บท 49: Spying On A Couple?

Noisy noisy,

Hinokami Koenji strolled through the bustling shopping center with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, his eyes scanning the crowd with a casual, uninterested gaze. The vibrant energy of the place didn't seem to affect him—he had been here so many times before that the novelty had long since worn off. Today was just another day to idle around, kill some time before heading home, and maybe grab a drink at his favorite coffee shop.

His dark hair fell messily across his forehead, and he wore a plain black t-shirt that matched his mood. He wasn't particularly in the mood for anything, just aimlessly wandering, letting the hum of the people around him fill the empty spaces in his mind. It wasn't like he had anything better to do.

As he walked past the colorful storefronts, he noticed a familiar figure up ahead, standing by a display window. Aozora Kaminari was leaning casually against the glass, his vibrant blue hair making him stand out among the crowd. He seemed lost in thought, his bright eyes focused on something in the display.

Koenji hesitated for a moment, considering whether he should approach. It wasn't like they were close or anything—they were teammates, sure, but they rarely hung out outside of practice. Still, something about seeing Kaminari here, looking just as out of place as he felt, made Koenji change direction and walk over.

"Yo," Koenji greeted, his voice low and almost indifferent as he stopped beside Kaminari.

Kaminari blinked, snapping out of his thoughts as he turned to face Koenji. A smile quickly spread across his face, the usual spark of energy returning to his eyes. "Hey, Koenji! Didn't expect to see you here."

Koenji shrugged, glancing at the display window but not really paying attention to what was inside. "Just killing time. You?"

"Same," Kaminari replied with a chuckle. "Was thinking about grabbing a coffee. Wanna join?"

"Sure," Koenji agreed without much enthusiasm. He didn't have any plans, and the idea of sitting down with a drink sounded better than wandering aimlessly. Plus, Kaminari's upbeat attitude was somewhat contagious, even if Koenji wasn't in the mood to admit it.

They started walking together, weaving through the crowd as they made their way toward the coffee shop they both frequented. The shopping center was alive with activity, people chatting, kids laughing, and the scent of freshly baked goods wafting through the air. It was the kind of place that seemed to draw everyone in, no matter what their day had been like.

"So, how's the team looking?" Kaminari asked as they walked, his tone light but with a hint of curiosity. "Think we're ready for the qualifiers?"

Koenji glanced at him, considering the question. "We're getting there," he said after a moment. "Still need to work on some plays, but it's coming together. Sota's been stepping up."

Kaminari nodded, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, Sota's pretty solid. I think we've got a good shot."

Koenji didn't say anything, but he couldn't help but agree. Despite his own laid-back attitude, he knew how much was riding on the upcoming qualifiers. Aiko's determination had rubbed off on all of them, and even if he didn't show it, Koenji was starting to feel the pressure too.

As they continued walking, something caught Kaminari's eye. He slowed down, peering ahead through the crowd. "Hey, isn't that Sota and Aiko over there?"

Koenji followed Kaminari's gaze and spotted the pair a short distance away. They were standing close together near the entrance of a small boutique, seemingly deep in conversation. Aiko was smiling, her usual focused expression softened into something warmer, and Sota looked...different. There was a subtle change in his posture, something more relaxed and at ease than Koenji was used to seeing.

Kaminari's grin widened as he nudged Koenji with his elbow. "Wanna spy on them?"

Koenji raised an eyebrow, but he didn't protest. Kaminari's excitement was almost infectious, and besides, it wasn't like they had anything better to do. "Sure," he said, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's see what they're up to."

They slowed their pace, keeping a safe distance as they watched Sota and Aiko. The pair seemed oblivious to their presence, too caught up in whatever they were talking about. Koenji and Kaminari ducked behind a nearby display, pretending to browse the items while keeping an eye on their teammates.

As they watched, an older woman carrying a large shopping bag walked by, accidentally bumping into Aiko. She stumbled slightly, and in an instant, Sota's hand shot out to catch her arm, steadying her before she could fall. The touch was brief, but the way Aiko looked up at Sota afterward, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, didn't go unnoticed by Koenji and Kaminari.

"Ohoho~! did you see that?" Kaminari whispered, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Koenji nodded, his smirk growing. "Yeah, I did. Seems like they're getting pretty close."

They continued to watch as Sota and Aiko resumed their conversation, their body language more relaxed than before. There was a moment when Sota leaned in to say something to Aiko, and she laughed, the sound light and genuine. Koenji couldn't remember the last time he had seen Aiko laugh like that.

A group of teenagers passed by, chatting loudly as they made their way through the crowded walkway. One of them accidentally bumped into Aiko again, and this time, Sota instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her out of the way. The gesture was protective, almost possessive, and Koenji couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Kaminari let out a low whistle. "Man, Sota's really got her back, huh?"

"Looks like it," Koenji agreed, though his tone was more neutral. He wasn't sure how he felt about what he was seeing.

On one hand, it was clear that Sota and Aiko had something going on, something that went beyond just being teammates. But on the other hand...Koenji wasn't sure if he liked it. There was something about seeing them together that stirred a strange, unfamiliar feeling in his chest.

They watched as Sota and Aiko continued their shopping, moving from one store to another. Every now and then, they would brush against each other—whether it was Aiko's hand accidentally touching Sota's as they reached for the same item, or Sota gently guiding Aiko through the crowd by placing a hand on her back.

Each time, Kaminari and Koenji exchanged knowing looks, silently acknowledging the growing connection between their teammates.

But as the minutes ticked by, Koenji found his excitement waning. The more he watched Sota and Aiko, the more he felt like he was intruding on something private, something that wasn't meant for him to see. He didn't understand why it bothered him so much—after all, he wasn't the type to get caught up in other people's business. But there was a gnawing sensation in his gut, a sense of unease that he couldn't shake.

Kaminari, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the show. He was practically bouncing on his heels, his eyes glued to Sota and Aiko as if they were the stars of some romantic drama. "This is better than TV," he whispered, grinning from ear to ear.

Koenji didn't respond. He simply watched as Sota and Aiko entered a small bookstore, disappearing from view. The crowd around them began to thin as the afternoon wore on, and the vibrant energy of the shopping center started to mellow out.

"I think I've seen enough," Koenji said abruptly, his voice devoid of the usual indifference. Without waiting for Kaminari to respond, he turned on his heel and began walking away, his hands once again shoved into his pockets.

Kaminari blinked in surprise, his grin faltering as he watched Koenji walk off. "Hey, where are you going?" he called after him, but Koenji didn't answer. He just kept walking, his pace steady and purposeful, as if he was trying to distance himself from something—or someone.

Kaminari watched him go, a puzzled expression on his face. He hadn't expected Koenji to just leave like that, especially not after the fun they'd had spying on Sota and Aiko. But there was something in Koenji's demeanor that told him it was best not to follow. Whatever was bothering Koenji, it wasn't something Kaminari could fix.

With a sigh, Kaminari turned back to the bookstore, his excitement from earlier fading into a dull ache of disappointment. He had hoped to end the day on a high note, but now, as he stood alone in the middle of the shopping center, he couldn't help but feel like something had been lost.

As Koenji disappeared into the crowd, Kaminari silently wished he could understand what was going on in his teammate's head. But for now, all he could do was shrug it off and head back to the coffee shop, hoping that a hot drink might chase away the lingering sense of unease that had settled over the day.