My Friend Doesn't Hesitate 22

ACT 22     Even While Apart, Will We Be Okay?


「Midoriya-san, will you group up with me today?」


In PE class.

When they were splitting into groups of two for warm up exercises at the beginning, Mashiro called out to her friend Natsu, but.

The Natsu in question looked very surprised.


「Wha-what's wrong, Mashiro-san? You've always teamed up with Akami-san.」

「Mm, I thought it would be nice to do this once in a while. It looks like Nishina-san is also teaming up with another girl.」

「Ni-Nishina-san?...... No no no, really, what's going on?! That kind of undue formality!」

「There's no such undue formality. I'm just trying to distance myself a little.」

「Eh, eeh? Did you have a fight with Akami-san or something?」

「Not at all. We're talking normally, and we plan to have lunch together. Well, never mind the details, let's prepare quickly.」

「Haa...」


Natsu didn't get it at all, but she agreed.

By the way, even though Akami had seemed quite hesitant, she ended up in a duo with Kiriko. Mashiro felt relieved.

Anyway, they were doing warm-up exercises, but.


「Adadada, Mashiro-san, please be a little more gentle!」


When Mashiro added just a little more force to bend Natsu's body, Natsu screamed a little.


「Your body's pretty stiff, Midoriya-san.」

「I'm extremely nonathletic. Besides, I'm usually doing deskwork like making manuscripts, so I don't have time to exercise...」

「That's no good. Akami told me this as well, but moderate exercise is good for beauty, so Midoriya-san, you have to move your body a little to become beautiful.」

「I know, I've thought about that before as well... wait, Mashiro-san, just now, did you call her『Akami』instead of『Nishina-san』?」

「...... Ah.」


It seemed her usual behavior inadvertently came out.

No good, no good. She had to keep it together better.


「It's okay, it's okay.」

「I don't understand what's okay, but... Mashiro-san, it's your turn. Please sit down and raise your arms.」

「Mm, okay.」


Anyway, it was time to switch.

After Mashiro sat and raised both arms in the air, Natsu stood behind her, held Mashiro's arms, and firmly pressed her knee against her back for a chest bending stretch. While doing so,


「Hmm, Mashiro-san, should I say as expected? You're limber, huh.」

「Really? You can still push a little harder.」

「... Also, looking closely, Mashiro-san has quite a bit as well.」

「? What?」

「N-no, it's nothing... okay, about this hard?」

「Mm. Next is Midoriya-san.」


As they chatted like that, they went through the course of warm-up exercises.

It felt different than usual, but it was quite a fresh sensation, and after their bodies loosened up, Mashiro and Natsu took a breather with their new feelings.


「Phew, it feels good. Today's PE wins the title!」

「I don't understand what title is supposed to be won, but it's good that you're satisfied.」

「Yes, thank you very much, Mashiro-san!」

「It is I who should say thanks, Akami.」

「...... Eh?」

「Ah......」


She inadvertently called Natsu Akami.


「Tha-that was a mistake.」

「...... Mashiro-san, by any chance, are you experiencing withdrawal symptoms?」

「Not at all. It happens, right? Things like accidentally calling a teacher Mother. It's like that, like that.」

「As you'd expect, now that we're high school students, I think that would be difficult, but... hmm, in other words, for Mashiro-san, Akami-san is like a mother?」

「It's different, I tell you. Besides, rather than a mother, Akami's like an older sister...!」

「Even if you emphasize such a thing... or rather, Mashiro-san, you’re gradually getting worse and worse.」

「Ku, gu, nunu...!」


Her face was hot

As feelings of embarrassment gradually welled up, she found herself thinking about Akami whether she liked it or not.

Even though she said she would distance herself just that morning, wasn't this putting the cart before the horse...!?

Apparently, this trial was more formidable than Mashiro had thought.


「Even when they're distancing themselves, these two are flirting...」


Also, it seemed Natsu muttered something while looking into the distance, but unfortunately, Mashiro couldn't hear her.



　　☆　　★　　☆　　★　　☆　　★


Uuu, Shiro-chan and Onatsu-san look like they're having fun...

But, like Shiro-chan said, this is a trial I have to overcome!

I'll do my best!

　

「All right, let's go, Aka-chi!」

「Mm... Wait, ow ow ow!? Be more gentle, Shiro-chan!」

「Aka-chi. I'm not Shiro-chi, I'm Kiri-yan?」

「Uu......」

「Hahaha, this is the third time you've made a mistake. Aka-chi, you're scatterbrained today!」

「............ Yeah.」


Correction.

Will I be okay...!?