Aoi watched excitedly as the team practiced that afternoon. Compared to how they were at the start, the team before her eyes right then were genuinely doing their best in both attack and defense.
They all keep improving by the minute. They're even able to coordinate with each other now. Back at Raimon, she'd always been able to share her excitement with the other managers. But there, she could only frown as she looked back to the meeting room. If only Mizukawa-san didn't stick by coach's side all the time and stayed with us. I'm sure she would find that much more fun...
"Kusaka!"
Her attention was pulled back to the field by Tenma's yell. However, his pass was cut by Tetsukado, who then gave it to Konoha. Or at least, he tried to.
The ball went far over her head and out of bounds.
Sakura let out a sigh. "Not again..."
The smaller girl almost seemed to curl up. Still, she got the ball back and they started again. The offense managed to get through in an instant, especially with Ibuki telling Minaho to let Tsurugi shoot. And of course, the striker made the goal.
Even with the weight on his mind, Tsurugi is in top form today as well... Her gaze turned to the sky as she thought about what Minaho had told her the day before, not too long after getting home from their match.
"It's the manager's job to look after the members and talk to them if they are troubled, right?" He had said. "Then, I think you should go talk to Tsurugi. He doesn't seem like it, but he's frustrated about something. Or rather, someone."
At the time, she feigned ignorance, pretending to be surprised by his deduction. But in truth, she, Tenma, and Shindou all knew what was bothering him. How could they not? The person he was constantly thinking of was their friend too.
Back then, even when it's just practice, she'd cheer for him and it'd always make him smile. It really doesn't feel the same without her...
But there was nothing they could do. The blonde will only return when she can afford to, meaning when she's healthy and well without the fear of death hanging above her within the next eight years. They can only hope the day of their reunion would come soon.
"Okay! That's the end of today's practice!"
As soon as Tenma made the call, they began to flood over to the bench. She pushed all the sad thoughts aside and plastered on a smile as she handed them all their towels and drinks.
"Tetsukado." Shindou suddenly approached the ex-boxer, earning a surprised look from him. "Your movements have gotten much sharper, but you're able to do better. Your speed is dropping. Move up more to the front."
"O-Okay..."
With nothing else to say, the ash brown haired boy left for the showers.
A smile made its way to her lips when she realized what just happened. "Shindou-senpai gave advice... Tenma!"
Tenma's expression mirrored hers. "Yeah! Shindou-san..."
Even Tsurugi was smiling.
The rest all had shocked expressions, but they eased to proud smiles for finally getting at least a little acknowledged from the playmaker.
~~~~~
As the team went to take their showers, Aoi stayed out on her own to tidy up the field. She gathered the balls on the side, making sure all 20 were accounted for. Then, she packed all the bottles into the cooling box before checking over the whole field quickly to make sure there were no lost items dropped on the grass.
After making sure everything was in order, she lifted the large box and started making her way to the kitchen.
"H-Heavy..."
She sighed as she placed it back on the ground after only taking a few steps. It was one of her daily struggles since she started the job. Back at Raimon, she'd be able to share the burden with her seniors, splitting the total of 16 bottles into 3 cooling boxes. But since Mizukawa was always with the coach, she's had to do most of her jobs alone.
"Come on, Aoi! Tenma and the others are working hard! It's your job as their manager to be the backbone and support them!"
But just before she could pick it back up again, a pale hand grabbed on its handle. "Just don't go breaking your own backbone while at it..."
"Tsurugi!"
"Hey." The boy, still in his jersey, lifted the box easily. "You know, if you needed help, you could've just said so. Half of us are free at the moment."
"Ahahaha... Thanks, Tsurugi. You're as kind as ever." He gave her a look. "W-What is it? Did I say something strange?"
"No, I just never expected to hear that from anyone else."
She blinked. "What? That you're kind?" He nodded slowly, making her hum in thought. "Come to think of it, I suppose Kimiko was the only one who could say it so straightforwardly."
"Mm. She does it to tease me."
"But I think there's truth to it too." He gave her another look, which she was able to respond to with a smile this time. "It's not always obvious, but you have your own ways to take care of the team, right? Tenma told me how you were immediately onboard with getting Matatagi to help in the Korea match, and Sakura told me how you also comforted her in the match against Big Waves. You're also helping Ibuki train everyday, even if Shindou-senpai scowls at you for it."
"He's going to grow wrinkles on his forehead if he doesn't stop anytime soon."
"Ahahaha... You're right about that." Her smile brightened. "No, but really, Tsurugi is kind. I admit you do look scary from time to time, but you have a really soft look on you when you smile."
"Don't go saying that too often now, or Tenma might get jealous."
She jumped. "W-W-Wha...?! W-What does Tenma have anything to do with―"
He let out a smirk. "Ah, or maybe not. He doesn't know, after all."
"Doesn't know what? W-What are you talking about?"
"How long are you going to deny you like him more than the others?"
"Tsurugi!" Realization dawned on her as her expression turned into one of horror. "Oh god, oh no... I-Is it really that obvious?"
He shrugged. "Not sure how it is for the others, but it's clear as day to me. After all, it's easy to tell when someone's on the same boat as you."
"Huh?" She blinked up at him. Once. Twice. "Wait... Wait, y-you mean you...?!" And she got another look from him. "Wow, I... I mean I've figured that was the case, but I... I never expected you to admit it." Then, her gaze dropped as another question came to mind. "Why are you telling me?"
"Like I said, we're on the same boat. You with Tenma, and me with the other idiot." He clicked his tongue. "They're both too busy being in their own little worlds to notice the people standing right beside them."
"Ahaha... That's true..." She hummed, looking up at the sky before turning back to him. "Tsurugi, can I come over to your dorm later?" She got a raised eyebrow in response. "I'd invite you to mine, but Mizukawa-san and I share a room. Right now, there's not much time left until dinner. I still have to wash those bottles, and you still have to shower before then, so..."
Only then did he notice that the sun had set. "Ah, fair point."
Nodding, he followed her to the kitchen, and placed the cooling box in the corner as she instructed before leaving for the showers. There was a tense atmosphere between Minaho and Manabe, and it continued throughout dinner, but they all decided not to interfere.
Since they're both the 'brains of the team', surely they can work the problem out themselves, right...? Aoi shook her head as she made her way to the players' dorms. The one on the far left was the Raimon trio's one.
She didn't expect to come face to face with the brunette captain right by the door.
"Oh, Aoi! I didn't think you'd be here..." He tilted his head with a small frown. "Is something wrong?"
She quickly shook her head. "No, nothing like that. I had something to talk to Tsurugi about. That's all."
"Tsurugi?" He hummed before letting out his usual smile. "Okay! He should be in his room. If you two need help with anything, don't hesitate to let me know!"
Before she knew it, she found her expression matching his. "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. But thanks for the offer, captain."
"Aw, come on. When you say it like that, it's embarrassing!" He laughed before moving out of the way to let her enter. "I'm going to go and find Shindou-san. I want to ask for his opinion on all of the other members and how they can improve!"
"Okay! See you!"
"See you!"
She couldn't help grinning as she watched him leave. However, it immediately turned stiff when she heard a throat-clearing cough coming from behind her. Her cheeks flared red as she slapped herself.
"Not. One. Word."
"I wasn't going to say anything." His smirk said otherwise.
She groaned in defeat and he chuckled as he led her into his room. Just like all the other ones she's seen, it has a single bed, desk, chair, and space within the walls that acted like shelves for books and clothes. The difference was that he had his Raimon jersey hung over his bed, a dusty soccer ball on the side, a Gouenji Shuuya poster by the entrance, and a picture of him and his brother on his desk.
Well, they were allowed to decorate their rooms however they wished. She shared a room with Mizukawa and they have their own items on their sides of the rooms respectively. She's also seen the keyboard that Shindou brought to his room, and the gymnastics kit Sakura had in hers.
His dorm room didn't feel too different from his own room at home.
"Go ahead and take a seat wherever." He suddenly said, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Excuse me, then." She sat on the edge of his bed as he took a seat on the chair.
"So, then? How do we continue?"
She laughed sheepishly. "Actually, I didn't think that through. I don't normally talk to boys about this kind of thing..."
"You just exposed that you managers talk about us behind our backs."
"I will neither confirm nor deny." He rolled his eyes, earning a laugh from her before she continued. "You seem pretty relaxed talking to a girl about this... Although, I guess it's to be expected since you talk to Kimiko a lot."
He grunted. "And the stupid kid still doesn't get it."
"That 'stupid kid' is your crush."
"I'm saying it how it is."
She sweatdropped. "I guess that's fair..."
Silence washed over them. She supposed it's to be expected. The striker wasn't exactly known for being talkative, usually preferring to respond in conversations instead of starting them. So, instead of waiting, she let her mind run through her memories to pick a topic.
One thought went to another and she suddenly found herself furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.
"Hey, Tsurugi..." She got a hum in response. "Why don't you ever say her name anymore?"
He flinched, as if something physically hit him. That was the first time she's seen that expression on him.
"Tsurugi?"
He turned away. He seemed to be struggling with his words, a complete contrast to moments ago when he was teasing her.
She frowned at that. "Tsurugi, are you okay?"
Clicking his tongue, he let out a long sigh and met her eyes with a glare. "The next few words that are going to come out of my mouth are going to sound extremely stupid, so if you tell another soul, I'll make sure you never call me 'kind' ever again. Do we have a deal?"
She knew he couldn't possibly have meant those words, but the serious look he had was enough to make a shiver run down her spine. She nodded slowly. "D-Deal."
He returned the nod as if to gesture that he'll remember her word. Then, he took a deep breath and quickly spoke. "I'm already hearing her voice in my head commenting on every little thing I do everyday, so I feel like if I do so much as think about anything more than my promise, I might actually think she's there when she really isn't."
His expression didn't change and he was still looking straight at her. The only difference was that, this time, she wasn't the least bit scared. Instead, she felt her jaw slowly going slack.
Her gaze shifted slightly and she spotted a familiar book in the wall-shelf behind him. And suddenly, two distinct memories flashed before her eyes.
She watched quietly as they continued to flip the pages of the scrapbook. Then, a frown appeared. "But all these pictures... They're only of the three of you. What about his school friends? Doesn't he play with them too?"
The blonde girl's smile turned stiff at that. She gave a half-hearted chuckle before shaking her head. "No... Not really."
And then, there was...
His father followed Shinsuke's gaze and a small smile appeared on his face. "Ah. That was Kyousuke's team when he was in elementary school. At the time, he was their youngest member."
"Their best one too." His mother pointed out. "All thanks to Kimiko's weekly visits."
"She told us a little about that." Shindou stated. "That she was the one that taught Tsurugi how to play."
Kinako went up to get a closer look at the pictures. "But Tsurugi isn't smiling here... Even though they got the trophy."
"Yes, well, back then, his teammates weren't as nice as you all."
"Huh?"
His father's smile turned into a sad one at the memory. "Many of them envied his abilities, while others only cared if he scored a goal. On top of that, he wasn't very good at making friends, so I can't say his time on that team was a happy one. But because it was the only way he could play in matches, he put up with it."
They looked down at that.
"Before Raimon, Kimiko was the only friend he had." He continued. "She never judged him, or used him. She was always simply playing with him, teaching him things, and motivating him to keep improving."
"... I see..."
"Hm?"
"Of course you'd miss Kimiko this badly. She's been your only friend for so long..."
His eyes widened. "You know about that?!"
She mentally noted that he didn't bother denying her first statement. "And the voice in your head... I guess that's also why you'd space out sometimes."
"And you also noticed that..." He let out a sigh, his gaze finally rid of the scary glare. Instead, he had a look of exhaustion she's rarely ever seen on him. "Sorano, I want your honest opinion."
"About what?"
"Do you think she'll be back?"
Her lips zipped shut. She didn't know why, but they did. For a moment, she stared at him, trying to figure out why he'd ask such a thing because of course she's coming back. One part of her thought he was getting tired of waiting and was going to throw in the towel, but that wasn't like him. The only other possibility was...
Had he been this hopeless about it all this time...?
She looked down in thought, wondering how she should answer. Only one option came to mind. He wanted honesty, and I don't have any reason not to be honest so...
"Yes." Even when his eyes widened, she kept herself steady. "Kimiko's definitely coming back someday."
"... Your reason?"
"Because she's our friend!" She felt the edge of her lips curling up. "And I'm sure she misses you as much as you do. In fact, I bet she's really bored right now without you around. That's how it's always been, right?"
"Well, you're not wrong." That successfully brought out his smile. "Thanks."
"Not a problem. Birds of a feather fly together, or so they say."
"So you're finally admitting it."
"Hush!"
Still, she couldn't really get angry at him. It was rare to see him laugh like this. So they continued their talk, sharing what conversations they had with the object of their affections about each other, teasing one another, and complaining about how clueless the brunette captain and blonde striker were.
Before they knew it, it was almost time for curfew. He offered to walk her back to her dorm, which she gratefully accepted as her phone's battery had died and she had no other lights to help her see the paths.
They bid each other good night when they reached her door, but just before she entered, she whirled around and called out to him again.
"Tsurugi!"
"Hm?"
"You can call me 'Aoi' if you want! We're both first-years in the Raimon soccer club after all!"
He stared at her before slowly nodding and leaving with a wave. Somehow, the sight made her giggle.
Not once had she ever thought she and Tsurugi would grow this close. And even less so for the reason they did. But it wasn't bad.
She only wished their blonde friend was there too.