The evening breeze brushed softly against Sota's face as he and Aiko walked side by side down the familiar streets of their neighborhood. The lampposts cast golden halos of light, and the occasional rustling of leaves added a gentle rhythm to their steps. It was the kind of quiet that felt rare after days of constant training, but neither of them seemed to mind.
"You know," Aiko started, her voice breaking the comfortable silence, "I think everyone really looks up to you."
Sota glanced at her, caught slightly off guard. "Me?"
She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah. You're more than just a good player, Sota. The team's different when you're leading. More focused, more confident."
Scratching the back of his neck, Sota let out a small chuckle. "I don't know about that. I'm just doing what I can."
Aiko stopped walking, her gaze serious now. "Well, what you're doing is working. Don't sell yourself short."
