[30] Excuse me?

Staring at the academy building in front of him, Izumo let out a satisfied breath before he shortly entered the premises.

'I'm back'

Izumo smiled as he finally came back from the Saitama Prefecture.

Although, he was only gone for one day...

But for him, it felt longer instead since the duel against Isagi was so fun that he assumed that it had gone on for days.

Of course, now that he was here, Izumo was wondering how many goals the team scored during their first match.

He didn't even have the slightest doubt that his team would lose.

After all, he got to know everyone well plus he had read the data the Suzuki twins gathered and there weren't any notable players that could be a threat to them.

So naturally, he had confidence that they would win the very first match without him.

It was also the reason why he took it upon himself to skip it since he trusted his teammates enough.

And speaking about the tournament, it seems Hakuho High wasn't listed among the participants which disappointed him a bit.

This meant that it would only be next year before he got to play against Reo and Nagi.

'Oh well, I can wait'

Izumo thought while walking through the hallways with his hands in his pocket, heading toward his classroom.

But as he strolled toward his destination, he noticed something unusual in the air.

Every student he passed by discreetly glanced at him in...

Pity?

'What's wrong with them?'

Izumo asked nobody but himself, pondering the strange behaviors as well as the odd stares they were giving him.

For some reason, he felt uneasy and apprehensive about the atmosphere.

'Something's wrong... but what exactly?'

Izumo rubbed his chin in contemplation as the more students passed by, the more strange looks toward him increased.

Frankly, he should already be used to such attention but this one was just different from the usual days.

Although he had tried to ignore them...

But unfortunately, it was proving quite difficult to do so.

And as he closed in toward his classroom, he happened to catch up with Tachibana, prompting him to greet her.

"Good morning"

"...?!"

Upon hearing Izumo's voice behind her, Tachibana flinched for a moment before she turned around and saw him.

For about a minute or so, Tachibana and Izumo were in a staring contest with nobody speaking a word, making the young man uncomfortable.

"Uh... hi?"

Izumo awkwardly greeted her again, trying to pacify the awkward atmosphere.

On the other hand, Tachibana flinched again, seemingly realizing her mistake upon hearing him as she hurriedly bowed in response in order to greet back.

And yet again, the atmosphere turned awkward and silent again for no reason at all.

"So... shall we go?"

Izumo asked her since for one, the class was about to start and two, he wanted to get out of this situation.

"Mn"

Tachibana nodded as she too realized the time.

And shortly after, the two walked and headed together to their classroom in silence.

'Why does this feel awkward...?'

Izumo wondered and didn't know why he was feeling uncomfortable being with her alone.

For one, he was an old man...

Well, mentally anyway.

Still, someone like him with 80 years of experience should be mature and calm in this sort of situation.

Sure he died without having someone by his side but he at least had some experience with women.

So how come he was starting to feel nervous and awkward with her?

And coupled with the fact that he was getting strange and odd gazes from the others.

The situation was straight up just giving him a headache.

'Where the hell is Takashi when I need him?!'

Izumo grumbled inside his mind as he really needed something to distract himself from the current situation.

Unfortunately for him, Takashi didn't show up at all even until the end as the two finally reached the door to their classroom.

And just as Izumo was about to open it, Tachibana suddenly interrupted him with a bag of...

'Nuts? And it's almond as well'

Izumo tilted his head to the side as imaginary question marks appeared above his head after seeing the bag of nuts shoved in front of his face.

He couldn't help but stare at her, trying to get a read at her expression.

Sadly, Tachibana had an incredible poker face.

"Is this...?"

"I don't need it"

"Uh... okay?"

Izumo became even more confused as Tachibana just handed him a bag of nuts which she clearly didn't want.

Now he was wondering why she gave it to him now and not earlier.

But it seemed it wasn't his problem now since Tachibana shortly opened the door and entered first.

And he was just left there standing dumbfounded with a bag of almond nuts.

"Thanks, I guess?"

With no choice, Izumo just stuffed the nuts inside his pocket, deciding to worry about it later as he too entered the room.

But as he did so, most of his classmate's attention immediately went to him.

'Again, seriously?'

Izumo was starting to get annoyed as he really needed to know what exactly was happening.

Luckily for him, his friend Takashi was inside the room which meant he had someone he could ask about this strange situation.

"Yo"

Izumo walked up toward Takashi and greeted him, making the young man immediately turn around.

"Izumo! You're back!"

"Yea-"

"Are you okay?!"

"...hm?"

Hearing his abrupt strange question, Izumo had to take a second to process the words.

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure"

"I'm pretty sure, buddy"

Although Izumo reassured him, Takashi still looked concerned before he suddenly shoved his pocket and took out a bag of...

'Nuts...?'

Seeing the bag of nuts again, Izumo blinked his eyes a couple of times, wondering why it was nuts again.

'What's with the nuts today? Is it Nut Day or something?'

Izumo questioned after being handed another bag of nuts from Takashi.

"Why... exactly did you give this to me? It wouldn't happen to be because you didn't need it right?"

"Huh? No... It's for your balls"

"...excuse me?"

Upon hearing his response, Izumo was very much taken aback by the answer and couldn't help but ponder if it was a joke or something.

"I'm sorry... but could you say that again?"

"It's for your balls"

"..."

Izumo shut his mouth and took a deep breath before raising his hands and putting them on Takashi's shoulders.

"Could you kindly explain your words to me, buddy?"

"Uh... you're scaring me, Izumo"

"Scaring? Nay, I'm merely asking what you meant by... my balls"

"Oh... isn't it because you have a hernia?"

"???"

"I heard nuts are a good way to heal them"

Takashi answered innocently, making Izumo sigh as he couldn't get angry at such an innocent young man.

Though at least he now knows why Tachibana suddenly gave him nuts as well as the odd looks the others were giving him.

"I see, I see... and whence did you hear that upon?"

"Oh, I heard it came from your coach"

"..."

"It was something about you training too hard and straining your balls because of it"

"Hoh... I see"

Izumo put away his hands off Takashi's shoulders before rubbing his forehead in silent frustration.

"Thank you for telling me that, buddy"

"Of course!"

Takashi beamed a smile, feeling quite happy at being appreciated.

Meanwhile, Izumo simply sighed and shook his head, feeling defeated on the inside.

'I've been had'