I'm in Love with the Gorilla Sitting Next to Me - Volume 1 Chapter 2.6

From my first encounter with Gorilla-san to the present 6

“Gossan, did you do karate or something?”

“You’re casting too wide of a net, but I have no experience in martial arts or combat sports. I did participate in a kids’ sumo tournament when I was in elementary school.”

“Oh, really? Why’s that?”

“I was lured by the prize. I was just a kid, after all.”

“That makes sense. So, how did it go?”

“Luckily, I won. I was happy to get the game console I wanted.”

A game console? That must have been quite a big tournament. And she won…

“…One more thing. What club were you in during junior high?”

“The tennis club. Soft tennis, that is.”

“…So, someone with the potential to win a sumo tournament without any experience, wielding a racket during her growth spurt… That’s basically a weapon…”

“…It seems you really want another one, huh?”

Just as Gossan uttered those ominous words and emitted a dangerous aura, the classroom door opened and the homeroom teacher entered with a nonchalant ‘Sorry for being late.’ If you’re going to be late, you should at least let us know. My dash from the bike parking was completely in vain.

But well, thanks to that, I was spared from Gossan’s second attack. She wasn’t even looking at me anymore. Being a serious gorilla, she’s not the type to continue fooling around when the teacher is present.

So, having narrowly escaped, I started preparing for class while the teacher went over some trivial announcements, and just as I let my guard down, the teacher quickly left the classroom. Almost simultaneously, I received a second strike from Gossan and ended up letting out a pathetic scream.

◇ ◆

“By the way, Gossan. What are you going to do about club activities?”

It was a break between classes on a day in late April, with no particular assignments or need to move around. I casually struck up a conversation with the person next to me out of boredom, remembering that from the following week, each club would start accepting new members for trial participation.

Gossan, who was about to open a paperback book covered with a slip, repositioned her floral bookmark, which seemed out of place for a gorilla, and turned to me, saying,

“I haven’t decided where to join yet, but I’m planning to join a sports club. I’ve already received some invitations.”

“Oh? Planning to join the same club as your friends?”

“No, it’s from a Senpai I don’t know. It seems they noticed my height, and I’ve been scouted by both the volleyball and basketball clubs.”

A scout, huh? When you’re as tall as Gossan is in our class, I guess that happens.

“So, you gonna go for volleyball or basketball? What about tennis that you said you played in middle school?”

“I played it for three years, so I think that’s enough. Besides, if it weren’t for the guilt of having my parents pay for the racket, I probably would have quit within a year.”

“Huh, didn’t like it that much?”

“It’s not that I disliked tennis itself. It’s just that I was bad at it.”

His tone was matter-of-fact, but I didn’t miss the slight downturn of her thick gorilla lips. It seemed like a frustrating experience for her, but not enough to ignite a passion for revenge in high school. I would have loved to see a gorilla swinging a tennis racket, but oh well.

“I’m planning to try out a few clubs before deciding, but what about you, Saiki-kun?”

“I’ll also try out some clubs before deciding. With sports clubs, you can usually see them in action, but with cultural clubs, it’s often said that they’re completely different from what you imagine unless you actually check them out.”

I have a few ideas about where to start. But since joining a club or society is mandatory, there are several similar ones to choose from. I need to carefully consider which one seems like the best fit.

…And for some reason, Gossan was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

“Hm? Something wrong?”

“No… I just assumed you would join a sports club, Saiki-kun.”

“Ah, you’re underestimating me, Gossan. Sure, I may give off a sporty and refreshing impression, but in fact, I also have a side that loves indoor and artistic activities.”

“Such a sudden revelation of an unknown person’s story. Is this a setting from your past life?”

I was completely denied my current existence with a serious face. It was meant to be a joke, but it’s too sad. Well, I guess Gossan is also somewhat joking, so whatever.

“I played various sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, and others up to middle school. But since this school has many unique clubs, including societies, I thought I might as well join one that suits me, you know?”

“Is that so? Do you have something in mind that you want to do?”

“As long as it’s fun, anything’s good! But since I’ve done quite a bit of sports, I’m thinking of going for something indoor.”

“Are you not planning to work part-time?”

“Ah, I wanted to, but it seems tough. If I find something with the right conditions, I’d like to do it.”

Having my own money depending on my work is very appealing, but in my case, there’s the super handicap of seeing women as animals. I learned from my uncle that this would be a significant minus in customer service… It could lead to angering customers a lot.