Kapitel 39: The Starting Line

Sota promised Aiko he'd call, and it wasn't a promise he intended to break. As he left the gym, muscles sore but mind sharp, his thoughts were already on Aiko. She'd looked like she was carrying the weight of the world earlier, her usually bright eyes dimmed by something she hadn't shared. He had noticed it all day, but their schedules were tight, and he barely had a moment to breathe before Jack Mercer had him pushing through another grueling workout.

Jack was intense, to say the least. Every session seemed designed to push Sota's limits, his old injury a ghost haunting every movement. But tonight, it wasn't the drills that occupied Sota's thoughts. As he walked down the quiet street, his hand hovered over his phone, debating the right words to say. When he finally called, it was after the sun had dipped below the horizon, the cool night air filling his lungs as the phone rang in his ear.

"Aiko?"

Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, as if she wasn't sure it was really him. "Sota? You called..."

There was a pause as the two of them breathed into their phones. It's as if they were both waiting for each other to talk, but Sota couldn't bring himself to say anything else since it felt like Aiko was about to say something before she trailed off.

"Yeah, I just got out of the gym. You okay? You seemed off earlier." Sota finally broke the silence since he couldn't take the awkwardness anymore.

There was another pause, and Sota imagined her on the other end, biting her lip the way she always did when she was thinking. "I'm fine. Really, I am. But… thank you. For calling, I mean. It's more than enough to know you're looking out for me."

A sigh was heard from the other end, followed by another silence. Even right now, Sota felt like Aiko was going through hell and back with all the burdens she had placed on her shoulders.

Sota frowned slightly, sensing she was brushing something aside, but he didn't press. "You sure? I can come by if you want to talk."

"No, it's fine, really. Just knowing you're there helps," she replied, her voice warming a little. "But, um, thank you. For calling."

"I mean..." Sota cut himself short as a smile appeared on his face. He could hear Aiko's calmer breathing, giving him the reassurance that he had done his part. At the very least, he was able to keep his word and although it was just a little— it helped Aiko more than he imagined.

The conversation was brief, but the tone in her voice told Sota everything he needed to know. He wasn't just another teammate or classmate to her—he was someone she trusted. That realization hung in the air even after they said their goodbyes.

"Call me if you need anything, Aiko."

"Thanks, Sota. Really."

As he hung up, Sota stood still for a moment, letting the silence of the evening wrap around him. Aiko was strong—stronger than most people gave her credit for. But even the strongest people needed someone in their corner. Sota was determined to be that person for her.

"You're getting better at this, kid," a voice cut through his thoughts, and Sota turned to see Jack Mercer leaning against the gym's front door, arms crossed with a knowing grin.

Sota reddened a little bit, smirked, and pocketed his phone. "Just being a decent person, Coach."

Jack nodded approvingly. "Decent, huh? Seems to me like you're finally starting to understand what it means to be part of a team."

Sota's smirk faded into a more serious expression. "I've always understood that, Coach. But Aiko… she's been through a lot. I just want to help."

"You're doing a good job so far," Jack said, pushing off the wall and stepping closer. "But speaking of teams, has your flag football team found a coach yet?"

Sota's eyes lit up immediately. "You interested?"

Jack's grin turned into a sly smile. "Who said I was interested?"

Sota's heart skipped a beat. The thought of having someone like Jack Mercer coaching their team was almost too good to be true. Jack wasn't just a coach; he was a mentor, someone who knew how to push him beyond his limits, someone who could turn a good player into a great one. "Come on, Coach, you'd be perfect. You know the game better than anyone—"

Jack raised a hand, cutting him off. "Easy there, kid. I didn't say yes. You haven't even won anything yet. What makes you think I'd coach a team that hasn't proven itself?"

Sota's excitement dimmed, replaced by a flicker of frustration. "But we're working hard. We just need someone to guide us. Someone like you."

Jack's smile didn't waver, but his eyes softened just a fraction. "Win the qualifiers, and then we'll talk about coaching. For now, it's more than enough that you're on the team."

Sota blinked, the words sinking in slowly. "Are you saying—"

"I'm saying," Jack interrupted, leaning in with a glint of mischief in his eyes, "you've got a lot of work ahead of you. And I want to see if you're really as committed as you say. So, are you in the team or not?"

Sota's heart pounded in his chest, the challenge in Jack's voice clear. This wasn't just about flag football anymore. It was about proving himself—to Jack, to Aiko, and most importantly, to himself. He straightened up, determination hardening his resolve. "I'm in, Coach."

Jack clapped him on the back, a rare smile breaking through his usual stern demeanor. "Good. Now, get some rest. You'll need it."

As Sota walked away from the gym, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. Jack Mercer had thrown down the gauntlet, and Sota had every intention of picking it up. The path ahead wouldn't be easy, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was exactly where he needed to be.