#volume11

____________________________

“Ah, what the- So it’s you Michimiya.”

The man who turned back, wearing a black jersey and holding a sports bag was, of course, Karasuno High School’s volleyball team captain, Sawamura Daichi.

Hahaha, she was told, “what the…”

Though slightly hurt by that, Michimiya without being disheartened asked Sawamura, “Why are you around here? What about today’s practice?”

“Ah, since we ended early today, I went to buy some things like my phone charger. Here.”

After showing the plastic bag from the electronics store, Sawamura continued. “I think it’s because it’s worn out but the one I’m currently using is in really bad shape. I thought that since I can also use it in Tokyo, I should probably prepare a replacement in advance. I just don’t want to panic when it happens.”

“Preparation for Spring High, huh?”

“Yeah. How about you? Where are you going, Michimiya?”

Being asked back, Michimiya hesitated just for a moment.

“Eh? Ah, I just went to hang out with Mao for a little bit. Did you know that we really ate a lot? Recently I’ve been wasting so much that my pocket money is not enough, and I certainly gained weight after retiring!” she said and laughed.

Ah-- what is she saying? She didn’t need to specifically say that she gained weight. Michimiya felt disheartened. However, Sawamura replied.

“Heeeh, Ukai-san also said the same thing before. He gained weight after he retired.”

The matter about girls’ talk of gaining and losing weight was completely ignored.

“Haha, is that so!”

Though laughing with all her might, Michimiya is feeling down.

---- Somehow, she feels like she's the only one pointlessly going around.

Sawamura who is standing before her is completely and truly the same as always. He is a person who just blurts out things like “How about we run for a bit right now?” whenever he likes and who makes a face of a typical men’s volleyball team captain. Michimiya is somehow pressed for words. She doesn't know what she should say. Maybe, “Ukai-san and I are similar then?” She can only say trivial things.

Why is that?

During middle school, she wasn’t this nervous when she was speaking to Sawamura. They even usually talked about things like their club activities, family matters, and tv programs. No, sometime in middle school until recently, she feels like there was no feeling of not knowing what she should talk about. Since when has it been like this?

“Michimiya, that’s where your house is, isn’t it? Because mine is straight ahead.”

“Yes.”

When she lifted her face, Sawamura was pointing across the pedestrian crossing. That’s right. They will separate ways from here on. Sawamura goes straight ahead while Michimiya crosses the pedestrian crossing to the other side.  

“Bye,” Sawamura said, and he quickly walked away.

“Ah, yeah bye.”

The moment she said that and waved her hand, a wave of sadness came over her.

Though it was one of the rare times they got to go home together, somehow the time passed indistinctly. At least, if the stoplight was red then he could have waited until it turned green, but it was already green. Rather, she could have called him out. No, isn’t it nice that until here they were able to walk together and talk a little? Like this, after a few months, it’ll be graduation.

That’s right. When this winter ends it’ll be graduation, and chance meetings like this will be gone. Ah-- but even if it’s like that, saying things like “bye,” he just went straight ahead like that as usual.

-----------------------------

Watching the back of Sawamura as he started to walk away, her chest got tighter. It’s difficult. Painful. The pain pushes tightly starting from her chest coming all the way up to her throat. It’s a reproachful green light and yet why does it flicker as if it drives her forward if she won’t cross the street. Ah, she hates it. She really hates it.

What she hates is that she's the only one who isn’t straightforward. She's weak, huh. She hates being weak. She wants to become stronger.  

Then once again, she slapped her cheeks and tried to motivate herself at that moment.

To find the way out, the pain, which had forcefully and continuously come up from her chest all the way up to her throat, had become words that popped out of her mouth.

“Sawamura!”

_______________________

“Yeah, what’s the matter?”

Sawamura who was called stopped just ahead and turned around.

“Eh? Ah, No…..Uhm, It’s…., E--- The, hahahaha…..”

What does she do? She's troubled. She didn’t have a purpose for stopping him.

Since the earlier “Sawamura!” was similar to a hiccup or a sneeze which selfishly came out of her mouth contrary to what she intended to do, she really didn’t have a purpose for calling him out. But, she can’t say that.

What to do? What to do? She should say something. It’s going to be weird if she doesn’t say something. Uhh….

Though Michimiya was in a hurry, when she found the bright street lamp by the road ahead, once again her hand moved before she could think. She pointed at the street lamp and said. “Ah! Uhh, Salt! Right, salt and soy sauce, then olive oil? Yup, that! Somehow it looks like they only have it at the big supermarket here. What’s that? Pickiness? My mom seems to have something like that? It’s troublesome, isn’t it?”

“Eh? Ah, is that so?”

Without noticing Michimiya’s slightly peculiar energy, Sawamura said, “Ukai-san also said something similar to that. Something about beer, I think?” He looked at the direction of the supermarket once again, “Then, we’re going in the same direction.” He ascertained. Michimiya, without knowing why,  thought “Thank you, Ukai-san!” While thanking him from the bottom of her heart, she nodded.

“Yes!”

“Then, let’s go?”

Behind the two who started walking, the stoplight turned red.

__________________

She lied.

The fact that she easily blurted out a lie, perhaps, she is bad. What does she do?

Mom, I’m so sorry. Until now, I planned to live an honest life but from today, I have become a bad liar.

As she was apologizing to her mother, the pain Michimiya felt until a while ago was gone. Her heart, on the contrary, was refreshed, her footsteps light. Even the awkwardness when speaking to Sawamura disappeared.

“Even so, it’s finally Nationals huh? It’s really amazing. Because when you speak of Spring High, it’s just so amazing that you’ve come to not really know what it is,” Michimiya said.

“That thing is not true right? Gestalt Collapse, huh.”

“No. But Spring High is just so unreachable. Ah, I shouldn’t say that. We aimed for that after all. However, rather than 'We’ll go to Nationals' things like ‘We won against Seijou’ or ‘We won against Shiratoriza’ are more familiar. You can actually feel it ‘like woah, it’s amazing!’”

“Aah, if it’s like that, I think I can understand.”

“For me, I can’t go to Tokyo but I’ll definitely watch on tv and give my support!” Michimiya replied.

“Aah, yes please.”

“But you see, both you and Sugawara are not only doing club activities but also studying at the same time, men’s volleyball really is amazing, huh.” While they were talking about things like that, Michimiya noticed something.

If it’s something about volleyball, they could talk normally. Ah, that’s right. It’s probably after she retired from club activities that she had come to not know what to talk about. Maybe it’s because they’re not both volleyball team captains anymore. Maybe it’s wrong? She wonders what it is. No, well, she guess it’s okay since they can freely talk if it’s about volleyball. However, up to the point that she told a lie, how is it that they can only talk about volleyball?

Sawamura without noticing the complicated feelings of Michimiya who was walking beside him, like the way he is, said and laughed. “No, back in first year I did receive failing marks you see. I’m worried about how next year will be.”

Things like who will be fit to be the next captain? Or how Seijou's 2nd years would be? What kind of people will Dateko’s 1st year players be? Even here, stories of nothing but club activities continue. If Sugawara were here, he'd probably say “You’re slow!” then get angry or laugh, but luckily or unluckily, Sugawara is not here. It’s only the two of them.

Then while both of them continued talking about their club activities, the two, at last, arrived in front of the Supermarket.

“Then, I’ll go shopping now!”

After she pointed at the almost blinding bright inside of the store, Michimiya laughed and then waved her hand as if it was nothing. “Bye!”

Truthfully, they were supposed to separate by the crossing but even if it’s just around 5 minutes, it was nice that they were able to walk together a bit longer. Yes, that’s good. She shouldn’t think things like disappointment or sadness, or “It’s ends here huh.” She told herself. However, not knowing about Michimiya’s resignation, Sawamura instead of waving back said, “I’m hungry. I think I’ll also buy something.”

_________________________

The apple is red and colorful while the carrot is bright orange. The radish somehow reminds her of negative things so she’ll ignore it while the cauliflower is fluffy like a puppy which makes it cute. The tofu is tightly lined up and if she looks at the Japanese pickled vegetables, surprisingly it’s beautiful as it is of various colors. How come? Was the supermarket always this sparkling? Michimiya cheerfully walks around the crowded store while holding an empty basket.

Whenever she goes out to the supermarket for errands she does not really think of anything but today whatever she sees looks delicious and fun. “Meat!” “Steaming Hot Pot!” Even the senseless BGM is fun. The various fruits, ice cream, pasta sauce, toothbrush, flour mix. The candies which change colors, even the combinations of sorts of the small steamed buns by grandma’s house. Anyhow, to the extent that she wants to put anything inside her basket, even herself knows that her spirits are way too high.

Calm down, dear self. It’s impossible. I can’t calm down.

“Ah, this one. Someone frequently bought this for me when I was a child. So it was 20 yen.”

Sawamura said who was beside Michimiya who in turn was holding a yogurt-flavored candy.

“This is the same one as Nishinoya ate just recently.”

“Eh, for real? It probably suits him.”

“Does cheap sweets suit him? Or does it not? No, wait. It does suit him.”

“Right?”

Then, they looked at each other and laughed.

Crap. This is fun. Forever and ever doing it like this.

“This. My mom usually buys this but honestly, it’s bitter.”

“No way! I discovered chocomint soy milk,” Michimiya exclaimed.

“Natto snack? What do you mean?”

I wanted to exchange things like that while walking round and round but I can’t do that. The things I have to buy have been decided beforehand. Truthfully, it’s okay even if I don’t buy anything.

“Uhh, salt, where is it again? This is where flour-related products are. Uhh… ah. There it is.”

As she arrived before the shelves where the condiments are, Sawamura who followed her was shocked.

“Wow. There are a lot. Which one are you buying?”

“Eh? Ah.. uuh”

Then, what should I buy?

More than she thought there were a lot of salt, salt, salt in front of her. Michimiya is at a loss. To begin with, she doesn't know what they were using at home. For now, she will just pick the one slightly expensive and put it in the basket. Well, it doesn’t really matter whatever she gets.

Beside her, Sawamura took the same salt and muttered, “Deep-sea water salt, huh. How is the taste different from the usual salt?”

“It’s a little mild, I think? But I’m not sure. I don’t lick only salt anyways.”

“Mildness, huh? I think I understand the differences in salt. I think if it’s Shimada-san, he probably knows.”

Looking at Sawamura’s face who was looking at the package of salt so earnestly, Michimiya, without thinking, laughed.

“What is it?” Sawamura questioned.

“Eh? No, it’s nothing! I just thought that maybe I should buy another one and try to compare them.” While dodging the question, Michimiya put a bag of ordinary table salt.

“Not a master of sake but a master of salt huh.”

“Yeah.”

Then, at the next shelf, she chose the barrel-prepared natural soy sauce because it also has a slightly higher price. Continuing at the opposite shelf, she chose the organic extra virgin olive oil.

“With these, I’m done! Then, what are you buying Sawamura? Bread? Onigiri?”

“Eh? Aah, do they have yakisoba bread?”

“You like that right?”

“It’s not that I particularly like it...wait? Hmm, do I like it?”

Sawamura is thinking while making a serious face again. It’s interesting.

But, to prevent not being asked “What is it?” again, Michimiya controlled herself from laughing and walked to search for bread. Not really. There’s not one thing that is particularly interesting. We’re just shopping as usual. But, she can’t help break into a smile anyway.

Eventually, she saw that there was no yakisoba bread. Worrying about what to get between hamburger bread and chicken sandwich was also fun. Choosing the money inside her wallet which was just barely enough was also fun. Everything was fun. Everything.

She probably understood the feelings of the people in musicals who suddenly sing and dance, Michimiya thought. If she does not pay attention and consciously make a meek face, she would  to an extent carelessly skip inside the store. She can’t help that it’s just a fun, fun shopping experience.

_________________________

After exiting the supermarket, Sawamura immediately started eating the hamburger bread. Based on the reasoning that the poor can’t afford manners, in front of a young high school man’s hunger, things like manners are too much.

“You’re really hungry huh.”

When Michimiya laughed, Sawamura inserted the straw into the packet of his milk coffee and strangely asked back, “Eh, there’s no need to lie right?”

Ah. My ears hurt.

It was when Michimiya looked down.

“Ah, it’s Karasuno’s volleyball team”

Suddenly, after the name of their school was called, Sawamura and Michimiya at the same time raised their heads. In front of their eyes were three men wearing blazers standing.

With a half-eaten hamburger bread in one hand, Sawamura opened his mouth.

“Ah. It’s Datekou’s Moniwa-kun and...”

That’s right. The ones who called out were Date Tech High School Volleyball team’s 3rd year students, Moniwa, Kamasaki and Sasaya.”

“Eh, people from Dateko?”

“Yeah.”

Though the two students from Karasuno were surprised with this sudden chance meeting, the students of Dateko, on the other hand do not at all express their surprise through words and instead are showing inexpressible discomposure.

If one thinks that the ex-captain Moniwa is retreating while unsteadily staggering, the former middle blocker Kamasaki stands dauntingly, with eyes open wide and barely moving. At their back, former wing spiker Sasaya calmly opened his eyes wide. Though for a short while the three were at a loss for words without even saying any greetings. Eventually they looked at each other’s dumbfounded faces and with trembling mouths, talked.

“Ha…. more than the fact that you're going to the Nationals, a man and woman walking side by side? What is this? What’s with that? Reality?”

“Wait, these two…shopping together?”

“Shopping...no way….perhaps, this is that rumored ‘Nabe-pa’?”

“Wait, Nabe-pa is an urban legend, right?”

“What urban legend? Do you understand what we’re saying?”

“Is it bad if I don’t understand?”

“Well, of course it's not good.”

He doesn’t understand what the conversation is about. He doesn’t understand, but looking at the people he knew suddenly start a useless quarrel in front of them, Sawamura cannot stand quietly.

“No, Uhh, Sasaya-kun? Here is the front of a store, so….” As he was trying to stop the scene, the other three, who were now looking teary-eyed, glared back at him. Without thinking, he winced. At that time, the three people from Dateko gave out something like those times when Sawamura, who unifies the 1st and 2nd year problem children of Karasuno, almost lost his nerves or probably some iron wall higher than the one they face during matches.

Watching the three fighting over nabe on the road, Sawamura said, “I think they’re the type best left as is.”

“I think so, too.” Michimiya firmly nodded.

Together, these two, as captains, have come to unify their team members. On one side they are not at all dull nor late bloomers, but they fundamentally excel in assessing the situation. These two decided that this is where they should draw back from the three.

“Let’s go."

“Yeah.”

Then, the two left the three players of Dateko and started walking away from the Supermarket.

“I wonder what that was?”

“Maa, there’s a lot of things.”

“Right.”

After laughing, they looked at each other.

“Well, since I go this way...”

“Aah”

“Bye”

Michimiya laughed. Today, they said several goodbyes. Yet, there was no sadness like the one she felt until a moment ago. If she said any complaints about having a fun time like this, surely she’ll be punished.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah.”

The two waved their hands and then, they walked onto their respective paths.

_____________________

After fixing her hold on the grocery bag, carrying it with two hands instead of one, she muttered to herself.

“So heavy--”

The bag contains 2 bags of 1kg salt, 1 liter of soy sauce, and 50 ml of olive oil packed in a glass bottle. There’s no way it’s light.

After all, these are not needed. It would have been good if she had chosen lighter ones. Something like pepper or wheat or fried tofu. Either way, how will she explain to her mom the salt, soy sauce and olive oil. She can’t say the truth. With that said, she also has to say another lie.

Be that as it may, she was paying for her sins, and her mind was cloudy. At that time, a voice behind her was heard.

“Michimiya!”

When she looks back, she is surprised. The person who was crossing the pedestrian is Sawamura whom she just parted with just now.

“Eh? Eh?!”

As she stood holding tightly the rustling heavy vinyl bag, Sawamura, who caught up, said,

“I forgot to say something.” His face changed to a serious one after he smiled.

When Michimiya straightened her back without thinking, Sawamura talked.

“Thank you for the protective charm you gave before.”

“Eh. Ah, yeah.”

“I’ll bring it to Spring High as well.”

After saying only that, Sawamura said, “Bye.”

Then again, he turned back and started walking.

“Ah, yeah!”

With his back facing her, replying only was the best she could do.

“.......................”

It’s the usual Karasuno Volleyball Team Jersey. The back of a black jersey which is more familiar than their uniform will immediately tell you it’s Sawamura. No matter how dark it is. No matter how far he is. There’s no mistaking it. Indeed, it’s a back that has the dependability of a captain.

------ Indeed a captain?

Michimiya thinks.

Was I able to show my friends and kouhai a back like that? Without being ashamed, was I able to perform and be devoted?

As soon as she thought of that, Michimiya shouted, “Wait!”

Sawamura stopped his feet and turned back. “What is it?”

Michimiya held out the heavy vinyl bag and said. “This! You see, this, today, the truth is we don’t really need it.”

“Eh? Ah, is that so?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry.”

Michimiya put her head down after saying that. Sawamura answered, as if he was slightly troubled.

“No, there’s no need to apologize, right.”

“No. It’s no good. Because….” Michimiya shakes her head.

Sawamura spoke. “It’s okay. Even if you don’t use it today, someday you’ll use it right?”

“Eh? Ah, yeah. That’s right but…”

That is true but the problem is---- As she was thinking that, Sawamura continued.

“Recently, Ukai-san said --”

“Eh? Ukai-san again?”

“Yeah. Somehow, when he went along to do his family’s shopping, he was asked to line up several times to buy this bread called “Only 1 Loaf of Bread” from one of the famous stores. They have to eat it before it goes bad so everyday, every meal he continues to buy the bread and with that, it was really tiring.”

Bread? What is he talking about? Michimiya was doubtful but Sawamura’s face was serious all throughout so in the meantime she’ll keep listening.

“If you compared that to the bread, the salt and the soy sauce isn’t so bad.”

“Ah, yeah. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t get moldy?”

“Right?”

“Yeaaah?”

So, that’s it. That’s what the story was about, huh. Will it get molds? Will it not get molds? Is it good to talk about mold? Salt certainly does not get molds but…

At that time, her head was full of things about mold.

Sawamura spoke again, “Then, tell me how the Deep-sea water salt tastes like.”

“Eh?”

“Hey, salt master. Earlier, you said that it might taste mild but on the contrary, without putting unnecessary things, there is a possibility that it’ll have a sharp taste, right?”

Being lured by Sawamura’s serious face all throughout, Michimiya forgot about molds and pondered.

“You’re right. Yeah, I’ll try it once I get home.”

“Well then, tomorrow, please let me know.”

After saying that and smiling, Sawamura said, “bye,” and once again turned on his heel.

“Yeah! Tomorrow!” She cheerfully called out and waved her hand.

She saw his back walk across the street and watched it grow smaller and smaller as he moved farther away. It was when he finally turned at the corner and disappeared from her sight that Michimiya released her breath.

“Tomorrow, huh.”

As she said that, she held her cheeks with her two hands.

Hot, I’m sure my face has become bright red. Good thing it is dark, she thought. Since I’m absolutely making a weird face.

As she breathed in the perfectly clear winter air with all her might, Michimiya looked up at the night sky.

“So Tomorrow!”

She breathes out all her feelings together with a frosty breath. Then she faced front and started walking. Holding the heavy and precious package, she embraced in heart her small, small promise with Sawamura.

Salt, it’s okay to just taste it as is but maybe she should try making an onigiri and compare? There's also the option of dipping boiled egg to it and eating it.

As she is thinking about things like that, she starts to run before she knows it.

Just by running, it feels like tomorrow will come faster.

-------END------

Some Translation Notes:

Gestalt Collapse: ゲシュタルト崩壊 (Gestalt Collapse) is a term in Japanese which describes the phenomenon of a complex character breaking down into its component parts in one's mind and losing its meaning if one stares at it for a short while. Source: http://www.antimoon.com/forum/t8706.htm (Will try to find a more reliable source)

"Not a master of sake but a master of salt huh.” The original line is 効き酒ならぬ、効き塩 (Kikisake naranu kikishio) An alternative translation is "It's tasting salt instead of tasting sake"

Nabe - Hot Pot

Kouhai - Lower classmen

Nabe-pa - Short-term for Nabe Party

Natto - Fermented Soybeans

Tsukemono - Japanese Pickled Vegetables

一斤限り Ikkinkagiri Is the Japanese name of the bread the Ukai-san bought. There's no official translation for the name yet so I did my best to translate in English. 一斤 ikkin means loaf of bread while 限り means limit/only/degree.