(chapter xix)

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

The night before, Tooru had bombarded Yuna's phone with messages, curious about what the coach had discussed with her. The next day, he continued his relentless barrage of questions, but Yuna remained firm, refusing to divulge any information.

As lunchtime approached, Tooru's gaze drifted towards Yuna, his curiosity getting the better of him. However, despite his repeated attempts, Yuna remained steadfast in her silence.

The constant pestering through texts and Tooru's fixated stares continued to annoy but ultimately amused her. It was evident that Tooru was growing increasingly impatient, unable to contain his curiosity over what the coach had discussed with her. Every time his eyes darted her way during lunch, she would offer a slight smile, fully aware of his eagerness to find out the secret she had yet to reveal.

After the final bell rang, Yuna swiftly departed, sending a message to the group chat that she had somewhere else to be. Hajime, already fatigued with Tooru's relentless pestering in the chat, gave up on trying to restrain him, leaving the group chat to be inundated with Tooru's constant barrage of messages.

The day was one of the rare instances without team practice, and on such occasions, Yuna, Tooru, and Hajime typically would spend time together after school, exploring local cafes they had heard about.

As Yuna lounged lazily with one hand supporting her head, she scrolled through the group chat, her eyes skimming over the countless messages from Tooru. All of his texts comprised of just her name or an abundance of crying emojis.

"Yu-chan~ don't ignore me!"

"Shut up, Trashykawa," Hajime retorted.

Tooru whined, "Shh, let me be annoying a little longer...Yu-chan!!"

His begging continued, "Please, Yu-chan, just reply already! I'm practically dying here without your response!"

Hajime chuckled, finding great amusement in Tooru's desperate pleas. He typed another message, "Don't give in, Sugawara. Let him suffer a bit longer."

Tooru sent another series of crying emojis in response to Hajime, his frustration mounting, "Iwa-chan, you're enjoying this too much! Stop bullying me."

Tooru's incessant begging grew more fervent, "Yu-chan! Have mercy and just reply to my messages! I'm suffocating in suspense over here!"

Hajime, thoroughly entertained by Tooru's pathetic attempts to get a response. He responded with another message, "Stay strong, Sugawara. Hold the line and let him squirm for a little longer."

Tooru sent more crying emojis, his impatience escalating, "Iwa-chan, you're such a sadist! Stop enjoying my torment!"

The chime of the café's entrance bell snatched her focus, causing Yuna to look up and put her phone in her pocket. She disliked not responding, but at the current moment, she was uncertain of what to say. Despite that, she had to admit that it felt strange—the idea of her friends being genuinely concerned about the coach's discussion with her.

This was the first time Yuna had experienced such concern from someone outside her family, and the feeling was oddly comforting yet slightly overwhelming.

Yuna's gaze lifted as she spotted the female she was eagerly awaiting. "Kiyoko, thank you so much for meeting me," Yuna expressed her gratitude.

Kiyoko nodded and gracefully settled into the seat across from Yuna. Before diving into any questions, the pair proceeded to order their food and beverages.

As the waitress left, taking their orders, Yuna took a moment to observe Kiyoko. The female's composure was always poised and in control, making it challenging to deduce her thoughts.

A few minutes ticked by in silence, the air between them thick with anticipation. Finally, Kiyoko broke the quiet, her voice calm but curious.

"So, you wanted to discuss something with me?" she inquired gently.

Kiyoko listened intently as Yuna posed her question. "Kiyoko...I know Sawamura-kun was the one who recruited you to become the manager for the volleyball team...May I ask why you accepted?"

Kiyoko blinked slightly in surprise at Yuna's unexpected question, but retained her calm demeanor. After a brief moment of reflection, she chuckled softly before offering her response, "Actually, I initially declined. I wasn't particularly interested in the position to begin with."

"Really?" Yuna inquired, tone tinged with disbelief.

Kiyoko nodded and responded with a small laugh, "Yeah, honestly I didn't see the significance in accepting. It's not as if it was going to benefit me in any way."

Yuna hummed in thought and leaned back in her chair, her curiosity piqued. "What ultimately led you to accept the role?" she asked.

Kiyoko looked away and smiled gently before answering, "It was actually the sight of the team's relentless and devoted effort that influenced my decision. More specifically, it was witnessing three first-year players who tirelessly continued to give their all, despite being constantly ignored by their upperclassmen."

"You mean my brother, Daichi, and Asahi?" Yuna confirmed, and Kiyoko nodded in response.

"It was peculiar really, considering the team included so many members. Even when they were benched for numerous matches, the three persevered and pushed themselves to where they stand now. I guess witnessing that progression made me recall my own experiences, during my days in middle school. I was part of the track team, but I never managed to connect with my teammates. Observing these boys start unnoticed and rise to prominence because of their abilities...it struck a chord within me," Kiyoko elaborated.

"So, it was because of them, not because of everyone else?" Yuna inquired further, hoping for clarification.

Kiyoko chuckled softly and confirmed, "Yes, it was mainly because of them, but not only for them. I'll admit that initially they were my primary inspiration, but being a part of the team simply as a manager helped me understand the numerous benefits of the position."

Yuna's next question slipped out with genuine curiosity, "What did you gain?"

Kiyoko closed her eyes, her hand resting over her heart, and responded softly, "A family. I was, in a way, finally included in something, even though that was not my initial aim."

Yuna looked down, her thoughts consumed by the realization of how much she had gained through mere acquaintanceship with Tooru and Hajime. She had always been unyielding in her resolve to keep others at arm's length, but the moment Hajime had approached her, some instinct deep within her had whispered, 'it was time to stop being afraid.'

She ultimately relented, allowing both Hajime and Tooru to become close companions. She also can't deny that her brief exchanges with other team members didn't leave her feeling ill at ease. These people weren't the ones who had wronged her in the past, and even though opening her heart again was terrifying, she didn't need to be fearful any longer.

She felt that this was an opportunity to break free from the cycle of allowing 'what-ifs' to control her life. This was not a repetition of the past, and this time around, Yuna was determined to give it her all.

As long as she didn't allow her fear of the past to control her current friendships, everything would be alright. She knew that if she allowed herself to become too attached, there was no telling what could happen. But she trusted that she was stronger now—stronger than the girl she was in the past.

Yuna flashed a genuine smile, unburdened by restraint, which took Kiyoko by surprise. "Thank you so much, Kiyoko," Yuna expressed gratefully.

"You've really helped me. I truly appreciate it," Yuna added in a gentler tone, her voice still filled with gratitude.

Kiyoko couldn't help but be slightly taken aback but at the unexpected reaction, but she smiled gently, "I'm glad I could be of some assistance."

"I can't thank you enough," Yuna expressed earnestly, her gratitude evident in her voice.

"It's no trouble at all," Kiyoko replied kindly, her smile remaining gentle and understanding.

Their conversation ebbed and flowed, as the pair began to engage with their meals. They were able to simply relish each other's company and let time pass.