Abnormality in normality.

😍💞💘 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 10: 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻. 💔💏💖

ℝ𝕪𝕠𝕜𝕠'𝕤 ℙ.𝕆.𝕍

It had been nearly a week since I joined this boarding school. The days blurred together, each one filled with unfamiliar faces and routines. Today, though, was different. It was a Saturday morning, and like every Saturday, the air buzzed with excitement as the students gathered for sports. I sat on the sidelines, watching the boys playing a game I had recently learned was called soccer. The field stretched out before me, the players darting back and forth, their shouts blending with the steady rhythm of the ball hitting the grass.

My gaze drifted when I noticed Mitsumi in the distance, calling my name as she walked toward me. Her voice, bright and insistent, cut through the noise, but she was so focused on reaching me that she didn't realize she was walking straight into the middle of the field. Oblivious to the game unfolding around her, she weaved through the players, a look of determination on her face.

Just as she reached me and was about to take a seat, a ball came hurtling toward her head, flying at full speed. The whistle of it cutting through the air made my muscles tense. Instinctively, I sprang up from my chair, my body moving before my mind could catch up. In a flash, I kicked the ball away with a sharp, precise motion, sending it soaring across the field. The impact was so forceful that it not only sailed into the net, scoring a goal, but also tore through the netting, deforming the ball as it landed with a thud.

"That was close," I murmured to myself, barely acknowledging the chaos I had just caused.

"Woah, that was dope! You saved me!" Mitsumi exclaimed, her voice a mix of awe and gratitude.

I winced at the volume, instinctively covering my ears. "Why on earth are you shouting!" I snapped; my tone sharp as I tried to block out the sound.

"Thank you!!" Mitsumi, clearly unaware of her own increasing volume, shouted even louder, her excitement radiating off her in waves.

"Can you be any louder? Shut up, will ya?" I retorted, my irritation growing as I glared at her.

Before our banter could continue, two boys approached, their expressions a mix of amusement and curiosity. One of them, a broad grin spreading across his face, was the first to speak. "That was actually cool!" he said, his eyes wide with admiration. "You should totally come play with us!"

The second boy, however, didn't share his friend's enthusiasm. He looked down at the crumpled ball, his brow furrowing in displeasure. "No, she has to replace our ball she disfigured," he said flatly, his tone filled with annoyance as he glanced between me and the other boy.

I crossed my arms, unfazed by his attitude. "Just who do you think you're talking to? It's not my fault you guys are horrible at aiming," I said bluntly, fixing him with a glare. My voice was cold, without a trace of apology. "Besides," I added, giving the mangled ball a dismissive glance, "that ball was very defective."

The angry boy's face flushed with frustration. "It was just bought," he shouted, his voice rising in indignation.

Before I could respond, Mitsumi popped her head between us, her grin wide and mischievous. "I bet that you don't want her to play with you guys because you're scared that you guys will lose horribly to her," she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm.

The boy bristled, his posture stiffening as he puffed out his chest. "You've got to be kidding me. Like I will be scared of losing to a girl," he shot back, his tone full of arrogance.

"Fine, then prove yourself by playing against her," Mitsumi challenged, her grin growing as she extended her hand to him. They shook hands firmly, sealing the deal.

I decided to cut through the tension with a simple statement. "I don't know how to play soccer."

The second boy, the calmer of the two, stepped forward and began explaining the rules. He patiently walked me through the basics—how to dribble, pass, and score. I listened intently, nodding along as he explained. His instructions were clear, and when he finished, I had a basic understanding of the game.