Chapter 33: Promoted to the Second String.

Kawabata led Takumi to a quiet, secluded spot.

“Um, Coach. What did you want to talk about?”

“Relax. This is good news.”

Kawabata wasn’t the type to lie or joke in moments like this. Takumi exhaled the breath he had been holding.

“No point dragging it out. I’ll be direct. Takumi, starting tomorrow you’re on the second string. Tomorrow is a full-team off day, so technically the day after.”

“…Huh?”

Seeing Takumi frozen with his mouth half-open, Kawabata’s lips curved into a rare smile.

“P-promotion?”

“Yeah. It was pretty much decided after yesterday’s practice match, but you kept the same form today too. I’ve judged that you can hold your own on the second string now. The level will jump up suddenly, so it won’t be easy style-wise, but give it your best.”

“……Yes! Thank you very much!”

A warm wave of joy slowly spread through Takumi’s chest. He bowed deeply, as if releasing that emotion all at once.

“This is the result of you never giving up and continuing to work hard.”

Kawabata patted Takumi’s shoulder in a rare show of encouragement.

“Senpai!”

The moment he returned to the group, Kana was the first to run over.

“I heard the coach called you. Did something happen—wait, why are you grinning like that?”

“Eh? I’m grinning?”

“Yes, your mouth is all loose. Doesn’t look like bad news.”

Kana let out a relieved breath.

“Thanks for worrying. It wasn’t bad… In fact, it was really good news for me.”

“Oh? What happened?”

Masaru asked with sparkling eyes. Around them, Kana, Daisuke, and most of the other members—including Miwa, Reiko, and Keiichi—were all focused on him.

“Starting next practice, I’m on the second string.”

“…Ueeeeeh!?”

Kana was the first to raise her voice.

“For real!? That’s awesome!”

“Gahaha! Congratulations!”

Masaru threw an arm around his shoulder while Daisuke clapped him on the head.

“As expected, Kisaragi.”

“Congrats on the promotion, Takumi.”

“You did it!”

Starting with Reiko, Miwa, and Keiichi, many club members showered him with praise—“Nice!” “Congrats!” “That’s insane!” Some wore slightly sour expressions, but the voices of celebration overwhelmingly drowned them out.

Takumi accepted the praise with a ticklish, embarrassed feeling.

***

Takumi and Kana left the park side by side. It was their promise, after all.

Promoted to the second string and still getting to walk home with Shirayuki—what a guy.

He could practically feel the sharp, envious stares from many of the club members. Of course, most of them were just joking.

“Wow, you finally got promoted. I thought it was about time for you, Takumi-senpai.”

“Weren’t you the least surprised one?”

“It was obviously just a performance to hype up the moment~”

Kana playfully tapped his shoulder with a “Geez~”. She’s in a good mood today, Takumi thought with a wry smile.

“By the way, Takumi-senpai, this is a bit of a serious topic…”

“What is it?”

“It’s about commuting to and from school…”

“Ah.”

Takumi immediately understood what she wanted to say. There were several second-years on the second string—players in the same year as him. She was probably wondering if he needed to commute with them instead.

“I’m fine with it. I don’t have any walking buddies, and the train group either goes the opposite way or would need a big detour to meet up. That’s too much trouble. If I want the shortest route home, our paths split right after the school gate anyway.”

“Right.”

Kana nodded. She apparently walked home alone from the gate as well. As the only first-year manager on the second string, she wouldn’t try to join a group of players or senior managers unless she was particularly close to them.

“So… we can walk to and from school together every day from now on?”

“That’s how it’ll be.”

“Yes! Thank you so much! Now I can have happy commutes again.”

“So you really do get approached when you’re alone?”

“Yeah. That’s why, Takumi-senpai… please keep protecting me, okay?”

“Of course.”

Takumi gave a big nod to Kana, who winked at him.

(Kana is relying on me like a bodyguard. I have to properly fulfill that role. Protecting my junior is only natural as her senpai.)

“…I feel like there’s definitely some misunderstanding here.”

“Eh? Did you say something?”

“Nothing at all~”

After giving him a slightly dissatisfied look, Kana’s lips softened into a gentle smile.

***

By the time Takumi and Kana reached the apartment building, a boy and girl wearing Sakura High School soccer club polo shirts were leaving the school gate. It was Miwa and Reiko.

They didn’t always go home together. Today just happened to be a day when both had work to finish.

“Man… Kisaragi really got promoted to the second string…”

Reiko murmured with a deep sigh.

“Given how he’s been playing lately, it was probably inevitable, but it still feels a little lonely.”

“He contributed a lot outside of just playing too. His absence will definitely have an effect.”

“Do your best, Captain.”

“Yeah… You okay?”

Miwa gave Reiko a worried glance.

“What do you mean?”

“You seem a bit down.”

“It’s just your imagination.”

“…Is it because of Takumi?”

“……”

The flicker of emotion Reiko showed wasn’t large. But for someone usually so cool-headed, it was more than enough for Miwa to be certain his guess was right.

“I knew it.”

“…How could you tell?”

Reiko gave up and admitted it.

“You’ve been watching him with your eyes a lot lately. Half-unconsciously, even.”

“…You noticed that?”

“I have to keep the team together, after all.”

Miwa spoke in his usual slightly blunt tone.

“…That’s right. I like him. But I’ve decided to give up now, so don’t worry about it.”

Reiko smiled sadly.

“Why give up? Even if you see each other less, there’s still a chance, isn’t there?”

“After seeing him and Kana-chan together lately, can you really say that?”

“They do seem close, but they’re not dating, right?”

Miwa had only thought of them as two people who got along well.

“Come on. You noticed how I feel about Kisaragi-kun, yet you didn’t notice how far beyond normal senpai-kouhai their intimacy has gone?”

Reiko gave a bitter smile.

“They walked home together again today. Even with what happened with Takeoka, normal senpai and kouhai wouldn’t go that far.”

“But if neither of them has confessed yet, I don’t think you need to give up.”

“No—”

Reiko shook her head.

“—I was already late getting started. Someone like me can’t compete with Kana-chan.”

“Your types are completely different. Aizawa and Shirayuki each have things the other doesn’t. Reliability, calmness, coolness—those are things Kana lacks. Your beauty is also a different style. I’m sure Takumi doesn’t dislike you. Why not try a little harder? I’ve heard it’s better to confess and then give up than to give up without ever trying.”

“So you’re saying I should at least get rejected and feel refreshed?”

“N-no, that’s not exactly—”

“I know.”

Seeing Miwa fidgeting with his glasses in clear distress, Reiko’s lips curved gently. He really is fun to tease when he’s being so serious.

“Thanks for cheering me up, Miwa.”

“…I’d be troubled if you let it affect club activities.”

Reiko swallowed the words “What a tsundere” that nearly left her throat. Her gratitude was genuine. She felt it would be dishonest to tease him any further.

“You’re right… I can’t cause trouble for everyone. No matter how it turns out, I’ll choose the path I won’t regret. I’ll look for a chance to invite him on a date or something.”

“…Yeah. That sounds good.”

“Now that I’ve decided, I need to go to the shopping mall tomorrow.”

“Buying clothes for the date?”

“No, I’m running out of kitchen stuff.”

“Does that have anything to do with what we were talking about?”

“Heh. You still have a long way to go.”

Reiko grinned. Miwa desperately spun his thoughts.

(There has to be some connection I’m missing—)

“—Of course it doesn’t.”

“Don’t mess with me.”

Miwa spat the words and started walking briskly.

“You really are pretty entertaining.”

Hearing Reiko’s amused chuckle as she caught up, Miwa snorted.