Chapter 2 The Sound of the World Ending... What's That?
Thursday arrived, and with it, the much-anticipated sports festival. It wasn’t as grand as the athletic meet held shortly after summer break, but the half-day event had the students buzzing with excitement.
“It’s basically half a day of messing around, right?” one student said, grinning.
“That’s what makes it awesome! Even just watching is a blast!” another chimed in.
“Totally!”
“Let’s go check out the girls’ games first!”
“No classes for half a day? Days like this are the best!”
“I wish it could go on forever.”
Some students were hyped simply because classes were canceled, while others weren’t shy about their eagerness to ogle the girls as they played. Either way, everyone was having a great time, each in their own way.
“…Hm?”
I was wondering what to do until my event when I felt a light tap on my back. Could it be…? I turned around, and sure enough, there stood Aina-san and Arisa-san.
“Heyy♪” Aina-san greeted with her usual bubbly energy.
“Planning to take it easy until your turn?” Arisa-san asked, her tone teasing yet refined.
I nodded in response. “Yeah, but my match with Kai is coming up soon, so I’ll probably cheer him on. I should be able to catch your games afterward, too.”
“Really?” Aina-san’s eyes sparkled.
“…Heh, so Hayato-kun gets to witness our showdown,” Arisa-san said with a sly smile.
“Bring it on!” Aina-san shot back, her voice brimming with confidence.
The air crackled between them, sparks practically flying as they locked eyes. They stepped closer, their postures intense, as if they were about to start wrestling right there.
“The winner gets to flirt with Hayato-kun, and the loser has to watch from the sidelines… How’s that sound?” Arisa-san proposed, her voice dripping with challenge.
“I’m in. I’m definitely winning,” Aina-san declared, unfazed.
Wait, what? They were making all these decisions without me!
As they pressed closer, their… ahem, generous assets practically squaring off, they exchanged provocative smirks. The scene was straight out of a manga—eye candy, sure, but the sheer intensity of their rivalry was overwhelming.
“Arisa~…?” a voice called out.
“Aina~…?” another followed.
Their friends had come looking for them but froze, sensing the charged atmosphere. They glanced at me, their expressions screaming: What’s going on here?
(This is intense, huh?)
(What happened?)
(They’re settling who’s top dog, apparently.)
(Ohh, nice!)
(The ultimate sister showdown!!)
Okay, that conversation didn’t actually happen, but their looks conveyed it all. They gave me awkward smiles, clearly picking up on the situation.
“Come on, Arisa, let’s go!”
“Aina, we’re heading out!”
“Got it. See you later, Hayato-kun,” Arisa-san said with a wave.
“Later, Hayato-kun!” Aina-san added, mimicking her sister’s gesture.
“Yeah,” I replied, waving back as I watched them walk away. I headed toward the spectator seats where Sota was waiting.
“…Man, getting called by my first name at school’s become the norm, huh?” I mused. It was hard to believe I used to call them Shinjo-san, or that they called me Domo-kun. Now, being on a first-name basis felt so natural I barely thought about it.
“Yo, kept you waiting,” I said, plopping down next to Sota.
“’Bout time,” he replied, his eyes fixed on Kai, who was warming up.
Kai was in top form, passing smoothly with his teammates and sinking clean shots toward the goal. But the opposing team had a few basketball club members, so even with Kai’s skills, it was shaping up to be a tough match.
“Club guys are on another level, huh?” Sota remarked, watching the court. “Makes me think… We soccer players are kinda the same, right?”
“Yeah, no kidding. I can’t pull off those slick dribbles or killer shots like the soccer club guys,” I admitted.
“Right? I try to put power into my kicks, and all I get is a sore toe,” Sota groaned.
“I feel you. It hurts,” I said, laughing.
As we chatted, Kai’s match began. Just as we’d feared, the basketball club players dominated, steadily widening the point gap. But a mid-game substitution brought a basketball club member onto Kai’s team, and the momentum shifted dramatically.
“Go, Kai!!” Sota roared, his voice practically shaking the gym.
Caught up in his energy, I leaned forward and shouted, “Show ’em what you’ve got, Kai!!”
My voice came out louder than I expected, echoing through a brief lull in the gym’s noise. It rang out way too clearly.
“…”
“Pfft, perfect timing for that awkward silence, huh?” Sota snickered.
“Shut up…” I muttered, shrinking under the stares of classmates, seniors, and juniors alike. I looked down, my face burning.
“Look, even the Shinjo sisters are laughing,” Sota teased, pointing.
I glanced up to see Arisa-san and Aina-san with their friends, waving at me with amused smiles. Their friends were chuckling too, but it wasn’t mocking—more like friendly teasing. I knew them through Arisa-san and Aina-san, so it wasn’t too bad.
“Guess stuff like this happens,” I said, trying to play it cool.
“Yeah,” Sota agreed. “But check it out—our cheering lit a fire under Kai.”
Sure enough, Kai’s movements sharpened. Already impressive, he now darted under the basket with lightning speed, sinking a smooth shot.
“Hell yeah!” I cheered.
“That’s it, Kai!” Sota shouted.
Kai flashed us a peace sign before diving back into the game with renewed focus.
“When Kai’s fired up, he’s unstoppable,” Sota said, grinning.
“No doubt,” I agreed. “Hey, Sota.”
“Yeah?”
“Doesn’t his face right now remind you of when we first met him? That intense, ‘I’m gonna crush you’ look?”
“…Yeah, kinda,” Sota said, nodding thoughtfully.
While Kai fought hard on the court, we got lost reminiscing. We kept cheering, but old memories took over, and we ended up chatting about the past. In the end, Kai’s team pulled off the win, earning a break until the next round.
“Nice job, Kai,” I said as he joined us.
“You killed it out there,” Sota added.
“Thanks! You guys cheering really helped!” Kai said, grinning.
Aw, shucks. Hearing that made me happy. If our support gave him a boost, I hoped he’d keep winning.
“Here, sports drink,” I said, handing him a bottle.
“Thanks!” Kai chugged half of it in one go.
“Damn, you’re thirsty,” Sota remarked.
“Running around like that takes it out of you,” Kai said, wiping his mouth.
“No kidding,” I agreed.
“…Gimme a sec, I’ll finish it,” Kai said, then downed the rest in one gulp.
“Seriously?” I laughed.
After that, the three of us headed toward the girls’ area—because Arisa-san and Aina-san’s teams were about to face off.
“Girls in gym clothes… always a sight,” Sota said, smirking.
“I live for this day every year,” Kai added with a grin.
“Who’re you cheering for?” I asked.
“My class, obviously,” Sota replied.
We wove through the crowd of classmates, seniors, and juniors, finding a prime spot to watch.
“Let’s sit here,” Sota suggested.
“Cool,” I said, settling in.
“…Man, they’re really going at it, huh?” Kai observed, staring at the court.
It was a volleyball match, with Arisa-san and Aina-san facing off across the net. As Kai noted, the tension between them was electric.
“…The Shinjo sisters are seriously gorgeous,” someone behind us whispered.
“Those curves… So they’re the second-year beauties, huh?”
“The older one’s got class, but the younger one seems kinda… easy, doesn’t she?”
“She gives off that vibe, but I heard she’s turned down every guy who’s asked her out.”
I couldn’t help but turn around at that. The guy talking about Aina-san being “easy” was a senior I didn’t know.
“Isn’t it rude to call a girl ‘easy’ in front of everyone?” I said before I could stop myself.
The senior opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, backup arrived.
“Excuse me, could you not talk trash about our classmate?” a girl’s voice cut in.
“Yeah, calling a girl ‘easy’ is seriously low,” another added.
It was Aina-san’s friends, the flashy girls from her class. They were in my grade, and since I often saw them with Aina-san, I knew they were tight.
“…Sorry,” the senior mumbled.
“Let’s go,” his friend said, and they slunk away, clearly intimidated by the girls’ aura.
“If you feel bad, don’t say it in the first place,” one of Aina-san’s friends huffed.
“Seriously,” another agreed.
I was impressed by how fearless they were, even against seniors. Thanks for sticking up for Aina-san, I thought, turning my attention back to the sister showdown.
“Arisa!”
“Go for it!”
“Aina!”
“Leave it to me!”
I’d only seen volleyball on TV and played it a few times in gym class, so I wasn’t an expert. But whether it was the heat of Arisa-san and Aina-san’s rivalry or something else, I watched with a different kind of focus.
“Shinjo-neesan’s more of a support player, while Aina-san’s an attacker,” Kai observed.
He was right. Arisa-san set up plays, assisting her teammates, while Aina-san took tosses and slammed powerful spikes.
(Three balls… bouncing like crazy!)
…Ugh, I couldn’t let my mind wander like that. But, come on, it was hard not to notice! Their movements—whether receiving, setting, or spiking—highlighted their stunning figures. Their… assets bounced with every play, and the crowd roared louder each time.
“…Is Aina-san aiming her spikes at Arisa-san?” Sota asked.
“Now that you mention it…” I trailed off.
Sure enough, Aina-san’s spikes were almost exclusively aimed at Arisa-san, who deftly received them with slight adjustments to her stance.
“Aina’s going hard at Arisa-san… That’s some serious intensity,” Sota said.
“Told you, it’s the ultimate sister showdown!” one of Aina-san’s friends exclaimed nearby.
It was exactly that—a fierce battle. Their determination was palpable.
“Take this, Nee-san!” Aina-san shouted.
“Not good enough, Aina!” Arisa-san countered.
Their teammates were just as fired up, cheering them on.
“They’re going all out,” I said, awestruck.
“It’s not just about not losing,” Sota added. “They’re both fighting for that reward, right?”
The winner gets to flirt with me, while the loser watches… Ugh, who do I even cheer for?
“So, Hayato, who’re you rooting for?” Sota asked, smirking.
“…Both of them,” I said, dodging the question. For now, I pushed the reward talk out of my mind and focused on cheering. They were giving it their all, and I wanted to support that.
“This is intense… A real showdown,” Sota said.
“Didn’t expect it to be this gripping,” Kai added.
It wasn’t just Arisa-san and Aina-san shining—their teams were fully committed, drawing endless cheers from the crowd. My hands clenched involuntarily as I watched.
“…Oh!”
Then it happened. Aina-san’s ferocious spike hit Arisa-san directly, sending the ball she’d been receiving perfectly until now careening backward. It flew straight toward me.
Arisa-san dashed over to retrieve it. “Keep it up, Arisa-san,” I said softly as I handed her the ball.
“...Thanks!” she replied, her eyes bright.
I wasn’t the only one cheering her on. Sota, Kai, and Arisa-san’s friends joined in.
“Go, Shinjo-san!”
“You’ve got this, Arisa!”
She nodded, then locked eyes with me for a moment. Her long hair tied back, sweat on her brow—she looked fierce, a testament to her effort.
“…I’m going back in,” she said.
“Yeah,” I replied.
As she strode back to the court, she exuded the aura of a warrior heading into battle. Meanwhile, Aina-san watched her with a hint of envy.
(Forget the reward—I just want to cheer for them both!) I shouted as loud as I could, “You’ve got this!”
My voice cut through the crowd, reaching Arisa-san’s back and catching Aina-san’s attention. She clenched her fist and nodded fiercely, glaring at Arisa-san with renewed fire.
“Aina’s pumped!” Sota said.
“This is it—the sister showdown! Who’s going down!?” one of Aina-san’s friends yelled dramatically.
Down? Her friends sure loved their theatrics.
“Here we go!” Kai said.
“Come on, Hayato, let’s cheer!” Sota urged.
“Hell yeah!” I shouted.
The match grew even more intense. Every point was countered, the score staying neck and neck as it neared the end. Yet Arisa-san and Aina-san were smiling, clearly enjoying themselves.
“They look like they’re having a blast,” I said.
“Less like sisters, more like rivals,” Sota noted.
“Rivals… Yeah, that fits,” Kai agreed.
They were always close, trusting each other deeply—a fact I knew well from spending time with them. But they also competed fiercely, whether over me or some sisterly pride. Still, their banter was always warm, reassuring to watch.
“Yah!” Aina-san’s spike widened the gap, threading through the block and landing just inside the line. Though Arisa-san’s team tried to recover, the ball slipped away, bringing Aina-san’s team to match point.
“Come on… Arisa-san, Aina-san,” I whispered, sensing the end.
The serve flew, Arisa-san received cleanly, and a powerful spike followed, only for Aina-san to block it. Arisa-san dove to save it, setting up another spike, but it was returned. The rally continued until Aina-san leaped high, arm cocked back.
“Ha!!” Her voice echoed as she unleashed her strongest spike yet, aimed at Arisa-san.
Despite her perfect stance, Arisa-san couldn’t handle it. The ball sailed out of bounds.
“…”
A moment of silence, then cheers erupted for the victors.
“…Aina-san’s team wins,” Sota said.
“Our class lost, huh…” Kai muttered.
We’d cheered for both, but Arisa-san’s loss stung since she was in our class.
“Still, what a match. Everyone gave it their all,” I said.
“Yeah, both teams were incredible,” Sota agreed.
I nodded firmly. Arisa-san, Aina-san, and their teammates had put on a spectacular show. Though Arisa-san’s team was disappointed, they were all smiling, praising each other’s efforts.
“Yo, our turn’s coming up,” Sota said.
“Right, let’s go,” I replied.
“Sorry, my next match is at the same time. Can’t cheer for you guys,” Kai said, scratching his head.
“No worries. Go kill it, Kai,” I said.
“We’ll do the same!” Sota added.
We parted ways with Kai and headed outside.
“Hey, Sota,” I said.
“What?”
“I was gonna tease you about not cheering for us after we backed Kai, but I’ll let it slide.”
“Ha, I was thinking the same thing!” Sota laughed.
We considered pulling the prank anyway but decided against it. Sota’s grin was pure mischief, and I probably looked just as guilty.
“…Hm?”
“…What’s that?”
As we headed to the field, a hand beckoned from behind a pillar. Only the wrist and fingers were visible, waving us over. Sota muttered, “A hand from hell…?”
“Don’t be dumb. That’s Aina-san’s hand,” I said.
“Huh?”
I’d recognized it instantly. Wondering if she was calling both of us, Sota smirked and said, “Go on, get your pep talk.”
“Jerk,” I muttered, but I appreciated him giving me space. With a bit of time before our match, I jogged toward the pillar.
“You came!” Aina-san said.
“Sorry to call you over, Hayato-kun,” Arisa-san added.
“Nah, it’s fine,” I said.
Both were wiping sweat with towels and sipping water, proof of how intense their match had been.
“You guys were amazing. Start to finish, it was an incredible game,” I said.
“Thanks. But we lost,” Arisa-san said, a hint of regret in her voice.
“This time, I won♪” Aina-san chirped, beaming.
Despite the outcome, both were smiling, no trace of bitterness between them.
“Aina, you were incredible out there,” Arisa-san said.
“It’s not always like that! Today was special—facing Nee-san and knowing Hayato-kun was watching. I wanted to show you both my best,” Aina-san said.
“Haha, nice,” I said.
“Fufu, is that so?” Arisa-san smiled.
“Yup!” Aina-san nodded.
She’d wanted to impress both me and Arisa-san with her cool side.
“Your jumps and spikes were awesome, Aina-san,” I said.
“Ehehe♪” she giggled.
“And Arisa-san, your assists and team plays were just as cool,” I added.
“Ehe♪” Arisa-san beamed.
I reached out, patting their heads. “Great job, both of you.”
“…!”
“It’s kinda embarrassing when you do that,” Arisa-san said, blushing.
They always did cute things, but their shy reactions were adorable.
“Hey, Hayato-kun,” Aina-san said.
“Yeah?”
“Remember what we said before the match?”
“…Oh, right.”
The winner flirts, the loser watches. I’d been so caught up in their match I’d forgotten.
“I won, but we both gave it our all, right? So I think we both deserve to get close to you,” Aina-san said.
“Aina… really?” Arisa-san asked, surprised.
“Of course! That bet was just to fire ourselves up. Plus, Hayato-kun would feel bad if it was just one of us, right?” Aina-san said with a wink.
“So, Nee-san, let’s both get cozy with Hayato-kun!”
“…Thank you, Aina,” Arisa-san said softly.
“Ehehe, here I go, all sweaty!” Aina-san said, hugging me tightly.
“Whoa,” I laughed, feeling the light impact.
It was July, hot as hell, but I didn’t mind one bit.
“Can I join?” Arisa-san asked.
“Of course,” I said.
She hugged me too, a bit more reserved than Aina-san.
“…Hot,” I said.
“It is warm,” Arisa-san noted.
“Super hot♪” Aina-san giggled.
The heat was intense, but their sweat-soaked gym clothes felt slightly cool. Aina-san had another match, but Arisa-san might want to change soon.
“You’ve got another game, Aina-san, but Arisa-san, maybe change soon?” I suggested.
“I know. It’s hot, but I don’t want to catch a cold,” Arisa-san said.
“Good call,” I said, pulling them both into a tighter hug.
“Charged up?” I asked.
“Fully!” Aina-san said. “I’m ready to go!”
“I’ll be there to cheer soon,” Arisa-san added.
“Thanks… whew,” I said, smiling.
I knew they’d come to cheer for me, even without this little moment we shared. But having Arisa-san and Aina-san say it directly, followed by that warm hug to “recharge” me, lit a fire in me. Even if I wasn’t great at sports, I wanted to show them something cool out there.
“I’m off,” I said.
“Good luck!” Arisa-san replied.
“Do your best!” Aina-san added with her usual enthusiasm.
And then, as a final send-off, they each planted a kiss on my cheeks. For a guy heading into a match, that was way too luxurious a boost—my excitement shot through the roof.
“I’ve got this in the bag,” I declared.
“Isn’t that, like, a jinx?” Sota teased.
“Sounds a bit risky,” Arisa-san added with a playful smile.
Yeah, okay, maybe saying “I’ve got this” was tempting fate. I laughed it off, gave them a quick wave, and headed to the field. When I got there, the team was already assembled—I was apparently the last to arrive.
“Yo, thought you weren’t gonna make it,” Sota said, smirking.
“Sorry,” I replied, scratching my head.
“…Making out with girls before the match? What are you, the protagonist of some rom-com?” he jabbed.
“It wasn’t like that!” I protested.
“So you’re saying you just talked?” Sota pressed, his grin sharpening.
He hadn’t seen anything, but his guess was annoyingly on point. I tried to keep a straight face, but my hesitation gave me away. Sota’s smug smirk was starting to get on my nerves.
“Lucky guy,” he teased.
“Shut it,” I shot back, giving his shoulder a light shove.
“Ha!” he laughed.
Tired of his antics, I nudged him a bit harder to shut him up.
The field was already buzzing with spectators, but the match hadn’t started yet, so we had time for a quick warm-up.
“Yo, Domo, Miya!” a voice called out.
“Sup,” I replied.
“Good to see ya!” Sota added.
It was Ozaki-kun, one of our teammates from the soccer club. Unlike Irie-kun, who I’d bonded with over kendo, I hadn’t had much in common with Ozaki-kun. Soccer wasn’t really my thing, and we didn’t talk much before, but this sports festival had brought us closer.
“Our first match… might be rough,” Ozaki-kun said, his face grim.
“Huh?” I asked.
“What’s up?” Sota added.
Ozaki-kun sighed. “Our team’s got three soccer club guys, including me. But the other team? They’ve got five.”
“Oof…” I muttered.
“That’s, like, impossible odds,” Sota groaned.
“Yup,” Ozaki-kun nodded confidently, which was not reassuring.
Come on, don’t just agree like that, Ozaki-kun! Still, it wasn’t like the teams were perfectly balanced. Uneven matchups like this weren’t uncommon.
“Even so, we practiced a bit, so let’s give it our all. I mean, we’re here, so we might as well aim to win, right?” Ozaki-kun said, rallying us.
“Nice one, Domo,” Sota said, grinning. “Yeah, no way we’re giving up before we even start. Let’s win this!”
“Now you’re talking!” Ozaki-kun said. “Let’s do what we can!”
Our teammates overheard the exchange. Some looked less than thrilled, but high school guys are a competitive bunch. Once the idea of winning sank in, everyone’s fighting spirit kicked in—we all wanted to come out on top.
“Sota, I’ll stretch your back,” I offered.
“Thanks. I’ll get you next,” he replied.
“Deal.”
We paired up, stretching to loosen up. More spectators trickled in, gathering in the shade. Seeing people show up to cheer, even in this heat, warmed my heart.
Then I spotted Arisa-san and Aina-san among them. They caught my eye and gave me small waves, which sent a surge of determination through me.
(Man, I’m so simple…) I chuckled to myself. But there was something pure about getting fired up because the girls I liked were cheering for me. It felt… nice.
“Alright, it’s about to start,” Ozaki-kun called out.
We headed to the center of the field. Soccer’s an eleven-man sport, and lining up across from the other team felt almost epic, like something out of a movie.
“Tch, they look tough,” Sota muttered.
“Soccer club heavyweights, huh?” I added.
I wasn’t exactly brimming with confidence, but it was the sports festival. The point was to have fun, right?
“Sota, let’s do this,” I said.
“Hell yeah! I’ll probably burn out quickly, but I’m giving it my all!” he replied.
And with that, the match kicked off.
As expected, the other team’s soccer club members dominated. Their passing was sharp, their dribbling slick, and we were stuck chasing the ball, barely keeping up.
“Domo!” Ozaki-kun shouted, passing to me.
I took the ball, dribbling toward their goal. I wasn’t skilled enough to weave through defenders, so my job was simple: pass to someone open when they closed in.
“Sota!” I called, kicking the ball his way.
“Here we go!” he shouted, full of energy.
But the moment the ball reached him, an opponent swooped in and stole it.
“S-Sorry…” Sota mumbled.
“Nah, that was unavoidable,” I reassured him.
The opponent had timed it perfectly, snatching the ball the instant Sota moved. It was a clear skill gap, but no one blamed Sota. If anything, the team urged him to shake it off.
“We’ve got this, Sota. Keep it up,” I said.
“Got it!” he replied, fire back in his eyes.
The next few minutes were a stalemate. Ozaki-kun, our goalkeeper, was a beast, blocking shot after shot like a true guardian. But even miracles have limits, and just before halftime, the other team broke through, scoring a goal as the whistle blew.
Ozaki-kun bowed his head. “Sorry… they got one.”
“Dude, you were amazing,” I said.
“Yeah, seriously! We’re the ones who haven’t scored,” Sota added.
“Their defense is brutal…” another teammate muttered.
Ozaki-kun wasn’t at fault—we needed to step up to match his effort.
“Damn… this is exhausting,” Sota panted, looking drained but not out.
“…Whew,” I exhaled, wiping sweat from my brow. I was tired but still had gas in the tank.
We grabbed towels, chugged water, and headed back to the field for the second half. On the way, I caught sight of Arisa-san and Aina-san, hands clasped, watching intently.
Right—I’d been so focused on the game I forgot they were cheering for me.
“…Alright, let’s do this!” I said, slapping my cheeks to psych myself up.
The second half began, and weirdly, my body felt lighter than in the first half. Despite the fatigue, I moved better, and I knew why: Arisa-san and Aina-san’s cheers were pushing me forward.
(This feeling… It's been a while.) The last time I felt this was probably middle school, when my grandparents came to cheer me on since my parents couldn’t. I’d pushed myself to look cool for them, and their praise afterward made it all worth it.
“Hayato!” Sota called, passing me the ball.
I caught it and ran, an opponent immediately blocking my path. But something clicked—a spark in my brain.
(Wait a sec…) The guy didn’t seem to take me seriously, his focus elsewhere. (Is he expecting me to pass right away?)
I’d been passing constantly to create chances, so maybe he assumed I’d do it again. If so, that was an opening.
“Domo!” a teammate called, raising his hand.
The defender’s eyes flicked toward him. Now’s my chance!
You’ve gotta take risks, and with Ozaki-kun guarding our goal, we had a safety net.
“…Here goes!” I shouted.
“Huh!?” the defender yelped.
I faked a pass, then dribbled the other way. To my surprise, I slipped past him easily.
“Yes!” I clenched my fist, ran a bit farther, and passed.
It wasn’t a perfect kick, but I put everything into it. The ball reached a teammate, who passed it on, and—boom—we scored!
“Hell yeah!” I yelled.
“Tied it up!” Sota shouted.
I locked eyes with Ozaki-kun, who thrust out a fist in triumph. I mirrored him, grinning.
“Let’s take the lead, Sota!” I said.
“Hell yeah! I’m wiped, but let’s do this!” he replied.
I was exhausted too, but that goal gave us momentum. The team’s morale soared, and we went on the attack.
(Still… those soccer club guys are insane.)
Club players were just built differently—their ball control, their shot power, all of it felt superhuman to me.
“Domo, pass!” Ozaki-kun called.
I snapped out of my thoughts, caught the pass, and ran. I passed as usual and moved toward the goal, expecting my role to end there. But then, a pass came flying my way—right in front of the goal, with me wide open.
(W-What the hell!?) My brain scrambled. Trap it and pass? Run? No way was I running from this.
“Finish it, Hayato!” Sota’s desperate shout hit me.
I felt their gazes—Arisa-san and Aina-san’s cheers burning into my back.
“…Here goes!” I yelled.
I trapped the ball, then kicked it with everything I had. Pain shot through my foot, but I didn’t have time to think.
“Hayato-kun!” Arisa-san’s voice.
“You’ve got this!” Aina-san’s cheer.
The crowd was loud, but their voices cut through. My will, Sota’s shout, our teammates’ energy, and above all, Arisa-san and Aina-san’s support—it all drove the ball straight into the net.
“…O-Oh!” I gasped.
“Hayato!!” Sota tackled me in a hug.
The whistle blew, signaling the end. We’d won, pulling off a comeback.
“We did it!” I roared.
“Nice shot, Domo!” a teammate shouted.
Our team swarmed me, praising the goal.
“Awesome shot, Domo!” Ozaki-kun said, joining us.
It wasn’t a clean kick, but I’d made a moment—shown Arisa-san and Aina-san something cool. I couldn’t help it; I threw a gutsy pose their way, grinning.
▼▽
“Hayato-kun… you’ve got this,” I murmured, watching him give his all on the field. All I could do was cheer.
“Hayato-kun… you’re so cool! ♡” Aina said beside me, practically squirming with excitement. I got her enthusiasm—after our earlier moment, who wouldn’t be fired up?—but I wished she’d tone it down a bit.
“…I get it, though,” I admitted softly.
My body was heating up, and not just from the summer sun. Watching Hayato-kun push himself out there was undeniably thrilling.
(I’m such a shameless woman…)
That hug with Hayato-kun earlier, and now seeing him fight for victory—it set my heart racing.
“Nee-san,” Aina said.
“What?” I replied.
“Hayato-kun out there… he’s amazing, isn’t he?”
“He is,” I agreed.
“But I love him most when he’s smiling beside us. I want him to win quickly so I can cling to him again—seeing him this cool is driving me crazy!”
“Don’t be so selfish,” I scolded lightly.
…But honestly, I felt the same.
“When Hayato-kun cheered for us during volleyball, it meant so much,” Aina said.
“It really gave me strength,” I added.
“Anyone can cheer, but when it’s from someone special, it’s different. It’s powerful,” Aina said.
“I felt like I pushed harder than usual. Even if I lost to you,” I said, smiling wryly.
“Haha… but it made us love him more, right?” Aina grinned.
“The more time we spend with him, the stronger that feeling gets,” I said.
Aina nodded confidently, and we kept our eyes glued to Hayato-kun, praying for his and Miyanaga-kun’s victory. Then, Hayato-kun took a perfect pass and scored.
“…Hayato-kun?” I whispered.
“What was that!?” Aina gasped.
Hayato-kun’s kick had sealed the goal. He and Miyanaga-kun celebrated, the crowd behind us erupted, and I was beyond thrilled. I wanted to rush over, praise his effort, and let him bask in the moment—maybe even tell him he could order me around as a reward for his hard work.
Okay, maybe that was partly my own desires talking, but I just wanted to pamper my “master” Hayato-kun!
“No, focus!” I scolded myself, shaking off the thought.
Hayato-kun was surrounded by his teammates, celebrating the winning shot as the whistle confirmed their victory. But… when he kicked the ball, I had a bad feeling.
“Aina… did you sense something off?” I asked.
Aina’s excitement had faded. She was staring at Hayato-kun with the same worried look I felt.
“Did Hayato-kun… get hurt?” she asked softly.
“…”
Injury. I didn’t even want to think about it. But for a split second, I thought I saw Hayato-kun wince in pain as he kicked.
I hoped it was my imagination. I wanted to celebrate his win, tell him how cool he was, and spend our precious time together as always.
“…Oh no,” I gasped.
“Hayato-kun…!” Aina cried.
He was clutching his leg, crouching in pain. Miyanaga-kun and the others rushed to him, and without hesitation, Aina and I ran to his side, heedless of the crowd.
“Are you okay!?” I asked.
“What happened!?” Aina demanded.
It didn’t take long to figure out what was wrong—a pulled thigh muscle. That was the injury Hayato-kun had suffered.
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