A warm feeling brewed in her stomach, making its way upward until it found refuge on her face as her cheeks flushed a deep red. If someone was holding a mirror to her, she would see her hair and face match in hues.
One of her hands made its way to her cheek to cup it as she struggled to process the words just spoken by the young man in front of her. A few of her fingers brushed against a braided pigtail as her lips moved in a rhythmic manner.
"O...out of all the players...you like me the most?"
Her eyes moved side to side, as if trying shake away the implication. Of all the girls that took part in the races, of all the fighters that put their butts literally on the line, he would pick her?
The man in front of her wallowed too, unsure if he made the right decision to say what was on his mind and heart. He tugged at his collar as an audible swallow echoed the halls of the locker room. "Yes...I do...Murata Mari."
He looked away for only a moment, afraid that if she met his eyes her heart would truly melt. "I...don't know why though...I lost."
He cleared his throat as he tried to put his thoughts into words. "Well...your still in the elite, and it doesn't matter to me that you lost."
Brown eyes snapped to the boy in astonishment. "R...really?"
"Yes!" He seemed more determined now that he found his stride. His green eyes locked on her gaze as he spoke with a higher calling. "You advanced so far in your first year! It doesn't matter to me that you lost because your still amazing!"
Now her face flushed a deeper red. "You think that highly of me?!"
The boy nodded, his face radiated confidence and cheer. "Yes I do! No one has given you much attention in the Keijo circuit, but your someone I'm inspired by. You're up there in the ranks even if the limelight isn't on you!"
The boy continued, "Everyone focuses on Nozomi or Miyata, but your still an elite!"
Mari felt her heart flutter; no one had ever said that to her. Her body felt warm all over as the young man finished his exclamation. "I want to be like you in my path! To do their best in the ranks even without the limelight!"
"I...had no idea...it makes sense now." Her mind raced to all the letters he had written to her when she was in the academy. All the encouragements at her practices before the Exam. He had always been there for her...and it never clicked for her.
"I"m sorry...I never realized and made the connections." She felt ashamed a little, to ignore a friend who had done his best to help her. He laughed nervously, "It's ok...I hope I didn't come off as a creep."
Now it was her turn to laugh as she felt all of her anxiety of losing the match disappear. "It's fine...your ok."
Both of them laughed as the tension cleared around them. "I need to watch the races with my classmates, but I want to sit in on your trial. Martial arts wasn't it Takao?" He nodded, "It doesn't draw as big a crowd as Keijo, but I would be honored to have you watch me!"
The lips on Mari's face curved into a smile. "I would like that, but I need to change first." Takao look confused, until his eyes traveled down to soak in the sight of Mari in her green striped bikini. Now it was his turn to go red in the face. "I'm sorry! I totally forgot!"
His nervous apology was met with a soft hug as Mari wrapped her arms around his neck. "Don't worry about it." The embrace lasted only a moment, but it felt longer for both of them. Finally, Mari broke it off as she moved to the lockers. "I need to go, but I'll see you later."
She gave him a warm smile and a friendly wave before disappearing into the locker room. All that was left in the hallway was Takao. He said nothing, he didn't need to. His face had broken into a huge smile as if a great weight was lifted off his shoulders and had reinvigorated him. As he moved towards the bleachers, his heart throbbed as he promised to give it his all when the time came for him to put his skills to the test.
"For me, and for Murata-Chan."
