The Uniregular Sport School
Chapter 3: Suddenly Popular

It had been about tens of minutes I was walking around the school, but almost all the way I was always seen by many students. It started when I was walking in the second grade area and almost got hit by a baseball.

Many second graders were watching a baseball game on the field and occasionally I also watched the game while walking casually.

But it is unfortunate that the match has entered the final round, but, if the hitter manages to hit the ball away then their team will win or if the hitter fails to hit the ball then the victory will be obtained by the throwing team and the game is over.

The sound of cheers was clearly heard from the students who were watching.

Now that it was a tense deciding round, the gazes of the students including me were focused on looking at the match without even blinking.

The pitcher immediately throws his ball at the hitter with a bang, some spectators hope that the hitter can not hit him and some hope that the hitter can hit him hard and far.

The ball went fast, but it is unfortunate that the hitter can hit the ball hard.

The ball hit hard and far to bounce high, it signifies victory for the hit team and makes the whole field more excited. The whistle sounded and the match was over.

Even though the match was over, the spectators did not leave but instead looked up.

One thing I barely realized, the ball that was hit was still soaring and was pointing at me at high speed.

I actually noticed it a little when the sunlight suddenly darkened in my vision. That's why I can reflexively catch the ball with my right hand.

At first I thought catching a baseball was common, but when I threw it on the field and was about to go back to my classroom, many of the spectators who contained 2nd grade students immediately looked at me and then spoke to each other afterwards.

"Seriously?! He caught it with his bare hands?"

"Who is he? New student?"

"It looks like he's a freshly-entered 1st grader, he can, too, catch the blow of our school's Ace"

"My hand could have been broken if it had been received empty-handed like that, Anthony's punch was indeed terrible!"

My hearing is so good that I can hear small voices or other people's whispers, but because of this I am also sensitive to humming and sometimes it can make me out of focus.

From what I heard, they kind of admired me for being able to catch a ball that was hit by that guy. It seems like that person is named Anthony and also he is a school Ace.

Hearing this made me wonder if I should look in pain to keep his good name as Ace.

If I look ordinary, it might have an impact on my life here. But to be honest, I didn't feel anything when I caught it, all I felt was the sensation of a round baseball and it felt soft to me.

A moment after thinking I decided to act by holding my right hand to look like I was in pain.

This time I really wanted to go back to my class to find a partner, but I did not expect many 2nd graders to come and crowd me.

"Hey, how did you catch him? That's so cool!"

"Can you name and class?!"

"You can too! but your hands are in pain, are you okay?"

"Yeah..Yow! Nice catch guys, even new students can look really cool!"

I was showered with questions and admiration by them, but I could only hear a few as they almost spoke simultaneously.

Now I have to answer some of the questions I heard. If I just run away then I will be considered arrogant by them.

"Emm. My name is Satomi Adney from class 1-E, thanks for the attention, although it hurts but my hand is fine, haha!"

I answered them with a small laugh, at least I opened my voice and answered a few of the questions they asked.

"Please excuse me, I want to go back to my class!"

Finished a short goodbye, I slowly broke through the crowd and left them. Luckily they gave me a way and nothing stood in the way.

I was still walking while holding my right hand, it was acting so I looked like I was in pain. Now I'm back to my first goal of returning to class, but I feel a lot of eye gazes are pointing at me.

This was different from me going around before, indeed many students were looking at me as well, but they only saw me as a new student. This time I felt a much sharper gaze and it was clearly very different from before, before I caught a punch from the school Ace.

I also hoped that my ears would not function properly so as not to hear their words, but it was in vain because I could still hear them clearly.

"Look at the boy! I heard he could catch Anthony's punch with his bare hands!"

"Eh... empty hands? Seriously..!?"

"He's in pain, but he's good enough to catch it perfectly, after all he's only E-class, right?"

"That's right, but somehow my hand also felt pain!"

"Maybe he too, if it's not a mistake to name Satomi right? But isn't she in the wrong class?"

"Come"

Giving up on the hope of shutting off ear function, I decided to ignore it and continued walking.

It's a good time for me to think and plan things ahead, I'll stop thinking about it after I get to class.

First of all, I saw many students manage to catch a baseball from the Ace's punch, so this news would quickly spread throughout the school due to word of mouth. If it had been like that, I would have really become popular and this would have had a big impact on my life here.

Second, by taking advantage of my own popularity, maybe I can get a partner more easily.

I didn't feel like I was already in the first-class area, but I was still thinking about a few things and there was still a lot I hadn't thought about. Class 1-E is at the end so there is still about 2 minutes to get there.

I don't know why this time I even use to think about whether the woman next to me already has a partner or not, even though I am very sure that people seem to have definitely got it.

Honestly, when I first saw her, my heart was beating fast and I thought she was really pretty.

I'm changing my mind now, I wish I could get along with him as a couple, not as my countryman.