm so pissed!"
The camera was split into two halves, one half was broadcasting Watanabe Toru who was standing there stupidly, and the other half was broadcasting the other contestants.
"The people from the drama club are here. Let's see what it is. 'Someone I like'?!"
"Sure, sure, you want to confess your feelings, Drama Club!"
The guy from the drama department stood there in a daze, struggled for a while, then rushed into the crowd and held a girl's hand.
"Oh——" The audience's booing made the girl who was being led by the drama club shyly cover her face with her arms.
"Hurry, hurry, keep watching the draw, there will definitely be something more fun!" The female members of the broadcasting department became excited!
The big screen turned and showed another kendo club contestant with a "Kendo Club Recruitment" flagpole stuck on the back of his clothes.
"...Eh? Did I see that correctly?" The female member of the broadcasting department slowly read out the contents of the note , "'Broadcasting room microphone'? President? ! ! "
"Wow, I actually got this? What a surprise~~"
After a while.
"Wow! Give it back to me, give it back to me, the broadcasting department just bought it! It's my clone! Please--" Faintly, through the student council president's microphone, one could hear the fierce resistance of the female members on the scene.
"Hahaha!" Many people laughed so hard that they wiped their tears with their sleeves.
After everyone left, it was finally Watanabe Toru's turn, and everyone's attention was focused on him again.
The student union president’s prayers kept coming from the radio: “Pick me, pick me, pick me…”
The female member of the broadcasting department...just went to get the spare microphone and hasn't come back yet.
This time the photographer had experience and found a very good angle. As soon as Watanabe Toru opened it, the contents on the note were immediately broadcast on the big screen.
"Community Minister"
Watanabe Toru stood there awkwardly.
"oh--"
"Faster! Faster!"
"Hahaha!"
Others don't care what the individual thinks. As long as there is a boy and a girl of high school age, they will make a fuss.
"Watanabe-kun, we may be out of time~~" the student council president reminded.
"Ah, I'm back! Is it over?" There was a panting voice from a female member of the broadcasting department.
Watanabe Toru had no choice but to run towards Kiyono Rin. As he got closer, Kiyono Rin herself was fine, but the others were already boiling with excitement.
The girl covered her mouth and screamed, the boy clapped and cheered, and both sides dispersed at the same time, leaving a direct path for Watanabe Toru to reach Kiyono Rin.
Toru Watanabe looked at the contestant who was crossing the obstacle area in the distance and extended his hand to her.
Qingye Rin stroked her chin with her hand and watched his reaction with interest.
"Hurry up, it's too late!" Watanabe Toru urged.
Qingye Rin chuckled: "Okay."
Amid the crowd's cheers, she handed her hand to Toru Watanabe.
"Are you okay?" Toru Watanabe asked as he ran towards the obstacle area.
"Crossing obstacles depends on agility and reaction, what do you think?"
"From your reaction just now, I thought you had Alzheimer's disease."
Qingye Rin was not angry either, because there was something that made her feel good enough: "Watanabe-san, I have some unfortunate news for you."
"Did I guess it right?"
"..." Qing Ye Lin took a breath, "It's okay that you came over to invite me generously just now, but you hesitated and didn't dare to look at me. Kujo-san will definitely punish you."
"...Are you kidding me?" Watanabe Toru turned his head blankly.
"Let's wait and see." Qingye Rin smiled with full confidence.
When they reached the obstacle course, they went through the rope skipping area, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, goat jumping, and horizontal bar walking...
The two of them had well-trained movements and quickly surpassed the people in front of them. Compared with the other two-person group - the drama department - their speed was far behind them.
“Come on! Come on!”
"No way! I'm already the last one to start, how can I still overtake? As expected of Watanabe-kun~~"
"Kiyono-san is amazing too!"
Watanabe Toru was in a depressed mood, climbing over mountains and crossing water; Kiyono Rin was in a good mood and was more flexible than usual.
At the final award ceremony, the Human Observation Department undoubtedly won the first place in the club competition, and the strongest class was Class 2 of Grade 3.
After the principal finished his speech, the noise died down and the three-day sports festival came to an end.
After school, Toru Watanabe picked up his schoolbag and went to the wind orchestra.
Kiyono Rin stood at the command position: "I know everyone is very tired from the sports festival, but there are only two days left before the official competition. We have to take a bus to Nagoya on Sunday, so we only have one day left for full training tomorrow. I hope everyone can make a concerted effort and make the final sprint."
"Yes!" Although they were very tired, the members of the wind band still answered with full energy.
"Go back and have a good rest today. We will start training early tomorrow morning. Disband."
"Thank you for your hard work today."
Everyone packed up and prepared to go home. Watanabe Toru stayed to practice for a while until he got back to the level he had before the sports festival. Then he packed his bag and left the school building.
On the platform of Yotsuya Station, I unexpectedly met Koizumi Aona, Akiko, and Miyazaki Miyuki.
"teacher?"
Koizumi Aina turned around and said, "Watanabe? Why are you still here?"
"The competition is coming up soon, so I practiced a little longer." Watanabe Toru pointed to the instrument box in his hand and asked, "Teacher, what are you doing?"
"The car was taken for repair." said Akira.
"You guys...are you taking them to be repaired at the same time?"
"Yeah." Akiko nodded.
"It's the same car." Koizumi Aona smiled and patted Akiko. "The three of us grew up together, came to Tokyo from the same town, and now we live together and share a car."
"House prices in Tokyo are too expensive," Akiko complained.
"No, it's because teachers' salaries are too low." Miyazaki Miyuki said, "But Qingnai won a lot of bonuses this time because he was the first in the country."
"Would you like to treat me?" said Toru Watanabe.
"You are so rude, little guy!" Akiko poked Watanabe Toru with her elbow, just like a gangster boss teaching a new follower a lesson.
Koizumi Aona smiled and pushed Akiko aside, and said to Watanabe Toru, "Sure, we're going to the izakaya, do you want to go together?"
"No, I'm just kidding." Watanabe Toru waved his hand and explained, "I have to get up early to practice tomorrow. When I come back with the national gold medal, we'll have a celebration party."
"You little guy, you are too conceited..." Before Akiko could finish her words, she was pushed aside by Koizumi Aona again.
While Koizumi Aona was comforting Akiko, Watanabe Toru glanced at the electronic screen at the station and saw that there was still one minute before the train arrived.
He spoke to the exhausted Miyazaki Miyuki: "Ms. Miyazaki, are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's okay." Although she was tired, Miyazaki Miyuki felt relaxed after finishing work, so she was in good spirits.
"By the way, there is something I want to ask you."
"Tell me, young man, is this knowledge about the sexes?"
"...No. What I want to ask is: if a wound gets wet, it will fester. So, will there be any adverse reactions if it is disinfected multiple times?"
"Three times a day is usually fine."
"What if the interval between the three times is shorter? Will it have any impact?"
"Did you go back and disinfect yourself?"
"No, just asking out of curiosity."
Miyazaki Miyuki nodded, but did not tell Watanabe Toru whether there was any impact.
