Whispers Of What Was

III: Vast Field Unites the Circle of Friends

April 21

The following day at Shinra High School began with the usual hum of excitement as students filed into the classrooms. I felt a slight buzz of energy in the air, perhaps because of the upcoming soccer tournament. The prospect of competing against other schools made everyone a little more animated.

As I settled into my seat in homeroom, I caught Kazuki's eye across the room. He flashed a thumbs-up, his confidence radiating even from a distance. I couldn't help but smile back. We were both looking forward to soccer practice later that afternoon.

After the morning classes, we had a brief break. I spotted Sawako sitting alone on a bench outside, scribbling in her notebook. Her brow was furrowed, and I could tell she was deep in thought. Part of me wanted to check on her, but I hesitated, not wanting to intrude.

Kazuki joined me, noticing my gaze. "You okay? You seem a bit distracted," he said.

"I was just thinking about Sawako," I admitted. "She seems a little down today."

Kazuki nodded, glancing over at her. "Yeah, she's been quiet lately. I think she's stressed about the tournament. Maybe we should encourage her to join practice today."

"Good idea," I replied, feeling a sense of camaraderie in wanting to help our classmates. "Let's go talk to her."

As we approached, Sawako looked up, a surprised expression crossing her face. "Hey, Taro, Kazuki. What's up?"

"We were wondering if you'd join us for soccer practice later," Kazuki said, his tone light. "We could use your energy on the field."

Sawako smiled faintly, though I could see a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "I don't know... I haven't practiced much lately."

"Nonsense! You're great at it," I encouraged, trying to instill a bit of confidence in her. "We all have our off days, but practicing together could help us all."

"Yeah, it'll be fun! And we can work on our team plays," Kazuki added.

Sawako hesitated, but I could see her resolve beginning to waver. "Okay, I'll give it a shot," she said, her smile growing a little brighter.

"Awesome! See you there!" I replied, feeling relieved that she was open to joining us.

After class, the bell rang, and I headed to the soccer field with Kazuki. The sun was shining, and the excitement among the team was palpable. As we warmed up, I felt a surge of adrenaline and anticipation.

Kazuki took charge, rallying the team. "Alright, everyone! Let's run through some drills before we get into a scrimmage. We need to polish our plays!"

As we split into groups, I noticed Sawako standing a little off to the side, watching us intently. I approached her, wanting to offer some encouragement.

"Ready to jump in?" I asked, smiling.

"Yeah, I think so," she replied, her voice steadying. "Just a bit nervous, I guess."

"Don't worry! Just play your game and have fun. We're all here to support each other," I said, hoping to ease her nerves.

We joined the rest of the team, and soon enough, the practice was in full swing. The sound of cleats against the grass and the laughter of my teammates filled the air, drowning out my worries.

During the scrimmage, I felt the rhythm of the game flowing through me. I made quick passes, dodged defenders, and when the opportunity arose, I took a shot on goal. But the goalkeeper deflected it, sending the ball back into play.