章 34: Backstory: Aiko's First Year In High School

Aiko's first year at Seiryuu High School was a whirlwind of challenges and excitement. Starting a flag football club from scratch was no small feat, especially at a school where no one had even heard of the sport.

But Aiko was determined. She went door to door, classroom to classroom, pitching her idea to anyone who would listen. She printed flyers, held interest meetings, and even convinced the school administration to let her use the field for practice.

Slowly but surely, a small group of students began to gather. They were a ragtag bunch, with varying levels of athletic ability and knowledge of the game, but they shared one thing in common—a willingness to try something new. Aiko took on the role of player-coach, using everything her father had taught her to mold this group into a team.

Those early days were tough. The practices were chaotic, with players tripping over themselves and fumbling the ball more times than Aiko could count. But she didn't let it discourage her. Every mistake was a learning opportunity, every misstep a chance to grow. And with each practice, the team improved. They learned the rules, the strategies, and most importantly, they learned to trust each other.

By the end of the first half of her first year, the team had started to make a name for themselves. They weren't the best by any means, but they had heart, and that counted for something. Aiko could see the pride in her father's eyes whenever he came to watch their games. He wasn't the same man he had been before the injury, but there was a flicker of that old fire, and that was enough to keep Aiko going.

But just as things were starting to look up, disaster struck. In a crucial game during the regional qualifiers, the team suffered a devastating loss. It wasn't just a loss—it was a complete collapse. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and the final score was so lopsided that it became the talk of the school. The players were disheartened, and Aiko herself was crushed. She had poured everything into this team, and to see it fall apart so completely was a blow to her confidence.

The second half was even harder. The loss had taken its toll, and several key players didn't return. Recruiting new members was a struggle since it was in the middle of the year, and those who did join were less motivated than the original group.

Aiko tried to stay positive, to keep pushing forward, but it was clear that the team was in decline. They won a few games here and there, but the spark that had driven them in the first year was gone.

Aiko felt the pressure mounting. She knew that this was her last chance to turn things around. Her third year at Seiryuu High School would be her final opportunity to lead the team to victory, to show her father that all their hard work hadn't been in vain.

But the challenges were greater than ever. The team was in shambles, and without strong leadership, they were doomed to repeat the failures of the previous year.

Sleepless nights became the norm for Aiko as she stayed up late, devising strategies and thinking of ways to motivate her team.

She knew she couldn't do it alone, but the question was, who could she turn to for help? The school didn't have the budget to hire a professional coach, and none of the teachers had the experience needed to guide the team.

Despite everything, Aiko refused to give up. She was determined to see this through, to give it everything she had, even if it meant sacrificing her own well-being. She wanted to make her father proud, to show him that his legacy would live on, not just in her, but in the team she had built from nothing.

And maybe, just maybe, she could bring that fire back to his eyes, the fire that had inspired her to love the game in the first place.

That's when he saw him, a first-year with bright blue hair and ocean-eyes that seemed to pierce through any soul. He walked with hunched shoulders but Aiko could tell that he was sporty.

Albeit his uneven steps, his back was broader than your average tall guy, and his movements were always fluid.

From afar, Aiko watched as the first-year casually weaved through a sea of students gathering in front of the gate. And he wasn't even doing it consciously. Aiko could tell that the first-year was looking somewhere else, daydreaming...

... and yet, he was able to slip through the crowd and head towards the school building.

Clenching her fists, Aiko made up her mind to approach him. He was perfect, the man that he was looking for who would boost the team's morale and possibly lead the flag football team to the nationals.

She didn't care whether Sota had played the game or not... but that didn't matter.

Without hesitation, she ran towards the first-year, waving her hand.

"Kuu~ it feels good being a second year! Hi, kouhai~! You're new here right?" She greeted, slightly leaning on her shoulders as she held both her hands behind her.

"I ah... yes, I just transferred." Sota wanted to stuff himself in a hole and bury his body, taken aback by the surge of her amiable enthusiasm. Like a flashbang, her bright eyes and warm softened smile blinded him for a split second.

Her short hair perfectly framed her face, and there was just an air around her that was immediately captivating.

"I'm Tachibana Aiko," she said, extending her hand. "Welcome to our school! It's always exciting to meet new people."

Sota shook her hand, her grip firm and friendly. "I'm Kazemachi Sota. Nice to meet you, Tachibana-senpai." He said.

"Hmm, hmm," She muttered, bringing her hands up as she formed a square using both her index fingers and thumbs.

After a couple of seconds of awkwardness on Sota 's part, Aiko then nodded her head and let her thoughts spill out. "Just the right amount of muscles... you've been working out, but not so much. All right, you're perfect!"