Chikasugiru Karera no, Juunanasai no Tooi Kankei [LN] V1 Chapter 3.5

Chapter 3 - Their Encounter

The next day was a joint practice match between the three schools at our school field. After a short period of hot, sunny days that felt like midsummer, today the rainy season had returned and gray clouds covered the sky, making it humid but not too hot, which was nice as we were playing 40-minute matches.

After preparing for the match by drawing lines and adjusting the position of the goal, I checked my bag at the baggage area to see if I had forgotten anything and noticed that my lunch box was missing. At the same time, I noticed that the light on my smartphone was blinking. I looked and saw that it was an incoming call from Izumi. Come to think of it, we haven't given each other our e-mail addresses or SNS yet. The only way to contact each other is to call each other directly.

I called Izumi back. She picked up immediately.

『Ah, Kenichi-kun. You forgot your lunch box.』

"Yeah, I just noticed."

『Do you want me to bring it?』

"No, I'm sorry. I'm thinking of buying something at a convenience store or something, so I'm fine."

『Don't worry about it. I'm in the mood to walk outside too, so I'll bring it with me.』

It felt strange to be reserved to Izumi who said so, so I decided to ask her to bring it to me.

"........ I'm sorry, but can I ask you to do that for me? Do you know the way? There's a bus that goes to our high school. If you get off there, you shouldn't get lost. It's called "Irizawa High School."

『Then, I'll go with that.』

"Yeah. I'm sorry, even though it's your day off. You don't have to come in a hurry."

『Understood. I'll call you when I get there,』 Izumi said, and hung up the phone.

On the field, the other two teams were just beginning to warm up for their match.

While many of the club members were gathering at the field to watch the game, I remained in the baggage area by the school building to wait for Izumi to call me.

With my cell phone in my hand and my back leaning against the wall, I sat in a gym-like position and watched the match that had started on the field in the distance. The wild coaching voices, like angry shouts and curses, which are characteristic of soccer games, echoed up to here.

About halfway through the second half of the first match, I received a call from Izumi.

『I just arrived in front of the school.』

"Thank you. I'm on my way there in a minute."

After exchanging such words on the phone, I sat up and started walking toward the school gate when Yuriko, who was washing the water tank at the water tap near the baggage area, gave me a look.

"Hmm? Kenichi, are you going somewhere?"

"Well. I forgot my lunch box today. I asked her to bring it for me."

"Is it that relative of yours, by any chance?"

"...... Yeah."

"Is she here right now?"

When I nodded, Yuriko said, "Can I go with you?"

"Why?"

"The other day you said you would introduce me. I want to meet her too."

Yuriko put the water tank under the tap after washing and took a handkerchief towel out of her shorts to wipe her hands.

"...... okay."

I replied so, thinking it was a good opportunity. Together with Yuriko, I walked to the school gate where Izumi was. Under cloudy skies, a humid breeze was blowing, and the leaves on the trees on both sides of the paved road leading to the school gate were rustling and swaying.

Izumi was standing outside the grounds near the school gate with her hands clasped behind her back. She seemed to arrange her hair according to her mood, but today her hair was pulled back behind one ear in a small bun.

"That girl?"

Yuriko looked at Izumi.

"Yeah."

"Hmm."

Yuriko looked at Izumi in the distance, as if she was evaluating. She was dressed in a short-sleeved T-shirt and a long skirt. Izumi may have noticed us, too, and smiled and waved her hand at us.

"Sorry, for making you come here."

When I approached her, Izumi took down her bag, pulled out my lunch box wrapped in a cloth, and handed it to me, saying, "Here, something you forgot."

"Thank you."

"It's okay."

Yuriko, who had been watching this exchange from a couple of steps away, then came and,

"Hello."

She greeted Izumi with a smile.

Tln : Pardon my intrusion but, Yuriko is so adorable

For a moment, Izumi looked puzzled, but even so, she returned Yuriko's greeting, saying, "Oh, hello...". I felt I had to introduce her, and was about to open my mouth when Yuriko began to introduce herself.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Mori Yuriko, Kenichi's friend. You must be Izumi Rina-san, right? Kenichi told me about you. I went to the same elementary school, junior high school, and high school as Kenichi, and I live near where you live."

"Oh, I see....... I'm Izumi Rina, nice to meet you."

Izumi bowed her head timidly. It somehow reminded me of when we first met. I could feel the same stiffness in Izumi now as she greeted Yuriko. I don't think she is the type of person who is extremely shy, but from what I've seen so far, she's a nervous girl when she meets new people.

"Sorry to bother you on your day off. Thank you."

I interrupted from the side. Izumi raised her bowed head, turned her face to me, and shook her head.

"It's okay. I had no club activities today, so I didn't have anything to do.---Then, I'm going to go. Do your best in club activities."

As Izumi said this, Yuriko stepped forward with a smile still on her face.

"Hey, Izumi-san. Would you like to watch the match? It's about to start soon. After all, you've come all the way here."

Having said that, Izumi stayed still, as if reserved.

"Eh, But ........Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Parents and others usually come to see the match. It's totally fine."

Izumi glanced at me. I didn't say anything, but she replied to Yuriko with a smile, "Then, just a few minutes."

"Okay. I'll show you where the parents and the others' seats are."

Yuriko led Izumi and walked toward the field. As I saw them off, I returned to the baggage area with the lunch box that Izumi had brought for me.

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