Chapter 207: I am your friend

19:15.

At Seishou Academy's baseball field, in the changing room.

Fifteen minutes had passed since the coach's dismissal whistle.

Although exhausted and not wanting to move, most of the members forced their sore bodies to hurriedly change into their school uniforms and leave the field.

Like students reluctant to leave an internet cafe, despite loving the game, they still wanted to get home quickly after an all-nighter.

Amidst the repeated 'goodbyes' and 'see you tomorrows,' the once-crowded changing room became empty and quiet.

The glaring golden sunset outside had disappeared, and the approaching night felt as sticky and cold as the sweat-soaked baseball uniform to Katase Shouya.

He sat motionless on the long bench in the changing room, his eyes vacant, until the sound of the door opening brought him back to reality.

"Huh? Shouya, you haven't left yet?"

Looking up at Tanabe rummaging through the locker, the boy squeezed his hands, pretending to be nonchalant as he greeted him:

"Hey, Tanabe, you're still here?"

Tanabe knew Katase Shouya hadn't left, which was why he hadn't either.

So, rummaging through the locker, he casually responded:
"I was almost on the train, but I couldn't find my house key. I thought it might be in my locker, so I came back."

Lost in other thoughts, Katase Shouya didn't notice the inconsistency in his words and actions.

For instance, Tanabe claimed to have run back, yet he wasn't even slightly out of breath.

Moreover, he said he was searching for his keys, but his expression and actions didn't show any urgency.

Unaware of these small details, Katase hesitated, wanting to say something, but Tanabe waited without being asked.

'Damn!'

Cursing silently, Tanabe, unable to bear this guy's hesitation, feigned a cheerful tone and exclaimed, "Found it!" Then, standing up straight, he asked Shouya, who was sitting on the bench:

"Shou-kun, is there something wrong? It's getting late, why aren't you going home?"

"The coach suddenly increased the training load, so I overdid it a bit. I thought I'd rest a bit before leaving..."

Remembering his agreement with Nanao, Katase Shouya hesitated for a moment and decided not to ask any questions that might arouse Tanabe's suspicion.

But just because he didn't ask, didn't mean Tanabe couldn't.

Though during the afternoon training, he had shown Katsae Shouya a photo of Nanao meeting another boy at noon, along with hints that she might be out with that boy instead of being at practice, which surely affected his mood.

But that wasn't enough to impact his qualification for the competition.

There had to be something that completely crushed him.

Whether it was related to his relationship with Nanao or something else, as long as it affected his performance and made the coach think he was unfit for the competition, it would be enough.

"I see~"

Nodding as if in understanding, Tanabe shifted the conversation:

"Shouya, is there something going on with you and Nanao?"

"Ah?"

Tanabe's sudden question was like a finger poking at the boy's waist, making his body stiffen.

Not knowing if Tanabe had figured something out or was just making small talk, he laughed and shook his head in denial:

"What could be going on with us?"

Though his reaction seemed normal, his earlier response to seeing the photo of Nanao with another boy had already given him away.

Tanabe knew there was something going on between them, just not the extent of it.

Continuing to probe, he said: "We're in the same club, we see each other all the time. I can tell, or I wouldn't have warned you about what happened at noon."

Sitting on the soft leather bench, Tanabe put an arm around the boy's shoulders and said:

"I consider you a friend and didn't want you to be cheated on, so I told you. I could have talked to others about it instead. I didn't expect you to hide things from me."

"Sigh~"

Saying this, Tanabe headed towards the locker, seemingly about to leave.

Looking at his back, Katase Shouya, despite remembering Nanao's warning not to disclose their relationship to others, found it hard to keep it bottled up.

Plus, Tanabe-kun had been nice enough to warn him...

So, after hesitating for a moment, he said:
"About my relationship with Nanao..."

Spilling everything, from their status as almost-lovers to their agreements.

Feeling much relieved, Katase Shouya, like opening a floodgate, poured out his recent frustrations and concerns about Nanai and the photos he had asked from her.

Sitting back down beside him, Tanabe listened carefully.

Initially, his plan was to set Katase up with Nanao.

After all, as long as Shouya was distracted by romance and the coach found out, he would surely lose his spot in the competition.

But now that they were almost a couple with commitments, his plan needed to change.

Now, he needed to find a way to break them up...

According to what a normal friend would suggest, he should have advised Katase Shouya to ask Akane Nanao directly via phone.

After all, with the right words, it could showcase his concern for the girl and their relationship would improve.

But with ulterior motives, could Tanabe really be considered his friend?

"Don't overthink it. Find a chance to ask her directly, won't you?"

Patting the boy on the shoulder, he began to devise a plan for him.

"I know you'll say there's no opportunity in the club and no time after school, but there's always the weekends."

"Before the weekend, you can observe her usual behavior.
Reflect on whether you might have misunderstood her. I'll also keep an eye on her in class for you."

"If by the weekend you still feel uneasy, then invite her out and clear things up."

That was what he said, but Tanabe had no intention of letting them stay together.

He wanted to ruin their relationship, causing Katase Shouya so much pain that he'd be disqualified from entering the Koshien tournament.

So his plan was to get that boy and Nanao involved as quickly as possible.

Once they were together, Tanabe could present the evidence to the boy, ensuring his heartbreak.

Unaware of his sinister intentions, Katase Shouya, who was already hesitant about whether to ask and how to ask, nodded thoughtfully at Tanabe's suggestion.

After all, he was not able to decide on his own, so, he figured it was good to take someone else's advice.

Thinking Tanabe was genuinely helping him, Katase Shouya gratefully nodded and said:

"Thank you, really... After seeing those photos, I felt like I was dying inside... Now, thank you so much."

Seeing him accept his advice, the latter laughed and playfully punched him, joking like a good friend:

"You're messing with me, huh? Blaming me for making you feel bad? I was just trying to save you from more heartbreak later on."

"No, no, I'm really grateful. I just feel so useless, unable to..."

"Ah, stop with that. If it's not confirmed, why are you getting upset?"

"By the way, have you ever...?"

"No, no, we haven't even held hands..."

"Seriously? That's lame~"

Hearing the joking conversation inside, Tougou Toshizuo, shrouded in darkness, stood at the changing room door like a big gorilla, without making a sound.

As the baseball coach, he had to check the equipment and locker room after everyone left, making sure everything was secured.

Thus, he kept track of how many members had left and when.

He knew Katase Shouya hadn't left the locker room yet.

This was why he was eavesdropping at the door.

Just as he hoped, he overheard some valuable information.

Although he didn't know exactly what photo Tanabe had shown him, judging by Shouya's state, it wasn't hard to guess.

Tougou Toshizuo didn't care for anything that might affect Nanao and Shouya's relationship, whether true or false.

After all, he just needed to drug Shouya, make him invite Nanao out, and catch them in a compromising situation.

As for a meddler like Tanabe, no matter his intentions, the ugly bastard felt it necessary to give him a lesson.

After standing at the door for a bit longer and not hearing anything more useful, he quietly walked down the hallway.

Then he turned around and strode back to the locker room.

The distinct sound of his footsteps echoed in the corridor, alerting the two inside who were discussing a new game.

"The coach is here, hurry and change!"

"Okay, just a sec."

Bang, bang—

Hitting the locker room door twice, Tougou Toshizuo barked in a deep, gruff voice:

"What time do you think it is?
Are you guys still not going home? You think the training isn't tough enough? If you don't want to leave, I'll give you extra laps tomorrow!"

Click~

Opening the door, Katase Shouya and Tanabe, now in their school uniforms, stood side by side and bowed to Tougou Toshizuo:

"Sorry, Coach, we're leaving now!"

Glaring at Tanabe beside Shouya, the coach impatiently waved them off:

"Get out, both of you!"

"Yes, sir!"

Looking at their retreating figures, Tougou pulled out his phone and dialed a number:

"Help me teach someone a lesson tomorrow afternoon..."

…………