Part 5: One Game
For a while— nobody moved.
Everyone had expected drills.
Running.
Sparring.
Exercises.
Not freedom.
Actual freedom.
Eventually Arashi pointed toward the football field.
"...Well? Are we standing here all day?"
That was enough.
Several students immediately followed him.
Riku jogged ahead.
"First pick."
"No fair."
"It was my idea."
"That doesn't mean anything."
Within moments an argument had already started.
A normal argument.
The kind that usually happened every day.
And somehow—
that felt nice.
Haruto watched them.
Then looked toward Kaito.
"...Wanna play?"
Kaito hesitated.
His eyes briefly drifted toward Souta.
Souta was standing by himself.
Not joining anyone.
Not saying anything.
Just watching.
Haruto noticed too.
For a moment neither brother spoke.
Then Ayame gently nudged Kaito.
"...Go ask him."
Kaito blinked.
"...Me?"
"...Yes, you."
Kaito scratched the back of his head.
"...Why me?"
Ayame gave him a look.
"...Because Haruto is terrible at starting conversations."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I am not."
Ayame ignored him.
"...Go."
Kaito sighed dramatically.
"...Fine."
Then he began walking toward Souta.
Haruto immediately followed.
"...I'm coming too."
"...Of course you are."
The two brothers eventually stopped in front of him.
Souta looked up.
"...Hm?"
For a moment—
Kaito forgot what he was going to say.
Then awkwardly pointed toward the football field.
"...We're playing."
"...Okay."
"...So come."
Souta blinked.
"...What?"
"...Come play."
Silence.
Souta looked toward the field.
Then back toward them.
"...I don't really feel like it."
Haruto immediately understood.
The answer wasn't surprising.
Kaito looked uncomfortable.
Then quietly said:
"...Neither do I."
Souta looked up.
Kaito shrugged.
"...But if I stay still, I'll just keep thinking."
The words escaped before he could stop them.
For a moment—
the three boys stood quietly.
Because all of them understood exactly what he meant.
Thinking too much.
About Yuna.
About Akari.
About hospitals.
About war.
About things they couldn't control.
Haruto looked away slightly.
Because he understood that feeling better than most.
Souta stared at the ground.
Then slowly exhaled.
"...One game."
Kaito immediately nodded.
"...One game."
Haruto smiled slightly.
"...One game."
Together they began walking toward the field.
Behind them—
Ayame watched.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Not because Souta looked happy.
He didn't.
Not really.
But he was moving.
And sometimes—
that was enough.
Nearby, Misaki sat beneath a tree with Izumi and Sanae.
She quietly watched the students gathering.
Watched Souta join the others.
Watched the football teams forming.
Then looked away.
The sight made something in her chest feel a little lighter.
Around the field—
students slowly divided themselves.
Arguments immediately began.
"Riku is too good."
"That's exactly why I want him."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Daichi eventually groaned.
"...We're never starting at this rate."
A few students laughed.
Even Haruki looked amused.
Eventually the teams were thrown together anyway.
Fair or not.
Nobody cared anymore.
The ball was placed in the center.
Students spread across the field.
And for the first time since entering the academy that morning—
the atmosphere genuinely felt alive.
Daigo watched from beneath the tree.
Saying nothing.
Interfering with nothing.
Just observing.
As children—
finally acted like children again.