Aiko stood on the sidelines, her hands trembling as she clasped them together in front of her chest. The game was moving fast, the players darting across the field with everything they had. But all she could think about was how exhausted everyone looked. Seiryuu High's players were giving it their all—pushing, sprinting, diving—yet she could see the toll it was taking on them.
Every breath Sota took seemed labored, every step Kazuma made looked just a little slower than it should. Kaminari's usual quick bursts seemed less sharp, and even Yukishiro, usually graceful in his movements, was showing signs of fatigue. They had no substitutes. No backups. No one to give them even a moment's rest.
Aiko forced a smile, pumping her fist in the air and shouting, "Let's go, Seiryuu! You've got this!" The words sounded so hollow to her. She wanted to believe them, but deep down, the knot in her stomach twisted tighter.
