"But Akane--"
Shono first looked at the tall and slender Satoru.
After meeting his indifferent gaze, Shono felt a little guilty.
Then, he quickly turned his gaze to Akane.
Shono's expression was pained and twisted, his body leaning forward as if confessing something:
"I'm your boyfriend, Akane!"
"No--"
Akane didn't speak to Shono but first looked at Satoru, anxious as if to explain something.
But Satoru's gaze was surprisingly gentle: "I know, don't rush, I know."
Only then did Akane's violently beating heart calm down, and she immediately looked at Shono.
Shono was stunned.
He stared at Akane in disbelief.
The latter's ice-shard-like gaze seemed to be looking at a stranger... No, it was like looking at trash.
"...Akane?" Shono's lips trembled.
"Excuse me, Shiraki Student, I think there's no longer any connection between us, is there?" Akane said indifferently.
"B-but--!"
Shono choked on a few gulps of saliva, then, as if using all his strength, roared: "But! That's all Higashi's fault, isn't it! I, I was also pursuing my dream... th-that's why I was deceived by him! Akane... if it's Akane, you, you should forgive me! Our previous promise--you should understand!"
"Was there such a thing?" Akane tilted her head, then chuckled softly: "I've already forgotten."
"That."
Satoru stepped forward.
He stood in front of Shono, also blocking his gaze towards Akane. He smiled politely, then asked in a friendly manner: "May I punch you?"
Shono was stunned, not yet able to answer.
Satoru's hand was already raised. Just as he was about to let this idiot taste the power of "Fantasy Killer," Tsubasa spoke up.
"Wait, Kobayashi-kun."
"...Hm?"
Satoru gave Tsubasa face.
He had a rather good impression of the latter, and besides, this was his territory.
"I have something I'd like to ask this Shiraki Student." Tsubasa smiled gently, then said to Shono: "I've heard about your situation, your situation with Nanao-san, and also with Higashi... No, he probably doesn't deserve to be called 'Supervisor' anymore... I've heard about everything. But I don't quite understand, what is your so-called dream?"
"O-of course it's to make it to the national tournament as a starter!" Shono said, stiffening his neck.
"Then why were you afraid of your relationship with Nanao-san being exposed at the time?" Tsubasa asked again: "Couldn't you openly admit it after being discovered?"
"Th-that's because the Baseball Club doesn't allow dating." Shono answered through gritted teeth: "If it were discovered, Higashi would find someone to replace my position--"
"So you think just anyone can replace your position?" Tsubasa continued to ask: "Then what kind of dream is your dream?"
"...Eh?" Shono was confused.
"A dream that your strength and value don't match." Tsubasa said slowly, his words were light, but every word was a gem, as if sharply piercing Shono's heart. Tsubasa called out again: "Arisa."
"W-what for?" Arisa walked over and asked, then her hand was immediately grasped tightly by Tsubasa. As if making a public announcement, Tsubasa raised his hands, clasped fingers with his girlfriend.
"W-wait--" Arisa's face flushed crimson with embarrassment: "W-what are you doing?"
"Arisa and I are this kind of couple." Tsubasa announced: "Actually, the Football Team also doesn't allow dating."
Shono suddenly remembered something.
Yes, the sports clubs at Shiraki High School, except for a few, were very strict about dating relationships.
Because achieving results requires a lot of physical stamina, and if a dating relationship develops to its end and one's self-control isn't strong enough, it's very easy to deplete one's stamina bar.
But Tsubasa could openly admit that this girl was his lover? Wh-why?
"Hmph," a Football Team member reminded Shono: "Have you paid attention to our school's Football Team's record in the second half of last year?"
Shono wasn't interested in soccer, so he hadn't paid attention, but he vaguely remembered that the Football Team's performance was very poor at that time.
It was so bad that he even heard how many players were needed to play a soccer match.
"Last year we lost to a certain high school, then to Kamiki, then to Sobu, and finally even to Ousai. If we kept losing, we'd probably lose to a girls' school. We truly lost all face." The Football Team member said: "But this year, our win rate is very good; at least we can win most games. Do you know why?"
"..." Shono didn't answer.
"Because our Wing-bro immediately made it clear to the coach when he started dating, and was promptly DNP'd." The Football Team member rubbed his round back of the head: "But Wing-bro is the strongest one on our team, the ace. Other forwards simply couldn't fill his shoes, so things went downhill rapidly. Later, in the match against Toyosaki High School, in the second half, we were still down 0-2. The coach couldn't take it anymore and put the suspended Wing-bro on the field. As a result, Wing-bro scored a hat-trick in the second half, instantly reversing the situation. After Shiraki also secured a rare victory, the coach never brought up Wing-bro's dating problem again."
Shono's eyes widened, but his pupils contracted like pinpricks.
It was as if his chest had been heavily struck by a hammer.
He was speechless.
"Your dream is merely a product of compromise." Tsubasa said calmly: "When you encountered setbacks on the path to your dream, you didn't think about becoming stronger to overcome them, but instead wanted to take a detour. That shows your level is only this much."
Shono's eyes became dim.
What he had insisted on, his so-called 'dream,' was directly crushed into fragments when compared to Tsubasa's.
"...I." Shono mumbled: "...But, isn't all this Higashi's fault? It should all be Higashi's fault... It's all Higashi's fault... I'm not wrong, I... I was just deceived..."
He repeated these words as if trying to escape.
Satoru and Tsubasa exchanged glances. The latter nodded and took a step back.
Satoru sighed softly and reached out to pat Shono's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Shiraki Student." He said comfortingly.
Shono raised his listless eyes, looking at the elegantly smiling Satoru.
"I…"
"Bang!"
Satoru's punch landed on Shono's cheek, sending him stumbling back two meters.
"Don't worry, that punch won't hurt much, Kendo Club," Satoru said indifferently.