Fallen from the Top Group Due to Cheating and False Accusations. The Only One Who Stood by Me Was My Little Sister’s Best Friend, Who Had Always Adored Me. - Chapter 5: My Little Sister’s Best Friend.

Chapter 5: My Little Sister’s Best Friend.

After being expelled from the soccer club, I ran home as if fleeing for my life.

The entryway at dusk was empty. Sayu’s shoes were gone, along with those of my working parents. The house, with no one home yet, felt deathly quiet and desolate.

Ever since I started playing soccer, Mom and Dad had never once made a face when I asked for money for away-game expenses, new training shoes, uniforms, or spikes. On the contrary, they always answered with an enthusiastic “Leave it to us.” Even though a single pair of spikes could cost twenty or thirty thousand yen.

I had always been aware of how blessed I was. That was exactly why I had wanted to live up to their expectations.

But if I told those two that I had been kicked out of the soccer club, what kind of expressions would they make?

I didn’t even want to imagine it. I retreated straight to my room, locked the door, and collapsed onto the bed as if being swallowed by it.

My heart and body were already completely exhausted.

On the way home, every student in the same uniform who passed me had hurled every kind of whisper and insult imaginable. By the time I reached the house, I was certain: I couldn’t go to school tomorrow—or ever again. Not just the soccer club; everything was over.

“Why… Why did it turn out like this?”

What had I even done wrong?

Now, every gaze directed at me terrified me.

I didn’t want to go outside. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.

I should just skip school. Run away.

Above all, without soccer, I no longer felt any value in myself. My family would surely abandon me too.

“I just… want it to be easier.”

I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling, and mindlessly opened and closed my palm over and over again.

When my strength finally gave out and I closed my eyes, the intercom rang downstairs.

(Who could it be at a time like this…?)

Maybe one of Kayama’s lackeys had come all the way to my house. If so, I wanted to drive them away before my family returned. Running into them would only cause more trouble.

With heavy reluctance, I dragged myself up and left the room.

My body felt unusually hot and heavy—probably from the extreme stress and a slight fever.

With unsteady steps, I descended to the entrance and slowly peered through the door scope.

The moment I saw the girl with the refined features standing there, I involuntarily caught my breath.

“Um… Senpai… Rindou-senpai, are you okay…?”

Standing alone in front of the door was the girl with long, deep-purple hair tied in twin side-tails—Tozawa Yuuka, my little sister Sayu’s best friend.

Why… why now, of all times?

“If you’re home… and it’s not too much trouble… could you open the door?”

“…………”

“I—I want to be there for you, Senpai.”

She placed a hand over her chest and spoke with an unusually serious expression. From her, I could feel something like a profound resolve radiating through the door.