After the gloomy rainy season ended, a refreshing wind that welcomed the summer was blowing at the cafe terrasse on the academy grounds. From the old church built at the frontage could be heard pure singing voices.
Ave maris stella,
Dei mater alma,
Atque semper virgo,
Felix caeli porta
Hail, O Star of the ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
ever sinless Virgin,
gate of heavenly rest.
(I didn't expect that the destination of my transfer is a mission school.)
Lunch break.
Eating the lunch with classmates at a round white table with curved cat legs, Utaya was feeling restless and he glared at the church entwined in ivy.
Kaisei Academy was a co-ed combined junior and senior high school that was a 15 minutes walk from the sea.
Last week, Utaya transferred to the senior high division. And that was thanks to the chairman being his mother's acquaintance, so his admission was warmly welcomed, although it was in June of his first year in high school at the so-called half-baked stage.
Until just five years ago the daughters of respectable families attended the girls' school that has now established coeducation and liberal school traditions, or so he was told. The school building was newly expanded and all kind of equipment was improved just to increase the number of students in this age of declining birth rates, he heard, but he didn't think that once a week there'd be an assembly in the church and he would be made to sing hymns.
Seems like the hymn that can be heard from the church is the choir club practicing.
"Maris Stella", meaning "star of the ocean", is a pure star, that's actually a Virgin Mary, that guided the sailors. It also is the origin of the school name "Ocean StarKaisei Academy".
His classmate Nitadori Iku who told him both useful and useless school trivia in such detail, pushed up the big glasses that were slipping off his nose and started talking to him in a carefree tone.
"Did you choose a club yet? Harada-kun? Because at our academy you have to join some club within one month of enrollment."
"No, I didn't have time for that yet."
Even when he tried to distract himself, the clear singing voices entered his ears and his stomach was feeling itchy. It also couldn't be helped that he was bothered by the smell of garlic coming from the peperoncino spaghetti that Nitadori was eating.
There's not such an amount of garlic in the spaghetti that under usual circumstances would smell. But, in this one month Utaya's sense of smell became several times sharper than before and he became unable to accept food with intense smell. He didn't even eat curry – his favorite food.
"That's so? You'll be able to observe, so you can choose slowly. At your previous school, were you in a sports club? Cause you're tall, Harada-kun."
That said, he heard that Nitadori belongs to the PC club on his first day of transfer. Nitadori with his small built and amiable round face was just like he looked, sociable and kind, however full of curiosity he asked this and that which troubled Utaya.
One more person at the table was Hario Masayoshi who, with unsociable face, was eating small brown rice rice-ball in silence as if chewing on it grain by grain. In addition he only had one boiled egg plus boiled vegetables in a small tupperware. Yesterday it was only brown rice rice-ball and one apple.
"Hari's boxing club is in the middle of a diet," Nitadori had told him.
The two were hanging out together since being in the junior high division. At that time, Nitadori was an overweight child, but since he begun to spend time together with Hario who mutely glared at him every time he tried to eat snacks or meat buns, his appetite decreased and owing to that his figure got on a standard level, so he's thankful to Hario.
In contrast with Nitadori's round face, both Hario's figure and face are slender and sharp. The arms that were extending from the short sleeved shirt of the summer uniform looked strong and solid although being slim. He was taciturn and it was rare in itself for him to speak.
While thinking that Nitadori and Hario, when you balance them out would have just right amount of conversation, he answered "Nah, no sports club……it'll be tiring," while being careful that his feelings won't appear on his face.
"That's such a waste when with your height and good physique you look like you could do sports! Or so I say, but our school is ex-girls' school, so all boys' sport clubs are weak. It's only the wrestling club that is just narrowly maintaining reputation, but on the other hand the culture clubs are strong. Ah, how about the tea ceremony club? You'll be feed with Japanese confectionery and it's full of girls, it's famous for having a high ratio of beauties."
"No, full of girls is……give me a break with that."
If possible, I don't want to get close with girls. To the extent that I would be good with boys' school if it could be done……
"You dislike girls? Even though you look like you'd be popular, Harada-kun."
"Eeeh, that can't be!"
"I wonder. A tall and refreshing handsome guy, and yet somewhere having a trace of shadow, it's like mysterious or rather, you have the feel of an ‘enigmatic transfer student'."
"This is the first time I've been called handsome. Moreover, an enigmatic transfer student that's……"
His face suddenly became hot. He was sure that he was trying not to stand out. He practically didn't say anything about himself or the reason for his transfer. But, "having a trace of shadow", was I that gloomy? Me?
Feeling down a bit he said, "Uhm, you see…… I'm shy. Especially the girls are dangerous – in dangerous I mean that I'm not good at talking with them – that is, I'm nervous around them because I was sports-oriented and only hanged out with boys."
(Just who is shy!)
He retorted himself inside his mind.
That's when all of a sudden he heard a loud voice.
"As I thought! It's Harada Utaya!! Why are you wearing our uniform?!"
His name being called, he turned his head.
A boy making a scary face came rushing in between the tables and in a momentum kicked down a chair.
(Kaji-san!)
Utaya was much more surprised.
(Why is this person at Kaisei that's anonymous at basketball!)
In his junior high period, that upperclassman was a famous guard on the rival team, and now with his big hands that threw accurate passes he grabbed Utaya's shoulder, brought his strong-willed face closer and raised his voice even more.
"What's a Ryokuou's starting player doing at our school! I mean, last month's district qualifier! You very absolutely cool! Your shoots, dribbles, rebounds, you were at such a level, like under a divine possession, that I got chills. You were su~per standing out, here I was thinking all thrilled what's goin' to happen in the finals against Hourin's Kaizaki, but then you didn't appear in the finals–"
"Kaji-san……I…"
Who'd have thought that he would meet someone involved in the basketball here at the transfer destination! Furthermore, it was someone who saw Utaya's playing at the qualifier–.
His body stiff, he averted his eyes. He was thinking how he should explain it, and sweat was oozing of his palms, when the first bell rang.
"Heeeey! Kaji! We're moving classes next!"
When he was being called by his companion, Kaji clicked his tongue. Likely not wanting to leave, he released Utaya's shoulder and asked: "Harada, which class are you in?"
"I'm……in class one."
"Okay, after school I'll come to pick you up. We're saved now that you came to our school. I can play basketball together with you!"
"Kaji, I'm going ahead."
"I'm coming now! See you, Harada. Sit and wait for me, don't leave, you hear!"
He glared at Utaya with stubborn eyes to emphasize his words and left in a hurry.
"So you were in a basketball club, Harada-kun. The person just now was a second year, no? That was such a passionate approach, right? Harada-kun, could it be that you were a big name in the basketball?"
From behind Nitadori inquired that with immense curiosity while they were lining up at the tableware return queue.
Frantically trying to suppress the discordant feelings, Utaya answered.
"It's not that big of a deal…… Besides, I quit basketball."
"Why?"
Nitadori was pressing for an answer, but Hario pushed Nitadori's head from behind.
"Nita, restrain yourself."
He whispered in a low voice. Immediately, Nitadori showed a bitter smile and apologized.
"I'm sorry. My curiosity got ahead of me, it's my bad habit to bluntly ask everything. When you don't want to answer, just tell me frankly ‘you're noisy' or ‘shut up'."
"Errr–, that'll be great help!"
When he ended up shouting that, as he was seriously troubled because being cross-examined would be bad, he was laughed at.
"Ahaha, you're so honest, Harada-kun."
He felt the strength leaving his shoulders. He was also surprised about Hario's nonchalant concern, whom he thought was indifferent towards others.
"Thank you," he said and Hario nodded a little, his face still looking unsociable.
He thought that it was certainly fortunate that the first people he got close with in the class were those two. As he was thinking about such things, he returned to the classroom with Nitadori who continued to talk and Hario who with unchanging expression silently walked.
His face that loosened up, stiffened again when he remembered Kaji's words.
(After school, what should I do……?)
Kaji didn't doubt in the least that Utaya would join the basketball club.
–I can play basketball together with you!
When he was told that, that hard-faced Kaji's mouth edges loosened up and he looked delighted.
(Kaji-san. I'm different from how I was before. I can't play things like basketball with everyone.)
Meeting with an old acquaintance made him recall the reason why he had to transfer to Kaisei, and he felt his throat tightening.
◇ ◇ ◇
After school.
When he was slowly stuffing the textbooks into his bag, finding it impossible for himself to stand Kaji up, Kaji instantly appeared. He seemingly ran here, because he was breathless.
"All right! Let's go to the gymnasium! Ah no, before that, let's stop at the staff room to hand in the club registration form!"
Piling his words in a surging waves, Kaji grabbed Utaya by arm and pulled him to the corridor, but at the corner Utaya stopped him and bowed his head to him.
"I am sorry, Kaji-san. I cannot join the basketball club."
"Wha-? If you don't join the basketball club, where will you play basketball?"
Seeming puzzled, Kaji frowned.
"……I quit basketball," he said while restraining himself so much that breathing became difficult, just so that his feelings wouldn't overflow, so that his voice and expression wouldn't become gloomy and stiff.
"Why!"
Kaji raised his eyebrows and his spit came flying.
"You're a youth that loves basketball, right! Playing from morning till evening with the basketball ball makes you HAPPY, and until death you'd carry the ball foolishly laughing, you're that sort of basketball freak, right! There's no way that you, who had such an obsession with the victory or defeat that you were given a stupid nickname like "The Court's Brawler", would quit basketball! If you're joking, say a better one–"
"……In the middle of the qualifier I wrecked my knee. And I was told by the doctor that it's impossible for me to play basketball anymore. Because of that a lot happened and I changed schools."
Kaji's expression became stiff.
Utaya didn't appear in the finals of the inter-high district qualifier that opened in the middle of the May.
Ryokuou HS suffered a defeat by a large margin by Hourin HS which possessed the high school number one player Kaizaki; afterwards Utaya was absent from school for a short while– and then just like that he transferred schools.
Kaji was looking at Utaya with his mouth tightly closed. Behind the strong-willed eyes surfaced pain, anguish, anger, sadness and other feelings, and before long he painfully exhaled.
"I see……Sorry, I made you say some bitter things."
But rather than Utaya, Kaji looked more bitter.
"Not at all."
When Utaya answered awkwardly, he frowned even more, bit on his molars and grabbed Utaya's shoulder with his right hand.
"But, if you'd like, come to observe us. When I enrolled last year I gathered members and started up the club. Though, we're just a puny weak club with only five people. Of course, I won't force you. But if– if you feel like it…," he said.
"I'll give you advice also about things other than basketball, so come anytime," he then added and left.
For an instant his chest quivered and he shouted "THANK YOU!" with all his voice just like during a match. And the other party seemed to be also overcome with emotion and looked back, then after again closing his mouth tightly,
"Harada– Your voice is noisy even outside of the court, huh," came a slightly bitter murmuring, then soon again he turned around and this time he walked away without looking back.
(Kaji-san…… The air around him changed from that time in middle school…… Even though before, he left an impression as being uptight and he took me for a dislike-able underclassman.)
Only once had Utaya a personal conversation with Kaji when he met him accidentally near the middle school. About the future course and various things. Thinking back about that time, Utaya walked out taking sluggish steps.
……It was a big fat lie that he injured his knee.
He also didn't go to the doctor. There's no way he'd go.
He bowed to his parents and supplicated that he wishes to transfer schools.
Since the cold rainy night one month ago, many times over he put a cutter to his wrist confirming and becoming astonished, confirming again and becoming despaired, he became overwhelmed and reached his limit.
His parents were both employed as researchers and were out often since Utaya's childhood. So as not to worry his parents, Utaya aimed to being able to first think things through himself and then accomplish them alone.
And such a non-troublesome son for the first time made a wish and bowed his head.
Furthermore, he said he wants to quit the basketball he was so enthusiastic about.
It seemed that the research-freak parents sensed something to some extent. Without investigating which hospital he went to and so forth, they immediately took the procedures to have him transfer to a school where his mother's acquaintance works as a board chairman.
After he parted from Kaji, he hung his bag over the shoulder and was advancing through the long corridor with a sluggish pace.
(That's right, I decided……to forget all about basketball.)
When he got out to the passage, the wind rocked his quirky bangs and the light overflowing in the courtyard shone on him. He squinted, stepped forth towards a green lawn and the down-pouring light increased in strength.
Even though he bathed in the sunshine like that, his body wouldn't burn hideously and become reduced to ash. And also wouldn't seethe and dissolve.
And yet, he felt the sunlight was more intensive than before he "became like this" and he couldn't calm down.
He wondered if it was alright to stand under such a bright light. He thought if he wouldn't be exposed, revealed and brought to ruin. A baseless fear welled up and a shiver ran down his spine.
It was the same sensation as when he walked in on the church for the first time and looked up at the statue of Virgin Mary embracing the executed Christ or heard the hymn.
Despite that he expressly came down to the dazzling courtyard with the church wondering if it's alright for him to go there, probably wanting to convince himself that his existence is not being rejected from the daytime world.
(Though I can't play basketball anymore, I didn't change in the least. It's just that my nose works better, ears hear better and I can see further away.)
He's became weak in eating meals with stronger smell and he can't eat gyoza or curry anymore but that's not a big deal. He persuaded himself that he was the same as before.
But when he looked up at the church illuminated by the clear sunlight, he felt all the pores on his body opening and his stomach shrinking–.
(As I expected, I guess I did change.)
It happened when his heart hurt like it was being gouged out.
A cherry blossom-colored balloon fell down from the sky.
(Eh?)
The balloon of a lovely cherry blossom-like hue that danced down for a moment looked like a basketball ball to him.
He reached out both hands to catch the balloon that fell down while lightly floating.
It's softer and warmer than a basketball ball! Why did a balloon?
While he was bewildered, this time a rapeseed blossoms-like yellow balloon, next a field violets-like lavender balloon, furthermore a new grass-like green balloon one by one rode on the early summer refreshing wind and came flowing down.
The window on the third floor was left open and the spring-colored balloons spilled out from there.
At the balcony appeared a female student dressed in the academy's uniform.
She hanged out over the handrail so far that she was about to fall and chased after the balloons whereabouts with her big eyes.
Utaya was startled.
Because that female student was crying.
From the dark and gentle-looking eyes fell a single tear similar to morning dew. The peaceful and pure tear-stained face resembled the church statue of Virgin Mary grieving about Christ's death–.
A girl beautiful like a Virgin Mary.
Was crying.
The eyes of Utaya who was looking up with his mouth open and eyes of the girl who was looking down met.
That very moment, her skirt was blown in the wind and its hem lifted up by chance.
"Waahhhh!"
Utaya's loud voice resounded in the rear-side of the church.
The falling balloons flew high at the same time as the skirt's cloth.
The girl screamed out "eek!" and held down her skirt with both hands.
Utaya turned his face away in panic and called repeatedly: "Didn't see! I didn't see!! I wasn't looking!"
From above, her embarrassed lovely voice came down saying "I- I am sorry."
"No, it's me who should apologize– Oh, but I didn't see!"
"I will come to you right away, so. Well, the balloons, could you maybe–"
The girl seemed to be flustered because she was speaking fastly and in broken sentences–in spite of that the voice that entered his ears was pleasant and easy to catch. Moreover, it sounded really charmingly sweet and cute.
"Ro- Roger!"
He also shouted back, and holding the cherry blossom balloon under his right arm he caught the rapeseed blossom and violet balloon with the left hand. Meanwhile, another balloon fell on the lawn. When he bent down to pick it up, this time the balloons he held in hands spilled and fell.
While he was doing that, the girl ran there carrying a semi-transparent garbage bag.
"Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me. While I was lost in thought they flew out of the window."
Bending in the waist and bowing many times over, she gathered the balloons with Utaya and put them in the bag.
Even when hearing it from close, the girl's voice was sweet and clear.
As he looked next to him, her big chest that faced the ground shook and he could catch glimpses of her cleavage from the blouse's seams, and each moment she squatted her skirt turned up and her voluptuous thighs became visible almost to the top, it was making him dizzy.
(This person, her chest's big……Besides, she's absurdly cute……)
Averting then returning back his gaze, his face becoming hot, casting his eyes down and shaking his head, whilst he was doing that they finally picked up all the balloons.
"That's all of them?"
"Yes, so it seems."
They each took a breath and for the first time honestly confronted each other.
Looking again, her features really resembled the Virgin Mary from the church's pieta statue. She seemed graceful and gentle.
Semi-long gently soft black hair covered her shoulders and her lips were a neat pink color.
On the other hand, she had a chest so big it was threatening to tear the blouse, her moderately plump thighs had sex appeal that went beyond that of a high school student, and for the amount that her features were pure they had even more destructive force.
Her black eyes were becoming slightly red around the edges but he recalled that she was crying until a while before, and (Why was a girl this beautiful crying, I wonder.) he thought and his heart tightened.
Thereupon, the girl suddenly retreated from Utaya in panic. Seems like they got too close to each other before they noticed it.
(She really didn't have to distance herself so blatantly……)
He was feeling a wee bit hurt, when:
"Ah, that is not it. I, I thought that you don't like me standing next to you……I am sorry," she said and started to apologize again with her face red. She shrunk down her body and faced down. Utaya not understanding her reason asked in return.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because, my height is……"
The girl shrunk her body more and more.
"Height……? It's normal, no?"
"Ehh!"
As if surprised, she threw her face up. Round-eyed, she looked up at Utaya–and then like that, her eyes became even more wide open.
"!"
Somehow, she looked like she received a tremendous shock.
On the other hand, that very moment, Utaya also realized for the first time that the girl's face was positioned almost directly in front of his own face.
Utaya is tall. Most girls have their face considerably below Utaya's point of view.
And yet, her face's position is close to Utaya!
The girl suddenly gulped as she was fixedly staring at Utaya and inquired in a low voice: "Y- Your height, how many centimeters is it?"
"It's one hundred and eighty-five, but……"
When he nervously answered back, her shoulders subtly trembled and she turned her eyes towards Utaya's scalp then slowly shifted down to his forehead, eyes, nose, lips, chin, nape of the neck, collarbone and furthermore down to his chest and waist– she rapidly continued downward.
Blushing, after looking down to the tips of his toes with an earnest gaze she returned her eyes higher and higher again; moreover, still holding the bag with the balloons she softly approached Utaya and lined up next to him, checked the position and distance of their shoulders, then her shoulders trembled again and she stared in wonder; this time she went around to his back and checked the view from there; then she herself turned her back to Utaya and from there turned her head and looked back; then lining up next to him again she raised her head and stared up; then going back to the front and standing on her tiptoes she looked at him from a distance shorter than before……
"Say! What are you trying to do since a while before!"
At a distance where they're likely to kiss, Utaya shouted in fluster.
A sweet smell like spring flowers in full bloom tickled him in the nostrils and he almost had his knees give way. Just what the heck is this big-breasted beautiful girl doing!
Thanks to Utaya's loud voice she seemed to come to her senses and backed off, she tightly grasped the bag of balloons in front her chest and her voice became high-pitched and unstrung.
"I- I am sorry. You are…… too much ideal, that I just…"
"What do you mean by ideal?"
To Utaya who was startled again she answered with a red face and wet eyes.
"Your……height is."
"Huh? Height?"
Does she like tall men? A height fetish?
"I, I am–very serious. Ah, I am from second-year class-three and my name is Harushina Ayane. I am not a suspicious person."
(This person is an upperclassman!? One year senior from me?)
"F- First-year class-one, Harada Utaya–"
Because of his ex-sports-oriented nature he unconsciously answered politely.
Just as he did–.
Ayane's lips began to blossom and a warm spring air-like smile filled the face resembling the Virgin Mary.
Seeing that pure smile, his breath stuck.
"Harada-kun," she whispered with importance in a smooth cute voice.
"Y- Yes!"
Still holding the bag of balloons Ayane tightly grasped the right hand of Utaya who stood at attention.
Her hand's tenderness made him dizzy again.
She was crying until a moment ago, but now she's smiling so happily!
"Please, go out with me."
One second, two seconds, three seconds…… No, nearly for five seconds Utaya's consciousness flew off.
I was confessed to by a pretty senior! Moreover just thirty minutes after we met!
It would be weird if he wasn't confused.
"Excuse me! Th- This is so sudden that I'm not sure what should I say."
I should refuse her right now! I don't have a body suitable for dating a girl!
But even so, he couldn't think of a good way to refuse and when he stuttered his answer Ayane apologetically said:
"Is- Is that so. I was too sudden, I guess. Well! Then, could you at least hear me out! I also want to introduce you to everyone."
"In- Introduce–?"
To hear her out–that's fine. But, abruptly introducing me to her friends!? We're not even dating!
"We even have tea and sweets, so just for a moment. If it's Harada-kun, Ichiko-san will completely agree, so…"
(Who's this Ichiko-san? I mean, even if that Ichiko-san agrees, I can't get a girlfriend–)
Ayane grasped tightly the bag of balloons in her left hand and with her right hand squeezed Utaya's left hand.
"Come, Harada-kun."
Under the light blue sky, at the back of the church blurred by light, brighter than sky, purer than a hymn, the beautiful senior was smiling.
Inviting him in a sweet cute voice.
Because of that, unconditionally, he followed her without knowing what he's doing.
And he did that, while gazing at the shaking of both the bag of spring-colored balloons and her soft breasts.
◇ ◇ ◇
Hanging at the entrance of the innermost room in the school building's basement was a plate with "Drama Club — Team Regulus" written on it.
What drama club? What team?
"Ichiko-san! Look, look!"
Ayane shouted right after she opened the door.
"He's taller than me by ten centimeters! It's perfect, right! He's called Harada Utaya-kun. A first year!"
Inside was filled with girls wearing T-shirts and jersey pants surrounded by grey concrete walls. The girls looked at Utaya all at once.
Furthermore from among them the only girl wearing a uniform sluggishly walked up to them.
With long hair casually tied up at one side of her neck she was a slender beauty but her complexion was absolutely horrible. Rather than being fair-skinned she was turning pale. Her uniform blouse had two undone buttons and its hem was over the skirt. That it wasn't done intentionally in a worn-out fashion but because it was troublesome, Utaya could guess because of her smell that seemed like she didn't bathe for several days. By no means is it an unpleasant smell, because when he himself skipped out on showering during summertime he smelled like a beast or something- and so he was familiar with such smell, but when it comes to girls it's too "wild" and as expected he was bothered by it. Other people than Utaya probably wouldn't know that if they didn't bring they face close to her skin to sniff it directly, such a weak smell it was.
The girl with a beast-like smell reviewed Utaya with a brusque gaze and in an intense voice she-
"Your full name?" "First-year what class?" "Your attendance number?" "Number 35? Why do you have such late number with the name Harada? Ah, I see, you're a transfer student. When did you transfer? From where? Why at this time. Hmm, your parents' job circumstances? Oh well, let's leave it at that."
-showered him with one-sided questions.
"In short, you were tempted by Ayane's allure and nonchalantly arrived here, which means you're a lewd bastard. First-year class-one attendance number thirty-five, Harada Utaya-kun," she declared.
"Wh- Why a lewd bastard–"
What's with this person!
Next to Utaya who choked his voice, Ayane with bright red face protested.
"Oh my, Ichiko-san, you didn't have to say it like that."
But Ichiko ignored her and grabbed Utaya's shirt with both hands and pulled it up along with the T-shirt he wore underneath.
"Aaarghhh, what are doing, so suddenly!"
He let out a big voice without restraint.
His voice hit the concrete walls and echoed.
"Ichiko-san!"
Ayane pulled away Ichiko who was ruffling Utaya's quirky hair from him.
"Oh gosh, Ichiko-san, you shouldn't do that all of a sudden. Harada-kun isn't used to Ichiko-san, so what would you do if he became frightened and left. I am sorry, Harada-kun. Ichiko-san is a little weird. It's like the paper-thin difference between a genius and a weirdo. She lives by her instincts. She doesn't have any malice. And she also doesn't have a hobby of undressing the first-year boys, because her grip strength is below twenty and her time in five meters race is at the ten seconds range, she's a weakling so she can't attack anyone, you see!"
The weakling Ichiko while having her arm pulled by Ayane-
"Well, your height certainly matches with Ayane, your body's also solidly trained, and your hair type's smooth and fluffy with diluted coloring, also your face's the refreshing sort that girls would like, plus it's not like you doesn't look fearless enough to face someone's eyes and flap your mouth, so why not,"
-said nonchalantly and sluggishly unwrapped Ayane's arm, then again stepped up to Utaya.
Ichiko had standard height of girls that's about 158 centimeters.
But, the gaze that looked up at Utaya from below conversely had the force of being looked down on. With those eyes she fixedly stared at Utaya who was dumbfounded, his hair still disheveled and clothes disarranged, and coolly loosened her lips.
"You pass. At the public performance in July, I'll have you act as Ayane's lover, Harada-kun."
After the gloomy rainy season ended, a refreshing wind that welcomed the summer was blowing at the cafe terrasse on the academy grounds. From the old church built at the frontage could be heard pure singing voices.
Ave maris stella,
Dei mater alma,
Atque semper virgo,
Felix caeli porta
Hail, O Star of the ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
ever sinless Virgin,
gate of heavenly rest.
(I didn't expect that the destination of my transfer is a mission school.)
Lunch break.
Eating the lunch with classmates at a round white table with curved cat legs, Utaya was feeling restless and he glared at the church entwined in ivy.
Kaisei Academy was a co-ed combined junior and senior high school that was a 15 minutes walk from the sea.
Last week, Utaya transferred to the senior high division. And that was thanks to the chairman being his mother's acquaintance, so his admission was warmly welcomed, although it was in June of his first year in high school at the so-called half-baked stage.
Until just five years ago the daughters of respectable families attended the girls' school that has now established coeducation and liberal school traditions, or so he was told. The school building was newly expanded and all kind of equipment was improved just to increase the number of students in this age of declining birth rates, he heard, but he didn't think that once a week there'd be an assembly in the church and he would be made to sing hymns.
Seems like the hymn that can be heard from the church is the choir club practicing.
"Maris Stella", meaning "star of the ocean", is a pure star, that's actually a Virgin Mary, that guided the sailors. It also is the origin of the school name "Ocean StarKaisei Academy".
His classmate Nitadori Iku who told him both useful and useless school trivia in such detail, pushed up the big glasses that were slipping off his nose and started talking to him in a carefree tone.
"Did you choose a club yet? Harada-kun? Because at our academy you have to join some club within one month of enrollment."
"No, I didn't have time for that yet."
Even when he tried to distract himself, the clear singing voices entered his ears and his stomach was feeling itchy. It also couldn't be helped that he was bothered by the smell of garlic coming from the peperoncino spaghetti that Nitadori was eating.
There's not such an amount of garlic in the spaghetti that under usual circumstances would smell. But, in this one month Utaya's sense of smell became several times sharper than before and he became unable to accept food with intense smell. He didn't even eat curry – his favorite food.
"That's so? You'll be able to observe, so you can choose slowly. At your previous school, were you in a sports club? Cause you're tall, Harada-kun."
That said, he heard that Nitadori belongs to the PC club on his first day of transfer. Nitadori with his small built and amiable round face was just like he looked, sociable and kind, however full of curiosity he asked this and that which troubled Utaya.
One more person at the table was Hario Masayoshi who, with unsociable face, was eating small brown rice rice-ball in silence as if chewing on it grain by grain. In addition he only had one boiled egg plus boiled vegetables in a small tupperware. Yesterday it was only brown rice rice-ball and one apple.
"Hari's boxing club is in the middle of a diet," Nitadori had told him.
The two were hanging out together since being in the junior high division. At that time, Nitadori was an overweight child, but since he begun to spend time together with Hario who mutely glared at him every time he tried to eat snacks or meat buns, his appetite decreased and owing to that his figure got on a standard level, so he's thankful to Hario.
In contrast with Nitadori's round face, both Hario's figure and face are slender and sharp. The arms that were extending from the short sleeved shirt of the summer uniform looked strong and solid although being slim. He was taciturn and it was rare in itself for him to speak.
While thinking that Nitadori and Hario, when you balance them out would have just right amount of conversation, he answered "Nah, no sports club……it'll be tiring," while being careful that his feelings won't appear on his face.
"That's such a waste when with your height and good physique you look like you could do sports! Or so I say, but our school is ex-girls' school, so all boys' sport clubs are weak. It's only the wrestling club that is just narrowly maintaining reputation, but on the other hand the culture clubs are strong. Ah, how about the tea ceremony club? You'll be feed with Japanese confectionery and it's full of girls, it's famous for having a high ratio of beauties."
"No, full of girls is……give me a break with that."
If possible, I don't want to get close with girls. To the extent that I would be good with boys' school if it could be done……
"You dislike girls? Even though you look like you'd be popular, Harada-kun."
"Eeeh, that can't be!"
"I wonder. A tall and refreshing handsome guy, and yet somewhere having a trace of shadow, it's like mysterious or rather, you have the feel of an ‘enigmatic transfer student'."
"This is the first time I've been called handsome. Moreover, an enigmatic transfer student that's……"
His face suddenly became hot. He was sure that he was trying not to stand out. He practically didn't say anything about himself or the reason for his transfer. But, "having a trace of shadow", was I that gloomy? Me?
Feeling down a bit he said, "Uhm, you see…… I'm shy. Especially the girls are dangerous – in dangerous I mean that I'm not good at talking with them – that is, I'm nervous around them because I was sports-oriented and only hanged out with boys."
(Just who is shy!)
He retorted himself inside his mind.
That's when all of a sudden he heard a loud voice.
"As I thought! It's Harada Utaya!! Why are you wearing our uniform?!"
His name being called, he turned his head.
A boy making a scary face came rushing in between the tables and in a momentum kicked down a chair.
(Kaji-san!)
Utaya was much more surprised.
(Why is this person at Kaisei that's anonymous at basketball!)
In his junior high period, that upperclassman was a famous guard on the rival team, and now with his big hands that threw accurate passes he grabbed Utaya's shoulder, brought his strong-willed face closer and raised his voice even more.
"What's a Ryokuou's starting player doing at our school! I mean, last month's district qualifier! You very absolutely cool! Your shoots, dribbles, rebounds, you were at such a level, like under a divine possession, that I got chills. You were su~per standing out, here I was thinking all thrilled what's goin' to happen in the finals against Hourin's Kaizaki, but then you didn't appear in the finals–"
"Kaji-san……I…"
Who'd have thought that he would meet someone involved in the basketball here at the transfer destination! Furthermore, it was someone who saw Utaya's playing at the qualifier–.
His body stiff, he averted his eyes. He was thinking how he should explain it, and sweat was oozing of his palms, when the first bell rang.
"Heeeey! Kaji! We're moving classes next!"
When he was being called by his companion, Kaji clicked his tongue. Likely not wanting to leave, he released Utaya's shoulder and asked: "Harada, which class are you in?"
"I'm……in class one."
"Okay, after school I'll come to pick you up. We're saved now that you came to our school. I can play basketball together with you!"
"Kaji, I'm going ahead."
"I'm coming now! See you, Harada. Sit and wait for me, don't leave, you hear!"
He glared at Utaya with stubborn eyes to emphasize his words and left in a hurry.
"So you were in a basketball club, Harada-kun. The person just now was a second year, no? That was such a passionate approach, right? Harada-kun, could it be that you were a big name in the basketball?"
From behind Nitadori inquired that with immense curiosity while they were lining up at the tableware return queue.
Frantically trying to suppress the discordant feelings, Utaya answered.
"It's not that big of a deal…… Besides, I quit basketball."
"Why?"
Nitadori was pressing for an answer, but Hario pushed Nitadori's head from behind.
"Nita, restrain yourself."
He whispered in a low voice. Immediately, Nitadori showed a bitter smile and apologized.
"I'm sorry. My curiosity got ahead of me, it's my bad habit to bluntly ask everything. When you don't want to answer, just tell me frankly ‘you're noisy' or ‘shut up'."
"Errr–, that'll be great help!"
When he ended up shouting that, as he was seriously troubled because being cross-examined would be bad, he was laughed at.
"Ahaha, you're so honest, Harada-kun."
He felt the strength leaving his shoulders. He was also surprised about Hario's nonchalant concern, whom he thought was indifferent towards others.
"Thank you," he said and Hario nodded a little, his face still looking unsociable.
He thought that it was certainly fortunate that the first people he got close with in the class were those two. As he was thinking about such things, he returned to the classroom with Nitadori who continued to talk and Hario who with unchanging expression silently walked.
His face that loosened up, stiffened again when he remembered Kaji's words.
(After school, what should I do……?)
Kaji didn't doubt in the least that Utaya would join the basketball club.
–I can play basketball together with you!
When he was told that, that hard-faced Kaji's mouth edges loosened up and he looked delighted.
(Kaji-san. I'm different from how I was before. I can't play things like basketball with everyone.)
Meeting with an old acquaintance made him recall the reason why he had to transfer to Kaisei, and he felt his throat tightening.
◇ ◇ ◇
After school.
When he was slowly stuffing the textbooks into his bag, finding it impossible for himself to stand Kaji up, Kaji instantly appeared. He seemingly ran here, because he was breathless.
"All right! Let's go to the gymnasium! Ah no, before that, let's stop at the staff room to hand in the club registration form!"
Piling his words in a surging waves, Kaji grabbed Utaya by arm and pulled him to the corridor, but at the corner Utaya stopped him and bowed his head to him.
"I am sorry, Kaji-san. I cannot join the basketball club."
"Wha-? If you don't join the basketball club, where will you play basketball?"
Seeming puzzled, Kaji frowned.
"……I quit basketball," he said while restraining himself so much that breathing became difficult, just so that his feelings wouldn't overflow, so that his voice and expression wouldn't become gloomy and stiff.
"Why!"
Kaji raised his eyebrows and his spit came flying.
"You're a youth that loves basketball, right! Playing from morning till evening with the basketball ball makes you HAPPY, and until death you'd carry the ball foolishly laughing, you're that sort of basketball freak, right! There's no way that you, who had such an obsession with the victory or defeat that you were given a stupid nickname like "The Court's Brawler", would quit basketball! If you're joking, say a better one–"
"……In the middle of the qualifier I wrecked my knee. And I was told by the doctor that it's impossible for me to play basketball anymore. Because of that a lot happened and I changed schools."
Kaji's expression became stiff.
Utaya didn't appear in the finals of the inter-high district qualifier that opened in the middle of the May.
Ryokuou HS suffered a defeat by a large margin by Hourin HS which possessed the high school number one player Kaizaki; afterwards Utaya was absent from school for a short while– and then just like that he transferred schools.
Kaji was looking at Utaya with his mouth tightly closed. Behind the strong-willed eyes surfaced pain, anguish, anger, sadness and other feelings, and before long he painfully exhaled.
"I see……Sorry, I made you say some bitter things."
But rather than Utaya, Kaji looked more bitter.
"Not at all."
When Utaya answered awkwardly, he frowned even more, bit on his molars and grabbed Utaya's shoulder with his right hand.
"But, if you'd like, come to observe us. When I enrolled last year I gathered members and started up the club. Though, we're just a puny weak club with only five people. Of course, I won't force you. But if– if you feel like it…," he said.
"I'll give you advice also about things other than basketball, so come anytime," he then added and left.
For an instant his chest quivered and he shouted "THANK YOU!" with all his voice just like during a match. And the other party seemed to be also overcome with emotion and looked back, then after again closing his mouth tightly,
"Harada– Your voice is noisy even outside of the court, huh," came a slightly bitter murmuring, then soon again he turned around and this time he walked away without looking back.
(Kaji-san…… The air around him changed from that time in middle school…… Even though before, he left an impression as being uptight and he took me for a dislike-able underclassman.)
Only once had Utaya a personal conversation with Kaji when he met him accidentally near the middle school. About the future course and various things. Thinking back about that time, Utaya walked out taking sluggish steps.
……It was a big fat lie that he injured his knee.
He also didn't go to the doctor. There's no way he'd go.
He bowed to his parents and supplicated that he wishes to transfer schools.
Since the cold rainy night one month ago, many times over he put a cutter to his wrist confirming and becoming astonished, confirming again and becoming despaired, he became overwhelmed and reached his limit.
His parents were both employed as researchers and were out often since Utaya's childhood. So as not to worry his parents, Utaya aimed to being able to first think things through himself and then accomplish them alone.
And such a non-troublesome son for the first time made a wish and bowed his head.
Furthermore, he said he wants to quit the basketball he was so enthusiastic about.
It seemed that the research-freak parents sensed something to some extent. Without investigating which hospital he went to and so forth, they immediately took the procedures to have him transfer to a school where his mother's acquaintance works as a board chairman.
After he parted from Kaji, he hung his bag over the shoulder and was advancing through the long corridor with a sluggish pace.
(That's right, I decided……to forget all about basketball.)
When he got out to the passage, the wind rocked his quirky bangs and the light overflowing in the courtyard shone on him. He squinted, stepped forth towards a green lawn and the down-pouring light increased in strength.
Even though he bathed in the sunshine like that, his body wouldn't burn hideously and become reduced to ash. And also wouldn't seethe and dissolve.
And yet, he felt the sunlight was more intensive than before he "became like this" and he couldn't calm down.
He wondered if it was alright to stand under such a bright light. He thought if he wouldn't be exposed, revealed and brought to ruin. A baseless fear welled up and a shiver ran down his spine.
It was the same sensation as when he walked in on the church for the first time and looked up at the statue of Virgin Mary embracing the executed Christ or heard the hymn.
Despite that he expressly came down to the dazzling courtyard with the church wondering if it's alright for him to go there, probably wanting to convince himself that his existence is not being rejected from the daytime world.
(Though I can't play basketball anymore, I didn't change in the least. It's just that my nose works better, ears hear better and I can see further away.)
He's became weak in eating meals with stronger smell and he can't eat gyoza or curry anymore but that's not a big deal. He persuaded himself that he was the same as before.
But when he looked up at the church illuminated by the clear sunlight, he felt all the pores on his body opening and his stomach shrinking–.
(As I expected, I guess I did change.)
It happened when his heart hurt like it was being gouged out.
A cherry blossom-colored balloon fell down from the sky.
(Eh?)
The balloon of a lovely cherry blossom-like hue that danced down for a moment looked like a basketball ball to him.
He reached out both hands to catch the balloon that fell down while lightly floating.
It's softer and warmer than a basketball ball! Why did a balloon?
While he was bewildered, this time a rapeseed blossoms-like yellow balloon, next a field violets-like lavender balloon, furthermore a new grass-like green balloon one by one rode on the early summer refreshing wind and came flowing down.
The window on the third floor was left open and the spring-colored balloons spilled out from there.
At the balcony appeared a female student dressed in the academy's uniform.
She hanged out over the handrail so far that she was about to fall and chased after the balloons whereabouts with her big eyes.
Utaya was startled.
Because that female student was crying.
From the dark and gentle-looking eyes fell a single tear similar to morning dew. The peaceful and pure tear-stained face resembled the church statue of Virgin Mary grieving about Christ's death–.
A girl beautiful like a Virgin Mary.
Was crying.
The eyes of Utaya who was looking up with his mouth open and eyes of the girl who was looking down met.
That very moment, her skirt was blown in the wind and its hem lifted up by chance.
"Waahhhh!"
Utaya's loud voice resounded in the rear-side of the church.
The falling balloons flew high at the same time as the skirt's cloth.
The girl screamed out "eek!" and held down her skirt with both hands.
Utaya turned his face away in panic and called repeatedly: "Didn't see! I didn't see!! I wasn't looking!"
From above, her embarrassed lovely voice came down saying "I- I am sorry."
"No, it's me who should apologize– Oh, but I didn't see!"
"I will come to you right away, so. Well, the balloons, could you maybe–"
The girl seemed to be flustered because she was speaking fastly and in broken sentences–in spite of that the voice that entered his ears was pleasant and easy to catch. Moreover, it sounded really charmingly sweet and cute.
"Ro- Roger!"
He also shouted back, and holding the cherry blossom balloon under his right arm he caught the rapeseed blossom and violet balloon with the left hand. Meanwhile, another balloon fell on the lawn. When he bent down to pick it up, this time the balloons he held in hands spilled and fell.
While he was doing that, the girl ran there carrying a semi-transparent garbage bag.
"Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me. While I was lost in thought they flew out of the window."
Bending in the waist and bowing many times over, she gathered the balloons with Utaya and put them in the bag.
Even when hearing it from close, the girl's voice was sweet and clear.
As he looked next to him, her big chest that faced the ground shook and he could catch glimpses of her cleavage from the blouse's seams, and each moment she squatted her skirt turned up and her voluptuous thighs became visible almost to the top, it was making him dizzy.
(This person, her chest's big……Besides, she's absurdly cute……)
Averting then returning back his gaze, his face becoming hot, casting his eyes down and shaking his head, whilst he was doing that they finally picked up all the balloons.
"That's all of them?"
"Yes, so it seems."
They each took a breath and for the first time honestly confronted each other.
Looking again, her features really resembled the Virgin Mary from the church's pieta statue. She seemed graceful and gentle.
Semi-long gently soft black hair covered her shoulders and her lips were a neat pink color.
On the other hand, she had a chest so big it was threatening to tear the blouse, her moderately plump thighs had sex appeal that went beyond that of a high school student, and for the amount that her features were pure they had even more destructive force.
Her black eyes were becoming slightly red around the edges but he recalled that she was crying until a while before, and (Why was a girl this beautiful crying, I wonder.) he thought and his heart tightened.
Thereupon, the girl suddenly retreated from Utaya in panic. Seems like they got too close to each other before they noticed it.
(She really didn't have to distance herself so blatantly……)
He was feeling a wee bit hurt, when:
"Ah, that is not it. I, I thought that you don't like me standing next to you……I am sorry," she said and started to apologize again with her face red. She shrunk down her body and faced down. Utaya not understanding her reason asked in return.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because, my height is……"
The girl shrunk her body more and more.
"Height……? It's normal, no?"
"Ehh!"
As if surprised, she threw her face up. Round-eyed, she looked up at Utaya–and then like that, her eyes became even more wide open.
"!"
Somehow, she looked like she received a tremendous shock.
On the other hand, that very moment, Utaya also realized for the first time that the girl's face was positioned almost directly in front of his own face.
Utaya is tall. Most girls have their face considerably below Utaya's point of view.
And yet, her face's position is close to Utaya!
The girl suddenly gulped as she was fixedly staring at Utaya and inquired in a low voice: "Y- Your height, how many centimeters is it?"
"It's one hundred and eighty-five, but……"
When he nervously answered back, her shoulders subtly trembled and she turned her eyes towards Utaya's scalp then slowly shifted down to his forehead, eyes, nose, lips, chin, nape of the neck, collarbone and furthermore down to his chest and waist– she rapidly continued downward.
Blushing, after looking down to the tips of his toes with an earnest gaze she returned her eyes higher and higher again; moreover, still holding the bag with the balloons she softly approached Utaya and lined up next to him, checked the position and distance of their shoulders, then her shoulders trembled again and she stared in wonder; this time she went around to his back and checked the view from there; then she herself turned her back to Utaya and from there turned her head and looked back; then lining up next to him again she raised her head and stared up; then going back to the front and standing on her tiptoes she looked at him from a distance shorter than before……
"Say! What are you trying to do since a while before!"
At a distance where they're likely to kiss, Utaya shouted in fluster.
A sweet smell like spring flowers in full bloom tickled him in the nostrils and he almost had his knees give way. Just what the heck is this big-breasted beautiful girl doing!
Thanks to Utaya's loud voice she seemed to come to her senses and backed off, she tightly grasped the bag of balloons in front her chest and her voice became high-pitched and unstrung.
"I- I am sorry. You are…… too much ideal, that I just…"
"What do you mean by ideal?"
To Utaya who was startled again she answered with a red face and wet eyes.
"Your……height is."
"Huh? Height?"
Does she like tall men? A height fetish?
"I, I am–very serious. Ah, I am from second-year class-three and my name is Harushina Ayane. I am not a suspicious person."
(This person is an upperclassman!? One year senior from me?)
"F- First-year class-one, Harada Utaya–"
Because of his ex-sports-oriented nature he unconsciously answered politely.
Just as he did–.
Ayane's lips began to blossom and a warm spring air-like smile filled the face resembling the Virgin Mary.
Seeing that pure smile, his breath stuck.
"Harada-kun," she whispered with importance in a smooth cute voice.
"Y- Yes!"
Still holding the bag of balloons Ayane tightly grasped the right hand of Utaya who stood at attention.
Her hand's tenderness made him dizzy again.
She was crying until a moment ago, but now she's smiling so happily!
"Please, go out with me."
One second, two seconds, three seconds…… No, nearly for five seconds Utaya's consciousness flew off.
I was confessed to by a pretty senior! Moreover just thirty minutes after we met!
It would be weird if he wasn't confused.
"Excuse me! Th- This is so sudden that I'm not sure what should I say."
I should refuse her right now! I don't have a body suitable for dating a girl!
But even so, he couldn't think of a good way to refuse and when he stuttered his answer Ayane apologetically said:
"Is- Is that so. I was too sudden, I guess. Well! Then, could you at least hear me out! I also want to introduce you to everyone."
"In- Introduce–?"
To hear her out–that's fine. But, abruptly introducing me to her friends!? We're not even dating!
"We even have tea and sweets, so just for a moment. If it's Harada-kun, Ichiko-san will completely agree, so…"
(Who's this Ichiko-san? I mean, even if that Ichiko-san agrees, I can't get a girlfriend–)
Ayane grasped tightly the bag of balloons in her left hand and with her right hand squeezed Utaya's left hand.
"Come, Harada-kun."
Under the light blue sky, at the back of the church blurred by light, brighter than sky, purer than a hymn, the beautiful senior was smiling.
Inviting him in a sweet cute voice.
Because of that, unconditionally, he followed her without knowing what he's doing.
And he did that, while gazing at the shaking of both the bag of spring-colored balloons and her soft breasts.
◇ ◇ ◇
Hanging at the entrance of the innermost room in the school building's basement was a plate with "Drama Club — Team Regulus" written on it.
What drama club? What team?
"Ichiko-san! Look, look!"
Ayane shouted right after she opened the door.
"He's taller than me by ten centimeters! It's perfect, right! He's called Harada Utaya-kun. A first year!"
Inside was filled with girls wearing T-shirts and jersey pants surrounded by grey concrete walls. The girls looked at Utaya all at once.
Furthermore from among them the only girl wearing a uniform sluggishly walked up to them.
With long hair casually tied up at one side of her neck she was a slender beauty but her complexion was absolutely horrible. Rather than being fair-skinned she was turning pale. Her uniform blouse had two undone buttons and its hem was over the skirt. That it wasn't done intentionally in a worn-out fashion but because it was troublesome, Utaya could guess because of her smell that seemed like she didn't bathe for several days. By no means is it an unpleasant smell, because when he himself skipped out on showering during summertime he smelled like a beast or something- and so he was familiar with such smell, but when it comes to girls it's too "wild" and as expected he was bothered by it. Other people than Utaya probably wouldn't know that if they didn't bring they face close to her skin to sniff it directly, such a weak smell it was.
The girl with a beast-like smell reviewed Utaya with a brusque gaze and in an intense voice she-
"Your full name?" "First-year what class?" "Your attendance number?" "Number 35? Why do you have such late number with the name Harada? Ah, I see, you're a transfer student. When did you transfer? From where? Why at this time. Hmm, your parents' job circumstances? Oh well, let's leave it at that."
-showered him with one-sided questions.
"In short, you were tempted by Ayane's allure and nonchalantly arrived here, which means you're a lewd bastard. First-year class-one attendance number thirty-five, Harada Utaya-kun," she declared.
"Wh- Why a lewd bastard–"
What's with this person!
Next to Utaya who choked his voice, Ayane with bright red face protested.
"Oh my, Ichiko-san, you didn't have to say it like that."
But Ichiko ignored her and grabbed Utaya's shirt with both hands and pulled it up along with the T-shirt he wore underneath.
"Aaarghhh, what are doing, so suddenly!"
He let out a big voice without restraint.
His voice hit the concrete walls and echoed.
"Ichiko-san!"
Ayane pulled away Ichiko who was ruffling Utaya's quirky hair from him.
"Oh gosh, Ichiko-san, you shouldn't do that all of a sudden. Harada-kun isn't used to Ichiko-san, so what would you do if he became frightened and left. I am sorry, Harada-kun. Ichiko-san is a little weird. It's like the paper-thin difference between a genius and a weirdo. She lives by her instincts. She doesn't have any malice. And she also doesn't have a hobby of undressing the first-year boys, because her grip strength is below twenty and her time in five meters race is at the ten seconds range, she's a weakling so she can't attack anyone, you see!"
The weakling Ichiko while having her arm pulled by Ayane-
"Well, your height certainly matches with Ayane, your body's also solidly trained, and your hair type's smooth and fluffy with diluted coloring, also your face's the refreshing sort that girls would like, plus it's not like you doesn't look fearless enough to face someone's eyes and flap your mouth, so why not,"
-said nonchalantly and sluggishly unwrapped Ayane's arm, then again stepped up to Utaya.
Ichiko had standard height of girls that's about 158 centimeters.
But, the gaze that looked up at Utaya from below conversely had the force of being looked down on. With those eyes she fixedly stared at Utaya who was dumbfounded, his hair still disheveled and clothes disarranged, and coolly loosened her lips.
"You pass. At the public performance in July, I'll have you act as Ayane's lover, Harada-kun."
