Wind-Moon Relations (2)
Rarely.
Sakuya was glad she'd taken the calming pill beforehand.
"Huuu...."
Even though she'd swept awards like daily meals in regional tournaments since elementary school, this was her first time popping one.
It might be an illusion.
But the heartbeat from her chest felt leisurely.
In the corridor off-limits to non-authorized personnel.
Sakuya, in her gray Yuuma tracksuit, leaned against the wall waiting for Tae-il.
"This is ridiculous. Over something like this...."
Her straight features, unfittingly, revealed a tangled mix of anticipation, worry, and nerves.
The funny part was how each emotion asserted its presence distinctly.
Her striking features produced delicate yet vivid expressions—enough that fashion magazines, revived by the Korean wave, kept sending her love calls.
But for Sakuya, with such a killer face.
"Maybe I should've done light makeup....?"
Examining her reflection in her smartphone screen instead of a mirror, she let out a faint sigh.
Pre-match interviews were done yesterday; today only post-match, so she'd skipped makeup on purpose.
Reflection made it seem like a mistake.
Always brimming with face confidence, but skimping on skincare amid match focus irked her oddly.
Especially the slight pimple under her nose—it nagged, making her scratch her poor skin.
Luckily, she had a secret weapon to erase it.
"Will he be surprised...?"
Gaze slanting down revealed her loosely cascading hair.
Softly wrapping her nape, resting lightly atop her chest.
To Sakuya, the so-called widow's cut—prim style married women favored. Not her choice, but volleyball seniors' half-forced rec.
"Too girly feels off...."
Nape tickled where hair brushed.
Tempted to ponytail it now, but glaring eyes from the changing room door crack next door stopped her.
"Haa."
Of all seniors, the one hyper-tuned to romance gossip caught her taking Tae-il's call....
She'd been cautious, but ace of sports club lived up to rep.
Ears annoyingly sharp.
What super hearing....
Not even adjacent—over a meter away—yet pinpointed the guy's voice from her phone. Now this.
Whatever.
Ignore seniors' sleazy stares.
Sakuya crossed arms, shut eyes fully.
Catch a weakness like this? Tease nonstop till graduation.
Sports club mischief known, she aimed for max composure.
Couldn't quell rising thrill though.
Four days since facing Tae-il, huh....
Frequent calls and texts, yet four days apart felt eternal.
"Nervous for nothing...."
Countless cheers from friends, fans—but Tae-il's hit different.
Like family—who skipped even intermissions post-mangaka dream reveal—finally cheering.
"Sakuya!"
Tae-il's voice snapped her eyes open.
Corridor end, eyes locked—he waved brimming with delight.
"H-hey. Been a bit, Tae-il...."
Unlike his warm greet, Sakuya's face stayed stiff.
Oh crap....
Expression control failed.
Behind her, endless eyes sparkled curiosity from door slits.
Tae-il neared, light nod to her back.
"Volleyball clubmates?"
"Y-yeah.... Haha."
Sakuya awkward-laughed, fanning flushed cheeks.
"Kinda overkill?"
"Haha. Means beloved baby of the team, yeah?"
"Wha...."
Sakuya shrugged noncommittal.
Miraculous.
Tae-il pre-arrival: endless jitters. Post: shoulders eased.
Sakuya approvingly rubbed calm shoulders.
Tae-il's gaze hit there.
"Looks good."
"Huh?"
"Hairstyle."
R-really? Feels weird to me....
Sakuya fidgeted with shoulder-flowing strands.
"Doesn't scream your choice. Seniors?"
"Yeah. Caught your call instant."
"Mischievous bunch."
"You think too, Tae-il?"
Shared chuckles.
Unlike school/home meets, yet cozily familiar.
Hm?
Chat thawed tension, vision widened.
Sakuya spotted Rena ducked behind Tae-il.
Her....
Sakuya leaned in, knee-propped.
"Honjo, right?"
"Ah, hi. Jock."
Sudden face-shove startled Rena—awkward smile, wave.
Pre-briefed roughly, Sakuya nodded.
"Tae-il's plus-one is you. Cheering?"
N-not really cheering or anything....
"Ahaha. Guess I'll play so hard you have to, Honjo?"
Sakuya grinned.
Artfully defused potential offense—full pace regained.
Straightened, elbow-nudged Tae-il's side.
"Close since break?"
"Seems so?"
"My eyes say yes. What spell?"
"Sincerity wins...?"
"Eeh. Sneaky. Keep your secrets."
Sakuya shrugged, hands in jersey pockets.
Wall-lean comfy; Tae-il matched, blocking door views.
Missing Rena's shifting face, Sakuya griped.
"Acted late, came early. Gunma how?"
"Taxi."
"Taxi? Pricey. Okay?"
"Not much."
Rena's quiet mutter; Sakuya yelped shock.
"Wait. Honjo solo-paid?"
"Ah, haha.... That one."
The chance that kills.
Tae-il gaze-down.
"Offered split, but she insisted...."
Driver's weird stare still stung shame.
Tae-il persistence-weak recalled, Sakuya head-shook.
"Sigh. Rough on Honjo. Why send her, not them?"
"Right...."
Tae-il echoed puzzled.
Rena alone recalled Iris's BS—fist clenched back, teeth gnashed.
"Anyway, thanks far-way cheer. Tae-il."
"Psh. Friends."
"Honjo too."
"Wasn't my idea."
"Came to Gunma tho? I'd skip hassle."
Sakuya beamed thanks.
"Thanks, Honjo."
N-no thx....
Rena flushed at earnest kindness—rare.
Tae-il grinned at exchange.
"Wrong English there, Honjo?"
"Shut it...."
"Why me?"
"Ugh...!"
"Ahaha. Def close."
Middle of snarling duo, Sakuya mediated.
"Schedules? Back Kanagawa post-match?"
"Dunno. No tickets booked."
"Honjo?"
"By 10 PM."
10 PM.
Single-dad Rena's worry-set curfew.
Iris-friend flexes it tho. Sakuya witness? Overnight possible.
No rush-back news lit Sakuya.
"Closing ceremony, then hang?"
"Sure?"
Tae-il whispered amid piercing stares.
"Kouhai AWOL—seniors mad?"
"Fine. Cleared already."
"Allowed?"
"Ace first-year VIP."
Sakuya chin-up smug.
"Badass...."
Not perks—win-assumed attitude badass.
Need that confidence....
Tae-il eyed envy—song-restart, personal-lyric try.
"Psh, not VIP."
Three-peat win: school party post-return.
Sakuya skips irony.
"Staying here."
Gunma till Interhigh end.
School pomp under chairman post-vacay—but club party long done.
Emotions finite. Peaks fade swift.
Month-delay for one ace? Meaning fades.
Accomplish highs temporary.
Club craves peak-emotion party.
Sakuya eyed seniors' tears, but skipped for sched.
Hers packed tight.
"Anyway, party seniors envy. Keep up?"
PE-stamina worry for Tae-il.
Tae-il scoffed.
"You don't know me yet, Sakuya...."
Rare lofty gaze. Laughably off.
"Live house all-nighter vet?"
Club otherwise.
Japan clubs tame vs Korea—but live houses wilder.
Majors emo-bands; indies warlord chaos.
Thug central.
Imagined tough-Tae-il: Sakuya mouth-covered, snicker-fit.
"Kh! S-sorry. You say it—way too unfit...!"
"...."
Tae-il eyed side Rena—mouth-covered, shoulders quake.
"Kkh!"
"Laugh it out."
"Ahahahaha!"
Pretend-cool Rena exploded guffaws.
Tae-il sulked mutter.
"That unfit...?"
"Haa. Haa."
Sakuya laugh-panted.
"Sorry—Tae-il indoor tribe forever?"
"Far from wild."
Otaku-vibe: social-Tae-il unimaginable.
"...."
Hongdae-vet past-life Tae-il lip-pouted.
"Tch. You'll see."
"Yup. Hyped. Honjo cool?"
"Whatever."
Rena shrug-delegate Sakuya.
"Ignore me. Jock call shots."
"Deal. Lunch post-closing, then roam. Killer udon spot found."
"Udon again...."
"Can trash-talk now?"
Insanely delish—brag, expect hype.
Hmm.
Chat-watcher Rena Iris-reeval.
Not total miss.
Direct: Iris-right vibe. Natural comfy despite her third-wheel.
Fits better than gloomy me...?
Rena curious gawk.
Play-spots set, topic finals-Sakuya.
"Condition today?"
"Not peak, but decent. Seeing you? Bit better."
"Sakuya, so cringey...?"
"Ahaha. Hate?"
"Nah. Helps? Good."
Tae-il eased.
Scores: Yuuma breezy climbs.
Powerhouse: few sets, dominant shows.
Interhigh brutal—one loss out.
One shot yearly, spring high aside.
Psych drain fierce for Yuuma vb.
Met-her: nape sweat-beaded. No champ leisure.
Beyond eyes.
Three-peat mindset rife.
Mistake fear: school blame—underclass crushes.
Seniors: 3yr bonds bubble-burst dread.
Ace Sakuya weighed heavy.
Tae-il fret-ask.
"Okay?"
"Gotta be. Ace duty."
Sakuya smiled.
Confidence-born natural grin.
Bare ace-all-rely poise.
Tae-il smirk, hard hand-grip.
"Tae-il?"
"Amazing. You, Sakuya."
Once ace, eternal.
Band too.
Too admirable—hug urge.
Eyes abound, shy tho.
Instead-ish.
Wall-off, face-her, shoulders-hands.
"Fail fine. Honest? Hope you flop, school bummed."
Easier snag.
"What...."
"But crush it. Flaunt. Proud ace."
Shining you—band brighter, world stun.
Band-leading warm-wind victory goddess.
Tae-il smile; Sakuya mirrored.
"Fight on. Sakuya."
"Dunno your want but...."
Phone reconfirmed: he seeks something.
Score-bet title? Prob not prime.
Didn't push.
His stubborn reason.
Absurd ask? She'd grant.
Not post-fail slump tho.
Thus.
"Got this."
Fist-bump.
Extra cheers.
Split paths.
Sakuya: court.
Shin Tae-il: stands.
Quiet hall to lobby buzz brush-ears.
Rena soft-ask.
"Not embarrassed?"
"...."
Rena solo-savor Tae-il's ear-to-lobe blush, stifle-giggle.