体育館のボールかぞえ

Because first period today was P.E., she was told that they wanted her to count the balls before class.

Because they had used many of them in practice last week, there was a need to check whether the number matched.

Aya also called out to Mika, who had come early.

The two received the key to the equipment room and went inside.

Inside, basketballs, volleyballs, and dodgeballs were in separate baskets.

First, they looked at the big sheet of paper and checked how many of each there were supposed to be.

There were supposed to be ten basketballs, eight volleyballs, and six dodgeballs.

When Aya counted the basketballs, she noticed that one was missing.

Mika looked under the basket and found a ball that had rolled to the back.

When she took it, the count matched right away.

But this time, it seemed that the air in one volleyball had gone out a little.

So that the teacher could look at it, the two put that ball into a separate box.

The teacher said, “I’ll put air in it later, so please attach a paper so it is clear.”

Aya wrote “put in air” on a small piece of paper and tied it with string.

Mika also aligned the balls so they would be easy to take in the order they would be used.

After that, they also found a shelf whose old name label was starting to peel off.

Thinking that at this rate the next person might make a mistake, they decided to make new labels.

The two wrote the names of the balls in large letters with a red pen and a black pen.

So that they could be read even from far away, they also drew lines under the letters.

When they finished putting them up, the inside of the equipment room became easier to understand than before.

Just then, a first-year student came to get a ball.

The first-year student said happily, “It is easier to see than before. I found it right away.”

Aya felt that not only counting them, but also arranging them while thinking about the people who use them, is important.

Before the first-period bell rang, the work ended, and the two headed to the gym feeling relieved.