Chương 30: A New Step Forward: Finding a Flag Football Coach

Aiko sat in the flag football club room, the silence almost deafening as she stared at the clock ticking away. Today was the day she would be interviewing the new club applicants. Although it wasn't a formal interview—more of a casual chat—it was still important to get a sense of who these new members were and what they could bring to the team.

She tapped her fingers on the desk, thinking about the past few days. The team was still reeling from their devastating loss against Tsubasa High, and morale was at an all-time low. Sota had been avoiding her, which made things even worse. But she couldn't let herself get bogged down by those thoughts now. Today, her focus was on these new recruits.

The door creaked open, and Aiko snapped out of her thoughts. The first applicant stepped in.

It was Ryuji Kazama.

His reputation had preceded him—a delinquent with a penchant for causing trouble, known for his snake-like black eyes and cold demeanor. He walked into the room with a nonchalant air, his hands stuffed in his pockets, and took a seat without being asked.

Aiko took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "Kazama-san, thank you for coming. I wanted to talk to you about why you're interested in joining the flag football club."

Ryuji leaned back in his chair, shrugging. "Dunno. Just felt like it."

Aiko raised an eyebrow. "Is there anything specific you're hoping to get out of joining?"

"Nah," he replied, his tone indifferent. "I just want to be part of something. Don't care what it is."

She hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Ryuji's apathy was almost overwhelming, but she knew that judging him solely on his reputation wasn't fair. "Well, we're glad to have you," she said, trying to sound upbeat. "Flag football requires teamwork and dedication, so I hope you'll find it rewarding."

He didn't respond, just stared back at her with those unsettling eyes. The silence stretched on until Aiko finally nodded and made a note on her clipboard.

"Alright, thank you, Kazama-san. You're free to go."

He stood up without a word and sauntered out of the room, leaving Aiko with an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She let out a small sigh before calling in the next applicant.

Daichi Toriyama entered the room next, his large frame making the small space feel even more cramped. He looked nervous, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt as he took a seat.

"Toriyama-san, thank you for coming in," Aiko began, offering him a reassuring smile. "I understand that you've had some previous experience with flag football?"

Daichi nodded, avoiding eye contact. "Yeah, I used to play... but that was a while ago."

"Can you tell me why you're interested in rejoining the team?" Aiko asked gently.

"Actually," Daichi said, hesitating, "I wasn't really planning to join. Kaminari-san signed me up without asking, and I... well, I'm not sure if I'm ready to play again."

Aiko felt a pang of sympathy. She knew Daichi's story—the bad game in regionals that led to him quitting the team and his subsequent struggles. "I understand, Toriyama-san, but the fact that you're here today shows that part of you still cares about the sport. The team could really use someone with your experience."

Daichi bit his lip, clearly torn. "I don't know... it's been tough, and I don't want to let anyone down again."

"You won't," Aiko said firmly. "We're a team, and that means we support each other, no matter what. If you're willing to give it another shot, we'll be here for you every step of the way."

He looked up at her then, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "You really think so?"

"I do," Aiko nodded. "But it's your choice. If you want to back out, I won't stop you. But I think you have a lot to offer, and the team needs someone like you."

Daichi sighed, then reached for the pen on the desk. "Alright, I'll sign the form."

Aiko smiled as he scrawled his name at the bottom of the application. "Welcome to the team, Toriyama-san."

With a reluctant but determined nod, Daichi handed the form back to her and left the room, leaving Aiko feeling a little more optimistic. There was potential in him, she was sure of it.

Finally, it was time for the last applicant. Aiko braced herself as the door opened, and a boy with striking white hair and equally pale eyes stepped in. He had an air of innocence about him that was almost refreshing compared to the previous two.

"Yukishiro Ouji?" Aiko confirmed, looking at the name on the nearly blank form.

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu~," Ouji said with a cheerful smile, bowing slightly.

Aiko blinked, taken aback by his politeness. "Thank you for coming in. I wanted to talk to you about the flag football club—"

Before she could finish, Ouji waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine, I'm looking forward to working with everyone."

Aiko opened her mouth to ask if he knew what he had signed up for, but Ouji was already standing up. "I have to go now, but let's do our best together, ne?"

He gave her another polite bow and then walked out of the room, leaving Aiko staring after him in stunned silence.

It took a moment for her to process what had just happened. "Wait," she muttered to herself, "does he even know this is flag football?"

Aiko slumped in her chair, utterly exhausted. She couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Three new members, each with their own quirks and challenges. But they were her team now, and she was determined to make it work.

But as the weight of reality settled back in, Aiko's smile faded. They still needed two more members to have a complete team, and the qualifiers for the regionals were looming closer with each passing day.

And then there was the issue of the coach. She hadn't found anyone suitable yet, and the pressure was mounting. Without a coach, their chances of making it through the qualifiers were slim to none.

She leaned back in her chair, staring up at the ceiling. "What am I going to do?"

But even as doubt crept in, Aiko steeled herself. She couldn't afford to give up now. The team was counting on her, and she was going to find a way to make this work.

She had to.

With newfound determination, Aiko sat up straight and began jotting down ideas. There had to be someone out there who could coach them, someone who could bring out the best in her ragtag team.

And until then, she would keep pushing forward, no matter how tough things got.