章 46: An Untalked Past

"Sota?" Aiko took a step back and reddened as she saw Sota right there, standing by the front entrance of the school with his bag slung on his shoulder.

"Let's go home." Sota said, turning around before Aiko noticed his bashfulness.

The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink as Aiko and Sota made their way home from school. The day had been grueling, with hours of practice leaving them both physically and mentally exhausted.

Yet, as they walked side by side, the silence between them was more comforting than awkward. The rain that had drenched the earth earlier had left the streets slick, the air cool and fresh with the lingering scent of wet soil.

Aiko stole a glance at Sota, who seemed lost in his thoughts. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his usually bright eyes clouded with something she couldn't quite place. For a moment, Aiko considered keeping her thoughts to herself, not wanting to burden him further. But the weight of what she had to say had been pressing on her for days, and she knew she couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Sota," she began softly, her voice breaking the quiet of the evening, "I know I've been pushing you really hard lately. I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you've been doing for the team."

Sota looked at her, his expression softening as he noticed the tension in her features. "It's all right. You know, the qualifiers are coming up, and we've had a couple of downs before we finally got a team together."

Aiko nodded, but the slight tremor in her hand as she brushed her hair behind her ear betrayed her unease. "It's just… there's more to it than that," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I've been meaning to tell you something—something that's been on my mind for a long time."

Surprised, Sota turned around, trying to keep his expressions from revealing what he felt. He knew that a confession right now would be nice... he wished. "Sure, you can tell me anything." He said, regaining his composure as he smiled.

Aiko hesitated, her heart pounding as she searched for the right words. She had never been one to open up easily, but this was different. This was something she needed him to understand, something that was at the very core of her desperation for the flag football club's success.

"Let's sit for a minute," she suggested, motioning towards a small park nearby. The park was mostly empty, save for a few children playing in the distance and the occasional passerby.

They found a bench near the edge of the park, still damp from the earlier rain. Neither of them seemed to mind as they sat down, the coolness of the bench seeping through their uniforms.

Aiko stared down at her hands, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. "I haven't really talked about this with anyone," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I think you should know… it's about my dad."

Sota's brow furrowed as he listened intently. He knew Aiko's father was a sensitive topic, one she rarely mentioned. "What about him?" he asked gently, careful not to push too hard.

Aiko took a deep breath, her chest tightening with the emotion she had kept bottled up for so long. "My dad… he used to be a professional flag football player. He was one of the best, Sota. Everyone looked up to him, admired him."

"But then… he got injured. It was a severe injury—one that forced him to retire early."

She paused, her voice wavering as memories of her father flooded her mind. "After that, everything changed. He was never the same. He stopped playing, stopped caring about the sport he once loved. It was like he lost a part of himself when he got injured. And in a way, he lost me too."

Sota's expression softened as he reached out, hesitated, so he just patted her on the shoulder before he spoke. "Aiko, I'm so sorry. I didn't know…"

Aiko shook her head, blinking back tears that threatened to spill over. "It's not your fault. But ever since then, I've felt this… this overwhelming need to prove that flag football is still worth something. That it's not just a game, but something more—something that can bring people together, heal them, give them purpose."

Her voice cracked, and she quickly wiped away a tear that escaped. "I've been working so hard to make the club a success, not just for me or the school, but for my dad. I want to show him that the sport he loved can still be great, that it can still inspire people. I guess… I just want to make him proud."

Sota's heart ached as he listened to her, finally understanding the depth of her determination. Aiko wasn't just fighting for the club's survival—she was fighting to revive a part of her father that had been lost.

"Ehrmm~ well, think about this way," he said softly, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly, "You're already doing something incredible. You've brought this team together, and you're leading us with everything you've got. That's something to be proud of, no matter what happens in the qualifiers."

Aiko looked up at him, her eyes shining with gratitude and a glimmer of hope. "Thank you, Sota. That means more to me than you know."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the only sound the distant laughter of children and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. The world seemed to slow down, and in that quiet moment, Aiko felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time. Sota's words had lifted a weight off her shoulders, giving her the strength to keep pushing forward.

As the sky darkened and the first stars began to twinkle above, Aiko finally stood up, her resolve renewed. "We should get going," she said, her voice steady once more. "There's still so much to do before the qualifiers."

"I know," Sota leaned back on the chair as he heaved a satisfied exhale. "We're lucky to have you as our manager, Aiko."

Aiko smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that reached her eyes. "And we're lucky to have you as our quarterback, Sota."

They began walking again, the path ahead illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. The weight of their conversation lingered in the air, but it no longer felt oppressive. Instead, it felt like a bond that had strengthened between them, a shared understanding of the challenges they were facing together.

As they neared the intersection where their paths would diverge, Aiko turned to Sota one last time. "Thank you for listening, Sota. And for understanding. It means a lot."