The alarm clock usually rang exactly at half past six.
I opened my eyes even before the second signal.
It was unusually quiet outside the window.
Saturday.
There was no school today.
But habits don’t disappear in one night.
I quickly took a shower, had a hearty breakfast, and, as usual, put on my sports uniform.
Phone.
Towel.
Bottle of water.
Everything was in its place…
A few minutes later, I had already left the apartment.
The entrance greeted me with silence.
Yuki wasn’t guarding the door today.
I involuntarily smiled.
— Let her sleep in.
— She’ll need her strength today.
Going down to the street, I habitually headed toward the stadium.
On the way, in the area of private houses, my gaze involuntarily slid toward Hayato’s house.
The windows were closed.
There was no one in the yard either.
— So he decided to sleep too.
Not surprising.
I continued walking.
When the stadium came into view, a familiar figure was already warming up on the running track.
Black leggings.
Light sports jacket.
Miu.
She was the first to notice me and smiled widely.
— Good morning, big guy!
I nodded.
— Good morning.
She looked around.
Empty.
No Yuki or Hayato.
— Looks like… just us today?
— Looks like it.
She quietly chuckled.
— I didn’t wake the sleepyhead.
I just shrugged.
— They have a day off today.
Miu snorted.
— Well, okay.
She slapped herself on the hips.
— That means today no one will stop me from finally overtaking you!
I looked her up and down.
— Bold statement.
She immediately squinted.
— Don’t get cocky!
— Today I’m serious!
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
It seemed the absence of the others only fueled her competitive spirit.
I smiled.
— Then warm up properly.
— Because losing today will be especially offensive.
— Ah, you…
Miu stuck her tongue out at me and ran off to warm up.
I just shook my head.
On the empty stadium today, there were only the two of us.
During the warm-up we did our usual few laps around the stadium, then moved on to stretching.
Miu stretched with concentration, occasionally stealing glances at me.
I caught her gaze and smiled.
— Well, you’ve passed the first stage.
She straightened up and looked at me questioningly.
— And..?
— Now it’s time to take the next step.
— Which one?
I calmly crossed my arms over my chest.
— You can go to Hayato’s tomorrow. Play video games, watch a movie, or just spend time together.
Miu immediately got flustered.
She looked away and awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
— I can…
— But we’re not kids anymore.
— It would feel kind of weird…
I nodded.
— That’s exactly why you shouldn’t act like you’re twelve.
She became alert.
— What do you mean?
— Wear the dress we picked out at the shopping center.
Miu flared up.
— W-what?!
— Are you serious?!
I calmly shrugged.
— Of course.
— You yourself wanted Hayato to stop seeing only a childhood friend in you.
— So he needs a chance to see a girl in you.
She bit her lip.
— I…
— I’m completely not good at these things…
Her voice became very quiet.
I just smiled.
— No one is born with this skill.
— It’s all much simpler than you imagine.
She listened attentively.
— Don’t try to play someone else’s role.
— Just don’t run away every time he happens to be nearby.
— If you’re sitting next to each other — don’t leave a whole meter of free space between you.
— If you’re talking — look him in the eyes, not at your feet.
— If something’s funny to you — laugh, don’t hide your face.
Miu slowly nodded, as if mentally replaying each word.
I continued:
— And stop constantly hiding yourself behind baggy clothes.
— You’ve worked on yourself for many years. Don’t act like you have something to be ashamed of.
She blushed even more.
— It’s… still very awkward…
— It will be.
— The first five minutes.
— Then it gets easier.
She quietly exhaled.
— And what if he doesn’t understand anything at all?
I smiled.
— Then invite him somewhere yourself.
Miu’s eyes widened.
— W-what?!
— Just say you want to spend time with him.
— Sometimes the shortest path is the right one.
She was silent for a few seconds.
Then she clenched her fists and nodded decisively.
— Okay…
— I’ll try.
I approvingly smiled.
— Now this is much more like Kagami-san.
She snorted, trying to hide her embarrassed smile.
— If everything fails…
— I’ll blame it all on you.
— Deal — I calmly replied.
— But first try.
— And then we’ll think about what to do next.
We did a few more laps around the stadium.
Today Miu was really in the zone.
She started much sharper than usual, distributed her breathing better, and almost didn’t lose speed on the turns…
A few times I even had to speed up a bit.
Finishing another lap, she leaned her hands on her knees and, breathing heavily, looked at me dissatisfied.
— How do you even run like that?..
— It seems like you deliberately speed up when I’m almost catching up.
I just shrugged.
— Of course.
— It would be strange to lose to a student.
She snorted.
— Self-satisfied big guy…
But she couldn’t hide her smile.
I also involuntarily smiled.
Her progress was noticeable.
Just a week ago she was lagging much more.
Now the gap was gradually closing.
We switched to walking, catching our breath.
We were silent for a while.
Then I, as if incidentally, asked:
— Listen.
— I still wanted to ask…
She looked at me questioningly.
— Your trainer.
— Doesn’t he try to interfere in your personal training? Or teach you something separately?
Miu noticeably surprised.
— Huh?
She thought for a bit.
— He tried…
— Several times he offered to train additionally after the section.
She shrugged.
— But I always keep my distance from him.
— I don’t know… I just don’t want to somehow.
I slowly nodded.
— That’s right.
She looked at me in surprise.
— Why?
I calmly replied:
— Because I notice inappropriate people quite quickly.
— And, honestly…
— I’m a little worried about you.
Miu blinked.
It seemed she didn’t expect such an answer at all.
I continued in the same even tone:
— If you ever feel that something is going wrong…
— Or if he starts crossing boundaries…
— Tell me right away.
— I’ll handle it.
For a few seconds she just silently looked at me.
Then the corners of her lips slowly lifted.
She quietly smiled.
— Thank you…
— But actually I can take care of myself too.
There was the usual confidence in her voice again.
It was exactly this kind of Miu that I liked the most.
I took a step forward.
Then another.
I leaned in so that our faces were very close.
Because of the height difference, my shadow completely covered her.
Miu froze for a moment.
Her eyes widened.
Her cheeks began to rapidly turn red.
— Kagami-san…
I looked her straight in the eyes.
— Promise me.
— If something happens…
— You’ll tell me first.
For a second she seemed to forget how to breathe.
Then she awkwardly looked away.
— I…
Her fingers slightly clenched the edge of her sports jacket.
— I promise…
She said it almost in a whisper.
I just nodded in satisfaction and took a step back, again returning the usual distance between us.
Miu took a deep breath.
“He did it again…”
“Why every time this giant gets so close…”
“My heart starts beating like crazy?”
She imperceptibly touched her chest with her palm, as if trying to calm the racing rhythm.
And then, to hide her embarrassment, she habitually poked me with her fist in the shoulder.
— Just don’t get the idea to say later that I’m weak!
I quietly chuckled.
— I won’t.
— Because you’re far from weak.
From these words Miu finally got embarrassed and, turning away, was the first to run to the starting line.
— Let’s do one more lap!
— This time I’ll definitely beat you!
— An attempt is not torture — I replied with a smirk and ran after her.
We recovered our breath a bit more after another series of sprints.
I took a small tripod from my sports bag and habitually attached the phone to it.
Miu watched my actions with curiosity.
— Working again?
I nodded.
— Fifteen minutes.
— Help?
She surprisedly poked herself in the chest with her finger.
— Me?
— Of course.
— Today you’ll be the model.
Miu noticeably perked up.
— Really?
— What to do?
I quickly turned on the recording and checked the focus.
— Nothing complicated.
— Just do what I say.
She confidently nodded.
— Got it!
I turned to the camera.
— Good morning, everyone.
— Today we’ll break down the three most common mistakes beginners make when running short distances.
I took a step to the side and pointed at Miu.
— Kagami Miu will help me — one of the strongest school track and field athletes in our area.
Miu unexpectedly straightened up.
A surprisingly confident smile appeared on her face.
As if the camera had existed for her for a long time.
— First, let’s look at the correct starting stance.
I showed the position of the feet and body.
— Miu, show it.
Without a single extra movement, she took the ideal starting position.
Spine.
Legs.
Angle of body tilt.
Everything looked almost exemplary.
— Pay attention to the position of the center of gravity.
I squatted next to her, showing the necessary line with my hand.
— Most beginners fall backward.
— Because of this, the first steps become slower.
Miu, on command, showed the correct start several times.
Then the incorrect one.
Then the correct one again.
I continued to calmly explain the mistakes, and she demonstrated each of them so naturally, as if she had been filming in similar videos all her life.
The next short video was dedicated to the starting acceleration.
Then the work of the arms.
Then the acceleration in the last twenty meters…
In fifteen minutes we recorded several shorts at once.
— Stop.
— Excellent.
I turned off the recording.
Miu exhaled in relief.
— That’s all?
— That’s all.
She walked up to me while I quickly reviewed the footage.
— Kurosaki-kun…
— You…
She surprisedly shook her head.
— How do you even do this?
I looked at her questioningly.
— What exactly?
— Everything!
She spread her arms.
— You constantly say what needs to be done.
— Then quickly edit something right on the phone.
— Add text…
— Music…
— And in a few minutes you get a real video.
She smiled.
— I thought I’d be terribly nervous on camera.
— But it turned out… not at all.
I saved the last project and put the phone in my pocket.
— Because you handled it well.
She embarrassedly scratched her cheek.
— Really?
I calmly nodded.
— Of course.
— With such a sporty and beautiful girl…
— Who even the first time isn’t afraid of the camera at all…
— It’s very easy to work.
Miu froze.
For a second.
Then her face began to rapidly turn red.
— O-oh, you again…
She looked away, hiding her smile.
— Don’t say such things so calmly…
I just shrugged.
— But it’s true.
— And one more thing.
I opened the app and showed her the screen.
In the video description there was already a line:
«Model: @MiuKagami»
— Added a link to your social networks.
— If people like the technique, part of the audience will go to you.
Miu surprisedly widened her eyes.
— You did that too?..
She silently looked at the screen for a few seconds.
Then she raised her gaze to me.
— Thank you…
This time her voice sounded very quiet.
Without the usual teasing.
Without feigned stubbornness.
I just waved my hand.
— Don’t thank me.
— You deserved it.
She got embarrassed again.
— That’s enough…
— Stop praising me today.
— Or I’ll get used to it.
I quietly smiled.
— Then you’ll have to live up to it.
Miu rolled her eyes.
— What an impossible guy you are…
But the smile still didn’t leave her face.
We walked together to the exit from the stadium.
At the intersection our paths diverged.
She stopped first.
— Then…
— See you tomorrow?
— See you tomorrow.
She waved her hand and ran toward the private houses area.
I watched her for a few more seconds.
After training and a hearty breakfast, I changed into casual clothes.
Today’s day was scheduled almost minute by minute.
Yuki was probably already trying on outfits before the date.
Miu, most likely, was resting after our run.
And I still had one small thing left.
More precisely…
A check.
I unhurriedly left the house and headed toward the school.
From the side, everything looked as if I had simply decided to take a walk on the weekend.
Hands in pockets.
Calm step.
Sometimes I stopped near shop windows.
But the route was chosen in advance.
“If my memory doesn’t fail me…”
“About now Hayato should be going to boxing training.”
A few minutes later, a familiar figure really appeared ahead.
Sports bag over the shoulder.
White T-shirt.
Light sports pants.
Hayato.
He was the first to notice me and immediately smiled widely.
— Oh! Kurosaki!
I raised my hand in greeting.
— Hey.
We caught up and continued walking together.
— Where are you heading? — he asked with curiosity.
I pretended that I had only just now noticed his sports bag.
— You’re going to the boxing section today, right?
— Yeah.
He smiled.
— Satomi-senpai said that additional training on weekends helps progress faster.
I nodded understandingly.
— Serious approach.
— She’s generally very strict — Hayato chuckled. — Sometimes it seems like she doesn’t even know how to smile.
I calmly asked:
— Mind if I keep you company?
Hayato looked at me in surprise.
— You?
— You don’t seem to know boxing.
I shrugged.
— You don’t have to know it.
— I just want to watch the training.
— And there’s nothing special to do at home anyway.
Hayato smiled even wider.
— Of course!
— I think Satomi-senpai won’t mind.
“She will.”
There was no trace of this on my face, of course.
On the contrary, I calmly smiled.
— Then let’s go.
We walked in silence for a while.
Then Hayato suddenly turned to me.
— By the way…
— You fight pretty well too, right?
I looked at him questioningly.
— What made you decide that?
He awkwardly smiled.
— After that incident…
— When you single-handedly dealt with those thugs.
— It’s hard to forget something like that.
I calmly replied:
— Street fighting and sports boxing are completely different things.
— Technique wins in the ring.
— On the street, most often the one who makes a decision faster.
Hayato thoughtfully nodded.
— Still…
— It would be interesting to watch how you fight by the rules.
I just smiled.
— Maybe sometime.
But my thoughts were about something else.
“I’m not interested in fighting right now.”
“I need to understand…”
“At what stage is Satomi’s route.”
“Satomi is the simplest heroine for Hayato. In the original plot, her route progressed faster than the others.”
“If something more has already appeared between them…”
“That means the plot has started to shift.”
Ahead, the open school gates appeared.
Even on a weekend, the sports building lived its own life.
From the open windows, muffled blows on pads and heavy bags could already be heard.
I barely noticeably smiled.
“Well…”
“Let’s see what has changed in this week.”
A few minutes later, a small crowd had already gathered around the ring.
Someone had brought protective helmets.
Someone helped put on gloves.
And somehow completely imperceptibly, everything by itself divided into two sides.
Hayato ended up next to Satomi.
I — next to Rin.
As if it was supposed to be that way.
Satomi calmly adjusted the bandages on her hands.
Her face was absolutely unperturbed.
She had already mentally entered the fight.
Rin, on the contrary, looked noticeably more emotional.
She kept glancing at her opponent.
— She’s been doing this for a long time… — she muttered quietly.
— And I’m not a boxer at all.
I calmly looked at her.
— Do you want to win?
She sharply raised her head.
— Of course!
— Then stop looking at her titles.
— Look only at her.
Rin listened attentively.
I continued in a calm voice:
— She’s taller than you.
— That means she’ll keep distance with jabs.
— Don’t go straight.
— Shift left after each of her strikes.
I showed the body movement.
— Don’t forget to move your head.
— Don’t stand like a pillar.
Rin mechanically repeated after me.
— Like this?
— Better.
I nodded.
— And one more thing.
— Don’t try to win with strength.
— Win with speed.
She took a deep breath.
— Got it…
Meanwhile, not far away, Hayato was also animatedly explaining something to Satomi.
— Senpai!
— Just be careful!
— Rin is still a girl…
Satomi rolled her eyes.
— Hayato.
— We’re both girls.
— Or are you suggesting I go easy on her?
Hayato got flustered.
— N-no… I didn’t mean that at all…
— I just…
— Then don’t interfere.
She calmly stepped onto the ring.
I out of the corner of my eye noticed how Rin involuntarily bit her lip.
“This is good.”
“A small irritation has already appeared.”
I slightly leaned toward her.
— Remember one more thing.
Rin looked at me questioningly.
— If you feel pressure…
— Don’t step back.
— Do the opposite.
— Get closer.
— Tall fighters are uncomfortable working up close.
She looked at me in surprise.
— You said you don’t do boxing…
I smiled.
— I don’t.
— But I’ve had to fight quite often.
Rin involuntarily swallowed.
She probably remembered that same incident with the thugs.
I calmly patted her on the shoulder.
— Don’t be afraid.
— Even if you lose…
— Lose beautifully.
— So that the opponent remembers you.
Rin unexpectedly smiled.
Nervously.
But already much more confidently.
— Thank you…
— I’ll try.
From the other side of the ring, Satomi was already putting on the headgear.
Hayato was still standing next to her, obviously worrying about both.
I silently watched this picture.
“Excellent.”
“It turned out by itself that each of us ended up next to our side.”
“Hayato is supporting Satomi now.”
“I’m with Rin.”
“Even if no one realizes it…”
“For them it already looks like a small confrontation.”
The referee called both girls to the center of the ring.
They touched gloves.
And immediately went to their corners.
Before the gong itself, Hayato unexpectedly took a step forward.
— Maybe… not necessary?
Everyone looked at him.
He awkwardly smiled.
— It’s just a misunderstanding… No need to fight.
Rin for a second softened.
“He’s worried…”
But Hayato immediately continued:
— I’m just afraid… what if Satomi-senpai accidentally hits you hard…
Silence hung in the hall.
Rin’s smile slowly disappeared.
She lowered her gaze.
— Thank you… for believing in me.
Her voice sounded colder than usual.
From the other side of the ring, Satomi also frowned.
— Hayato.
He turned to her in confusion.
— Yes, senpai?
She looked him straight in the eyes.
— Do you think I can’t control my strikes?
— N-no! I didn’t mean that at all…
— Then don’t say stupid things.
She calmly turned away.
Hayato remained standing with a guilty expression on his face.
“Excellent.”
“One phrase managed to offend both.”
“Even almost nothing had to be done.”
— To your places!
The girls raised their gloves.
Gong.
Satomi immediately took the center of the ring.
Calm.
Cold.
Every movement calculated.
Rin, on the contrary, looked noticeably tense.
She raised her shoulders too high.
Clenched too hard.
Satomi’s first jab instantly reached the target.
Thud.
Second.
Third.
Rin stepped back.
— Don’t step back in a straight line! — I calmly said.
She heard.
Tried to shift.
But again missed.
Hayato was already worrying near the opposite corner.
— Rin! Hands up!
— Be careful!
Satomi only clenched her teeth harder.
»
The first round ended completely in Satomi’s favor.
Rin was breathing heavily, sitting on the stool.
She took off the headgear.
— Hopeless…
— She’s too strong…
I calmly squatted in front of her.
— Look at me.
She raised her eyes.
— Right now you’re thinking not about the fight.
— But about the fact that you’re losing.
Rin guiltily nodded.
— Of course…
— That’s normal.
I shook my head.
— No.
— You’re making one mistake.
— Which one?
— You’re still looking at her like she’s a champion.
— Stop.
I raised my hand and showed the movement.
— After her jab, immediately go left.
— Not back.
— Specifically left.
She attentively repeated the movement.
— Like this?
— Good.
— Then immediately close the distance.
— She’s used to working at medium range.
— Deprive her of that.
Rin looked at me in surprise.
— And if I miss again?
I calmly smiled.
— You’ll miss.
She got flustered.
— But…
— There is no fight without missed strikes.
— What’s important is what you do after that.
Rin took a deep breath.
The excitement gradually left.
In its place came determination.
I patted her on the shoulder.
— Go.
— Show that you know how to learn.
She smiled.
Very little.
— Thank you…
»
In the second round, everything changed.
Satomi again threw her usual jab.
But now Rin didn’t fall for it.
She sharply shifted left.
The strike only grazed the glove.
— Well done! — I calmly said.
— Again!
Rin again went to the side.
And for the first time in the entire fight, she herself closed the distance.
Short straight.
Hit.
Not very strong.
But clean.
Surprise flashed in Satomi’s eyes.
“She…”
“Adjusted so quickly?”
The next attack also turned out successful.
Hayato surprisedly widened his eyes.
— Rin!
— Well done!
Satomi heard this.
Her gaze for a moment became even colder.
“During my fight…”
“He continues to encourage the opponent…”
»
The round still remained with Satomi.
Experience was too great.
But now she was no longer looking at Rin from above.
She was looking at her like at an opponent.
And Rin, returning to the corner, was no longer looking defeated.
She first of all looked at me.
— It worked…
I nodded.
— I told you.
— You learn fast.
A sincere smile appeared on her face.
— Then…
— In the next round I’ll try even better.
“That’s it.”
“Now it’s no longer just a fight.”
“Now both will fight seriously.”
Gong.

The third, final round.
Both girls were already breathing heavily.
Rin had her breathing off, a light redness from missed strikes appeared on her cheek.
Satomi looked noticeably fresher.
Years of training were telling.
But I saw something else.
She was increasingly throwing short glances toward Hayato.
Completely imperceptible.
Such that only a person who knew her route would catch.
“There it is…”
“She’s still only looking at him.”
“Every good strike of hers… she’s like waiting for his approval.”
“That means the canon hasn’t broken yet.”
“She’s still in love without memory.”
“Good.”
“That means we can work.”
— Don’t forget your head! — I calmly said to Rin.
— She’ll start pressuring now.
— Don’t fight her with strength.
— Make her miss.
Rin quickly nodded.
— Got it!
Gong.
Satomi immediately went forward.
Hard jab.
Another one.
Rin remembered my words.
Went to the side.
For the first time in the fight, Satomi had to turn around after her.
— Excellent!
— Now inside!
Rin sharply closed the distance.
Short body shot.
Not too strong.
But clean.
A surprised hum swept through the hall.
Satomi froze for a second.
“She again…”
“Adjusted.”
Hayato involuntarily smiled.
— Well done, Rin!
And immediately realized that he had said it too loudly.
Satomi’s gaze for a moment changed.
Just a little.
But I noticed.
Colder.
Harder.
“Again…”
“Even now he’s the first to praise the opponent.”
Satomi clenched her teeth harder.
The next attack became noticeably more aggressive.
She quickly returned the initiative to herself.
Combination.
Jab.
Right straight.
Left hook.
Rin didn’t have time to cover up.
The strike knocked her back a step.
She staggered.
— Don’t panic!
— Pull yourself together! — I calmly said.
She took a deep breath.
And again raised her gloves.
Despite the fatigue.
Despite the pain.
She continued the fight.
This was already noticed even by Satomi.
“Character…”
“Tenacious.”
Until the very end of the round, Rin no longer allowed herself to be intimidated.
She was still losing.
But now she responded practically to every attack.
Gong.
The fight ended.
The referee called the girls to the center of the ring.
A short pause.
Raised hand.
— The winner…
— Satomi!
Applause swept through the hall.
Satomi calmly exhaled.
No stormy joy.
Just a short nod.
She turned to Rin.
— For a person who came out into sparring for the first time…
— You learn fast.
For Satomi this was almost the highest level of praise.
Rin tiredly smiled.
— Thank you…
She really looked pleased with herself.
At that moment, Hayato quickly walked up to them.
He smiled absolutely sincerely.
— Rin!
— You did great!
— In the end you fought great at all!
He spoke emotionally, not noticing anything around.
Rin embarrassedly smiled.
— Really?..
— Of course!
— I didn’t even expect…
Satomi was still standing next to them.
The winner of the fight.
But Hayato, not noticing it himself, first rushed to congratulate the loser.
She silently watched this scene.
Only for a moment she looked away.
“Strange…”
“Why…”
“Did I feel uncomfortable?”
Nothing changed on her face.
The same calm mask.
But I knew this route too well.
“There is.”
“The first small crack.”
“Not jealousy.”
“Not yet.”
“Rather… light disappointment.”
“That’s enough.”
Rin meanwhile walked up to me.
A sincere smile appeared on her face.
— Kurosaki…
— Thank you.
— If not for your advice…
— I would probably have gotten scared already in the first round.
I calmly shrugged.
— No.
— You did it all yourself.
— I only prompted.
She quietly chuckled.
— Still…
— Without you I definitely wouldn’t have been able to adjust so quickly.
I just nodded.
Out of the corner of my eye continuing to watch Satomi.
She had already taken off her gloves.
But from time to time she still threw short glances at Hayato.
While Rin was taking off her gloves, Satomi had already finished unwinding the bandages.
She, as always, looked absolutely calm.
As if she hadn’t just had several heavy rounds.
She walked straight up to Hayato.
The latter was still smiling, discussing the last moments of the fight with Rin.
— Hayato.
He immediately turned.
— Yes, Satomi-senpai?
She looked him straight in the eyes.
— It seems the conditions were announced before the fight.
Hayato froze for a second.
Then slowly blushed.
— Ah…
— Um…
He obviously only now remembered my words.
— About… the date?..
Satomi calmly nodded.
— Exactly.
— Tomorrow you’re free.
It wasn’t a question.
A statement of fact.
Hayato awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
— Well…
— If I promised…
— Then, of course…
— I’ll go.
A barely noticeable smile appeared on Satomi’s face for the first time in a long time.
Very small.
Almost imperceptible.
But it was sincere.
— Good.
— Then tomorrow morning we’ll go to several sports stores.
— I want to pick out new training gloves and uniform.
She made a short pause.
— And then…
— Let’s go to a baseball game.
Hayato looked at her in surprise.
— To baseball?
— Yes.
— You’ve been saying for a long time that you’ve never been to a professional match.
He awkwardly smiled.
— Exactly…
— It would be great.
— Thank you, Satomi-senpai.
I attentively watched the expression on her face.
“Got him.”
“One of his sincere ‘thank you’s…”
“And she’s already happy.”
“The simplest route…”
“And the most devoted heroine.”
“It’s enough for Hayato to do her a little good…”
“And she’s ready to go anywhere with him.”
While they were talking, I imperceptibly took out my phone.
Click.
One more frame.
Satomi was standing next to a slightly embarrassed Hayato.
Both were smiling.
It turned out quite natural.
I quickly opened the group chat of our company.
Several messages on the screen.
Ren:
«Satomi honestly won the sparring. Prize — Sunday date with Hayato.»
Below I attached the photo.
Send.
The message instantly flew away.
I put the phone back in my pocket.
“Let them see.”
“Let them know that while they’re minding their own business…”
“The other girls aren’t standing still either.”
“A little competition never hurt anyone.”
I shifted my gaze to Hayato.
He was still embarrassedly discussing tomorrow’s day with Satomi.
While Hayato and Satomi continued training, Rin and I silently left the sports building.
The sun had already risen high.
It was unusually quiet in the school yard.
Rin tiredly stretched and carefully touched her cheek.
— Ouch…
— It still hurts.
I looked at her.
— Let’s go.
— We’ll buy water and ice.
She looked at me in surprise.
— No need…
— It’ll pass on its own.
I just shrugged.
— Of course it’ll pass.
— But with ice it’ll be faster.
A few minutes later we were already sitting near the drink vending machine.
I handed her a cold bottle of water and a small bag of ice.
— Here.
Rin applied the ice to her cheek and quietly hissed.
— Cold…
— Endure it.
She snorted.
— What a kind guy you are…
— Sometimes.
I smiled.
We just sat in silence for a few minutes.
Then I took out my phone.
— Look.
Rin leaned closer.
The video of her fight was already playing on the screen.
— You filmed?
— Of course.
I stopped the recording at the moment when she missed the first jab.
— See?
She attentively looked.
— Well…
— Got it.
I shook my head.
— Not the strike.
— The legs.
I enlarged the frame.
— Look.
— You shifted your weight back even before the attack.
— That’s why she reads you in advance.
Rin frowned.
— Really…
— I never noticed.
I scrolled further.
— But here, on the contrary.
On the screen was a moment from the second round.
After my advice, she shifted to the side and for the first time hit.
— Already better.
— Because you stopped thinking about defeat.
Rin silently looked at the screen for a few seconds.
Then she quietly said:
— No one has ever analyzed my mistakes like this…
— Usually they say…
— “Try better.”
I turned off the video.
— From such advice there’s little benefit.
— You need to understand exactly what you’re doing wrong.
She thoughtfully nodded.
— Now I understand…
I stood up.
— Let’s go.
She was surprised.
— Where?
— To correct it.
»
We found a free area behind the sports building.
I stood opposite her.
— Stance.
Rin immediately raised her fists.
I shook my head.
— Already wrong.
She got flustered.
— Again?
I walked closer.
— Relax your shoulders.
She obeyed.
— No.
— Too tense.
I carefully touched her elbow.
Very lightly.
— Like this.
Then pointed to the legs.
— Left one a bit forward.
— No, not that much.
— Good.
Rin diligently repeated each movement.
— And now try to take a step to the side.
She shifted.
I shook my head.
— You’re jumping again.
— Slide.
— Imagine that the soles are glued to the floor.
After a few attempts, the movement became much cleaner.
I approvingly nodded.
— Already looks like legwork.
Rin smiled widely.
— Really?
— Really.
— You pick things up very fast.
She unexpectedly got embarrassed.
— Well…
— The teacher is good…
I pretended not to hear.
Instead, I again took out my phone.
In a few minutes I had assembled a short video.
Beautiful angles.
Her hit in the second round.
The final bow after the fight.
It turned out dynamic and very effective.
I showed the result to Rin.
She surprisedly widened her eyes.
— This…
— Me?
— Yeah.
She silently looked at the video for a few seconds.
— It looks…
— Much cooler than it actually was…
I smiled.
— That’s the point of good editing.
I pressed the “Export” button and handed her the phone.
— Here.
— Post it on your channel.
— I think people will like it.
Rin carefully took the phone, as if afraid to drop it.
Then she raised her gaze to me.
Then for the first time today she smiled completely differently.
Not coquettishly.
Not with the usual audacity.
But sincerely.
— Thank you…
— Really… thank you.
Rin once again watched the finished video.
A satisfied smile appeared on her face by itself.
— Okay…
— I admit.
— It looks really cool.
I put the phone in my pocket.
— Because the moment is good.
— The rest is editing.
We unhurriedly walked along the school yard.
Rin was still from time to time applying the bag of ice to her cheek.
I glanced at her and smiled.
— Honestly…
She looked at me questioningly.
— Out of all the girls, you, perhaps, have it the hardest of all.
She looked at me in surprise.
— Why is that?
— Because while the others are thinking about dates…
— Because the others are only fighting with rivals.
— You still have to fight with your own family.
Rin immediately looked away.
The smile disappeared.
— …
I calmly continued:
— Your father will never give his daughter to the first person he meets.
— Especially to such a guy as Hayato.
She sighed heavily.
— Dad won’t even listen to him…
I nodded.
— Exactly.
— For him, Hayato is now an ordinary schoolboy.
— Without position.
— Without a name.
— Without strength.
— Without people behind his back.
— Even if he turns out to be a good person…
— That won’t be enough.
Rin sadly smiled.
— Sometimes it seems to me…
— That you know my father better than I do.
“Because I’ve seen dozens of people like him.”
But I, of course, didn’t say that out loud.
I just shrugged.
— People like him think the same way.
Rin completely panicked.
— So…
— I have no chances at all?..
I looked at her for a couple of seconds.
“Again she started winding herself up.”
Without warning, I took the bag of ice from her.
— Hey?
And instantly shoved it under her arm.
— A-A-AY!!
Rin jumped so high that she almost dropped the bottle.
— Jerk!!
— Cold!!
She laughed and immediately grabbed the ice.
— Take that!
She pressed it to my side.
I didn’t even flinch.
She’s stronger.
Again nothing.
— …
Rin dejectedly lowered her hands.
— There you go…
— Stone…
She reluctantly poked me with her finger in the chest.
— No wonder dad constantly talks about you…
And immediately cut herself off.
Her cheeks instantly turned pink.
I pretended not to hear.
— What are you saying?
— Nothing!
She turned away, hiding her face.
Then she quietly muttered:
— Better help me with Hayato…
— Everyone is already making some moves.
— Yuki went on a date.
— Satomi generally won herself another one.
— Even Miu is becoming bolder…
She raised her gaze to me.
— And I…
— As if I’m standing still.
I thought for a bit.
And honestly replied:
— In fact…
— It’s hard for me to help you.
She looked at me in surprise.
— Huh?..
I calmly continued:
— Because you already have almost everything.
— Appearance.
— Sociability.
— Confidence in yourself.
— Character.
— You even have more willpower than most people.
Rin embarrassedly looked away.
— Are you specifically calming me down now?
I shook my head.
— No.
— If something was missing, I would say it directly.
— But the problem is not in you.
She frowned.
— Then in what?
I looked ahead.
— In the fact that you think too much.
— While the other girls make a move…
— You’ve already managed to imagine ten times how everything will end.
Rin guiltily smiled.
— …
— There is such a thing…
— That’s why my advice will be very boring.
She questioningly raised her head.
I smiled.
— Just act.
— Invite Hayato on a date.
She froze.
— W-what?..
— Just like that… simply?
— Exactly.
— Don’t come up with complicated plans.
— Don’t try to predict his every reaction.
— Just say:
— “Hayato, let’s go somewhere together.”
Rin nervously chuckled.
— That’s scary…
— And if he refuses?
I shrugged.
— Then he’ll refuse.
— But you’ll stop guessing.
She was silent.
I continued more seriously:
— Rin.
— Sometimes the most difficult step…
— Is the most obvious one.
She silently looked at her feet for a few seconds.
Then she sighed heavily.
— Strange…
— I was waiting for some clever plan from you.
I quietly smiled.
— Clever plans are needed when ordinary ones don’t work.
— You haven’t even gotten to the ordinary ones yet.
Rin unexpectedly laughed.
— So…
— I complicated everything myself?
— Exactly.
She puffed out her cheeks and lightly poked me with her fist in the shoulder.
— You’re a harmful guy after all…
I just smiled.
— But, Kurosaki…
She raised her gaze to me.
— Thank you.
— Probably…
— It’s really time for me to stop being afraid and finally make the first step myself.