Chapter 2 (141): " The snow and a past confession, make X feel..."

On a snow-covered mountain at high speed, a skier and a snowboarder compete to reach the end of the ski slope. Each performs different stunts to get to the bottom, where Furahashi, who was impressed, awaits them. Upon arrival, the two skiers turned out to be Mafuyu and Asumi.

- Wow! - Fumino exclaimed in awe when they reached them. - I'm so impressed! Kominami-senpai and Kirisu Sensei! You're both so cool! -

- Thank you Furahashi! - Asumi said smiling - You're pretty awesome Mafuyu-sensei. -

- I'm average. - said Mafuyu calmly. -I mean, I've done my share of winter sports... and you don't have to call me Mafuyu-sensei. -

Asumi, at that moment, looked back and forth quizzically.

-Now that I think about it... Where are the others? - said Asumi lifting up her ski goggles.

At that moment, the three of them heard a loud bang behind them, where they saw Rizu crashing in the snow.

-Ricchan! - Fumino shouted in surprise and fright when she saw her friend on the ground.

-Grr... - said Ogata embarrassed -Never give up! -

- At least she's very predictable - laughed Asumi - Zero Athletic ability.

Coming from afar, at full speed, Uruka performed pirouettes in the air at every snow ramp she came across, leaving the four stunned looking at her, until, with a sharp turn, she slowed down her skis, right in front of them, after descending from a high altitude somersault.

- Heh heh! - said the girl, brimming with adrenaline and happiness, "I love how wide open the slopes are before spring break!

-Wow! - said Asumi dumbfounded like the others - You are amazing Takemoto! -

- I bet you're ready for the advanced slopes already! - said Fumino in amazement

- Well, when it comes to sports or athletic skills, there's nothing I can't handle. - she said smiling victoriously, until she started to look at everyone. - Hey, where's Nariyuki? -

After saying those words, a thud was heard behind the five of them, where they found that Nariyuki had crashed into a tree face first and the snow from the branches had fallen on him.

-Nariyuki! - Uruka, Fumino and Rizu shouted worriedly.

- Yuiga-san! - shouted Mafuyu worriedly.

- As expected from Kohai. - laughed Asumi, even though she was worried. - Also zero atletic ability. -

Nariyuki started to get up, a little dizzy due to the hit, stammering a little.

- Yuiga-san are you alright?! - said Mafuyu reaching him first.

-Yes... Don't worry Kirisu-sensei. - said Nariyuki leaning on one of the ski poles.

- I see you are still bad at sports Kohai. - said Asumi mockingly. - There are more effective methods to slow down hehehe.

- Very funny... - Yuiga thought a bit annoyed.

- Don't worry Nariyuki. - said Uruka looking at him with a smile - It's a matter of practice. If you want I can teach you. -

- I think you are not the best for that Uruka. - said Fumino remembering how bad Uruka is at teaching people, embarrassing her a little.

- Don't worry, I think I can handle it on my own. - said Nariyuki smiling.

- So you can crash into all the trees on the mountain? No way kohai! - said Asumi grabbing Nariyuki by the hand and dragging him with her. - I'll teach you!

All the other girls stayed in place, watching Asumi take Nariyuki away, feeling jealous.

A little later, Fumino, Uruka and Rizu were making snowmen together, being puzzled by Asumi's behavior.

-Lately Kominami-senpai is being more affectionate than usual with Nariyuki. - Fumino said strangely while forming a big snowball for her snowman's body.

- Well... she's always going around with her pranks to tease him, I don't think there's anything else to think about is there? - Uruka said trying not to show how jealous she was, even though she had black clouds over her head.

-At least try to hide a little in front of Ricchan, Uruka. - thought Furahashi looking at Uruka as her stomach started to hurt.

Rizu, for her part didn't say anything, she just kept on doing her snowballs, although it was clear that she was annoyed.

- Yes, you're right, she's always with her jokes, I guess she'll just teach him to defend himself with the ski and use those lessons to annoy him. - said Fumino trying to alleviate the situation.

-I'm not so sure about that. - Rizu muttered looking at the base of her snowman.

- Eh? did you say something Rizurin? - asked Uruka when she didn't hear what she said.

- It's nothing. - Rizu said curtly, which worried Fumino and Uruka.

Rizu, then, started to remember what she saw two days ago.

(Flashback)

Ogata was at night delivering orders from the restaurant, near the park where she played cards with Nariyuki in April. As she passed by, she couldn't help but smile a little as she recalled the time when they met.

- It's amazing... how I've changed since then.... - Ogata thought with a slight blush. - Thanks to you, Nariyuki... -

At that moment, she noticed the bench there, distinguishing the figures of Nariyuki and Asumi.

- Nariyuki and Kominami-senpai? - Ogata thought strangely - What are they doing at this hour in a park by themselves? -

Without them noticing, Ogata slipped into the bushes, staying behind them to hear what they were talking about.

- I'm sorry you had to stay so late with me Kohai. - Asumi said somewhat annoyed - My stupid old dad insisted that we have a night picnic to show him that we are dating. -

Hearing Asumi's words, Ogata's heart thumped hard, filling her with jealousy and anger.

-Dating?! - she thought red with envy.

- Don't worry senpai. - Nariyuki said smiling - Besides, it's really fun to go out with you, even if it's a farce. -

When Nariyuki said the word "farce", Ogata relaxed, feeling tired from tensing her muscles so much.

- It's a farce... thank goodness... - the girl said in relief.

- Oh... so... would it be more fun for you if it wasn't? - said Kominami looking at him with puppy dog eyes - Would you like it if it wasn't a farce? -

-What are you saying, Kominami-senpai!? - said Nariyuki with a big blush, relaxing after a second. - Ah I see, it's another one of your jokes isn't it? -

-Joke? So... wouldn't you like to hang out with me Kohai? - said Asumi lowering her eyes sadly.

-Eh? I'm not saying that! It's just that...! - said Nariyuki completely upset seeing her sad.

-Hehehehe... Pervert-Kohai... So you'd really like it, huh?" said Asumi looking up with a mischievous smile.

-Ah, you fooled me again! - said the boy totally embarrassed.

-You are too easy to annoy Kohai. - laughed the girl.

As the moment of embarrassment passed, Nariyuki stood up sighing.

-Anyway... Still, the food was really delicious. - said Nariyuki looking at the leftover food they had from the picnic and then looked at Kominami. - I have to go now, I have to prepare the rest of the things for the trip. -

- Yeah, right, me too. - said the girl as she started to pick up the dishes. - Don't worry about this kohai, I'll pick it up, it's the least I can do.

-Okay, then... I'll be going. - said Nariyuki starting to walk out of the park.

-Kohai. - said Asumi catching his attention. - Thank you for inviting me to your graduation trip too.

- Thank Kirisu-sensei, after all, she is the one who invited us. - said Nariyuki smiling. - We will have a great time.

- Hehehehehe Do you want to have a great time with me Kohai? - said Asumi teasing him again

- Agh, you and your pranks.... - said Yuiga snorting - But... yeah, I guess so, with you and the others of course. -

Asumi, then, became static and speechless.

-Anyway, I'm leaving, see you Kominami-senpai! - said Nariyuki as she left the park.

Meanwhile, Ogata, still crouching in the bushes, sighed softly.

- Phew... I was worrying for nothing... the two of them just... huh?" thought Rizu relieved until she saw Asumi, who had started to cry. - Kominami-senpai? Why are you crying?

- You're just my kohai... this is just a farce... just a farce... to deceive my father... - Asumi said as tears fell from her eyes and a blush ran down her face. - Then... Why, when you said you wanted to have a great time with the others, did I feel so... jealous? Why do I only want you to have a great time with me? Why?!? Out of all the men in the world... Why should I have fallen in love with you, Nariyuki Yuiga?! -

After hearing it, Ogata went completely white and speechless.

(End of flashback)

Fumino and Uruka approached Ogata, as she seemed to be absorbed in her thoughts.

- Are you sure nothing is wrong Ricchan? - said Fumino worried about her friend.

-Yes, everything is fine. - said Rizu as she continued making the snowman.

- Very well Asumi... If you want to play this game, I'll play too. - thought Rizu with determination - And this time, I won't lose...

At that moment, Mafuyu came running to the place where the girls were, with a face of extreme concern.

-Girls, come here everyone! Nariyuki has fallen ill! - said the teacher with concern.

It took a while for the three of them to assimilate the information, all of them getting worried at once.

-What?!" they all exclaimed at the same time.

Chapter end