beyond the net - RAN TAKAHASHI.

009. italy's semifinals

₊˚ . 🌱 ₊˚ ⌗﹒ﾟ.

── .✦ THE NEXT MORNING, yn woke up with a lingering sense of happiness from the night before, but there was also a growing sense of unease in the pit of her stomach. today was the day of the italy vs. usa semifinals, and she couldn't help but wonder what the outcome would mean for her.

what if italy won? that would mean her brother, gianluca, would be playing against ran in the finals. the thought of having to choose between her home country, her brother, and the man she was growing increasingly fond of weighed heavily on her. she tried to imagine herself in the stands, torn between cheering for italy or japan, knowing that whichever team lost, she would feel a deep sense of loss.

she sighed, running a hand through her hair as she stared out the window of their hotel room. the sun was already high in the sky, and paris was bustling with life. the eiffel tower stood majestically in the distance, a reminder of the beauty of the city, but it did little to soothe her nerves.

alexis noticed yn's pensive expression as she emerged from the bathroom, towel drying her hair. "hey, you okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice. yn turned to her, forcing a small smile. "yeah, just... thinking about today."
alexis raised an eyebrow. "about the match?"
yn nodded. "yeah. i mean, what if it's italy against japan in the finals? i don't know how i'm  going to handle that."

alexis walked over and sat beside yn on the edge of the bed. she placed a reassuring hand on her best friend's shoulder. "you know, you don't have to choose sides. you can always cheer for both. no one's going to fault you for that."
yn looked down at her hands, fidgeting with the hem of her pajama top. "i know, but it's not that simple. if japan wins, gianluca loses his shot at gold. if italy wins, ran does. it just feels... complicated."
alexis squeezed her shoulder gently. "life is complicated. but you care about both of them, and that's what matters. you'll figure it out when the time comes."
yn looked up at her, feeling a bit more comforted by her words. "thanks, lex."

alexis gave her a supportive smile, just as a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. they both turned toward the sound, curious. yn got up to answer it, revealing a concierge standing in the hallway, holding a small, neatly wrapped package.

"mademoiselle moretti?" he inquired politely. alexis exchanged a puzzled glance with yn before stepping forward. "that's me."
the concierge handed her the package with a slight bow. "this arrived for you this morning, madame. enjoy your day."
alexis took the package, still confused, and thanked him before closing the door. she turned it over in her hands, inspecting it. "i wasn't expecting anything..."
yn's curiosity was piqued. "well, open it!"

alexis sat down on the bed again and carefully unwrapped the package. inside was a folded piece of cloth, and as she lifted it out, her eyes widened in surprise.