Calm Before the Sport

Chapter 9 - Calm Before the Sport

Keisuke wiped his sweaty neck with a towel after finishing a lengthy cheerleading practice. Standing in the courtyard of the school, the evening spring breeze gently caressed his cheeks as he looked up at the sky, reminiscing.

I remember Sports Day like it was yesterday. Cho-chan and I ended up being on different teams; there was no cheerleading, practice sessions, training, preparation or any excitement of sorts. It really was quite sad, and I couldn't enjoy it much thinking back on it, but it will be much different this time, with Noa-chan and Sakura here, plus with our knowledge of that timeline. After all the lingering suffering and pain, and because of them still likely coming in the future as well, I want to enjoy these remaining peaceful times to the fullest this time.

His thoughts were interrupted by his earbuds, normally required for the practice, ringing. Pressing a button on it, Keisuke saw Cho’s name on the holographic screen, so he, somewhat surprised by the sudden call, picked it up.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Hi, Kei-kun! Sorry for the sudden call! Can I ask you for a favor?”

“Of course! You can call anytime.”

“Thanks… So, you remember how you promised to help me study? I was wondering if you would be free on Friday for that. I know exams are only a few weeks after Sports Day, but I want to start now, cause I know I’ll just procrastinate.”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll make time for after school.”

“Thank you! And also, can we check out a place after that for my manga? Would you mind coming with me?”

“Of course! I would love to!”

“It’s decided then. Friday at my place after school. See you tomorrow!”

“Yep. See you!”

They hung up, but just as they did so, Keisuke’s brain registered what Cho had just said right before the call ended.

“Wait, WHAT!?”

Now his mind was racing for a different reason.

It’s been ages since I’ve last been to Cho-chan’s place. Isn’t that technically a date…? No, no, no, wait! In this timeline, it wasn’t that long ago, was it? I’m sure she doesn’t think much of it either…

Keisuke went back inside to grab his stuff, put his uniform’s jacket over his own back, went outside the gates and waited for Sakura. The sunset illuminated the nijistonic pavement beneath Keisuke’s feet with a madder glow as he began thinking back on more things.

I promised myself that I wouldn’t have any regrets this time, and that naturally includes confessing my love to Cho-chan, but when should I actually do it? Maybe during Sports Day? There isn’t such a thing as perfect timing, is there?

Although Sakura came out of the gates soon after, they only started walking back home after taking in the nostalgic scenery together.

Friday came by in a flash. Keisuke was looking forward to school ending that day more than usual. Keisuke, Noa, Sakura and Cho were walking home normally, but when it was time for Cho to go on a different path, Keisuke joined her, straying from his everyday route.

“I’ll go this way too today. Sakura, you can use the spare key I gave you. See you guys next time!”

“Okay… See you!”

“See ya!”

“Bye bye!”

They waved at each other and parted ways. Keisuke and Cho couldn’t hear Sakura’s and Cho’s whispers, but they didn’t pay much attention either as they waltzed on. Keisuke was uncharacteristically nervous as they walked more and more.

“When is your manga drawing competition’s deadline?” He asked, trying to ease his nerves.

“It’s after Sports Day, right before our summer school festival.”

“I see. So you roughly have a month, right?”

“Yep. I’m halfway there, and I’m a bit nervous if I’ll be able to finish, with everything going on, but I’ll give it my all!”

“I’m cheering for you.”

“Thanks!”

Arriving at the Fujimori residence, Keisuke followed Cho through the door.

“I’m home!” Cho started.

“Sorry for the intrusion!”

“Kei-kun, welcome! It’s been a while. Are you going to stay for dinner?” Misaki, Cho’s mom, welcomed them first.

“Oh no, thank you, I don’t want to impose.”

“You wouldn’t. Feel free to stay for the night as well.”

“Stay!? No, I couldn’t. I have practice tomorrow, but thank you for the offer.”

Misaki started pouting.

“That’s a shame. If you change your mind, our door is always open.

“Thanks…”

“Mom, please stop…”

“No need to be embarrassed.” She chuckled. “Should I bring you some tea?

“We’ll be in my room to study, so please don’t.”

“Okay, fine…”

Keisuke and Cho went up to the second floor, and just as they were about to enter Cho’s room, a small figure emerged from the room next door.

“Kei-nii, you’re visiting?”

“Tsubaki-chan, hi there! How are you doing?”

“I’m good, thanks! Hear this, Kei-nii: apparently, Cho-nee fell in love.”

“Huh?”

“Tsubaki-chan! You shouldn’t say stuff that’s easily misunderstood! Please go back to your room and play! We need to study with Kei-kun.”

“Eeeeh? But I wanted to play with Kei-nii!” Tsubaki was almost on the verge of a tantrum..

“Maybe next time, okay, Tsubaki-chan?” ..but Keisuke calmed her down.

“Okay, that’s a promise!”

With that, she went back to her room, and Keisuke and Cho went into Cho’s room, which was just like a typical artist’s room.

Her room didn’t change much.

“You don’t have to listen to what she has said. She misinterpreted a conversation, that’s all.” Cho said as she sat down on a pillow at her small table in the middle of the room.

“Okay…”

Really? Why are you this embarrassed if that’s the case? Is Cho-chan actually in love with someone?

“Anyways, let’s study a little! Should we start with math?”

“Yeah, sure.” Keisuke also sat down on the opposite side of the table, and they studied together for a couple of hours, going through each subject.

After a few hours of learning, Keisuke and Cho decided to take a break before going out for inspiration for Cho’s manga. After their short break, they got ready to head out and did just that. 

Keisuke followed Cho to the local train station that took them a few kilometers away, near the location they were heading to, which was still unknown to Keisuke. After a short walk, they arrived at an interestingly looking cafe.

“Is this the place?” Keisuke dubiously asked.

“Yeah. I was too ashamed to go in alone, but I want to draw something like this in a chapter.”

“Okay. Let’s go then.”

Keisuke opened the door to the place a bit reluctantly. The interior design had a royal theme, with the employees dressed in suits or dresses that made them look like a prince or princess. A pretty human girl who looked like she was in her early twenties appeared in front of them, wearing a beautiful black dress.

“Welcome home, Your Majesties! Feel free to choose a table.” She cheerfully greeted them.

“Thanks…”

Keisuke and Cho sat down at a window table.

“Welcome, Your Majesties! May I take your order?”

“Thanks, but we’re still deciding.” Keisuke said, looking up. “Wait, Emi-san?”

“Eh!? Keisuke-kun? What are you guys doing here?”

“We could ask the same thing.” Cho said.

“Do you work here part-time?”

“Yes, but please keep it a secret.”

“Sure. No worries.”

“By the way, what are they doing?” Emi said, pointing at the window.

Keisuke tilted his head, but then followed the direction Emi was pointing in and saw Noa and Sakura, practically glued to the window.

“What the heck?”

******

After Keisuke and Cho went their separate ways from Sakura and Noa, Sakura decided to ask a crucial question to Noa.

“Are you in love with Cho-san?”

“What made you think that I am?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been getting vibes like that from the previous couple of days.”

“Want to go to a cafe? I’ll treat you to something.” Noa offered.

“Sure. Why not?”

After walking to the station, they went to the nearest entertainment district by train. Sakura chose a cafe at random that they entered, where they ordered two juices with two slices of cake: blueberry cheesecake and blueberry juice for Noa, plus a strawberry cake and a can of cherry soda for Sakura.

“I love Cho-chan.” Noa started. “But I won’t give up on her, no matter what you say!”

“Why would I want you to give up? I love Keisuke.”

“Well, I knew that, but I thought you would want Kei-kun to end up with Cho-chan.”

Wait, you knew?

“Naturally, I want Keisuke to be happy, but I would be happier if he were to find happiness with me. So I won’t interfere. He has his eyes set on Cho-san only, anyway.”

“I see. But if Cho-chan, for some reason, got taken…” Noa winked.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t really hate it.”

After they chatted a bit more, Sakura pondered and looked out the window when she saw two familiar figures walking together.

“Speaking of Keisuke and Cho-san, aren't they there together?"

Sakura gestured to Noa to follow her gaze, which made her spot Keisuke and Cho going into a flashy cafe.

“Should we follow them?” Sakura suggested.

“What? Why?”

“Why not? I’m curious.”

Noa started grinning with her fang poking out.

“You’re quite devilish, Sakura-chan. I’m going to call you that from now on; is that okay?”

“Sure, I don’t mind. I’ve been meaning to drop the honorifics anyway, so I’ll just call you Noa. Let’s go!”

“Okay!”

******

“And that’s how we ended up here…” Sakura explained to a questioning Keisuke and Cho.

Noa was just quietly sitting next to Keisuke, acting like she wasn’t totally into the idea of tailing them.

“You guys could’ve just come in with us.”

“Oh, we didn’t want to interrupt your date.” Saura teased.

“It wasn’t a date!” Cho exclaimed.

I expected her to not see this as one, but it still hurts…

“Yeah, it’s just for Cho-chan’s manga.”

“Shall we order something?” Noa interrupted.

“Yes. I’m going to order one more strawberry cake.” Sakura said.

“I’ll go with a chocolate cake.” Cho added.

Before Keisuke could say anything, he felt a touch on his shoulder, which brought his mind to the past, where he and Noa were alone in their younger form. They were sitting in a similar cafe, looking over the menu together.

“Cho-chan couldn’t make it today because of a drawing lesson, so everything’s on me. Choose what you’d like!” The young Keisuke said.

“I’ll choose a blueberry cheesecake then. It’s my favorite dessert.”

“Let me guess. Because of the blueberry part?”

“Yep! And the cheesecake is a great touch that perfectly complements it.”

“All right! I’ll try it with you then.”

That memory was short, but Keisuke found it precious nonetheless. As more and more pieces of his memory were slowly recollected, he could also make out the bigger picture, although still somewhat blurrily. After he zoned out a little, Emi came to get their orders.

“They’ll have a chocolate and strawberry cake, and we’ll get two blueberry cheesecakes, please.”

“Got it. Any drinks?”

“Just four cups of water, please.”

“All right. Your order will arrive shortly.”

“Thanks!”

Cho and Sakura looked at each other and tilted their heads in unison.

“Did you guys just telepathically communicate your orders? Or how did you know? Noa ordered the same thing in the previous cafe that we’ve been to too.”

“You could say that. I got a hint on what her favorite is, but it wasn’t that hard to guess either.”

After that, they thoroughly enjoyed their food and time as they chatted away.

They finished their food soon enough, tipped, thanked Emi and stepped out of the cafe.

******

“I’ll escort Cho-chan home. I have something I want to discuss with her, plus we’re going the same way, anyway.” Noa said.

“Sure. See you guys later!”

Noa and Cho waved at Keisuke and Sakura as they disappeared to another platform. Noa and Cho quickly got on their own train, which they almost missed.

“Why can’t we use teleporters on the ground? It would make transport so much easier if it wasn’t just for space.” Cho sighed, almost out of breath.

“It takes a lot of energy to mass teleport, and it would be more dangerous and complicated too. They would also have to shut down everything else, which would make people lose their jobs.”

“I know. You’re right. We don’t want to give everything to AI and androids either.”

As they sat down in their seats, Noa thought back to their date and to what happened after.

Cho-chan acknowledged our outing as a date that day, but she didn’t with Kei-kun today. I’m sure I actually have a chance! Plus, she kissed my cheek after that. Surely she wouldn’t do that with someone she only sees as a friend, would she? I have to address this one way or another…

“So, Cho-chan?”

“Yeah?”

“Remember when you kissed my cheek?”

“Ah…?” Her face shot up in crimson. “I’m sorry if you didn’t like it; I…”

“No! I liked it; it’s just that… You don’t really do that with a friend, you know?”

“I know. I knew it…”

Noa tilted her head in confusion.

After a pause, Cho spoke up:

“I wouldn’t do it with just a friend. I would only do it if it’s you.”

Noa blushed harder than ever, her face burning with a scarlet tint.

Does that mean…?

They arrived at their stop in the meantime. They got off and walked to Cho’s house with an awkward atmosphere. When they got to the front gates, Noa galloped in front of Cho and held her hand with her own.

“Cho-chan, I’ll tell you something after Sports Day. Until then, please just wait for me and watch me be cool in the events!” She flashed her brightest smile yet, which made Cho flustered as she replied:

“O-okay. I’ll be looking closely.”

After Cho’s answer, Noa returned the gesture Cho did after their date, which was a kiss on the cheek. Cho was stunned as Noa let go of her hand and strolled off.

“Good night, Cho-chan!” Noa shouted as she turned on a corner. She didn’t know if Cho had actually heard that or not, but she was way too embarrassed to stop and look back.

Noa walked home in a daze once again.