Bocchi the Love Story!

39. Cold or Warm

" Kenji... "

" Haah.....hah....what..? "

" I don't think this is right for you. "

" What are you talking about.... Aren't I doing fine? "

Asahi simply sighs, deciding to take a break too next to the exhausted Sakurai. He grabs the soccer ball and decides to balance it on his head while his mind contemplates things. " Your passes have gotten better, that's for sure. The accuracy has improved, but are you sure emulating my playstyle is the way to go? "

" Your playstyle is what got us close to beating Ryuji last time, " Sakurai, insists with a confidence beyond him. " Someone needs to take your place if you're not coming back to make the plays we need. "

I can't get through to him

Seems no matter how much Asahi tries to push him to reconsider his game plan for the match, Sakurai is too stubborn to budge. Typical, he knows, since they're best friends and all. Still, he can't help but worry over the taller boy's impulsive decisions... Asahi wonders how someone like Nijika can deal with him.

" By the way, how did dinner with your mom go? " Sakurai decides to use this break to simply chat about other things besides soccer. " I heard from my mom that aunt Fuyuko was ecstatic to hear you staying in Oreha for a week. "

Asahi bellows out a chuckle, " Well, ecstatic she was, alright. She immediately began spoiling me as soon as I stepped foot in that restaurant, letting me order anything I want and nagging me to eat more. " Asahi blushed a bit as he said that, feeling Sakurai's teasing smirk coming from his side. " A-Anyway, it was good. " He decides to leave it at that, fully aware that in Sakurai's stupid head that he was likely thinking Asahi as a Mama's boy at the moment. Which... isn't inaccurate, but embarrassing nevertheless.

But as he thought that, he can also recall some moments about the dinner that weren't very pleasant.

' Learn all you can so you can carry them with you once you're abroad, okay, Asahi? '

She said, smiling at him lovingly, with a hopeful gleam in her eyes that made his heart hurt. But he forces a smile and nods accordingly, much to her delight. And maybe her happiness made his heart hurt a little less.

Still, he couldn't help but think of a particular someone when it comes to all of this...

" You miss her, don't you~ " Sakurai's teasing voice breaks Asahi from his trance. In almost supersonic speed, the chestnut brown haired boy snapped his head towards his longtime friend with a face of both surprise that he could immediately tell, and a proceeding denial. But Sakurai beats him to it, barking out a huge laugh that echoed across the field. " Hahaha! Damn, dude. Your face can't get any more obvious than that!  "

" But how-- "

" You should relax while you're in Oreha.  Just a couple more days left before you can return back to your loving pinky girl, so keep it in your pants till' then, 'kay? "