[ENG] Submission Gymnasium Storeroom [240728][RJ01230764]

As the founder and reluctant leader of the school’s “Game Club,” I often wondered if the title suited me at all. After all, there were only two members in the club, myself and Airi Himesaki, a bright and undeniably cute girl who was far more skilled at games than I could ever hope to be. 

Every match we played ended with the same result: her victory and my defeat. At first, I brushed it off with forced laughter, but deep inside, frustration grew. Each loss felt like a reminder that my efforts were never enough. I started pouring more time into practice, studying strategies, and analyzing her techniques, yet the gap between us only seemed to widen. The more I struggled, the more she shone. It wasn’t just about games anymore; it became a battle of pride. I wanted, no, needed to prove to myself that I could surpass her one day.

Himesaki, however, seemed to sense my hidden frustration. Instead of offering sympathy, she teased me playfully, her smile equal parts charming and infuriating. “If you’re this frustrated, why don’t you try harder? Or maybe even challenge me differently?” Her words, light as they were, struck deeper than I cared to admit. They weren’t just taunts about a game; they felt like challenges to my resolve, daring me to break past my limits. 

Normally, I would have smiled weakly and ignored her provocation, but something inside me shifted. This time, I couldn’t let it go. I began to plan seriously, searching for an opportunity to face her in a setting where I could give everything without distraction. The place I chose was the gymnasium storeroom, quiet and isolated. If I was ever going to prove myself, it would be there, just the two of us, and the determination burning inside me.