It was a bright, sunny afternoon. The sky was so clear it seemed transparent, with wisps of clouds scattered across it. The sun cast a brilliant glow on the landscape, and next to the business school lay a sports field. Though smaller than the others on campus, it was fully equipped with a red rubber track, a green soccer field, and basketball hoops, volleyball nets, and horizontal bars for students to use during P.E.
Today, the boys and girls were separated into their respective groups for class. The girls practiced volleyball under the shade of the trees while the boys played basketball nearby. In pairs, the girls took turns passing the ball to each other.
"Straighten your arms!" the teacher called out. "Bend your knees slightly—yes, don't be too stiff."
Emily stood in the line of students, her eyes focused, trying to perfect her form. The female P.E. teacher approached her, gently correcting her stance. "Use your forearms to bump the ball," the teacher instructed, adjusting Emily's arms. "Don't flick it with your fingers—it won't have direction or power."
Emily thanked her teacher, eager to grasp the skill. The teacher gave her an encouraging smile before moving to the next student.
As soon as the teacher left, Daisy collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. "I'm exhausted! I'd rather die than try to bump twenty balls just to pass this class! It's torture," she groaned. P.E. had always been her worst subject—perhaps because of her weight, Daisy hadn't passed a single physical test.
Emily, wiping the sweat from her brow, sighed in frustration. "Yeah, it's really hard to get the hang of."
"So what are we supposed to do?" Daisy asked, wide-eyed and at a loss.
Just then, Emily's attention shifted. "Look!" she gasped, her eyes lighting up. "Wow, Yuki's amazing at this!"
Across the field, Yuki was in the middle of a demonstration with the teacher. Her healthy, glowing complexion and agile movements made her stand out. Her lithe body moved with strength and grace, and the volleyball floated effortlessly between her arms, cutting beautiful arcs through the air, always accurate and controlled.
"Fifty-six! Fifty-seven! Fifty-eight!" The number of successful bumps increased as the girls watching began to cheer louder and louder. Emily and Daisy joined the crowd, fists pumping in the air, celebrating Yuki's skill.
Yuki was well-known at Elm Academy, a figure admired by her peers. She had endured hardship early in life—her parents had passed away in a flood when she was only three, and the family's possessions had been swept away. Yuki was raised by her aunt in poverty, often relying on the kindness of neighbors to survive. Despite her circumstances, Yuki excelled in academics, consistently ranking at the top of her class. She had even been named a national exemplary student.
After Yuki was accepted into Elm Academy, the school waived her tuition and gave her aunt a job as a dormitory manager to support them. To show her gratitude, Yuki participated in every competition she could—whether it was a knowledge contest, a debate, a speech, or a volleyball or basketball match—bringing back trophy after trophy for the school. Yuki was their pride and joy.
But Emily knew how much Yuki had sacrificed. Yuki's nights were long, often spent in the study room until midnight, and her mornings started before dawn, training her body to stay in top shape for the next competition. Though Emily hadn't had many chances to interact with Yuki personally, she deeply respected her.
"Ninety-six! Ninety-seven! Ninety-eight!" The girls erupted into cheers, their excitement building as Yuki neared her hundredth bump. Her athletic form shone in the sunlight, her long, graceful limbs moving like a dancer.
But then—
A basketball came soaring from the boys' court next door, flying with terrifying speed. Before anyone could react, it slammed directly into Yuki's head with a loud thud.
"Bang!"
The girls screamed in shock. The hundred bumps were forgotten. Yuki staggered, clutching her head in pain, gasping as a small cry escaped her lips.
The girls rushed over, voices overlapping with concern.
"Are you hurt?"
"You should go to the infirmary!"
"Who was the idiot that threw that ball?! Don't they have eyes?!"
Emily pushed her way to the front of the group, quickly pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. She gently wiped the dirt from Yuki's forehead. The impact had been brutal—Yuki's head was already red and swollen, with thin lines of blood seeping out.
Emily carefully helped her up. "Let me take you to the infirmary to get that treated."
The P.E. teacher examined Yuki's injury as well. "Go quickly. You don't want it to get infected. It's especially important for girls to avoid scars."
Yuki, ever composed, pulled her arm from Emily's grip. "It's fine. I can go by myself," she said quietly.
Emily smiled, nodding. "Okay, but be careful."
Just as Yuki turned to leave, another shout pierced the air.
"Watch out!"
Another basketball came flying from the boys' side of the court, heading straight for them. Emily instinctively grabbed Yuki and pulled her aside. The ball whizzed by, barely missing them.
Emily's heart pounded, her body stiff with fear. That was too close.
Yuki frowned, patting Emily's shoulder before turning to face the boys. Her voice was steady but filled with anger. "Hey! What are you guys doing?!"
The P.E. teacher shouted furiously across the court, "You boys over there! Are you trying to get someone hurt?!"