When the cheers and applause settled down a bit, the commission staff and judges announced the winner of the competition.
Both teams were asked to line up where they showed their sportsmanship by bowing to each other. The ones on our side had lighter footsteps compared to the other team who looked like they were dragging their feet on the smooth surface of the court.
Well, they’re heartbroken from the result so it was expected. I could even see some of them bawling their eyes out. They couldn’t accept this loss. And naturally, some were crying from our side because of this miraculous win.
The match was pretty one-sided from the start but the last five minutes decisively changed the direction of the game.
For a school competition where the favorite team pretty much held the game in their favor, our team closed the 12-point lead within five minutes of the game clock and eventually ended the game with a buzzer-beater. Even experts would call it a miracle unless they could find out what changed within those five minutes that overturned a one-sided match like this.
And because of that fact, I could feel the gazes coming from all sides, not just from our opponents but also from those who noticed me taking charge. Some were malicious as if they were cursing me to death while others were full of curiosity towards my identity.
Nonetheless, I acted totally oblivious to those and similarly celebrated with the others as we watched Satsuki and the rest of the basketball club receive their medals.
Ah. Right. Orimura-sensei also praised me for what I did. I guess that lessened her animosity towards me, huh?
After that ceremony, everyone returned to the waiting room to rest, relish their victory, and change out of their sweat-soaked jerseys.
“Onoda-kun, you’re not thinking of slipping out, right?” As soon as we entered the room, Kawakami-senpai approached my side.
Satsuki, who clung to me as soon as we left the public eye, looked at her with a meaningful smile. Kawakami-senpai responded with a nod and soon afterward, the girl hooked her arm around mine. She then carefully tightened that embrace until my elbow was buried in her valley of softness.
Since they’re both drenched in sweat, the heat being transferred by their bodies was enough to influence me. With a wry smile, I stared at Kawakami-senpai.
“Of course not, senpai. Am I not here already? Why will I slip out?”
“Oh. You’re right.” As though she didn’t think her actions through, Kawakami-senpai awkwardly laughed.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtI thought Kawakami-senpai would loosen her hold on me but Satsuki suddenly interjected, “Keep holding onto him, senpai.”
“Satsuki?” I couldn’t help but cast her a puzzled gaze.
In response, she poked my cheek and said in a volume that everyone in the room could hear.
“I know you, idiot. You’re going to escape because you feel like you don’t deserve our appreciation.”
Yep. This girl read my mind again. Although it’s not exactly like that, I do feel like escaping before their waves of gratitude fall upon me. I mean... what should I do if they suddenly throw themselves at me? As a bonafide pervert, I’d probably react to it.
Well, that’s probably just my overthinking but still...
Anyway, since Satsuki involved Kawakami-senpai in this... they must’ve gotten into an agreement to keep me from leaving. If I had to guess, Satsuki’s goal for doing this was to make sure that my effort didn’t go unappreciated. And with Kawakami-senpai having hinted at her wish to express her gratitude, she’s the likely partner for Satsuki.
Upon scanning our surroundings, everyone was in on this – even Eguchi-sensei who was walking closely behind us.
I scratched my head and returned an awkward smile, “It’s true, isn’t it? I only did that out of my selfishness. Normally I shouldn’t be allowed to meddle.”
“See this, senpai? He’s being humble again.” Satsuki shook her head. She’s not going to be bought by my words this time.
Likewise, Kawakami-senpai and the other girls were leering at me as if they were looking at a bad liar.
“Onoda-kun, I told you, right? You’re now part of our team. I can understand if you wanted to act this humbly. You’re that kind of guy, after all, and we appreciate it. But you see, we’re all hoping that you can at least celebrate this with us. This is a monumental win and you’re the instrument that delivered these medals to us.”
Kawakami-senpai held up the gold medal hanging on her neck and following her, everyone did the same. For her to even take a step back and accept my humbleness as if it was normal, she’s closing my paths to retreat. And to close the last path I could take, she added, “Eguchi-sensei also agreed with us.”
I glanced behind me and found Eguchi-sensei donning a pleasant smile. In response to what Kawakami-senpai said, she nodded her head before stepping forward.
The distance between us immediately closed causing her bountiful chest to be pressed against my back. But that’s not all, a moment later a pair of arms slipped from my sides, locking me in an embrace.
Satsuki’s eyebrows twitched at her boldness while the others were simply amazed at what she did. However, Eguchi-sensei pretended not to notice them.
Eventually, her head dropped on my shoulder as her melodic voice traveled to my ear, “Onoda-kun, stay with us. You’re our hero today.”
Hah... What else could I do in this situation? Even Eguchi-sensei acted this boldly. If I still try to weasel my way out, I’d be like those wimpy and indecisive idiots that I always ridicule in my head.
I had no choice but to resign myself to my fate.
“... Satsuki. Senpai. Sensei... You got me. I’m in your care today.”
As soon as I said that, starting from the other first year in the club, everyone applauded and cheered.
Then the three girls stuck on my body dragged me inside the room.
What will happen from now on? I don’t know. I just have to prepare my mind for it.
A few minutes later, after some twists and turns wherein everyone in the club energetically celebrated their victory in their own way, I found myself standing in a corner.
There’s no one around me but right in front of my eyes was something anyone would die for to witness at least once in their life. The girls of the club are currently changing out of their jerseys. Although most of them wore sports underwear, the amount of skin available for my eyes’ consumption was enough to trigger a reaction in me.
But well, that’s certainly their goal here. To give me this privilege to see them in a risqué outfit.
How did this happen?
Uh... At one point during this ‘celebration’, someone brought up an absurd suggestion, “Shall we change in front of Onoda-kun?”
It didn’t come from Satsuki or Kawakami-senpai but from one of the second years.
Obviously, knowing our relationship, she didn’t just ignore Satsuki. Instead, that girl presented that suggestion directly to Satsuki as if she’s asking for her permission.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMy girl didn’t answer right away but given that I’m already in this corner watching do just that... we all know what choice she made. The suggestion went through.
I mean, my girl didn’t think much of it. She’s fairly confident that even if I see them like this, I wouldn’t suddenly be like a hungry wolf lunging at everyone.
Still, what should I do in this situation? They told me to watch them but they’re clearly embarrassed at the moment. No matter what, it’s unbelievable that such a thing happened here.
Orimura-sensei was against this however, Eguchi-sensei prevented her from voicing that out. At the moment, the two of them are at my sides like guards preventing me from escaping this predicament.
“This pervert. Should we really allow this, Ryouko?” Orimura-sensei grumbled.
“Onoda-kun is staring respectfully and they suggested this themselves, let them have their fun, Sanae. It’s only today anyway.”
Ah. Yes. I’m staring respectfully... Anyway, I still tried not to stare at them directly. Regrettably, with nowhere else to look, there’s no way to avoid admiring their bodies. Furthermore, all of them were also looking at me, discreetly or not, perhaps checking on how I reacted to them. To save them from being embarrassed, I could only smile at them whenever our eyes would meet.
“Ugh. Whatever. Girls, hurry up and change. You’re giving this guy too much stimulation.” Helpless, Orimura-sensei could only sigh and urge them to finish changing quickly.
Will they listen to her though? I don’t know.
“Sensei, you can’t blame me for that, you know? I’m trying my hardest here.” I said, which made Eguchi-sensei laugh.
“Shut up, shameless brat. Close your eyes if you’re really sincere.” Orimura-sensei snapped at me.
“It will be more disrespectful, no? They asked me to watch. I want to honor their wishes and thank them for this heavenly scene.”
“Don’t fall for his honey-coated words, girls.” Clicking her tongue, Orimura-sensei continued to be a pain in the ass.
In any case, because of this exchange, the girls who were watching closely got infected by Eguchi-sensei’s laughter.
Their embarrassment also seemingly got swept away as they became more enthusiastic. Some of them even drew closer.
Really, they should be more careful about whom they show their bodies to.