Tide Between Two Worlds

Surprise, Surprise!

       It's the day of the prefecture round and Meiou Academy was excited about it. Banners scattered along the upper areas of the school's hallways all encouraged the team to do their best while on the way to the finals. Every team member, regardless of gender, were the stars of the day and they humbly knew it. Even vice captain, Karasu, enjoyed the attention.

       "Yeah, I know," he proclaimed while sliding his fingers through those golden locks in front of a group of girls, "I can't speak for Minamino but...if he can't get it done, of course I will."

The girls couldn't help but swoon and giggle over him and his confidence. Karasu had a going on too with the opposite sex. Despite his one-man show, his attention focused on Kuronue and Kiyoni speaking amongst themselves.

       "Well, well, well. If it isn't Minamino's biggest cheerleaders. 'Sup, Ikeda."

       Kiyoni was immediately dismissive, "Eh...hi?"

       "What do you want now, Ohta," Kuronue questioned.

       Karasu warned apart from his team of groupies, "Oh, nothing much. Say, eh, Ikeda? Before you start developing some feelings for Minamino, I think there's some things you should know."

Karasu doesn't share the same classroom as his team captain but has witnessed the latter's fraternization with Kiyoni. If he could get one girl out of the Minamino fanclub, it'll be a win for him.

Kiyoni's ears began to ring again. Her "superhuman radar" was going off but she continued pushing.

      "First, unless you know something I don't, nothing was ever said about me having feelings for Minamino. A boy and a girl can be nothing more than friends. Second, what would those things I should know about be?"

       "I don't know if either of you heard but, Minamino's been a bit...well, he's been a bit of a loose screw lately. During practice, he's always crying, complaining about...fins."

       "Fins?" Kuronue repeated in a confirming tone, "Fins."

       "Yeah, I know. I couldn't believe it either but...yeah. He thinks he's turning into some sort of fish. Coach kicked him out of practice one time because of it."

       "Probably just nervousness," Kiyoni stated, "Happens to anyone. Who cares?"

       Karasu shrugged it off, "Okay. But if he ends up going cuckoo during the meet today, don't say I didn't warn you. This school is one of the city's brightest. The last thing it needs is a mental patient."

       "Wow," Kuronue sarcastically marveled, "And you said my commentary was rude, Ikeda."

       "I stand somewhat corrected," Kiyoni assured, "Way to put down the disabled, Giorno Giovanni. Let's go, Misaki."

       Along the way, Kuronue sang a little tune, "Sin...sin city wasn't made for you."

       Kiyoni immediately laughed, "He did have that look on his face!"

       "Oi," Karasu reminded, "No one talks about me unless it's something nice."

       "Dude, if you've ever been on TikTok..." Kuronue alluded, "you'd know what I mean. Why don't you go work on your...what was it called? Your rizz face."

Kiyoni showed hers the best way she knew how before giggling and turning her nose in the air with Kuronue. That didn't please Karasu at all.

       Inside the classroom, Shuichi was collected as he was in the middle of reading before class. Kuronue and Kiyoni grew instantly nervous once they saw him. Karasu did have a point. However, those incidents only happened during practice in the days leading up to today. They had to remember the plan, allow Shuichi to essentially F around and (hopefully) not find out.