Saijo no Osewa ~ Takane no Hana [LN] - V3 Chp 1 part 3

After school, I immediately told Shizune-san about my idea to have Narika become our coach.

 

[I see. That is indeed a good idea]

 

Shizune-san readily accepted it.

 

Apparently, Shizune-san also admires Narika’s athletic ability. Narika’s performance in sports is well known at the academy, so she must have a good reputation outside the school as well.

 

[Would Keigon-san allow it though?]

 

[I don’t think it will be a problem. Although it will be a little complicated]

 

Complicated…?

 

[Miyakojima Narika-sama surpasses Ojou-sama when it comes to sport. She can be a formidable obstacle when it comes to creating the appearance of a perfect Ojou-sama]

 

[…I see]

 

In other words, she’s like Hinako’s rival.

 

Tennoji-san is her rival when it comes to status and academic ability, but when it comes to sports, Narika has better results.

 

(Has Narika been recognized as a threat by Keigon-san…? She would probably faint if she heard about it herself)

 

If anything, it’s something to be proud of, but in Narika’s case, it just seems to be confusing.

 

For the time being, we’ve officially decided on Narika as our coach.

 

However, Hinako won the tennis division last year, so it seems she didn’t intend to spend that much time practicing tennis in the first place. It seems her purpose was just to regain her intuition for tennis.

 

So we decided to solve Narika’s problem first.

 

◆

 

…The day after.

 

At the teacher’s room after school, Hinako and I told the teacher about the competition we were going to participate in.

 

[Tomonari-kun and Konohana-san will play tennis, correct? I understand]

 

Fukushima-san checked the submitted documents.

 

The tennis division has both singles and doubles, but they are separated by gender. In other words, Hinako and I can’t play doubles together.

 

Therefore, we both chose to play singles. I don’t have a partner, and in Hinako’s case, it would be less tiring to play the match alone than with someone else.

 

[Oh, Tomonari plays tennis?]

 

I suddenly heard a voice behind me.

 

Taisho and Asahi-san were standing behind us.

 

[Konohana-san played tennis last year, didn’t you?]

 

At Asahi-san’s remark, Hinako replied [Yes] while nodding elegantly.

 

[What did you two pick?]

 

[I’m going to do skiing]

 

[I picked dance]

 

Taisho and Asahi-san each showed us their submission forms.

 

Sure enough, their entries were “skiing” and “dancing”.

 

[I guess I’m the only one in this group with a different venue]

 

Taisho said somewhat regretfully.

 

The tennis and dance competitions are held on the grounds inside the academy. However, skiing is supposed to be held in the mountains far away.

 

[I mean, how can you ski at this time of the year?]

 

[It’s called the summer slopes. Where you put down a sliding mat and ski on it. It hurts if you fall down, so you can’t go too fast]

 

I didn’t know such a thing existed…

 

[I will be performing a dance on the field at the start of the competition, so everyone is welcome to come watch if you like!]

 

[I’m looking forward to it]

 

The dance division will be performing on the field at the same time the competitions begin. According to the booklet I received yesterday, the dance section usually makes the event more exciting with their spectacular dances every year.

 

Besides that, it seemed that the contestants would be divided into several teams to compete for the best dance. It was a moderately hard division.

 

Taisho and the others went to turn in their papers so we parted from them and went out of the classroom.

 

[Well, let’s go to Narika’s place]

 

Normally I would have gone home right away, but from today onwards, I will be spending some time with Narika first.

 

I was sure Narika would still be in the B classroom next to us.

 

I was about to head straight to class B… but before I did, I turned to face Hinako.

 

[What about Hinako? Are you going back first?]

 

[…I’m coming too. …I don’t want it to be like it was with Tennoji-san…]

 

Like it was with Tennoji-san… what does she mean with that?

 

I tilted my head, but Hinako did not elaborate.

 

[More so… if it’s Miyakojima-san, we have to be careful]

 

[Why do you say to be careful? I don’t think Narika has done anything to get Hinako in trouble…]

 

[…Itsuki, you change a little in front of Miyakojima-san]

 

[Change?]

 

When I asked, Hinako nodded with a complicated expression.

 

[You… seem more natural]

 

[I don’t really feel it… but well, when we were kids, we interacted with a much more casual distance]

 

It wasn’t objectively casual, but the point was how I felt about our interactions.

 

At that time, I didn’t know that Narika’s house was that great, and I didn’t have a great understanding of our family’s situation.

 

When I think back on it, it gives me chills.

 

When I was a child, I sure had a lot of guts.

 

[…Not fair]

 

Hinako muttered in a small voice.　

 

I tilted my head more, and Hinako’s lips twitched.

 

[Ara, Tomonari-san and Konohana-san] (TN: Best girl entry wooo)

 

From the end of the corridor, a blonde girl with vertically rolled hair called out to us.

 

[Hello, Tennoji-san]

 

[Yes, hello]

 

When I greeted her, Tennoji-san smiled softly.

 

Hearteningly, her expression seemed softer than before.

 

Her confident look was still there, but it seemed to contain a more friendly intention.

 

[Did the both of you decide which competition you are participating in?]

 

Tennoji-san asked.

 

Everywhere seems to be full of conversations about the competition.

 

[We both chose tennis. What about Tennoji-san?]

 

[I chose polo desuwa!]

 

Tennoji-san said dignifiedly.

 

[Polo is a horse-riding competition, if I’m not mistaken]

 

[Yes! Put simply, it’s a competition of hockey while riding on a horse desuwa!]

 

It was a very clear explanation. I could visualize what it probably looked like.

 

The booklet also included a brief description of each sport. Polo, a sport that gave rise to the widely popular polo shirt, was played by moving a ball with a stick while riding a horse and scoring points by putting it in the opponent’s goal.

 

[Polo is a very exciting sport desuwa. The horses and people get tired because they run around the wide fields endlessly. We even have a rule that you have to change horses every hour, because riding the same horse too long can stress them out]

 

[That sounds pretty extreme]

 

[Yes. That’s what makes it worthwhile]

 

Tennoji-san’s eyes were blazing.

 

As usual, she’s someone who loves competition.

 

[How about you two? Why don’t you participate in polo with me? You can still change what you are competing in]

 

[….I’ll refrain, I’ve never even ridden a horse before]

 

This is the type of competition that Shizune-san was wary of, the type that would surely get messy.

 

When I gently refused, Tennoji-san looked slightly embarrassed.

 

[Then, that…. I can teach you, if you’d like!]

 

Tennoji-san said while her cheeks blushed a little.

 

[I’m sure you can learn anything with your hardworking personality. I can teach you how to ride a horse… I-I’ll even show you how personally!]

 

She must mean like when she taught me how to dance.

 

Or like when she taught me manners, when she taught me really thoroughly.

 

Those were… very fulfilling days.

 

I almost forgot my purpose and looked back on the days with Tennoji-san for a moment.

 

Then—

 

[I’m sorry but we must decline]

 

Instead of me, Hinako refused calmly.

 

Tennoji-san looked surprised for a moment, but she nodded immediately.

 

[Is that so? Then, just Tomonari-san is—]

 

[I’m sorry but we must decline]

 

As if interrupting Tennoji-san’s words, Hinako snapped.

 

Hinako wasn’t refusing with only herself in mind.

 

She refused her for me.　

 

A blue vein stood out on Tennoji-san’s forehead.

 

[Konohana-san. I am asking Tomonari-san about this…]

 

[Tomonari-san is going to participate in tennis with me]

 

Hinako said elegantly while smiling gently.

 

Tennoji-san’s face twitched.

 

[Together, is it?]

 

[Yes. Together. The both of us… decided together]

 

Hinako still had an elegant smile plastered on her face.

 

As one would expect, her acting is top tier. Her expression doesn’t waver in the slightest.

 

But for some reason, to me, it looked like she was merely gatekeeping Tennoji-san.

 

[Fufu, fufufu… The number of things that need to be settled has increased…!!]

 

Tennoji-san said with many blue streaks on her forehead.

 

However, she eventually tried to suppress her emotions with reason.

 

[…I’ll let you off the hook this time. I have an obligation to lead my teammates in the polo division to victory]

 

Tennoji-san said regretfully.

 

I wonder if there are too many people around me that’s too competitive…

 

[By the way, where are you two headed?]

 

[Well, I’ve been asked by Narika for something…]

 

Just in case, because this was something personal, I won’t go into details.

 

[If you have any problems, you can count on me]

 

Tennoji-san put her hand on her chest, struck a pose, and said so.

 

[As much as I’d like to… maybe this time Tennoji-san isn’t the right person for it]

 

[Not the right person?]

 

Tennoji-san’s eyebrows twitched.

 

[There’s nothing I am not suited for!]

 

[…Then for example, if someone is struggling to make a friend, what advice would you give them, Tennoji-san?]

 

[It’s that simple desuwa! You just ask someone to be your friend!] 

 

[Uh huh… Excuse me then]

 

[Tomonari-san!?]

 

As I walked away, Tennoji-san looked at me as if asking [Why!?].

 

Tennoji-san has outstanding communication skills. That’s a great trait to have, but thanks to that, it’s hard for her to sympathize with Narika’s problems.

 

Once again, I entered class B.

 

[H-Hey, it’s Konohana-san…]

 

[What business could she have in our class…?]

 

The classroom began to buzz all of a sudden.　

 

The students were surprised to see Hinako, as she didn’t usually visit the B classroom.

 

If she stayed too long, we might get distracted.

 

I spotted Narika in a corner of the classroom, stuffing her textbooks into her bag, and silently beckoned her over. (TN: Narika, come)

 

[Itsuki!!]

 

Narika approached us with a sparkle in her eyes.

 

[M-Miyakojima-san, is talking to someone…!?]

 

[Who is this Itsuki…?]

 

The students in the classroom became even more surprised.

 

They’re surprised by the mere fact she talked to someone…?

 

Anyways, I met with Narika, so I quickly moved on. Perhaps because she called me by my first name, I got uncomfortable by the amount of stares at me.

 

Finally, Hinako bowed lightly, and the students stiffened like statues as they admired her.

 

---

 

So here’s more parts, and my finals is wrapping up around the corner. I just wanna say, thanks to those who still read this even though I take a long time and practically no schedule, but I really do appreciate the time all of you put in just to read this. Burnout is no joke, so please, if a translator or content creator doesn’t usually do their regular updates, don’t spam them like crazy and expect to be received well. Just a little rant of mine and I’ll get the next part out soon hopefully.

Donations are very much appreciated. (EDN: Help fuel me and Ezu’s Honkai addiction plz)

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TL: Ezu
ED: Animu
PR: Mateo