The Third! Railey Tigaki, The Rival. (Muscle Brain)

Let me tell you a story.
A story about someone I met and had a contest with once, but it ended up becoming a whole semester-long contest.

No joke, I was glad I had this chance to experience a little arc in my life where I was a little healthier.
You might be asking, "Wait, aren't you otaku or something? How the heck do you touch grass?"
Did you forget? I was popular. I had to maintain that status somehow. It wasn't like doing sport or being an otaku became my all-time fixation.

The story began when I was in a session with my friend in senior middle school. They challenged me to see if I could do more than 10 three-pointers in ten minutes. If I could, they would treat me to a meal, but if I failed, they would give me a batsu game.

Of course, I accepted the challenge, and of fucking course, I failed. Who would've figured, an otaku doing some sports? Right?
"HAHAHA, what a loser!"
That was the queue. That was when I met her.
"What the hell?"
After that, she just ran and left me with my friend.

"Yo, Uta. You know that girl?"
"No, I don't."
"Eehhh? You don't?"
"What was that reaction? Yes, I don't know who she is."

At the end of the conversation, we went to the canteen and talked about my batsu.
"Hey, Uta. I think I know what it should be."
"What? What do you suggest, Jino?
"You have two girls, right? They even come to our school. So, I want you to say "I love you" to both of them". I don't think you are surprised, right? Meli and Nana were there with me at the same school. Though we were in different classes, they were there.

"Huuuuh? I... I don't even... We aren't even lovers. The heck, man."
"That's why! You have to choose one of them! You are lucky to have them in your life, and you don't even engage with them like a lover does?"
My friend was so annoying, so I apologize if you feel irritated just by reading my story.

Let's just move on to the story.
"So, you are essentially saying I need to make a war between my two friends? Is that it?"
"Oh, come on, Uta. It's not that bad. What's worse that could happen?"
Meli killed both me and Nana, you dumbass.
"Listen here, Jino. Let's just pick another batsu, okay. We are not involving another party, especially two of my friends."

And that's where things went south.
"Alright, how about this! You already met Railey, right?"
"Huh? Who?"
"Railey. The one that teased you back in gym class."
"Wait, you know her?"
"Nope. I just heard a rumor that that muscle-brained girl likes to challenge people because of her ego. I want to see if you can put her down."

I still couldn't believe I'm friends with this doofus, honestly.
"What? That's not a batsu."
"Just do it, bro. There wasn't even once someone who beat that girl. If you beat her, I swear, I'd never ask you anything else."
"You son of..."
"Oh look, there she is!"

I looked at her, but then, "Hey, Railey!", my so-called "friend" shouted her name like a moron. She turned her head and looked at both of us.
"What the hell, man?"
"We have to be the bold ones here, bro."
She walked towards us and said, "What do you want, losers?"

I got nudged by Jino, and I saw his teasing face. I knew what he was thinking, so I said, "I'm not a loser. I heard you like challenges. How about we do a one-on-one this Saturday?"
Her face suddenly turned from a resting face to a face when a fire within is lit. She said with pride, "You underestimate me, bitch?!"
My friend and I were terrified seeing her face. The feel felt like she was sucking my soul out of my body.

I replied, "I... I...", ah, I forgot to mention. Yes, I replied while stuttering, "I just want to prove to you... I can do better. You just saw tenth percent of what I'm capable of."
She crawled up to my face and put on a scary face, "You dare challenge me?"
"Actually, this guy who suggested... huh?" I was pointed in my friend's direction, but alas, he wasn't there. What a friend, he is.
"So? What were you about to say?"
"Fine. I dare you! This one time, at least."

Saturday came. I skipped my reading session with Nana to do a one-on-one battle versus Railey. I knew it was going to big battle, but Jesus Christ, why did we even do the one-on-one inside a freaking basketball stadium?
"You scared now? This is your first time doing basketball inside a stadium?"
"Why would I? I was the one who dared you to a challenge; if anything, you are the one scared. I can see your legs shaking, you know?"
She was really on the edge, huh? I did remember that it was our first time in the stadium, so she was super nervous.
"SHUT UP, LOSER!"
"Alright, I'm just going to shut up."

The battle began, and I was at an advantage. Let me point this out: Railey was so short and tiny compared to me. She was agile, sure, but I still could block her from doing a two-pointer or a three-pointer. Throughout the one-on-one, I was in the lead by far. Because I felt a bit unfair, I let her score count a little bit in the last quarter of the first round.

"I won't lose! I will win! Just watch!" How the fuck could she still be breathing fine?
"Huff... huff... Yeah... whatever, bud..."
"Don't call me that, moron!"
"Yeah... huff... what... You say..."

At this point, I was already so far ahead of Railey. So, I was only playing it safe by playing defence. By doing so, I was declared the winner.
"Fuck me... you... are... so... fast..."
"Wuaaaaaa... how are you winning from me?"
"You... still... breathing...? How...?"
"No! This is unacceptable! Next week! We do one-on-one again in here! In my father's stadium!"
"Hey... I didn't... agree... on that. Rai...!" She left crying.

And on that point, I did one-on-one with Railey for three months straight every Saturday morning. Nana was curious about it and actually got me, "You made another girl mad at you, huh?", she asked that while at our usual spot. Yes, she was on my lap.
This was on the last day of Railey and my one-on-one battle. In total, I won eight out of twelve battles. The rest was tied.
"What do you want, Nana?"
"Hey, people are talking about it at the school, alright! How do you think I know this?"
"Then?"
"Heh! Still dense as ever, ey?"
"What do you mean?"
"Railey never invited a guy more than once. Heck, even when she loses a couple of times, she only invited a guy for a month, never three months straight."

I was stunned by that statement, so I asked her, "How did you know that she never did that?"
Nana woke up and answered, "I guess I got a new competitor, huh? You stupid womanizer! You really make me have to be proactive to get your attention."
... Is this a sign she liked me? Like, guys, could you tell? Is Nana falling for me or not?
"What? What do you mean by..."
"Whatever! I still have time to spend with you, here. Hehe", aaaand she's asleep.
"Oi Nana. Don't just ignore my question, you sleepyhead! Oi, answer me!"

From that point, Railey would ask me to do one-on-one, and we became so close that not only did Meli get jealous, but it also made Nana tease me more. See, guys, being a harem protagonist is not what you think. This was not mentally good for your health. Sure, a lot of girls attached to you would be fun. But if they were just as annoying as these three, I don't think you would survive. Let's just say, you are lucky I was the one who experienced this.