บท 50: Gym Training?!

Aiko and Sota walked side by side, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink, signaling the end of another day. Yet, the warmth of the sun did little to ease the chill of nervousness that gripped Aiko's heart.

As they strolled through the quiet streets, Aiko's gaze flickered toward Sota. He seemed calm, almost serene, as if the weight of the upcoming qualifiers didn't faze him at all. It was a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within her.

"Are you okay?" Sota's voice broke through her thoughts, soft and filled with concern.

Aiko hesitated for a moment, her steps slowing. "I'm just… worried, I guess," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. The tension in her shoulders was evident, and she clenched her fists slightly as if trying to hold onto something solid. "The qualifiers are coming up, and now I feel more nervous than ever. What if… what if we're not ready?"

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, there was only the sound of their footsteps and the distant hum of the city. Sota didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stopped walking and turned to face her fully. His expression was serious, yet there was a warmth in his eyes that made Aiko's heart skip a beat.

"We've worked hard," Sota said firmly, his voice steady. "The entire team has been pushing themselves every single day. We're not the same team we were a few weeks ago. And you… you've been the one holding us all together. The team will back up all the hard work you've put in, Aiko. We won't let you down."

Aiko looked at him, feeling a swell of emotion rise in her chest. His words were like a lifeline, pulling her out of the storm of doubt that had been raging within her. The corners of her mouth lifted into a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Sota," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "I really needed to hear that."

Sota's lips curled into a reassuring smile. "We're in this together. You don't have to carry the weight alone."

Aiko nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. The knot of anxiety that had been tightening in her chest began to loosen, and she took a deep breath, letting the cool evening air fill her lungs. "You're right," she said, her voice stronger now. "I need to look forward and not sulk any further. We've come too far to back down now."

As they continued walking, a comfortable silence settled between them. The tension that had once hung in the air dissipated, replaced by a quiet resolve. Aiko found herself glancing at Sota more often, her heart lightened by his presence. She wasn't alone in this—she had her team, and she had Sota.

The sun had dipped lower in the sky by the time they reached the street where Aiko lived. The shadows had lengthened, and the streetlights flickered on one by one, casting a soft glow on the pavement. Just as they were about to part ways, a familiar figure caught Aiko's eye.

"Isn't that… Jack Mercer?" she asked, squinting slightly as she tried to make out the figure standing near the entrance of a small gym. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the broad shoulders and confident stance of Sota's trainer.

Sota froze, his eyes widening in alarm. "Oh no…" he muttered under his breath, a look of realization dawning on his face. He had completely forgotten about his gym training today. Before he could utter another word of explanation, Jack Mercer's gaze locked onto him, and a grin spread across the man's face.

"Well, well, look who it is," Jack said, his deep voice carrying over the distance. He didn't wait for Sota to explain himself. Instead, with surprising speed, he closed the distance between them, grabbed Sota by the head, and pulled him toward the gym. "Thought you could skip out on training, huh?" he teased, though there was an unmistakable edge of seriousness in his tone.

"Wait—Jack, I can explain—" Sota began, but his words were cut off as Jack dragged him toward the gym entrance.

Aiko stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock as she watched the scene unfold. The sight of Sota being manhandled by his trainer was both comical and slightly terrifying. Before she could react, Sota managed to twist his head just enough to look back at her, a sheepish grin on his face.

"Bye, Aiko! See you tomorrow!" he called out, his voice slightly strained as Jack continued to pull him along.

The gym doors swung open with a loud creak and then slammed shut with a resounding thud as Sota was unceremoniously dragged inside. The sound echoed in the evening air, leaving Aiko standing alone on the sidewalk, her heart still racing from the unexpected turn of events.

For a moment, she simply stared at the closed gym doors, a mixture of amusement and concern swirling within her. Sota was in good hands—she knew that. But still, the sight of him being yanked away like that was something she hadn't quite expected.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Sota was always full of surprises. As she turned to head home, the worries that had plagued her earlier seemed to have melted away. There was still a long road ahead of them, but with Sota and the rest of the team by her side, Aiko felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The cool evening breeze rustled the leaves on the trees, and Aiko pulled her jacket a little tighter around herself. The soft glow of the streetlights guided her way home, and with each step, she felt a growing sense of anticipation. The qualifiers were just around the corner, but instead of fear, she felt a surge of determination. They were going to give it their all, and no matter what happened, Aiko knew that they would face it together.

As she walked, her mind replayed the events of the day. The way Sota had reassured her, the camaraderie of the team, and even the amusing sight of Jack Mercer dragging Sota into the gym. It was a day filled with unexpected moments, but each one had strengthened her resolve.

By the time Aiko reached her front door, the sky had darkened, and the stars were beginning to twinkle in the night sky. She paused for a moment, looking up at the vast expanse above her. The nervousness that had once gripped her heart was gone, replaced by a calm, steady determination.

She reached for the door handle, but before she turned it, she allowed herself one last thought.

"Thank you, Sota," she whispered to the night, her voice filled with gratitude.