[BL Fanfiction] The Popularity Phase, Arrives (1)
Arakita: "Yawn..."
Having finished his nap behind the gymnasium, Arakita was walking along the corner of the schoolyard to return to his classroom.
Arakita: "Hm?"
Up ahead, four or five girls were all looking up at a tree branch.
"Ah, it's no use."
They were shaking it together, but the thick tree wouldn't budge an inch.
It seemed a badminton shuttlecock had gotten stuck in the branches. Even with their rackets, they couldn't reach it.
"What should we do? Lunch break is going to be over soon!"
The girls were at a loss.
Arakita: "..."
Arakita picked up a small stone lying at his feet.
With a big wind-up...
Arakita: "Yo."
He threw it.
Swish.
Plop.
"!!"
Perfectly, the shuttlecock fell safely with just one throw.
"Eh?"
"Who was that?"
The girls turned around in surprise.
"Oh, tha..."
They tried to thank him, but Arakita had already turned his back and walked away.
"..."
"That was... Arakita-kun... wasn't it?"
Yeah. It was Arakita-kun.
The girls looked at each other.
He hit the target on the first try.
From that distance?
Amazing...
I mean, he's so kind...
Just walking away without saying a word...
He always has such a scary face, so he's hard to approach, but...
Is he actually a nice guy?
Oh! Come to think of it!
One of them shouted as if she had just remembered.
The Mr. Hakone Academy contest the other day! I'm pretty sure Arakita-kun was in second place in the interim results!
What!?
The girls were surprised.
What, isn't he actually popular?
I had no idea at all.
I never even noticed him.
A buzz of excitement rippled through the room.
Oh! That's right!
Another girl shouted this time.
During the inter-club baseball tournament! He came out as the closer at the very last minute...!
You mean that time the Cycling Club played the Soccer Club?
Yes, that's it! I remember! He was the emergency relief pitcher!
Yeah! That was definitely Arakita-kun!
That was amazing! The Cycling Club was in such a pinch, but he struck them out with three straight pitches!
He pulled off a brilliant save, didn't he!
It was such a great game!
I'm pretty sure he even did a hero interview!
...
After the commotion died down, the girls all said in unison.
"Arakita-kun... you're cool."