OKANO KEI
"Sports Day. I hate this..." I sighed, my breath mingling with the humid air of the field.
"I love sports," Kairi responded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at me. "Why do you hate it?"
"It's so tiring, you know?" I complained, plopping down on the weathered bench at the edge of the field.
My legs already felt heavy, and the day had barely begun.
We were all wearing black T-shirts with our school's emblem emblazoned on the front, our numbers and surnames stenciled in white on the back. The uniform black shorts completed our matching attire, making us look like a swarm of disciplined ants.
"Kairiiiiii!!!" Sakura's high-pitched voice cut through the air as she bounded towards us with the energy of a small hurricane.
"You're so noisy, Sakura..." Noel grumbled, scratching his head in annoyance.
It was no secret he had a thing for her, though he would rather face a firing squad than admit it.
"Ble ble ble~ Then be noisy too, ain't my problem anymore, mister," Sakura retorted, rolling her eyes dramatically.
I stayed silent, my mind wandering back to the previous night. It was strange how she insisted on drinking without any apparent reason. Her hair had been a mess, and her lipstick had disappeared.
What had really happened?
Lipstick doesn't just vanish when you drink.
Had she kissed someone at the bar, and Ryu hadn't stopped her? Damn.
He should've stopped her, I mean, he still loves her, right?
Why would he watch her kiss some random guy then?
"Mr. Okano, are you with us?" The teacher's voice snapped me back to reality, and I felt my face flush with embarrassment.
"Y-Yes, miss..." I stammered, nodding awkwardly.
"Alright, our sport for today is archery," she announced with a smile. "I will assign you partners."
"Yay!" the others cheered as the teacher began calling out names from her list.
"Mr. Asaga and Ms. Sano," she called, and we all looked at them in surprise.
It seemed destiny had a hand in this pairing.
"Looks like destiny made that decision," Hinata chuckled.
"Keep quiet. Mr. Nishida and Ms. Choi. Rin," she continued, glancing at us. "Mr. Ogino and Ms. Choi. Rika."
Minutes passed, and my name had yet to be called.
"Tsk, boring..." I muttered under my breath.
"Mr. Kawashima and Ms. Ichijo, also Mr. Ochiai and Mr. Okano," she announced with a smile.
"It's getting boring. Where is my name?" Kairi complained.
"Mr. Nakano and Ms. Akashi," the teacher finally said.
"Fuck it..." I whispered in frustration. "This is unfair..."
"Are you saying something, Mr. Okano?" the teacher asked, and I quickly shook my head.
I should be the one teaching her, not Ryu. I didn't want them to get close again. They had started as friends and ended up together. I couldn't let that happen again, ever. I glanced over at them, laughing loudly as they cleaned the bows. My fists clenched. I didn't want to lose her again, not after everything I did to win her.
