My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 605

I couldn't keep up with the sudden change of topic, so I asked back.

"You guys were just talking about Soga Station, right?"

Did you hear that?

"No. But I could sense it from the atmosphere."

The incident started when Totsuka and I were discussing whether to go out on the weekend, and Hayama suddenly interrupted for some reason.

I have free tickets, let's go watch football together. It's very close to the school, so it's not scary at all... I was convinced by his sweet talk, which is why this strange trio spent the holiday together.

Okay, at least it's better than being bothered by classmates like Zaimokuza or Kawa... But if possible, I'd like to go somewhere far away with Totsuka. A place where there's no one else... just the two of us...

Therefore, I have very mixed feelings right now.

However, if I go back alone, I'll leave Totsuka and Hayama alone... that way, Hayama will probably fall for Totsuka. There's no human being in the world who could resist Totsuka's charm when alone with him.

Ignoring my own troubles, Totsuka asked Hayama with an innocent expression:

"By the way, Hayama-kun, why did you tell us to bring food containers to the soccer game?"

You'll find out when you get there.

Ye Shan revealed a mysterious smile, walked half a step ahead of us, and led the way towards the stadium.

I should have discovered this at that time.

Today… no, from the moment Hayama invited us to the stadium, something about him has been off.

It seemed like we could walk straight from the station to the stadium, but it was quite a distance, so the three of us chatted as we walked.

However, we don't usually go anywhere together, and we don't have anything in common to talk about.

The atmosphere was a bit stiff. Just as stiff as when playing soccer in a physical education class at school.

"...By the way, do you two usually watch football matches?"

Hayama's question felt forced, so Totsuka and I each gave our answers.

"I only watch national team matches. The World Cup always makes me want to stay up all night to watch it!"

"I only know how to look at the Chiba Silver Cup."

As its name suggests, the Chiba Silver Cup is sponsored by the Chiba Bank Group and is one of the world's three major cup competitions, alongside the World Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

The soccer teams from Chiba and Kashiwa hold a decisive match almost every year to determine who is the strongest in Chiba Prefecture. It's practically a world-class match, so comparing it to the World Cup is quite reasonable!

...I told him about a joke that people often make online, and when Ye Shan heard my answer, his eyes lit up and he reacted with unusual excitement.

"Did you watch the Chiba Silver Cup? You seem to know a lot about the Chiba players, huh? Can I ask who your favorite is?"

"Litbarski (Note 3)."

"Wow, that's amazing! They've been supporting Team Chiba for so long, even longer than Penguin?"

"Uh, Littbarski was a player from before I was born. I'm just mentioning a player I've heard of...you have to figure it out..."

Today, Hayama was a bit too proactive, or rather, she practically clung to me. My sarcasm and foolishness were completely ineffective; it was hard for her to maintain a proper distance.

Incidentally, Littbarski was a German player who belonged to the Chiba team more than twenty years ago. Online sources say he retired in Japan and became a coach. His second wife was Japanese; I remember she was Kenichi Ogiwara's first wife. She speaks fluent Japanese. This is basic information that every resident of Chiba Prefecture knows.

At this point, Hayama finally realized that I wasn't interested in watching football matches.

"Do you... hate football?"

"It's not so much that I hate soccer, but rather that I hate the kind of people who make a scene in Shibuya. I can understand that players are happy when they win a game, but I can't understand the mentality of other people going crazy over it, and I especially don't understand the idea that it's forgivable to cause trouble for others."

There was once a narcissistic woman who was a member of parliament and claimed to look like Kyoko Fukada. She made this remark during a conflict with fans of one of the country's top football clubs.

Don't impose your life on others.

Truth often comes from the mouths of rubbish people.

Because if you even slightly agree with what trash says, it's much harder to refute when it comes from someone else.

Therefore, I also tried to express my opinion in very sarcastic and bitter terms, however—

"Yes, that's right."

To my surprise, Hayama agreed with my opinion.

"Although everyone enjoys football in different ways, I don't like people who gather in groups outside the stadium and cause trouble for others. I don't want to be seen as one of those fans."

"Yeah?"

"Besides, I think it's strange that you don't even watch the domestic teams' games and only support the national team and foreign teams. It's precisely because of the domestic league, which provides an environment where players can grow with peace of mind, that they have the opportunity to challenge abroad. Don't you think so? Today is a rare opportunity, and I hope you can see for yourself just how high the level of the domestic league is. There are many excellent players there."

"Oh, oh... I see. Hmm. I understand."

Hayama really had a hard time maintaining a sense of distance today...

I shifted my gaze from Hayama and looked around. There was a group of people wearing yellow clothes, heading in the same direction.

Like pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem, the holy city. Well, I haven't seen The Pilgrims, but that's probably a similar feeling.

I stared blankly at that group of people, as if talking to myself:

"Yellow represents Chiba team fans... in the football world, they're called fans."Right?

"Yeah. Most people going in the same direction as us are. Otherwise, everyone in this area drives."

In football, they're called Supporters; in basketball, they're called Boosters.

According to what Hayama had told me beforehand, when watching a football match, people mainly cheer for their favorite team by clapping or singing modified songs called "cheering songs" or "slogans" in rhythm with the taiko drums.

When watching the national team matches on TV, you can faintly hear chanting sounds in the background, like "Oh oh~ Japan~ Japan~ Japan~ Japan~", that's the cheering song.

Totsuka said excitedly:

"I found a support song on YouTube and learned a few lines!"

"You still have that kind of stuff on YouTube?"

I asked, and Hayama excitedly explained again.

"It was recorded by a fan group and uploaded online. Ultimately, it was just a spontaneous act by fans to support the team. Which song did Totsuka learn?"

"Hmm—that song, 'Let's Move Forward Together.'"

"Amazing Grace. That's what the contestants sing when they enter."

I couldn't understand a word they were saying, but it was amazing to hear Totsuka sing a few lines.

It sounded like the song of angels.

I hope he will sing the national anthem solo before the competition begins.

However, asking me to sing is a different matter. I asked Ye Shan:

"Do I really have to sing?"

"It depends on the viewing location. There are areas where it's better to sing loudly, and there are areas where you'll be disliked for being too loud. Because the people who come to watch the competition are all kinds of people."

Hmm. I thought most people who go to the stadium like a lively atmosphere, but it seems that's not the case.

"The area behind the goal is the most enthusiastic, but people there are basically standing the whole time, which makes it inconvenient to watch the game, so it's not suitable for first-timers."

"Inconvenient? Why?"

"In football, you can see both teams' goals when viewed horizontally, but you can only see one team's goal when viewed vertically."

Oh. I see.

"However, when playing football, we always look at the game from a vertical perspective, and I also gain insights from watching the game from that angle."

I usually only watch football matches on TV, so I never thought about which angle is the best to watch a football match from.

Totsuka watched the people heading towards the stadium and muttered:

"Most people brought their own support items. Won't we look out of place in the stadium...?"

"If you don't mind, would you like me to lend you my things?"

"Huh? Is that okay?"

Totsuka let out a high-pitched voice, his eyes sparkling like a puppy with its ears perked up in delight.

but.

Before I was happy, I inexplicably became wary.

Perhaps it was because of Hayama's line, "Do you want me to lend you some?"... It sounded like an antlion waiting for its prey to fall into its trap. Although I think it's just my imagination.

Totsuka, who was as happy as a puppy, also looked melancholy for other reasons.

"Ah... but then you won't have any support items to use?"

"Yeah, I'd better not borrow from you—"

Before I could finish speaking, Hayama pulled a yellow jersey out of his bag.

"Don't worry. I bought both indoor and outdoor jerseys, and I also bought both indoor and outdoor versions for the goalkeeper, so I buy at least four every year. That's normal, right?"

"Oh, oh... is that so?"

One piece should be enough, right?

I almost blurted that out, but outsiders shouldn't criticize how much money others spend on their interests.

If Komachi scolds me at home, saying, "Brother, all the light novel covers you read look the same. What's the fun in buying the same book? Huh? These are all different works?" I'll also be annoyed.

"It's a bit too big... How about it? Is it suitable?"

Hayama's jersey was too big for Totsuka, so he just wore it over his shirt.

Totsuka spun around in place with a "clang clang!"

"Not bad, right? Better than a penguin."

"Mmm...that's great!"

Girls can sometimes look exceptionally cute when they wear oversized baseball jerseys or other clothing, and Totsuka is currently in that state.

My budding wariness towards Hayama was burned away by the holy light emanating from Totsuka's jersey.

Totsuka is so cute, so today is Totsuka Memorial Day.

"Wow! The competition doesn't start for another two hours, and there are already so many people in line?!"

When we arrived at the stadium, we were greeted by an incredible team.

Is this for real...? Judging by the number of people, there must be at least ten thousand, right?

Hayama said to us, who were surprised:

"There are still two hours until the match starts, but the players will start practicing on the football field an hour earlier. So it's actually already an hour earlier."

"???"

He casually stated a principle that seemed both understandable and incomprehensible. Totsuka and I were taken aback for a moment, but our trust in him grew stronger because of what Hayama said, so we didn't press him further.

"While it depends on the stadium, if you want to watch the game properly, there will be people lining up at the change of days."

"Hey Hayama... do you have to join this line...?"

"No need. If you want to watch the game from the front row, you'll have to wait in line, but today I want you to experience the atmosphere of the stadium itself."

Great... If the answer is yes, I'm really planning to turn around and go home right away.

I used the towel Hayama lent me (I only borrowed the towel; I insisted on not wearing the jersey) to wipe away the cold sweat, and looked around the venue. A mouthwatering aroma wafted over on the breeze.

"Gentlemen, please fill your stomachs before entering the stadium."

Hayama had told us beforehand that we should have lunch at the stadium, so I didn't bring any food, but I wasn't interested in his suggestion.

"But these kinds of places are usually stalls with high prices but not very good taste... um... ⁉"

As residents of Chiba, the birthplace of Salia, which boasts the highest cost-performance ratio, they hold an absolutely uncompromising attitude towards the cost-performance ratio of food.

But there is one thing that can melt my stubborn heart instantly.

That is--

"Shengpu Dan Dan Noodles! Isn't that Shengpu Dan Dan Noodles?!"

Even the nationally renowned B-grade delicacy, Shengpu Dan Dan Noodles, has set up a stall here; they're not to be underestimated.

Although Katsuura Dan Dan Ramen is now available in Chiba City, it's a dream ramen that's rarely offered to people outside of Katsuura... I, who was gradually regretting coming here, quickly became excited. The potential of Katsuura Dan Dan Ramen is just that amazing! Hiratsuka-sensei might have a nosebleed if he saw this.