I Accidentally Triggered The Hyperkinetic Tomboy Route! (Part 2)

Okay, maybe I didn’t get off to the best start this morning. And sure, maybe I struggled to pay attention in class today. But with the final school bell rung and the afternoon upon us, Unified Athletic Evaluation Day has finally begun!

Starting off with Track And Field Club, Haruki and I stand out by the track, stretching, preparing for the 400-meter dash, waiting to be called up.

A small crowd of heroines watches helplessly from the side, unable to interrupt the evaluation process, separated from Haruki for the next several hours—and absolutely not taking it well.

“Aw man, no fair!” one of them yells.

“Why can’t you just do this alone, Ubakawa? Why does Kojima need to be with you?” another complains. “You’re just trying to cut in on our time with him again!”

“Aw, don’t cry.”

I fake a tearful expression.

Not so fun when the shoe’s on the other foot, huh?

“You know, you’re looking like a real villain lately, Ubakawa!”

“We haven’t forgotten what you did at the library!”

“Or the bathroom!”

“Or everywhere else!”

“Yeah! You suck!”

“Go home!”

“Boo!”

“Scumbag!”

“Enemy of women!”

I fall to my knees in despair.

It’s not like I’m looking for a girlfriend or anything—but I am still a guy. Having a group of women all look at me like I’m garbage still hurts, you know?

I notice Shinomiya stroll up a little late to cheer on Haruki. She and Yuka were assigned to scope out the girls’ side of things, so she’ll probably miss some of his evaluations.

At least she’ll treat me right.

I glance over and give her a small wave—

She sees me.

Pauses.

Then deliberately turns her head away, crossing her arms like I’m not even worth acknowledging.

I fall into even deeper despair.

I thought we were starting to get along better…guess not.

“It’s okay Tomoya, you’ll always have me.”

Haruki, noticing my dejection, puts a hand on my shoulder to console me.

I stand up, wiping my non-existent tears with my arm, glad that if nothing else, I can still rely on Haruki—what an amazing guy. Truly a man amongst men.

I place my hand on his shoulder too, looking him in the eyes to make my appreciation clear.

“Bro.”

He does the same.

“Bro.”

We share a moment between bros—perhaps a little too long, a little too close.

I hear some of the girls start flipping out.

“You’re dead meat, Ubakawa!”

“We’re not gonna let you steal him away from us!”

“You just want him for yourself!”

Shinomiya and a couple others raise an eyebrow.

Caught off guard by what they’re implying, I snap back, a little embarrassed.

“That is NOT what I’m doing!”

Haruki pats my back and guides me away from them.

“It’s okay, just ignore them.”

“So, you ready, Tomoya? I feel like you’ve been bulking up a bit since middle school ended.”

“Oh? So you’ve noticed, have you? Heh heh…behold, the fruits of my labor!”

I rip my shirt off.

Six-pack revealed.

Sleeper build, carefully cultivated through months of discipline.

I flex, letting the results speak for themselves.

I glance over at the harem—

Completely unimpressed.

Ota near the back tries to give me a supportive thumbs up, but looks uncomfortable.

Out of the corner of my eye I thought I caught a flustered reaction from Shinomiya—

But when I look over, her head is turned, arms crossed.

“No one wants to see that crap, Ubakawa!” someone yells..

“Put that shirt back on before you blind someone!” another adds.

I fall to my knees again.

“Don’t listen to them, Tomoya. I can tell how hard you’ve worked.”

Haruki consoles me again, a hand on my shoulder.

“Stand proud. You are strong.”

What…is this?

The bond of manly brotherhood?

Again we stare into each other’s eyes, communicating our admiration for one another—except now one of us is shirtless.

“I’m going to kill you, Ubakawa!” one screams.

“Scumbag! Enemy of women!”

Back onto my knees it is.

“Not all women!”

I look over and see two late arrivals—Yuka and Komori—cheering me on.

< “Falter not, Ubakawa! Bare thy warrior’s frame to the world for all to see!” >

“Don’t listen to them, Tomoya—you’ve done nothing wrong!”

I wipe away a single tear, touched by their compassion.

“Thank you so much, guys…you really are true—”

I look closer.

A corrupt grin spreads across Yuka’s face.

Drool pours from her mouth in thick streams.

Her eyes undress me.

“In fact…if you really want to run fast, maybe you should take off even more clothes.”

I immediately turn away, in desperate need of purification.

I look over to the sweet and innocent—

Komori is even worse.

Doubled over, face flushed, one hand clutching her chest, breathing heavily

< “This heat within my breast...it defies all logic of the blade! This is no wound of steel, yet I am undone! Mine heart, thrasheth against its cage! My soul, rageth with a new fire! My inner woman…it begins to blossom!” >

I cover myself with my hands, feeling violated and ashamed.

I know I should be enjoying being fawned over by two cute girls—

But this just feels like I’m participating in something illegal.

“By the way, Tomoya…”

I look up at Haruki, who’s got a knowing smirk on his face.

“You’re not the only one who’s been training.”

“Really dude? You too?”

“Yup.”

“Well come on man, let me see.”

The jeering from the harem toward me instantly goes silent.

“Nah…I couldn’t possibly.”

“Come on man, you said it yourself—stand proud. Strut your stuff.”

“You don’t think it’d be weird?”

I shake my head.

“Haruki…what could possibly be weird about one high school boy asking another high school boy to take off his clothing in public?”

“That’s a good point, Tomoya. You’re so smart.”

“Right? So come on—take it off.”

Haruki exhales, as if accepting his fate.

“Well, if you insist.”

As he takes off his shirt, I’m startled by the sudden eruption of high-pitched screams from the harem.

I look over—they’ve completely lost it.

They’re shrieking, cheering, whistling, red-faced and unhinged, like they’d completely lost their minds.

Even Shinomiya, normally calm and collected, is starting to go a tad feral.

Yuka and Komori struggle to hold back a relapse in feelings for Kojima.

I turn to look at Haruki—

Nothing.

There’s nothing.

No muscle.

No definition.

Not even the faintest suggestion of it.

Just a completely flat, ordinary body.

Not flabby—but absolutely unremarkable in every possible way.

The crow continues screaming like they’ve all just won a brand new car.

I blink.

Maybe Shinomiya’s initial assessment was right.

Maybe I really don’t understand the heart of a maiden.

“We take it all back, Ubakawa!”

“You’re our hero, Ubakawa!”

“You’re the best, Ubakawa!”

I’m still stunned by the sudden reversion when Haruki puts his hand on my shoulder.

“See? Nobody can stay mad at you, Tomoya—you’re just too likable!”

“Haruki…”

I place a hand on his shoulder too.

Again, we both stare deeply into each other’s eyes, communicating our admiration for one another—now both of us shirtless.

BONK!

I drop to the ground, clutching my head after a water bottle smacks me.

“Get away from him, you monster!”

“Those are the eyes of a predator!”

“We know what you’re really after!”

“We take it all back, Ubakawa!”

“Down with Ubakawa!”

“Scumbag! Enemy of all women!”

The ground harkens for me once more, my hands and knees already finding their rightful place against it.

I let out a sigh, rubbing my head.

“Let’s just get this over with.”

We put our shirts back on and I line up at the starting blocks as I’m called to the second lane.

I glance to the right. My spirits lift immediately—none of these guys pose even the slightest threat.

I settle into my starting position, barely containing my laughter.

Who cares who’s rooting for or against me?

This race is as good as m—

“Hey, Ubakawa! Mind if I join you?”

…

No.

…

Nooooo.

…

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—

I watch in horror as Arima takes position in the lane to the left.

“Arima, what are you doing here? This is the men’s evaluation.”

“I’m a bit too fast for the girls, so they’re having me race with the guys to get a better sense of where I’m at.”

I’m so screwed.

I can’t even fathom beating this superhuman freak.

(No offense, lovely person otherwise).

…

But I have to try.

The timekeeper steps forward.

“On your marks.”

“Get set.”

“Go!”

I fly forward, pumping my arms and legs with all my might.

My heels dig into the track as my body strains to keep up with my own momentum.

As I start to round the first corner of the track, I look to my sides—

Nobody’s there!

I even hear cheers!

I push even harder to widen the gap.

These losers don’t stand a—

“Hey—”

“Uba—”

“Kawa—”

Still sprinting as hard as I can, I’m in complete disbelief as I watch Arima lap me again and again, so fast she can’t even finish a sentence.

But all my body knows how to do is keep running.

“Great—”

“Job!”

We cross the finish line at roughly the same time, Ayumi slightly ahead.

She comes to a graceful stop.

I wipe out on the ground and flop over, gasping for air.

“Fifty-three seconds, for the 400-meter dash!” I hear shouted.

The taste of victory eludes me.

Defeat, however, tastes like blood and phlegm.

I look over at Ayumi.

The student holding the stopwatch walks over to her.

“And fifty-three seconds—for the 3200-meter dash.”

Eight times.

She lapped me eight times in under a minute.

Even so, I made good time—fast enough to be a starter if I wanted.

I roll over to look at Haruki, who’s waiting to go next.

“Hey Haruki—how was tha—”

“Wow, Arima! That was incredible!”

Arima fidgets bashfully, blushing.

“Aw, it was nothing. Thanks, Kojima—you’re so sweet.”

I try to get his attention.

“Haruki!”

He turns.

“Hm?”

I point at myself with a confident smirk.

…

He just gives a pitying smile.

“Well…nice try.”

I drag myself to the grass, my lungs burning like I’m breathing shards of glass.

I collapse, resting my head against the ground.

A shadow suddenly falls over me.

I look up.

A cart has rolled right beside me.

“Need some fuel?”

At the helm is Hino Sora (日野 空).

White hair. Grey eyes. Pale skin. A pretty face girls die for—and one that can make even guys’ hearts skip a beat.

He wears a dark blue umbrella hat to keep the sun off, his clothes always a little worn, a little tattered.

A guy who’s definitely been through some things—and now works a handful of part-time jobs around the school.

He passes me a sports drink,

I take a long swig, then push myself up just enough to grab some money from my bag.

“Thanks, Hino.”

“No problem, Ubakawa! Well, I’m off!”

And just as quickly as the cart appeared, it disappears from sight.

Sipping my drink, I flop over to watch Haruki run.

“On your marks.”

“Get set.”

“Go!”

Haruki immediately stumbles—left behind before he even gets going.

He tries desperately to catch up, hips wobbling, arms flailing, breath coming in ragged bursts—

—and barely a quarter of the way in, he decides he’s had enough, collapsing onto the grass.

Truly a once-in-a-generation athlete.

With a chuckle, I sigh.

Well, at least I didn’t do as badly as—

“You were amazing Haruki!”

My head snaps toward the commotion as the girls squeal, shouting their praise.

“He surrenders with such grace!”

“It was so generous of him to let them win!”

“He shines so bright when he runs!”

Haruki scratches his cheek, thankful for the praise—but a bit disappointed at his results.

Seeing my chance, I rush over, calling out—

“Hey, Haruki! If you’d like, I could give you a few poi—”

“Hey, Haruki!”

Arima cuts in.

“If you’d like, I could give you a few pointers.”

“Sure, that sounds great!”

I crush my drink bottle with the fury of a thousand suns.

That was supposed to be me.

…ugh.

I walk over to Yuka and Komori, who’ve mellowed out.

“Thanks for the support, guys. Sorry I let you down. I tried my best, but I guess it just wasn’t enough.”

“Let us down?” Yuka says, surprised. “You were one of the fastest ones!”

A twinkle appears in her eye.

“Brains, brawn, heart—you really are the full package, aren’t you, Ubakawa?”

She puts her hands to her cheeks, squirming in place.

[ “Indeed, it was quite impressive!” ] Komori chimes in.

I can’t help but feel a little embarrassed hearing such high praise.

I rub the back of my head.

“Aw, shucks…you two really know how to lift a guy’s spirits.”

“We couldn’t stop cheering for you! Even Shinomiya and a few of the others got into it!”

“Really?”

I glance over at her—

—but she looks away the moment I do.

Huh…

“Besides, it was Arima you were up against. You know how she is.”

You know what?

Yuka’s right!

So what if I lost to Arima? It’s Arima!

And not just that—it’s her best sport.

I’ve still got an entire afternoon ahead of me, and plenty of evaluations to show Haruki the results of my training.

Besides Arima, it’s not like there are more than a handful of club aces I couldn’t handle in any of these events.

If you ask me, my plan still has an excellent chance of succeeding.

After all…

…what else could go wrong?