As the week progressed, Aiko's tactics grew more inventive. Her daily routine now involved strategically placing herself in Sota's path, whether it was by his locker, in the library, or near the gym where he often went for practice. Thursday brought a new opportunity as Sota headed towards the gym.
The weather was overcast, casting a dull, grayish light over the school grounds. Aiko, clutching her umbrella against the persistent drizzle, followed at a discreet distance. She had planned to intercept Sota before he disappeared into his workout routine.
"Hey, Sota!" Aiko called out, her voice bright despite the gloomy weather. "Heading to the gym for a workout?"
Sota looked over, his expression one of mild surprise. "Yeah, I've got some training to do. What's up?"
Aiko tried to sound casual, though her heart was pounding with the urgency of her message. "Oh, just thought I'd walk with you and chat about the flag football team. I wanted to remind you about that application form we talked about."
Sota glanced at his phone, which buzzed with an incoming call. His attention momentarily diverted, he offered Aiko a distracted smile. "Sorry, Aiko. I've got to take this call. Can we talk later?"
Aiko's smile remained, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Sure, no problem. See you later!"
As Sota continued towards the gym, Aiko stood by the entrance, feeling a deep sense of frustration. The rain had picked up, and she found herself standing in a puddle, her resolve being tested by the weather and the lack of progress. The qualifiers were just weeks away, and every day without the application form felt like a setback.
She took a deep breath, willing herself to remain focused. It wasn't just about the form—it was about making sure her team was ready and that every piece of the puzzle fell into place. She knew that her persistence would eventually pay off, even if it sometimes felt like an uphill battle.
— — —
By Friday, Aiko's determination had reached a fever pitch, burning like a fire that refused to be extinguished despite the relentless downpour. The sky was a brooding gray, and sheets of rain pounded the school grounds, turning them into a treacherous, muddy mess. Aiko stood under the narrow overhang near the school's entrance, her breath coming out in visible puffs as the cold seeped into her bones. Her usually neat hair was plastered against her forehead, and her damp uniform clung uncomfortably to her skin, but none of that mattered. She was singularly focused on one thing: finding Sota.
She paced back and forth, her shoes squelching with each step, the sound almost drowned out by the steady drumbeat of rain against the pavement. Her thoughts raced as fast as her heart, tangled with anxiety and urgency. The qualifiers were looming closer with each passing day, and the weight of it all pressed down on her like the storm clouds above. Every drop of rain that hit the ground seemed to echo her growing sense of desperation. She needed to finalize everything, and she couldn't afford any more delays.
Aiko's gaze was locked on the entrance, searching desperately for any sign of Sota. Her usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found; instead, her face was a mask of worry and determination. She clutched her phone tightly, as if willing it to make Sota appear, her fingers trembling slightly from the cold and her own nerves.
When she finally spotted him, her heart skipped a beat. There he was, cutting through the rain with purposeful strides, his figure blurred slightly by the downpour but unmistakable. Relief surged through her like a wave, momentarily washing away her anxiety. Without a second thought, she dashed out from under the overhang, the rain immediately drenching her even further, but she didn't care. She had to reach him.
"Sota, can we talk for a moment?" Aiko called out, her voice strained as she fought to be heard over the roar of the rain. The urgency in her tone was unmistakable, and it made Sota stop in his tracks.
He turned to face her, his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he took in her drenched appearance. "Aiko! You're soaked. What's going on?"
The rain hammered down on them both, cold and relentless, but Aiko barely noticed it anymore. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, and the frustration that had been simmering inside her all day threatened to boil over. "I've been trying to reach you about the application form," she said, her voice thick with a mix of exasperation and worry. "We really need it to finalize everything before the qualifiers."
Sota's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. There was a pause, followed by Sota grabbing Aiko by the hand before dragging her to a nearby waiting shed so they wouldn't get interrupted by the rain.
He immediately swung his bag around, rummaging through it with haste.The seconds felt like hours as Aiko stood there, her heart pounding in her chest, each beat echoing her fear that something might go wrong at the last moment.
Finally, Sota pulled out the completed form, holding it out to her like a lifeline. Aiko's breath hitched as she reached for it, her hands shaking slightly from the cold and the overwhelming sense of relief that flooded her. As her fingers closed around the paper, she felt an immense weight lift from her shoulders.
"Thank you so much, Sota," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes shone with gratitude as she looked up at him, the rain streaming down her face indistinguishable from the tears of relief that threatened to spill over. "You have no idea how much this means."
Sota's smile was warm, and despite the rain, it seemed to light up the dreary day. "No problem, Aiko," he replied, his voice steady and reassuring. "And I'm sorry, I didn't give it to you sooner. I was just... no, I have no excuse."
"It's okay, what are you apologizing for hehe~" Aiko smiled as cheerfully as she once did when they first met, making Sota's heart skip a bit.
Although Aiko was a bit downhearted during the week since Sota didn't give her the application form, all the waiting was worth it. Sota had finally decided to join, and she knew that it took a lot of mental battles before he even reached that point.
That alone gave her the relief she needed. "Once again... thank you so much..." She said, her tears still streaming down her cheeks, camouflaged by the rain.
For a moment, the world around them seemed to fall away. The rain continued to pour down, but neither of them moved to seek shelter. They stood there in the storm, the sound of the rain a steady rhythm in the background, as Aiko felt a surge of hope and determination swell within her. The application form in her hand was more than just a piece of paper; it was a promise, a step closer to the future she'd been fighting so hard to secure.
The rain, once an obstacle, now felt like a testament to her perseverance, a challenge she had overcome. She would keep moving forward, no matter the storm. With Sota on the team, she knew they had a real chance. Together, they would weather any storm that came their way.
As the rain continued to fall, Aiko's grip on the form tightened, her resolve hardening like steel. The team was one step closer to achieving their goals, and she would stop at nothing to make sure they reached them. "You got this, Sota," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "Welcome to the team." She let out, her eyes smiling with her lips.
Sota nodded, his eyes filled with the same determination that now burned in Aiko's chest. "Thanks, looking forward to working with you."
And with that, they turned and walked together, leaving behind the rain-soaked ground as they headed home.
The second wind had begun.