"But Akane—"
Katarai Shono first looked at the tall and slender Hayato.
After meeting his indifferent gaze, Katarai Shono felt a little guilty.
Then, he quickly turned his gaze to Nanao Akane.
Katarai Shono's expression was pained and twisted, his body leaning forward as if confessing something:
"I'm your boyfriend, Akane!"
"No—"
Nanao Akane didn't speak to Katarai Shono but first looked at Hayato, anxious as if to explain something.
But Hayato's gaze was surprisingly gentle: "I know, don't rush, I know."
Only then did Nanao Akane's violently beating heart calm down, and she immediately looked at Katarai Shono.
Katarai Shono was stunned.
He stared at Nanao Akane in disbelief.
The latter's ice-shard-like gaze seemed to be looking at a stranger... No, it was like looking at trash.
"...Akane?" Katarai Shono's lips trembled.
"Excuse me, Pian Lai Student, I think there's no longer any connection between us, is there?" Nanao Akane said indifferently.
"B-but—!"
Katarai Shono choked on a few gulps of saliva, then, as if using all his strength, roared: "But! That's all Supervisor Higashi's fault, isn't it! I, I was also pursuing my dream... th-that's why I was deceived by him! Akane... if it's Akane, you, you should forgive me! Our previous promise—you should understand!"
"Was there such a thing?" Nanao Akane tilted her head, then chuckled softly: "I've already forgotten."
"That."
Hayato stepped forward.
He stood in front of Katarai Shono, also blocking his gaze towards Nanao Akane. He smiled politely, then asked in a friendly manner: "May I punch you?"
Katarai Shono was stunned, not yet able to answer.
Hayato's hand was already raised. Just as he was about to let this idiot taste the power of "Fantasy Killer," Ochi Tsubasa spoke up.
"Wait, Kobayashi-kun."
"...Hm?"
Hayato gave Ochi Tsubasa face.
He had a rather good impression of the latter, and besides, this was his territory.
"I have something I'd like to ask this Pian Lai Student." Ochi Tsubasa smiled gently, then said to Katarai Shono: "I've heard about your situation, your situation with Nanuo Student, and also with Supervisor Higashi... No, he probably doesn't deserve to be called 'Supervisor' anymore... I've heard about everything. But I don't quite understand, what is your so-called dream?"
"O-of course it's to make it to the national tournament as a starter!" Katarai Shono said, stiffening his neck.
"Then why were you afraid of your relationship with Nanuo Student being exposed at the time?" Ochi Tsubasa asked again: "Couldn't you openly admit it after being discovered?"
"Th-that's because the Baseball Club doesn't allow dating." Katarai Shono answered through gritted teeth: "If it were discovered, Supervisor Higashi would find someone to replace my position—"
"So you think just anyone can replace your position?" Ochi Tsubasa continued to ask: "Then what kind of dream is your dream?"
"...Eh?" Katarai Shono was confused.
"A dream that your strength and value don't match." Ochi Tsubasa said slowly, his words were light, but every word was a gem, as if sharply piercing Katarai Shono's heart. Ochi Tsubasa called out again: "Arisa."
"W-what for?" Kushiro Arisa walked over and asked, then her hand was immediately grasped tightly by Ochi Tsubasa. As if making a public announcement, Ochi Tsubasa raised his hands, clasped fingers with his girlfriend.
"W-wait—" Kushiro Arisa's face flushed crimson with embarrassment: "W-what are you doing?"
"Arisa and I are this kind of couple." Ochi Tsubasa announced: "Actually, the Soccer Team also doesn't allow dating."
Katarai Shono suddenly remembered something.
Yes, the sports clubs at Shiraki High School, except for a few, were very strict about dating relationships.
Because achieving results requires a lot of physical stamina, and if a dating relationship develops to its end and one's self-control isn't strong enough, it's very easy to deplete one's stamina bar.
But Ochi Tsubasa could openly admit that this girl was his lover? Wh-why?
"Hmph," a Soccer Team member reminded Katarai Shono: "Have you paid attention to our school's Soccer Team's record in the second half of last year?"
Katarai Shono wasn't interested in soccer, so he hadn't paid attention, but he vaguely remembered that the Soccer Team's performance was very poor at that time.
It was so bad that he even heard how many players were needed to play a soccer match.
"Last year we lost to a certain high school, then to Kamiki, then to Sobu, and finally even to Ousai. If we kept losing, we'd probably lose to a girls' school. We truly lost all face." The Soccer Team member said: "But this year, our win rate is very good; at least we can win most games. Do you know why?"
"..." Katarai Shono didn't answer.
"Because our Wing-bro immediately made it clear to the coach when he started dating, and was promptly DNP'd." The Soccer Team member rubbed his round back of the head: "But Wing-bro is the strongest one on our team, the ace. Other forwards simply couldn't fill his shoes, so things went downhill rapidly. Later, in the match against Toyosaki High School, in the second half, we were still down 0-2. The coach couldn't take it anymore and put the suspended Wing-bro on the field. As a result, Wing-bro scored a hat-trick in the second half, instantly reversing the situation. After Shiraki also secured a rare victory, the coach never brought up Wing-bro's dating problem again."
Katarai Shono's eyes widened, but his pupils contracted like pinpricks.
It was as if his chest had been heavily struck by a hammer.
He was speechless.
"Your dream is merely a product of compromise." Ochi Tsubasa said calmly: "When you encountered setbacks on the path to your dream, you didn't think about becoming stronger to overcome them, but instead wanted to take a detour. That shows your level is only this much."
Katarai Shono's eyes became dim.
What he had insisted on, his so-called 'dream,' was directly crushed into fragments when compared to Ochi Tsubasa's.
"...I." Katarai Shono mumbled: "...But, isn't all this Supervisor Higashi's fault? It should all be Supervisor Higashi's fault... It's all Supervisor Higashi's fault... I'm not wrong, I... I was just deceived..."
He repeated these words as if trying to escape.
Hayato and Ochi Tsubasa exchanged glances. The latter nodded and took a step back.
Hayato sighed softly and reached out to pat Katarai Shono's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Pian Lai Student." He said comfortingly.
Katarai Shono raised his listless eyes, looking at the elegantly smiling Hayato.
"H…"
"Bang!"
Hayato's punch landed on Katarai Shono's cheek, sending him stumbling back two meters.
"Don't worry, that punch won't hurt much, Kendo Club," Hayato said indifferently.
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