[Morning, in class]
The teacher is in the middle of the lesson, but Riccardo is fighting to keep his eyes open.
I'm exhausted… I'm actually going to fall asleep…
He glances sideways and spots Nishimura fully asleep on his desk.
Well, there's always someone worse off.
[After class, break time]
"Aliberti!"
Riccardo lifts his head and sees Kirishima walking toward him. He lets out a long yawn.
"Still tired from yesterday's match?"
"Yeah… school all day, plus the trip there and back for the game… brutal combo."
She laughs softly. "At least you guys won."
"True…" Riccardo looks over at Kagayama's empty desk. "Yui's not here today?"
"She had a game with her basketball club."
Riccardo is surprised. "I didn't know that."
"It'd be weird if you did. She never tells people when she plays—she hates the idea of someone she knows watching her."
Riccardo nods. "Makes sense."
Then a mischievous smile appears. "Next time they have a match, tell me. I'm in the mood for some basketball."
Kirishima frowns. "Yeah… I don't think I'm doing that."
"Excuse me, is Aliberti here?"
Riccardo hears his name and turns toward the classroom door.
"Uh… yeah, he's in the back," a classmate answers, pointing at him.
Riccardo sees Noguchi step inside. Their eyes meet.
Noguchi walks up to him.
"Morning!"
"Morning, captain. What's up?"
"Coach Ishii told me to give you these. No idea what they are."
He hands Riccardo a stack of papers. Riccardo flips through them, confused.
"What's that?" Kirishima asks.
Riccardo skims the pages. "…This is about the history of Japanese football. What is this, homework?"
"No clue. Ask him next time."
Riccardo lets his head fall to the desk. "Yeah… one day I will…"
Noguchi looks around. "Where's Genpaku?"
"To your right. The life form currently fused with the desk," Riccardo replies.
Noguchi turns to Nishimura, completely motionless.
"…Is he still alive?"
"Pretty normal reaction, honestly. What I'd like to know is how you aren't tired."
"That's easy. You attackers run like lunatics with the coach's system. Us defenders just hold our shape."
"Fair…"
"But while you guys suffer physically, we suffer mentally. The coach drills us non-stop. Sometimes I swear I still hear his voice even when he's not there."
"Yeah… I'll keep the physical exhaustion, thanks."
The bell rings.
"I'm heading back to class. See you at training!"
"See you…"
As everyone gathers their things, Riccardo looks again at the papers.
Weird…
[After school, on the campus pathways]
Riccardo drags himself toward the exit. On the path ahead, he spots Sato in her training uniform.
"Aliberti!"
She jogs up to him.
"Hey, Shiori. How's it going?"
Sato immediately notices how tired he is.
"I should be asking you that…"
Riccardo looks at her outfit. "Training today?"
"Yeah. I'm getting ready for Monday's race."
"That's great. You'll do amazing."
He yawns. "I'm heading home before I collapse on the sidewalk. See you."
He starts walking away, but Sato hesitates—she clearly wants to say something.
"Riccardo!"
He stops instantly.
Did she just call me by name…?
"Yes?"
"I, um…"
The words refuse to come out.
"Congrats on the win yesterday!"
Riccardo smiles. "Thanks!"
He heads off. Sato watches him leave, shoulders dropping slightly.
She sighs at herself. "I couldn't bring myself to ask him out…"
Walking down the street, Riccardo pulls the papers from his bag.
"Let's see what this is really about…"