Oh right, I did mention Tomoko-san's situation when I asked for time off from practice.
When I had requested leave from the water polo club, I'd explained the circumstances to Lisa Shiraishi. She'd also met Matsumoto Tomoko before, so her concern was completely natural.
"Matsumoto-san's injuries have improved dramatically, actually. Since she usually takes such good care of me, I felt obligated to help her out a little when she needed it," I explained, keeping things appropriately vague.
"That's exactly what I'd expect from Ginjo-san—you're such a gentle and considerate person," Lisa Shiraishi replied, and I could see something thoughtful in her expression.
"But I can definitely make it to water polo practice after school today, so I'll be able to help Shiraishi-senpai with training," I said, steering the conversation back to safer territory.
"That's wonderful news! We actually have a friendly match scheduled with Makino University next week, so we really need to prepare properly," she replied with obvious enthusiasm.
"Friendly match?" I asked, genuinely confused by this development.
"It was just confirmed yesterday, actually. I was planning to tell you about it during this afternoon's practice session."
"This weekend, we're going to compete against the water polo club from Makino University. Their president contacted me directly to arrange it," Lisa Shiraishi explained.
"I see. Then we definitely need to prepare thoroughly. This will be the water polo club's first official match, right?"
"Exactly! The team members are incredibly excited, but they're also pretty nervous..." she admitted.
"Well, that's completely natural. After all, this is our first real combat situation," I nodded understandingly.
"Then let's meet at the swimming pool after classes end, Ginjo-san."
We'd arrived at the school building during our conversation, and Lisa Shiraishi gave me a gentle wave goodbye as we headed to our respective destinations.
What had started as me joining the water polo club purely as eye candy to attract female members had evolved into something resembling actual coaching responsibilities.
And now I found myself genuinely developing an interest in this relatively obscure sport. Through water polo, my relationship with Lisa Shiraishi was becoming increasingly... complex.
Is it getting closer? Or just more professionally intertwined? Hard to say.
While I was contemplating these developments and watching Shiraishi-senpai's retreating figure, someone suddenly slapped my shoulder from behind with enough force to nearly knock me off balance.
What the hell—
"Morning, Ginjo-san!" came a familiar voice that immediately identified the perpetrator.
Of course. Who else would assault people as a form of greeting?
Just from the tone alone, I knew exactly who had decided to use violence as their preferred morning salutation.
"Good morning, Okamoto. Why are you so unusually energetic today?" I asked while changing my shoes at the lockers, simultaneously greeting my over-enthusiastic classmate.
He seems even more hyper than usual, which is saying something.
"What do you mean 'today'? I'm always incredibly energetic, thank you very much! You could say I'm the very definition of 'high spirits'!" Ryuichi Okamoto protested indignantly.
"I think you're more like the definition of 'spirited young man,'" I replied with deliberate ambiguity.
"What?!" Okamoto looked genuinely confused by my comment, his brain clearly struggling to process whatever subtext I'd just delivered.
But his confusion didn't last long. Soon he abandoned trying to decipher my meaning and draped his arm around my neck with the gossipy expression of someone who'd just discovered juicy secrets.
"Just how close are you and President Shiraishi anyway? I keep seeing you two walking to school together," he said with the kind of knowing smirk that suggested he thought he'd uncovered something scandalous.
While speaking, Ryuichi Okamoto turned his head to stare in the direction where Lisa Shiraishi had just disappeared, like a detective gathering evidence.
"We just happened to run into each other at the school gate. We're in the same club, after all—it's not that unusual," I explained with deliberate casualness.
I knew exactly what kind of salacious details he was fishing for, but I had no intention of feeding his gossip addiction.
"But you're not just normal club seniors and juniors, are you? You were together during the school festival too," he pressed, his smile gradually becoming more suggestive and borderline perverted.
"Hey, hey—how can a grown man be this gossipy?" I asked with mock contempt, though I couldn't help but be slightly amused by his obvious fascination.
"I'm not being gossipy! I'm just... curious. How does a girl like President Shiraishi—who's normally so unattainable and intimidating—seem to become so much more approachable when she's around you?"
"Ginjo-san, how do you manage to get along so well with girls? Can you share some wisdom with your less fortunate brothers?" he asked with the desperate expression of someone seeking enlightenment.
I looked at Okamoto Ryuichi with genuine surprise, placing my hand on his forehead in an exaggerated gesture of concern.
"Okamoto, do you have a fever or something? Why are you asking about girls? Haven't you always been completely disdainful of campus romance?" I asked, genuinely puzzled by this sudden shift in his priorities.
The same guy who regularly mocks couples is now asking for relationship advice?
"Ahem... people change, you know? Especially college guys—our interests are constantly evolving," he replied, clearly embarrassed at having his true motivations exposed.
After hearing my pointed question, Ryuichi Okamoto began making increasingly random excuses to cover his obvious interest.
The lady doth protest too much.
"Have you developed feelings for a specific girl?" I asked directly, cutting through his deflection attempts.
"Not... exactly. I was just thinking about how I might... get in contact with someone. Maybe see if any sparks fly," he admitted reluctantly.
"'Sparks fly'? How can a grown man like you say such incredibly cheesy things?" I replied with obvious disdain for his romantic vocabulary.
In response to my mockery, Ryuichi Okamoto didn't even try to defend himself—he just looked frustrated and slightly defeated.
"Are you genuinely serious about this?" I asked, softening my tone when I saw his expression.
Seeing his obvious distress, I couldn't help but sigh quietly.