Author's notes: I'm glad you guys have enjoyed Yuuki's portrayal in the last chapter! On a side note, do note that for this chapter, the words in italics are Isashiki's internal thoughts. I hope nobody is OOC in this chapter, and thank you again for reading!


"Wait, you went to tanabata with her?!"

"Jun, you're being loud."

Isashiki glares at Yuuki. Does he not understand the gravity of the situation? Going to tanabata together with a girl is as good as a confession. What happened when they went? Was it anything like a scene from a manga? Did they do anything together? The last thought is serious enough for Isashiki to give it some thought before asking.

"Hey... how far did you two go?"

"We..." Yuuki starts to mumble. Isashiki leans in in anticipation.

"We went to look at the fireworks together. It was farther than I expected."

"... That's not what I meant at all."

Unfortunately, the one-sided interrogation has to be cut short when Amaya walks into the classroom. Immediately, Yuuki stands from his seat to hand her something. Isashiki's heart lifts a little. A gift? Maybe there has been some development between them, after all–

"Here's the latest recording of Kozure Ookami."

"Ah, thanks, Yuuki-san! Here's your Japanese History notes. They helped a lot. By the way, what do you want for lunch tomorrow?"

"Soba is good."

"Again? I know it's your favourite food, but you still need a balanced diet..."

How the hell are they not dating yet? Isashiki wonders despairingly. He knows Yuuki is probably blind to anything aside baseball and shogi. But shouldn't Amaya know better?

"I can't play shogi with you today," Yuuki aplogises. "I have some matters to tend to." It is fleeting, but Isashiki notices how Amaya's face falls in disappointment at those words. Though her expression returns to its usual calmness in a second.

"It's okay, I'll go have lunch with Suzune and the rest." Once Yuuki has turned away to tuck his notes back in his bag, however, Amaya's face clouds a bit.

She looks like she's wondering why she got disappointed over something so minor...

Meanwhile, Amaya ponders over the reason for her disappointment. The fact that Yuuki can't spend lunch break with her is a minute problem. So why does she feel so downhearted?

"You look troubled, Inoue. Is something wrong?" When Yuuki notices her perturbed manner and asks as much, Amaya flinches. Her face colours a light pink as she waves off his worries.

She's probably embarrassed about when she started to care so much for Tetsu's company right now...

Amaya hopes that Yuuki will not notice anything wrong with her attitude today. While it is true that part of her had been hoping he would elaborate more on the words he shared with her during tanabata, Yuuki seems to have forgotten about it. Maybe it had simply been uttered in the heat of the moment.

But when Amaya realises how much she has come to prize Yuuki's company, she feels a familiar wave of embarrassment. Come to think of it, it is true that she's been spending a lot of time with him. To the point that maybe her friends' suspicions about their apparent friendship don't look all that nonsensical after all.

As Yuuki continues to appraise her with a hint of worry, and Amaya speculates about her thoughts, Isashiki thinks he is starting fully comprehend why their relationship has yet to break the boundaries of friendship. They're both completely and utterly clueless about romance.


When Isashiki and Yuuki finally part ways with Amaya, they come across a group of guys chatting rowdily in the school corridor. Their voices are loud enough for the two of them to hear. A few seconds is enough to deduce that they are discussing Seidou's Female Karate Team - a subject that has come to the attention of many given how the seniors' final competition is only a week away.

"I heard the karate team hasn't even won a single gold medal yet," one of them scoffs. "I can't blame them. Have you seen their captain?"

Isashiki frowns. It is obvious that they are referring to Amaya. And although he cannot exactly say he is close to her, he knows of her fierce dedication to the karate team and the yards of effort she has put into improving. To the point that he is starting to see her as the female version of Yuuki (the fact that her shogi playing habits are so uncannily alike only adds on to that). Irritated by the guy's gossipy behavior, Isashiki moves to stop him.

"That redhead is probably just some pretty face. She hasn't even won anything even though–" The guy is cut off when someone grabs his shoulder firmly.

"You know nothing about Seidou's Female Karate Team," Yuuki enunciates clearly. His grip tightens until the guy starts to wince in pain. "Don't make frivolous comments like that when you haven't witnessed their hard work." Isashiki can clearly see Yuuki's aura burning a hole in the ceiling. It fuels his intimidating appearance, and despite the brief flash of anger on the guy's face, he's promptly cowed into silence by Yuuki's demeanor.

"F– Fine, I'm sorry, so let me go!" The guy pushes Yuuki's hand away and dashes away from his position in the corridor. Isashiki is almost disappointed by how anti-climatic the whole confrontation is. But Yuuki has already turned away from the whole incident.

"You... seem to like Inoue a lot..." Isashiki finally mumbles off-handedly. His eyes start searching Yuuki's face for any further signs of anger. While the captain has kept a firm hold of his temper (something Isashiki begrudgingly admires; if he were ever in the same position, he would probably end up in detention for socking the guy in the gut), it is still distinctly unusual for him to lose his cool like that.

"What gave you that idea?" Yuuki blinks at him, his tone even. It is almost as if the previous moment has never happened.

The fact that you nearly beat someone up for badmouthing her... Isashiki sighs to himself.

"Tetsu, If you like her, tell her how you feel before it's too late." Isashiki wonders if Yuuki truly sees Amaya as just a platonic friend. Or if he is just too dense to realise that he might actually have feelings for the girl. Either way, he finds it his position as Yuuki's best friend to offer him some advice. "If you aren't honest with yourself, she might just end up slipping away."

Yuuki does not answer. Isashiki feels satisfied that he seems to have taken his words at more than face value, until the captain turns to look at him with a faintly suspicious expression.

"... Have you been reading shoujo manga again?"

"S– So what if I have?!"


Soon, it is the night before her competition, which is only scheduled a few days prior the much anticipated match against Inashiro. As Amaya walks home with Yuuki, she thinks the latter looks a little lost in thought today. Perhaps he's looking forward to the finals, seeing as Seidou lost against Inashiro the year before. With that memory, it'd be impossible for there to be no feelings of sentiment lingering within the seniors.

Given how close the two dates are, Amaya doubts that she will see much off Yuuki for the next few days. But he has updated her about the team's progress thus far, and Amaya is confident that Koushien will not be just another dream. Not this year, with the seemingly invincible third-years.

"I can't say I know what it feels like to be in such a prestigious position," Amaya gives a wistful smile. As difficult as getting into the female karate team is, it can never compare to Seidou's famed baseball team.

"But I know what it's like being a leader. To never show fear and to never falter, no matter how difficult. That's why I think you're really amazing, Yuuki-san. I wish you all the best for your match in advance." Out of a particularly queer habit of hers, she does not wish him good luck. Not when it is resilience, effort and hard work - not luck - that has contributed so significantly to Yuuki's success.

"Being the captain of the karate team isn't something to scoff at. It's a stressful position that requires a lot of abilities. You're amazing yourself, Amaya."

Amaya stares at Yuuki sharply, wondering if she has misheard. Was that a compliment? And... More than that... Did he just call her by her first name...?

Yuuki seems to notice her sudden lapse into silence. It is almost as if he taking advantage of that when he tells her, "Tetsuya. You can call me Tetsuya."

When they finally reach his house, Amaya is sure that her face is still a little flushed. But she makes herself meet Yuuki's stoic gaze. Her eyes soften as she stares at the captain. Even though it has only been a few months since she has come to know him, Amaya honestly cannot imagine her life without Yuuki right now. Not when he has helped her through so much and given her so many memories.

"All the best for your competition, Amaya." Yuuki extends his hand to her. Without hesitating, Amaya grips it firmly and smiles.

"All the best for your match, Tetsu-kun!"