Chapter 16: Physical Education Class (2)

The whistle blew, and volleyball practice began. I stood on the court, my hands sweating with nervousness.

‘Volleyball… can a clumsy person like me do it? I wonder if I am going to be a burden to those two?’

Aya stood in the front, close to the net.

With Aya’s tall stature and long limbs, it felt like no ball could get past her.

Mizuki, with her characteristic bright smile, took the center back position on the court.

Perhaps because she’s full of mischief and energy, I somehow felt it was natural for her to be in that position where she could see the entire net.

“Rina, you’re cute no matter where you are, so just stand there~”

“…That’s not true!”

I lightly brushed off Mizuki’s joke and stood on the court.

Honestly, in my past life, I was a re-taker who couldn’t do any sports.

At most, I went to the gym to maintain my health… but even that ended up as a three-day resolution.

‘But… maybe it’s different now…?’

Surprisingly good condition and a light body.

I even feel like my stamina has improved.

The other two teammates were encouraging each other, slapping their palms, and the atmosphere was gradually rising.

“Okay, everyone ready?”

The gym teacher asked, holding a volleyball, and everyone shouted loudly, “Yes!”

I answered in a small voice and took my position.

‘Still… I hope the ball doesn’t come to me…’

The gym teacher blew the whistle and signaled to the opposing team. The serving student on the opposing team tossed the ball high and smashed it hard.

Bang-!

‘Huh? Is that the sound that comes out of a high school girl’s hand?!’

“Rina! Receive it!”

I hear Mizuki’s shout.

And the volleyball, which had made a cannon-like sound a little while ago, was flying towards me at an unbelievable speed.

Then, my body reflexively reached out my hand.

‘Huh… huh?’

Thud-

The ball hit my arm precisely and bounced up.

It naturally passed to Aya’s position.

“Good pass.”

Before I could even hear Mizuki’s words, Aya quickly jumped up and used her wrist to slam the ball… no, the cannon, hard into the opponent’s court.

Bang-!

‘Wait, did I just receive that ball?’

I looked down at the arm that had received the ball, my expression dazed.

That would have been impossible for me in my past life.

“Point!”

With the gym teacher’s shout, our team scored the first point.

Only then did I return to reality and look at my palm.

‘Huh? I… really received it?!’

Mizuki ran to me, smiling brightly, and slapped my palm.

“Did you see? You did great, Rina. You’re good at sports too!”

“Eh… me? No, it’s just… a coincidence! A complete coincidence!”

Aya also added with a soft smile.

I was flustered and waved my hands, but Mizuki playfully patted my shoulder.

“Hey~ No need for modesty. Rina, aren’t you good at sports?”

Aya also quietly nodded and added.

“Rina, you’re doing well, so don’t be afraid, and fighting.”

‘Ugh… Aya, that’s not fair…!’

My face flushed, and I hung my head.

But whether I was embarrassed or not, the practice game continued.

At first, I thought, ‘Huh?’ but as time went on, I gained confidence and was hitting smashes and receiving serves smoothly.

Thump-!

The ball landed precisely in the opponent’s court, and the gym fell silent for a moment.

“…Point!”

It seems that the teacher kept going to the opposing team to give instructions and help, so the scores for both the A and B teams were similar… but considering that it was practically a 5 vs 6 (including the teacher) match, it was actually overwhelming.

‘Maybe I’m better than I thought?’

Aya quietly looked at me and smiled softly.

At this moment, I felt like I could have a little confidence.

“Doesn’t Kurosawa-san over there play sports well?”

“I heard there’s a rumor that she was the third-highest scorer on the entrance exam.”

“When the third-year angel senpai graduates, won’t Kurosawa-san be the next of the four beauties?”

“Really? Wow… then the three first-year girls are a trinity.”

A little further away, during a short break, second-year girls sitting in the gym’s audience seats were whispering.

Their gazes naturally turned to the first-year class 3 girls practicing volleyball.

Even in Takamari, which is practically a modern aristocratic academy, there were those who were untouchable, clustered in that class.

Yukikawa Aya, called ‘Goddess’ for lack of a better comparison,

Asakura Mizuki, with a lively yet elegant atmosphere, ‘Sakura’s Devotion’,

And Kurosawa Rina, a transfer student who is already at the center of rumors.

Especially Rina, who was only rumored, showed not only her academic prowess but also her excellent athletic ability despite her small stature.

Rina, lightly running around the volleyball court, accurately received the ball that Mizuki lightly tossed and passed it to Aya, who, without hesitation,

spiked Rina’s ball into the opponent’s court.

“Rina~ Nice receive!”

Mizuki smiled brightly and raised her hand, and Rina shyly high-fived her.

Their hands lightly touched for a moment, and Mizuki naturally tapped Rina’s waist.

“You’re really good. Have you been exercising regularly?”

“Uh, uh… yeah!”

Flustered, Rina turned her face away, blushing, but the girls in the audience were already cheering.

“Kyaa! I love that atmosphere! I’m jealous…”

“I know, right? Isn’t it really cool how girls can be so naturally friendly with each other?”

“I haven’t even been able to say a word to Aya-sama… Rina is amazing.”

“Now, it’s really not an exaggeration to call them the trinity.”

“The two young ladies were already perfect, but now they’ve become even more perfect.”

Voices admiring Rina began to appear here and there in the gym.

However, Rina herself, unaware of this, continued to focus on the game.

But maybe she got too immersed?

Rina forgot that her body, although athletic, was not as big as when she was a man.

“Ah?!”

She momentarily threw herself to catch the ball, but her feet got tangled, and she fell forward.

Rushing towards the floor, Rina reflexively reached out with her knees and hands, resulting in them getting scraped.

“Rina!”

Aya, startled, ran over from the side.

Rina tried to push herself up, but the strange pain in her knees was unusual.

“Are you okay, Rina?”

Aya approached worriedly, sat down, and carefully examined her knees.

Rina bit her lip and tried to endure the pain, but that didn’t make the pain disappear.

Soon, Mizuki also came over and asked worriedly.

“Can you move?”

…

“It… it hurts a little.”

When Rina answered awkwardly, Aya, without hesitation, bent down and gently lifted Rina’s arm.

“Let’s go to the nurse’s office. I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”

“What?!”

Rina’s eyes widened in surprise, but Aya calmly carried Rina on her back.

Feeling the warm body temperature and Aya’s secure touch so close, Rina froze.

“It’s okay. Rina is light.”

Rina had no choice but to bury her face in Aya’s shoulder and scream internally.

‘Aaaah! This kind of development is not okay!!’

But the gym was already in an uproar.

“Oh my… Yukikawa-sama is carrying Kurosawa-san!”

“Ah, as expected of a goddess…”

“That scene is so cool…”

“It’s kind of romantic..!”

A mixture of countless admiration and excitement filled the gym.

Aya, unfazed by the surrounding gazes, carefully carried Rina on her back and exited the gym.

“Teacher, I’m going to take Rina to the nurse’s office!”

“Oh, okay. All three of you can skip gym class, so be careful. I hope it’s not a serious injury.”

Mizuki asked the teacher for permission and followed behind, giggling as if it were amusing.

‘Ah, this is bad… there will definitely be strange rumors spreading around the school… ugh…?’

I buried my face and desperately denied reality.

This situation, being carried on Aya’s back down the hallway, was more embarrassing than ever.

My knees hurt, and did I sprain my leg too? A sharp pain keeps rising, but the warmth of Aya’s body conveyed through her back is so warm that

I find myself unconsciously relying on her.

“Rina, does it hurt a lot?”

Aya’s soft voice was close to my ear.

I flinched and answered.

“Ah, no… it’s just a little scraped and my muscles are surprised… haha.”

I forced a laugh, but my heart was already past its limit.

‘Ugh… how did I end up in such a luxury…’

Aya’s soft breath near my ear was calming, but at the same time, the sweet scent of Aya, caused by the sweat during gym class, lingered,

making me strangely excited.

Mizuki, beside us, had her usual playful smile.

“Rina~ How does it feel to be carried on Ayarin’s back?”

“What?!”

I was flustered, blushed, and fidgeted.

“It’s, it’s not like that…! I, just…”

“Fufu, Rina’s face is completely red~”

Mizuki playfully poked my cheek.

I covered my face and buried myself deeper into Aya’s back.

‘If you keep teasing me like this, I’ll really want to cry…’

The hallway was thankfully empty.

It was still far from lunchtime, and most students would be focused on their classes.

The fact that at least there were no people watching was a small comfort.

But…

‘This, it’s so warm.’

Aya’s steady steps and warm body temperature were fully conveyed, and the fatigue from not being able to sleep a wink last night came rushing in.

My body felt limp, and my eyes kept wanting to close.

No, my eyes were already closed.

“Rina, are you okay?”

Aya’s voice somehow felt like a lullaby.

In my fading consciousness, I faintly answered.

“Just… I’ll close my eyes for a bit.”

Mizuki saw this and chuckled, crossing her arms.

“It’s not good to rely on Ayarin like this~”

But I no longer had the strength to answer.

In this warm and comfortable moment, I wanted to forget everything.