Chapter 35: To The Present, Preparations

Sunlight pierced through the windows of Seiryuu High, casting long shadows across the courtyard as students hurried to their classes. The usual busyness of the school came about, coupled with the humdrum of students who were roaming around the grounds.

Aiko walked through the school grounds, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The pressure of finding a coach, the need to secure two more members, and the looming qualifiers were all pressing down on her. But there was something else that had been bothering her—Sota.

She hadn't seen him much since the loss to Tsubasa High. He had been avoiding her, and whenever they did cross paths, he would quickly look away or find an excuse to leave. Aiko knew that Sota was wrestling with his own demons, and she wanted to help him, but she didn't know how.

As she reached the door to the flag football clubroom, she paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before pushing it open. The room was quiet, the usual energy subdued, a reflection of the uncertainty that had settled over the team. Aiko set her bag down on the desk and glanced around. The clubroom had always been a place of hope and ambition, but now, it felt heavy with doubt.

Aiko sank into her chair, staring at the scattered papers on her desk. Practice schedules, potential drills, strategy notes—everything was in place, except the team. She had been trying to keep everyone's spirits up, but she could feel the weight of their expectations, and it was starting to get to her.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Ryuji Kazama sauntered in. He still had that same aloof expression from when they first met, his hands jammed into the pockets of his jacket. He looked around the room as if it were the first time he'd seen it and then turned his gaze to Aiko.

"Yo," he said, his voice as indifferent as ever.

"Good morning, Kazama-san," Aiko replied, mustering up a smile. "What brings you here so early?"

Ryuji shrugged, leaning against the wall. "Nothing better to do."

Aiko nodded, though she could tell that Ryuji wasn't exactly the type to openly express interest in something. Still, she was glad he showed up. It meant he was at least somewhat committed. "Well, we're going to need your help to get through the qualifiers," she said, trying to gauge his reaction.

"Yeah, whatever," he replied, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—maybe curiosity, maybe skepticism, but something that wasn't there before.

Before Aiko could say anything more, the door opened again, and Daichi Toriyama shuffled in. He looked even more nervous than when they'd last spoken, his large frame almost hunched as if he was trying to make himself smaller.

"Toriyama-san, good morning," Aiko greeted him warmly, trying to put him at ease.

"Morning," Daichi mumbled, avoiding eye contact as he took a seat on one of the benches.

The room fell into an awkward silence. Aiko glanced between Ryuji and Daichi, trying to think of something to say. She knew that the two of them came from very different backgrounds, and she wasn't sure how well they'd get along. But they were both here, and that was a start.

"So, uh, have you two met each other yet?" Aiko asked, hoping to spark some conversation.

Ryuji glanced at Daichi and then back at Aiko. "Nah, not really."

Daichi looked up, his expression a mix of nervousness and confusion. "I, uh, think I saw you around school a few times."

"Yeah?" Ryuji responded, his tone still indifferent.

Aiko felt the conversation faltering and quickly jumped in. "Well, we're going to be working together a lot, so it's good to get to know each other. We'll be practicing as a team soon, and I'm sure you'll both bring something unique to the table."

Ryuji didn't respond, and Daichi just nodded, but the tension in the room seemed to ease slightly. Aiko took that as a small victory.

The door opened once more, and in walked Yukishiro Ouji, his bright white hair catching the light. He had the same cheerful expression as always, his steps light as he entered the room.

"Good morning," he chimed, flashing her a stoic yet sunny smile.

"Good morning, Yukishiro-san," Aiko replied, smiling back. His positive energy was a welcome change from the tension that had been hanging in the air. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm okay, I'm okay," Ouji responded. "I'm looking forward to our next practice!"

Aiko couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm glad to hear that. But just to clarify, you do know we're playing flag football, right?"

Ouji blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Flag football? Is that different from regular football?"

Aiko nodded, trying to keep her tone gentle. "Yes, er', it's a bit different. There's no tackling, and instead of traditional football rules, we focus on agility, strategy, and teamwork. Well, you'll see how it goes."

"I understand." Ouji still had that confused look on his expression, his eyes widening in realization. "I didn't know that. But it sounds like fun."

Aiko smiled, appreciating his enthusiasm. "I'm glad you think so. We'll make sure to teach you everything you need to know."

Ouji nodded, completely unfazed by his lack of knowledge. "I'll do my best."

With that, he plopped down onto a bench, humming to himself as he fidgeted with his wristbands. Aiko watched him for a moment, a mix of amusement and concern swirling within her. Ouji's inexperience was evident, but his positive attitude was something the team desperately needed.

The room fell into a comfortable silence as the three boys settled in, each lost in their own thoughts. Aiko took the opportunity to glance at the clock. There was still time before classes began, and she needed to make sure everyone was on the same page.

"Alright, everyone," she began, clapping her hands to get their attention. "I know we've got a lot of work to do, and we're not quite a full team yet, but I want to make sure we're all in this together. We've got a few weeks before the qualifiers, so we'll be focusing on building up our skills, learning the game, and most importantly, working as a team."