After spending another 1,500 yen for additional features like inte and something simr, Yuki finally walked out of the store, followed by Riku and Kato. To show his gratitude toward his friends for visiting the children and apanying him today, he invited them to have a scoop of ice cream before going back.


    After walking in the middle of a sea of people strugglingly, they finally found a small café a bit far from the phone store and the moment they arrived there, those three sighed tiredly while throwing their bodies to the seat, their faces were full of sweat and dirt.


    "Man, this is the first time I''ve gone to Shinjuku, and I thought the lore I read on the inte is bad enough. I don''t know it could get worse." Riku grumbled.


    "Today is Sunday, and the weather in thest few weeks has been warm enough for people to go outing," Katomented, her eyes on the menu book she had in her hand. "And today is not that bad. If you go to Shinjuku in the middle of summer, you will feel what hell looks like."


    Yuki grimaced, didn''t want to imagine that. He couldn''t even stand the crowds that Kato described as not bad, let alone what she described as hell. Still, something caught his interest here.


    "So, do you oftene to Shinjuku, Kato-san?" He asked curiously.


    "In the past, maybe," Kato answered casually. "When Megumi-nee was in middle school, she was a crazy otaku. She would always drag me here whenever there was some anime event held, and that is probably why I am familiar with this ce."


    "Really?" Riku asked, interested.


    "Yeah, and if you mentioned it to her, it would be the fastest way to get Neechan embarrassed." Kato let out a small giggle. "Honestly, she was horrible in the past. I don''t know how I can stand around her for so long."


    "Oh, I am so going to tease her the next time we meet," Riku mumbled, a mischievous smile curled on his face.


    They exchanged small conversations while waiting for their order to arrive, talking about anything from Megumi''s past as an otaku until a school-rted event like the mid-term exam that woulde soon. Never during this time did they touch on the topic of thest volleyball game, knowing it was the main topic after this appetizer.


    And the moment what they ordered finally arrived, Kato finally asked the question Yuki had been expecting.


    "So, you are quitting the volleyball team?" She asked casually. Riku straightened his posture, his eyesnded on Yuki immediately.


    "Yes, and you know my reason." Yuki nodded, trying to sound casual too, yet there was a hint of defensiveness in his tone.


    Kato caught that and soothed him immediately. "Don''t worry, Kobayashi-kun. I am not here to judge you. Well, I am about to judge you, but not about that."


    "Oh? Then, about what?" Yuki asked, a bit wary.


    "Well, you always said that you want a peaceful school life, so why do you think announcing your leave publicly would be a good idea? Don''t you think it would only attract more attention to you?"


    Yuki blushed before answering, "Well… Impulsiveness?" He said hesitantly, ring at Riku who stiffened hisughter beside him.


    Kato just rolled her eyes in exasperation before muttering, ''Boys…''


    Honestly, Yuki also had no idea why he announced his decision in thest game. Maybe, in such a heated moment like that, he wanted to make it memorable for the audience. Still, Kato was right. This was a stupid decision, especially if he wanted a peaceful life.


    "But it is a pity that you quit the team," Riku said while enjoying his ice cream. "Akira-jiisan is going crazy right now. He lost three important yers on the team just a month before the tournament. It would be hard to fill the gap."


    "Three yers?" Yuki asked.


    "Yes. It is you, Noriyuki-senpai, and Yoshi-senpai." Riku answered. Yuki was surprised to hear the two seniors who were responsible for all the troubles that happened on the team suddenly left too. "Even though they haven''t said anything yet, they left our Facebook group, and that is the biggest sign that they are not going toe back in the future."


    Yuki was speechless, somehow feeling guilty for the team that suddenly was torn apart like this.


    "Hey, it is not your fault, you know?" Kato suddenly patted his shoulder,forting him. "If a team could be broken by a freshman like you, that means it is just a timebomb that could explode at any time. It is unfortunate that you are the one who pulls the trigger, but you are not responsible for this."


    "Thank you, Kato-san." Yuki smiled at her, sending his gratitude to the girl.


    "Is there any chance for you toe back to the team?" Riku asked. "I mean, those two are not there anymore, so it would be awesome if we could y together without getting restrained by those stickmen."


    "Stickmen?" Kato tilted her head confusedly.


    "Oh, yeah, you don''t know about it." Riku pped his forehead. "I call them that since they are acting like stickmen when we y against Matsukita, trying to be invisible and running away from their responsibility."


    The corner of Kato''s lips tugged upward, amused with his analogy. "Well, you are not wrong here." She concluded.


    "So, what do you think?" Riku asked once again to Yuki.


    After pondering for a moment, Yuki shrugged. "I don''t know. I mean, my priority right now is to help Aiko-obaasan take care of the orphanage. But if our situation gets better, maybe there is a small chance for me toe back. But it is small, okay? Like, miniscule." He made a gesture by putting his thumb close to his index fingers.


    "I get it." Riku nodded in understanding. "I cannot help but feel disappointed, but I am still respecting your decision. Just, don''t ck off, okay? Maybe, there will be a miracle in the future."


    Yuki snorted. "Yeah, if a miracle happens, maybe, I will join the team again."


    -0-


    Unbeknown to him, far in Tsunemori''s teacher''s office, two people met there, trying to create the miracle to force Yuki back to the team.


    "Are you really okay with it, Mattheo?"Akira asked solemnly.


    "For thest time, Sensei, I am sure with it!"Mattheo''s tone was a sign that he was annoyed. "Kobayashi is too talented to leave this sportpletely. I don''t want him to get buried before he could even shine because of his condition, so please, let me do it." He said thest part with half-begging.


    Akira sighed, ncing at the paperwork in front of him before saying, "You know I cannot decide it by myself. Let''s talk to him tomorrow and hear his opinion first."


    Mattheo sighed, knowing his sensei was right. What he wanted to offer would be a life-changing decision for Yuki, and since Akira''s rtionship with the boy was just a student and a teacher, he had no right to decide anything outside of the school-rted thing for Yuki.


    "Let''s just hope he agrees with your proposal."


    "Yeah." Mattheo nodded solemnly before walking away from the office, leaving Akira there alone with his thoughts.