SILENT WIND |°་༘♡| blue lock

03. IF YOU CAN'T BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM

✾_________ ׂׂૢ.˚______°་༘♡

✾_________SOMETIMES A person's own thoughts are their greatest tormentors. It had already been a week since the first match Kiomi went to with Anri, yet she couldn't shake off the thoughts that plagued her mind ever since.

Unable to attend any other matches due to school, she guessed it was for the best. Kiomi sat at her work desk, scrolling through material her teacher sent for the weekend. Anri was out scouting players again, but Kiomi refused to go this time. She couldn't let herself be swayed so easily. She had vowed that her days on the field were just a bittersweet pastime, occasionally reminding her of their existence but never loud enough to make her go back.

She told herself that if there was anything she'd do in her life, it would be making it her own.

And that included leaving football behind.

So, she drowned herself in work. Again.

It was unnecessary to go over the same document eight times, but she had run out of things to do that were complex enough to occupy her racing mind. Because of that, she opted to learn the whole 29 pages by heart.

Unfortunately, by the sixth hour of her rampant scribbling and reading, she started singing the words to herself like her favorite song. She had already memorized it all. Usually, her ability to absorb information was her pride, but now it was her greatest enemy.

After hours hunched over her desk, Kiomi finally stood up, feeling the need to stretch and clear her mind. Her legs unconsciously carried her toward the kitchen, the cool tiles grounding her thoughts as she moved. Only when she was inside did she notice that she was, in fact, hungry.

A quick video call with her mom later, her meal was ready, and she sat quietly at the counter, enjoying the food. Her phone in hand, she stared at a blank page in her notes app.

She wasn't lying when she told Anri she was seriously considering online classes for her last year of high school. The moment her teacher mentioned the option a month ago, she was interested.

She didn't have any problems with school; she just found public transport troublesome. Anri had assured her she had total control over her education and could always bring any necessary permission slips for a guardian's signature.

Frustrated by her lack of motivation to write the email, Kiomi finished her food before focusing on the task. Dishes in the sink, Kiomi in her bed, she continued to stare at the white screen.

The words to request the transfer were in her head, but they wouldn't come out. Instead, she found herself thinking about the game again—Reo's strategic brilliance, Nagi's raw talent. She thought about what it felt like to be on the field, the rush of adrenaline, the satisfaction of a well-executed play. She thought about her own abilities, how she used to predict opponents' moves and guide her team to victory.

Almost without realizing it, she began typing the email. It was straightforward and concise. She requested permission to switch to online classes for the upcoming year, citing her preference for a more flexible schedule to better manage her time and responsibilities. She re-read the email a couple of times, ensuring it was clear and polite.

There. It was done. Just like that.

Not allowing her mind to second guess her choices, she quickly pressed the send button. Not expecting an answer soon, as it was a Sunday afternoon, she decided to take a short walk outside. Quickly sending a message to Anri to inform her of her whereabouts, she exited the apartment and made her way over to the park.