Haruna's life had settled into a routine over the next two weeks. On Mondays, she attended the book club with an ecstatic Nano. After school on Wednesdays and Thursdays, she tutored Yuuko. She soon spent more and more time with the girls and their other friends, who quickly accepted her into the group. She would accompany them to school, eat lunch with them, hang out with them, and join in on their daily shenanigans. It was all a surprise for Haruna, but certainly not an unwelcome one, as she grew to like each of the girls.
She enjoyed Yuuko's energetic personality and even laughed at a few of her jokes. Mio was a lot more grounded, and she got along well with her. It was complicated with Mai at first since she was the least talkative of the group, yet Haruna found her silence to be more comfortable than awkward as time went on. As for Nano, Haruna had the most fun spending time with her. She loved their discussions in the club and on weekends, would invite her to her favorite bookstore. Just being around her was always pleasant.
''You guys don't think Nakano-sensei'll make us do a lot today, do you?'' Haruna asked as they got done changing into their P. E uniforms.
''I really hope not. Especially with this weather.'' Said Mio.
Haruna silently agreed with her. This Monday was warmer than usual.
''Why can't we have P.E. in the gym anyway?'' Yuuko moaned. ''At least it's cool in there.''
''Vitamin D.'' Said Mai.
Ms. Nakano, their gym teacher, only ever used the gymnasium for lessons if it was raining.
As the group left the changing room, Nano walked alongside Haruna and asked. ''How far did you get with Falling, Fallen, Annaka-san?''
''Chapter twelve, and you?''
Nano smiled. ''I finished the whole book in one day.''
''Eh? One day?'' Haruna said, surprised. The new book that they were reading for the club was a fairly long one.
''I couldn't help it!'' She said defensively. ''I just had to know if they got together in the end!''
''You really are a sucker for romance, aren't you, Nano-chan?'' Haruna laughed and shook her head.
''I guess I really am.'' Nano laughed too.
When they exited the school and arrived at the field, Ms. Nakano was already standing there waiting with a clipboard and a few red bibs in one hand and a soccer ball in the other. She was a tall woman with auburn hair tied into a tight bun.
She spoke once the rest of the girls arrived. ''Okay ladies, I know it's the sixth period and you're all not up for it, so today we're just gonna play some soccer.''
There were a few sighs of relief from among the group after hearing that.
''Would anyone like to sit this one out?'' She asked. Since there was an uneven number of girls in the class, fifteen, one of them was usually left to keep score or replace someone else.
Mio's hand immediately shot up in the air. ''Can I, sensei?''
None of the other girls objected when Ms. Nakano said yes. It was a well-known fact that Mio wasn't very good when it came to sports of any kind, so they knew it was probably for the best.
''Come grab a bib if I call out your name,'' Ms. Nakano said, then looked at her clipboard.''Minakami, Omama, Annaka, Agatsuma, Katashina, Komagata, and Tsukiyono.''
The teams took their positions after a series of warm-up exercises. Haruna and Mai were their team's strikers, Nano was the opposing team's defender, and Yuuko was the goalkeeper.
A few in, Mai passed the ball to Haruna and she managed to slip past the opposing defenders. Just as Haruna was about to take the shot, she felt the tip of someone's foot slam hard against her ankle. The next thing Haruna knew, she was sent flying through the air and stumbling into the ground. Everyone was stunned by what they had just witnessed, but the sound of Haruna's wailing pulled them out of it.
''Annaka-san! I-I'm so sorry!'' Nano said as she crouched down beside the crying girl holding her ankle. ''Here, let me help y-''
''Don't touch me!'' Haruna snapped at Nano when she tried to put her hands on her shoulder, causing the girl to flinch. Her face was red and stained with tears.
''Easy now,'' Ms. Nakano came and knelt beside Haruna. ''Can you stand, Annaka?''
''I… I don't think so.'' Haruna replied, a sob escaping her lips.
''I'm gonna lift you up slowly and we're gonna go to the infirmary, okay?''
Haruna only answered with a nod. Ms. Nakano carefully helped her up to her feet and carried her back to the building.
''What the hell, Shinonome? You didn't have to tackle her so hard!'' Said Midori Ōmama angrily.
''Hey shut up! It was an accident!'' Yuuko stepped forward to defend her.
''I-I'm sorry! I was trying to kick the ball away! I didn't mean to hurt her!'' Nano couldn't help but get teary-eyed.
Mio came up and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. ''It's okay, Nano-chan, we know.
Later on, they found out that Haruna's father was called to take her home. After school, Yuuko, Mio, and Mai accompanied Nano home and tried to cheer her up, but the guilt of hurting her friend continued to gnaw at her well through the night. When she saw Haruna's desk empty during homeroom period, that guilt seemed to intensify.
As soon as the bell rang, Nano got up from her seat and approached Ms. Sakurai as she was wiping the board clean.
''Excuse me, sensei?''
''Hmm? Do you need something, Shinonome-san?''
''I was wondering if you heard from Annaka-san by any chance.''
Ms. Sakurai's eyes widened a bit.''Oh yes, her mother called the school this morning saying that they took her to the hospital because of an ankle injury. She has to stay at home for at least a week before she can walk properly again.''
''A week!?'' Nano gasped. Haruna was going to miss almost a week of school because of her.
Ms. Sakurai sadly. ''Yes, it's very unfortunate. Now I need to find someone who can go to Annaka-san's house and deliver her homework so she doesn't fall behind.''
''Oh! I can do that, sensei!'' Nano volunteered without a second of hesitation.
''Are you sure?'' She asked, and Nano immediately nodded. She caused this, so it was the least she could do. Ms. Sakurai smiled softly. ''Very well. Come and see me after school. I'll give you her house address then.''
Nano told her friends that she was going to Haruna's house after school that day. Nano felt like this was something she had to do on her own. After a five-minute bus ride, she arrived at Haruna's street.
''What was her house number again?'' Nano checked the note Ms. Sakurai had given her. ''Ah. Number eleven.''
She came to a stop in front of the two-story house with the number eleven painted on the wall. A sudden feeling of trepidation washed over Nano as she stared at the house. How would Haruna react to seeing her? Would she still be angry and would she yell at her to leave? What if she didn't want to be friends with her anymore? She began to question whether coming here was even a good idea.
No! I've got to see this through! Not turning back now!
Taking a deep breath, Nano walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. A moment later it was opened by a woman who looked to be in her late thirties with long blonde hair and brown eyes that looked at Nano curiously. "Hello there."
''Umm, good afternoon,'' Nano greeted back nervously.
''Are you one of Haruna's classmates? I recognize your uniform.''
''Yes ma'am. I'm Shinonome Nano, and I'm here to bring her homework.''
''Oh? Well, in that case, please come in! I'm Yumiko by the way. Haruna's mother.'' She smiled and opened the door wide to let Nano inside her home. She offered Nano something to eat or drink, but Nano politely declined. Then she said.. ''It's very kind of you to come here. I was worried my Haruna was going to miss out on a lot of schoolwork.''
''It was the least I could do,'' Nano said.
Yumiko looked a bit puzzled at her statement. ''What do you mean?''
''Well, the truth is…'' Nano confessed to Yumiko about what happened and why she came.
At first, she was afraid of how the mother would react, but she remained silent, and her expression was unreadable until Nano was finished speaking.
''So you're the one who hurt my Haruna?'' She said with her arms folded in front of her chest.
Nano gulped and stared at the ground while responding. ''Yes.''
Then the woman's features softened. ''Well, I can see you feel guilty about it. And at least you came to apologize, so you can see her.''
''Really?'' Nano stared, shocked.
Yumiko nodded. ''She's in her room right now. Follow me.''
Nano wordlessly followed the lady up the stairs of her home and down a hallway until stopped at a closed-door where Yumiko knocked lightly.
''Sweetie.'' She called out.
''Yeah?'' Haruna's voice came from the other side.
''One of your classmates is here to see you. Is it fine if she comes in?''
''Um, okay.'' She said, seeming surprised that she had a visitor.
Yumiko opened the door and gestured for Nado to go in, which she did. She saw Haruna laying in her bed. Her signature red ribbon wasn't on and she wore pajamas. On her right foot was a large white cast.
Haruna looked at her with a surprised expression. ''Nano-chan? What are you-?''
''I'm so sorry!'' Nano bowed quickly and couldn't control the words that came out of her mouth. ''It was an accident! I was just trying to kick the ball away from you! I didn't mean for you to get hurt! Please don't hate me!''
''Okay! Take it easy! I don't hate you.'' Haruna said with her hands raised slightly, trying to calm the girl down.
''Y-you don't?'' Nano asked softly.
''No. I mean, I was really angry at first,'' Haruna admitted. ''But later I calmed down and knew you wouldn't do something like that on purpose.''
''I was really worried about you and what happened. And when I heard you couldn't come to school for a week, I thought you'd want to stop being friends with me.'' Nano confessed.
''Seriously?'' Haruna asked, surprised, and Nano nodded meekly. '' Well, you don't have to worry about it. I really like being your friend.''
''Even though I… broke your ankle?''
Haruna smiled at her. ''Even though you broke my ankle.''
''Thank you,'' Nano said, feeling immeasurable relief at being forgiven by her friend. She turned her gaze to the cast on Haruna's foot. ''How, um, is it?''
Haruna wiggled her toes slightly. ''It still hurts a little. I can't walk on it yet, so I just stay in bed the whole reading.'' She said. ''Wait. Did you really come here just to apologize?''
Just then, Nano was reminded of the other reason for her visit. ''Not just that. Ms. Sakurai needed someone to bring you your homework so wouldn't fall behind, and I volunteered.'' She took out some homework assignments from her bag and put them on Haruna's bedside table.
''Really? Thanks. Do you wanna stay and do the homework together?''
''I wish I could, but I really need to get home and cook dinner,'' Nano said sincerely. ''I'll if I can stay longer tomorrow though.''
''Oh, I see.'' Haruna nodded in understanding but sounded a little disappointed.
''I'll see you tomorrow then, Annaka-san.''
''You know, it's okay to just call me by my first name.''
''You don't mind?'' Nano asked.
''Of course not.''
A smile spread across Nano's face. ''In that case, I'll see you tomorrow… Haruna-chan.''
Haruna smiled back. ''Stay safe, Nano-chan.''