Short Program 22

Short Program, Volume 2, Chapter 22 (pp. 205~233)


<205>
Spring Passes


<206>
SCREECH

=A rugby game?

=Hah, like anyone would want to see that.

BATHUMP

=Hey, Kenji—!


<207>
[x2]WA—


<208>
=Kenji—Wait—!

=—Geez.

=It's Uehara.
=That bastard—!

=Don't.


<209>
=Who's playing who?
=My old school against Onrin Tech...
WA—

=Old school?
=Tatekura High...
WA—

=Wow—//So you're pretty smart, huh?


<210>
=Let's say there's a pair of girl's gym shorts, and a girl's handkerchief.

=Huh?

=You know,//—Hypothetically.
=Which is worse, stealing the shorts or the handkerchief?

=Who cares.
=It's the gym shorts, right? 'Cause it's more perverted?

=It's the same.//Theft is theft.

=R-//Really?


<211>
=Dude,//Hypothetical my ass!

=It's Tomomi Sakamoto's, isn't it!?

=I happened to stop by they girls volleyball clubhouse,//The door happened to be open,//And the place happened to be empty,//So I happened to...
=That's enough coincidences for one day,//Mister.

=...You're right. Theft is theft.//Then maybe I...
[x2]SNIFF
=Should've stolen the gym shorts instead?

=How bad is this?
=You a first-timer?

=O-Of course I am! I've never ever stolen anything up until—
=Very well. I forgive you, Kitayama.

=But gimme half.
=Whoa!//Stop!


<212>
=ACHOO—!

=Hey, isn't it a bit chilly?
=You should've dressed warmer.


<213>
=I'll be waiting in the car, okay?

=You were still around?

=I was going back and forth taking care of things.
=—But today's my last day.

=4 years in Tokyo away from your parents...//Hope you have a nice time.


<214>
WA—

=They're getting crushed.
=Yeah...

=They'll probably never make it to the nationals again.//Our rugby team...


<215>
=Did you know,

=I got a love letter from Kitayama-kun?

=You know how to spell "soy sauce?"
=Shaddup!

=I know.

=It was the first time I got a real love letter,

=So it took me three days to write a reply.


<216>
=Kenji!

=Gimme a ride!
=I can't.

=Everyone's counting on you to be the next big rugby star.//Just imagine what would happen if I got you in an accident.

=C'mon, just over to my house!//Please, I'm in a hurry!
=What for?

=TA-DAH

=The reply!//From Sakamoto—!
=Did you read it?

=No way! I can't read it here!//I gotta get back to my room, lock the door, and calm myself down first!
=Please Kenji!


<217>
=Alright, fine.

=Here,//You wear the helmet.
=What about you?

=I'd rather die than get you injured.
=Hey, don't say that.

=Too slow!//The passes are too damn slow!
=Geez, what the hell are they doing!?

=Does your arm still hurt?

=...Nah.


<219>
=You alright, Tetsu!?

=Yup!


<220>
=My reply...
WA—

=Kitayama-kun's mother,
=Said you read it for him...

=Yeah...


<221>
=Read it for me,//...Kenji.

=Don't be so... Solemn.

=You free on Sunday?
=Huh?


<222>
=She says okay, playboy.

="There's loads of stuff we need to talk about,"//"So let's meet next Sunday, 9:00 am at the park fountain next to the station."
=—Got that?

=9:00 in the morning, huh...//Saturday... I've got a game.

=That's not good...//I usually can't wake up early... The day after a game.

=Don't worry.//No matter how tired you are, you won't get any sleep the night before your first date.

=...You've got a point.


<223>
=Kitayama-kun's mother thanked me.
WA—

=She told me,//My letter let him to go in peace...


<224>
TWEE—T

=Alright!//Well done!

=Don't cry.
=It's up to you guys now.


<225>
=He was the kindest, most easygoing guy there ever was...

=But there was one time Kitayama really got angry and whacked me in the face.

=Do you know why?

=No...

=Because I talked trash about you.


<226>
=Good luck.

=Thanks...


<227>
=Are you done, Kenji?

=Okay,//Let's go driving.

=Kenji?

=Kenji!


<228>
TWEE—T

[sign]Tatekura Private High School


<229>
=My name is Tomomi Sakamoto.//I'm from Sakuragi junior-high.

I like Uehara-kun.

I'm sorry


<230>
=She says okay.

Good luck...


<231>
HO—NK


<232>
HO—NK

Spring Passes (END)