IEGO: CS || Wavering Hearts

『 CHAPTER 20 』

"Yuukoku-san, I have returned," Alpha announced, entering through the door.

"Oh, welcome ba ⸺ eh?" Yuukoku paused his walk to the entrance way. "Wait, I thought you were supposed to go time travelling...."

Kariya, popping out from behind, replied before Alpha could, "Oh, he was supposed to. But then, somehow, someway, Wondeba and Dr Aruno brought in this girl ⸺ her name is Kinako Nanobana by the way ⸺ and some arguments happened between Daisuke-san and Wondeba about bringing her along. So then, Alpha⸺"

"I surrendered my position to her."

Kariya glared at Alpha for cutting him off.

Alpha paid no mind and continued, "I believed that I am much more suited to remain here and care for [Surname]."

"You just relegated yourself to that duty cause you were suspicious of Kinako-san," Kariya muttered.

"The logic that you wish to argue is illogical." Alpha glanced at Kariya. "I admit, I was suspicious of Kinako-san. However, I opted to prioritise [Surname]'s wellbeing. Had I remained suspicious of Kinako-san, I would have tagged along, no?"

"T–that ⸺"

"He makes a fair point, Kariya." Sangoku popped up from behind Kariya after locking the door. "Besides, can you really argue with him that it's bad to care for [Nickname]?"

Kariya stuttered even more then grumbled. "Fine, fine! You guys don't gotta say anything else anymore."

Alpha deadpanned while Sangoku laughed.

Yuukoku chuckled at the scene. "Oh, wait, you were suspicious of this Kinako-san?"

"Yes." Alpha nodded.

"Can I ask why?"

"Yes."

Yuukoku waited for an explanation. When he realised Alpha took his earlier question seriously, he rephrased, "Okay, so, why were you suspicious of Kinako-san?"

"I am suspicious of her because I do not recall any entails given by my former superior about her."

Kariya scoffed. "Isn't that like a given considering she just appeared today?"

"I supposed I must disclose that when I was captain of Protocol Omega, I was supplied information on all of the soccer teams that existed within this timeline alongside your era, Yuukoku-san."

"Wow, this is news to me," said Yuukoku.

"I wanna say you're joking but⸺" Kariya scratched his head "⸺considering you're from the future, getting information on all of us ain't too far fetched."

"Well, either way, you've deemed Kinako-san as⸺" Sangoku paused to find the right words "⸺not harmless, yeah?"

"Yes."

An awkward silence reigned in the air.

Yuukoku coughed into his fist. "So, everyone has left for the time traveling thing now, right? What do the three of you plan to do?"

"We did all come here to check up on [Nickname]," said Sangoku. "Is she still...?"

Yuukoku nodded.

The three boys lowered their heads.

"Aw man, are we gonna have to wait for a month again until she wakes up?" Kariya grumbled.

Alpha perked up. "Again? May I pry what do you mean by that?"

"Hah?" Kariya raised an eyebrow. "Didn't ya just say that you got all the information on us?"

"Information relegated to your skill levels and important events such as how you were introduced to soccer have been disclosed to me."