Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818792435777819959
It was 5:30 in the morning. I woke up an hour earlier than usual. I changed into my running clothes and went to the living room.
I drank a glass of water and slipped out the front door.
“It’s so bright…”
Yesterday, I got a call from Itakura.
Apparently, his leg had swollen up, and he asked me to take his place in tomorrow’s competition.
“It feels kind of nostalgic.”
While running, I think to myself.
When I used to play soccer, I would always go running like this on the morning of a game.
I take one step after another at a steady pace, breathing in between.
I feel the wind brushing against my cheeks and the refreshing scent of the morning air for the first time in a long time.
After running for about 30 minutes, I return home.
Perhaps because it had been so long, I was out of breath.
“Can I really run through four matches like this?”
One match is thirty minutes, including both halves. It’s short, but still…
“I’m home… but my sister shouldn’t be awake yet.”
It was just past six o’clock. It would take at least another two hours for my sister to wake up naturally. (At the earliest)
“You’re back early. Welcome home, Senpai.”
“Huh?”
When I entered the living room, for some reason, Shiramine was there. She was wearing her uniform with an apron over it.
“Running. Good job.”
Shiramine turned off the stove and walked toward me.
“Ah, um… What?”
For some reason, Shiramine stood right in front of me and sniffed.
“Eh? What? smell?!”
I sniffed myself. I don’t think there’s anything strange about the smell…
“It doesn’t smell bad, it’s just… I wanted to enjoy it once.”
“Oh, I see.”
Huh? What does that mean? That was my honest reaction, but I felt like it wasn’t a good idea to pursue the matter further, so I decided to let it go.
“I’m going to take a shower. But… why are you here so early in the morning, Shiramine?”
“Breakfast. I came to make it for you. Don’t you have anything to say to such a kind junior?”
Shiramine laughed mischievously, but she seemed to still be thinking about yesterday and looked a little embarrassed.
“Oh, thank you. I’m going to take a shower.”
No, no. It’s me who feels embarrassed when I remember it.
I ran away to the changing room as if I were escaping.
“…Somehow, Shiramine-san looks three times cuter than usual.”
＊＊＊
Even during the sports festival, club activities continue as usual. So, morning practice is also held as usual.
“Hey, Amagami. Did you hear?”
Early in the morning, someone called out to Amagami, who was kicking a ball on the field earlier than anyone else. It was his classmate from the soccer club, Tokai.
“What?”
“Apparently, a second-year student from the Green Team… Ibaraki? …got injured.”
“So?”
Ibaraki… I think he’s a second-year student in the baseball club.
“He was supposed to play soccer, but he couldn’t, so someone else will take his place.”
“Hmm.”
Amagami bounced the ball with his toes and started juggling it.
“It’s just a beginner replacing another beginner. It has no meaning and I’m not interested.”
That person, Itakura, may be good at baseball, but he can’t be good at soccer too.
Amagami kicked the ball high into the air and caught it with his ankle as it fell.
“Maybe that’s not the case?”
Amagami turned his face away in annoyance at Tokai, who was smiling creepily.
“What do you mean?”
“The substitute, according to rumors—it’s that Hayami guy.”
“Why now?”
“I don’t know. But it’s good, Amagami. You admired him…”
“Shut up, let’s practice.”
Hayami Ren. There’s no point in expecting anything from that name. There’s no way to admire him.
“That person ran away. From soccer. He’s just a weakling.”
He dropped the ball from his toes and kicked it straight toward the goal.
＊＊＊
I was given the position of center back, replacing Itakura.
In terms of position, it was in front of the goalkeeper, a kind of final line of defense.
“Actually, I have no experience.”
I came to the third field early, hoping to regain even a little of the feel for kicking the ball.
However, contrary to my plan to practice alone, many students from both teams had gathered.
I headed toward the team wearing green jerseys.
“Ugh, what should I do?”
Everyone except the goalkeeper had played before. But I’d never played center back. And that wasn’t the only problem.
After all.
“You’re Hayami, right? Nice to meet you.”
“You’re Itakura’s replacement? You’re pretty skinny. Are you eating properly?”
“Uh, yeah.”
I was approached by two burly guys.
I’d heard about them from Itakura.
“You’ve got a lot of personality, don’t you?”
The defenders were from the judo club and were pretty muscular. The three midfielders were obviously from the soccer club, but the forwards were from the soccer club too.
I had heard about this from Itakura…
“Their personalities are really standing out.”
The defenders are from the judo club, known for their sturdy builds. The three midfielders are, as expected, from the soccer club, but the forwards are from the tea ceremony club. The goalkeeper is from the art club.
“…Will this even be a proper game?”
Ugh, my stomach is already in knots.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !