Sobu High School.
Walking leisurely around the campus, Kotoko Iwanaga glanced around, observing the students in their cool athletic uniforms. She knew today was the second and final day of the athletic festival. Most of the students of Sobu High were active around the sports fields, but a few who were either not feeling well or preferred solitude stayed in classrooms or other quiet places.
Given this situation, finding a specific person would be somewhat challenging.
She stopped and took out her phone, checking it. "Still no response..."
Earlier, when she entered the campus, she had sent a message to Iroha Isshiki, trying to get specific information from her. Ten minutes had passed without a response, suggesting Isshiki was busy and hadn't seen her message.
So, Kotoko had to rely on herself.
Standing still, she pondered where Hoshimi might be. Hoshimi wasn't the type to be antisocial, so he was likely around the sports fields with his classmates. Moreover, Isshiki's previous information mentioned Hoshimi participating in mixed doubles tennis, singles badminton, and singles table tennis.
Thus, Hoshimi was likely at either the badminton court, tennis court, or table tennis court. But which one exactly?
Without enough information to narrow it down, Kotoko chose the simplest method.
She smiled and stopped a passing female student, asking, "Excuse me, do you know where Hoshimi Kiyokawa from Class 2-J is?"
Without hesitation, the girl pointed to the tennis courts. "Senior Hoshimi should be at the tennis courts. He's been there with senior Yukinoshita these past two days."
"Thank you," Kotoko replied gracefully.
"No problem," the girl smiled back and continued on her way.
"Tennis courts... Yukinoshita..."
Standing still, Kotoko smiled as she looked in the direction of the tennis courts. The girl's brief response revealed quite a bit of information. Calling Hoshimi "senior" indicated the girl was a first-year like Kotoko. For a first-year to easily know about a senior, either she was a social butterfly or Hoshimi was quite famous. Kotoko leaned towards the latter.
Moreover, Hoshimi had been with Yukinoshita. What was their relationship now?
Could they really be dating?
Kotoko's heart skipped a beat, feeling a bit uneasy. She hurried towards the tennis courts.
Entering the tennis court area, Kotoko immediately heard Hoshimi's name announced over the loudspeaker.
"...Runner-up from Class 2-F, Hayama Hayato and Miura Yumiko. Champion from Class 2-J, Hoshimi Kiyokawa and Yukinoshita Yukino. Please proceed to the awards podium."
Awards podium?
Kotoko looked around, seeing a crowd of students gathered on the right side of the tennis court. She guessed the awards podium was there and quickly changed direction towards it.
As she got closer, her heart beat faster. Finally... finally... she would meet Hoshimi in person.
She had waited six months for this day!
Reaching the back of the crowd, the petite Kotoko stopped to take a few deep breaths, calming her excitement. Covering her heart with one hand and holding her reddish-brown cane with the other, she tiptoed to peek through the crowd.
But her small stature meant her view was completely blocked.
"Ugh," she puffed her cheeks, looking like a frustrated little squirrel who couldn't reach its pinecone.
"Excuse me, please let me through."
Determined to see Hoshimi, Kotoko squeezed through the crowd, making her way to the front.
Closer... closer... the light was just ahead.
Finally, Kotoko reached the front of the crowd just as the awards were being handed to the champions.
She witnessed Hoshimi and Yukinoshita supporting each other as they bowed to receive their medals.
"Champions, smile!" the photographer called out.
Hoshimi and Yukinoshita looked at the camera, smiling brightly.
Seeing this, Kotoko's expression froze, her chest feeling heavy as if a stone was lodged there, making it hard to breathe. She involuntarily stepped forward, whispering, "Hoshimi, I've come to see you."
Hearing his name, Hoshimi instinctively looked towards the voice. Seeing Kotoko in her white dress, his expression stiffened, and he muttered, "Kotoko..."
"Hm?" Yukinoshita, noticing Hoshimi's reaction, frowned and looked towards the girl in the dress.
The photographer, sensing something interesting, quickly adjusted his angle to capture the moment.
Click---
With a shutter click, a unique moment of the champions was immortalized.
…
Earlier, right after the match.
"Champions, the HoshiYuki pair!"
The referee's announcement marked Hoshimi's final victory. He waved his tennis racket, beaming at Yukinoshita, "Yukino, I won."
Yukinoshita, with a faint smile, nodded gently. The icy blue in her eyes had melted into a clear spring.
"Wow, Hoshimi-san, you're amazing!" An excited Yui hugged Yukinoshita's arm, praising him.
Class 2-J girls, surrounding them, gushed with admiration.
"Hoshimi-san, that was incredible! Was that a special move?"
"Hoshimi-kun, are you tired? Want some water?"
"Hoshimi-san..."
"Hoshimi-san..."
Hoshimi handed his tennis racket to a girl beside him, chuckling, "Everyone, please give me a moment to celebrate with Yukino."
"Aw, Hoshimi-kun only has eyes for Yukinoshita-san..."
"No choice, Hoshimi-kun is so devoted..."
"So envious..."
The girls, slightly pouty, still made way for him. Hoshimi, maintaining his smile but feeling slightly unsteady, walked towards Yukinoshita.
"Hm?" Yukinoshita, seeing Hoshimi approach, noticed something was off. His smile seemed forced, and his face lacked its usual naturalness.
Upon closer inspection, she noticed his once bright red eyes had dimmed, with hidden pain deep within.
Hoshimi was pushing himself!
In an instant, Yukinoshita concluded. She struggled to stand, disregarding her sprained right ankle, limping to support him.
"Yukinon, why are you standing up..." Yui, surprised, moved to help her.
The next moment, Hoshimi and Yukinoshita met, and Hoshimi opened his arms, pulling Yukinoshita into a hug.
"Uh..." Yui froze, staying where she was, watching them silently.
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