Ch. 2【Belt of Orion】three stars lined up
A few days passed by uneventfully for Yui and her friend group, yet for Sae it was another day of dissatisfaction. The last few days Sae had taken the time to listen to a few people play during break or after club. His newfound interest in music has become a new kind of rumor spreading around the school.
The football genius, Itoshi Sae is in love with pianists. He's into classical music and plans to study it. Itoshi Sae can also play an instrument and is not only talented at sports but music as well... - Rumors like that quickly spread around these days.
In Sae's eyes these rumors were nothing but stupid talks. He couldn't let himself feel bothered by them but he gradually grew more and more frustrated the more he realized how different the same piece could sound given the player.
Sae didn't want to admit but he realized that in the end, not anyone will do. No one could compare to what he wanted.
This epiphany was strange to him and he didn't know how to handle it. Everytime he looked at that sheet of paper Yuusuke had written for him, he felt another sense of despair.
It feels like failing. To put effort into something and then failing was an experience Sae was not familiar with and truth to be told, he hated it. It was frustrating, agitating and angering. In football he saw rewards and results given his effort, yet these last few days, despite looking for people and asking them to play the result was nothing but disappointing.
Given this first time experience of his, Sae wanted to give up. In the end, it wasn't helping him get closer to his goal at all but...
Did he really want to?
Today's lunch was different than usual for Yui's group. It all started with An being busy with club practice, then Ageha was asked to help model for the photography club and Megumi was off with her duty in the broadcasting committee.
Even Shuu who was always with Yuusuke was absent today saying that he will go with Ageha this time. Yuusuke, of course, didn't mind and let his friend go and do his thing.
Yui too did not stay in the classroom, the way she always used to do. Part of it was because of how different it felt to sit at their desks during lunch with half of the group absent or missing, another part was simply because she had missed out on packing her bento last night and thus a trip to the cafeteria for some refreshments was needed.
Seeing her go Yuusuke and Takao decided to join her.
«It's a nice change of pace to stop by the cafeteria after awhile.» Takao had said after he had returned from the teacher's office.
Yui and Yuusuke nodded at that and together they went to the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was located in a different building connected by an annex. Leaving the building for the first years, they had to pass through the inner courtyard that connected their building to the main one.
From not too far away, the sound of cheering could be heard. Curiously, Yui turned to look at the direction the sound was coming from.
Among the fence that covered the football field a horde of girls and guys were standing cheering and admiring the football players on the field.
«Looks like Sae is playing.» Yuusuke commented and Takao nodded in agreement.
Yui looked at them curiously. She remembered the friendship between them and Sae.
«Does he play often?» She asked out of curiosity. In Yui's opinion Sae's playing must be beautiful to look at if he was able to gather such a huge crowd all the time.
Little did she know that most of the people weren't merely watching because of his talents and skills but rather many (especially among the girls) were watching and cheering for him for his stunning looks.
Yuusuke and Takao looked at each other and Takao was the first to reply with a gentle smile.
«It's rare to see him play during break. He dislikes gathering the crowds and noises.»
Yui's eyes lightened up in understanding. The football team usually practiced in the private football fields behind the sports department. Entrance was strictly forbidden for outsiders to enter. This was one of the promises the school made to protect and provide the best environment for their athletes.
This means that there was rarely a chance to see Sae playing. Somehow this rare occurrence caught Yui's interest.
«Can we go and watch for a bit?» Yui suggested with a spark in her eyes.
Yuusuke and Takao knew that look too well. It always appeared whenever their friend's sincere and childlike curiosity was sparked.
«Don't you need food?» Takao tried to switch back the topic. For some reason he had a bad feeling with letting Yui too close to Sae. Maybe it was some kind of brotherly instinct he felt towards her since he had gotten quite fond of the pure and innocent ditzy yet cheerful girl.
Unbeknownst to him Yuusuke shared that sentiment. Though his was less of an instinctual response but more of a conscientious decision.
Yui paused in her excitement and blinked thoughtfully. «Indeed... I'm hungry.» Her tone sunk slightly at the end and she wilted like a sunflower without sun.
Seeing her like that somehow Takao's guilt kicked in and Yuusuke sighed.
«How about you go and watch, while Takao and I will go get some lunch for us, hm?» He suggested.
Takao didn't say anything but quietly watched them. Something felt off he thought as his sharp gaze fell onto Yuusuke.
Hearing this Yui brightened up. «... Would you mind? I can eat anything so don't worry too much about my share.» Yui said with a kind smile. She then reached inside her skirts pocket and pulled out a small purse. Sorting through it she handed Yuusuke 1000 Yen.
«Here. Thank you!» With that she bowed, turned around and dashed off.
Yuusuke and Takao both watched her dash off towards the open soccer fields at the speed of light.
«Well, I didn't know Yui was a fan of Sae's.» Takao mumbled.
Yuusuke shook his head and turned around to continue his walk to the cafeteria.
«I doubt it's that...» He suddenly laughed dryly as he finished his thoughts quietly. 'It's more like Sae's a fan of hers.'
Takao's eyes narrowed sharply as he observed Yuusuke's reaction. His mind was spinning a mile a minute as he was trying to deduce and gather the hints he got.
Looking around and making sure that no one was there, Takao inched closer to Yuusuke and whispered into his ear. «Is Sae interested in Yui?»
Yuusuke's smirked vanished as he turned around and look at his friends with visible surprise.
«How-» 'did you know?' He didn't even managed to finish his question when Takao gave him a knowing smirk.
«Heh...» Takao was smiling but his smile didn't quite reached his eyes. «So it's like that.» He stated with a charming grin but for some reason the air around them was icy enough. It caused Yuusuke to shiver.
They both resumed their walk in silence until they reached the cafeteria door.
It was Takao that broke the silence first.
«I assume you had some hand in this... coincidence, right?»
Yuusuke froze as he felt a shiver run through his back. Takao's sharp voice made him hesitant to turn around. Suddenly it was hard to swallow and Yuusuke's mind wandered to Shuu.
Oh, how he wished that his trusted friends was here,right now.
«What did you do?» Takao asked kindly with a kind smile but for some reason the tension still hung heavily in the air.
'Be smart with your reply.' Yuusuke warned himself as he was finding the words to say.
«I... was caught of guard by something. And ended up making a wrong decision.» He admitted honestly without revealing too much.
«Shall we enter?» Yuusuke tried to change the topic as he reached for the doorknob and pushed it down.
«Sure!» Takao agreed amiably as if nothing happened. Making Yuusuke wonder whether the young boy was schizophrenic.
«You do know the girls will kill you once they get wind of this?» Takao warned his friend quietly the smile now gone. Showing his sincerity.
Yuusuke groaned.
He knew.
He knew all too well.
But it was too late to turn things back now.
«Though I am curious.» Takao admitted as they stood in line. He turned around to face his friend. His smile now gone from his face which means that he was being serious. «What did you do?»
Yui in the meantime went ahead and reached the football court. Her presence caused quite a ruckus among those that spotted her. The girl didn't seem to notice the magnitude of the stir that she had caused with her curiosity.
Her attention was solely focused on the field. She had heard a bit about Sae and his prodigy status before yet she never had the chance to see him play. In her mind Sae was an unreachable being. He had his own bubble while she had hers and there was no point or way for them to converge or interact. Like two stars of different constellations.
Yet ever since Yuusuke's revelation of Sae's newfound interest in music, suddenly it feels like there was one thing they had in common.
Yui's curiosity and interest had been provoked.
The moment her eyes lay onto the field the world began to dazzle in colors. Spotting the redhead wasn't hard for it was as if he was covered in light.
From the way he moved to the way he positioned himself and glanced around. To her it seems like Sae was shining.
«Wow» Yui mumbled as she watch them play with excitement. 'I heard that they were good but I didn't expect them to be this good! Even among the elites and seniors Itoshi still stands out! That's amazing!'
The girl was filled with a sense of satisfaction. She couldn't help the content smile that appeared on her face now that she had finally seen him play. It was the same sense of excitement she got when she saw An play tennis or when Megumi was focused on her studies, and Ageha on her work.
«Everyone's so passionate. I want to do my best too! » She cheered herself on in conclusion. A burst of motivation brought forth by Sae's talent.
«What are you all smiley for?» A voice interrupted her train of thoughts.
«Yuusuke. Takao. Welcome back!» Yui greeted the two boys who each handed her some food and a package of tea.
Yui took it with a thank you. She didn't bother to check what they had given her. And just unwrapped the first thing she got carefully and took a bite from it.
The moment the flavor hit her mouth she checked the wrapping.
«Yakisoba? They still had some yakisoba bread at this hour?» Yui spun around to question her friends in amazement.
«About that...» Takao said with a laugh, while Yuusuke was smirking from the side as he ate his own loaf of bread. «It's a long story.»
(Extra Chapter - Yakisoba Bread incoming)
Yui chuckled after she heard the tale of the yakisoba bread. «In the end this was a lucky event.» She said joyfully.
Yuusuke just sighed and shrugged with crossed arms. While Takao just smiled in agreement.
Together the three stood and watched the game. At the current moment Sae was dribbling the ball through the rival team, skillfully maneuvering the ball towards the goal.
«Phew, that's pretty tough. As expected of Sae» Yuusuke admired.
Hearing his words Yui turned to them. «Do you play football?»
«Nah, just for fun. I do know some basics though.» Yuusuke admitted.
Takao smiled gently at Yui. «Yuusuke's pretty close friends with the football nut Sae. He's pretty knowledgeable. Basics my ass.»
Yuusuke laughed at that. «As if you're one to talk, Takao. Who's the one Sae has been wanting to get into football since the start.»
Takao just smiled. «It could be worse.» He mumbled.
Following their discussion a question popped up inside Yui's mind. 'Are they perhaps closer than I thought?'
She had never seen the three together before but from the talks they seem fairly close.
«I guess it's true that the popular ones get along well.» She whispered quietly with a pondering look.
«What are you talking about? You're part of it as well.» Yuusuke said with a slight knock to her head.
Yui gave him a questioning look.
Takao just watched and shook his head. «Oblivious as always...» He mused with a hand in front of his mouth.
No one seemed to hear it yet Takao still had the feeling that Yuusuke shared that exact same line of thought.
Watching the smaller girl frown up at him Yuusuke seem to be reminded of something. His gaze went over towards the field as Sae scored another goal.
Among the loud cheers Yuusuke quietly asked what had been on his mind these last few weeks.
«Say, Yui... are you perhaps interested in Sae?» His soft words were carried by the wind only for her ears to hear.
'Interest? Well, I can't say that I'm not interested but I don't think that's what Yuusuke meant, hm...'
Going into deep thinking mood as she thought over her reply, her eyes closed and a frown that gradually grew deeper marred her face.
Seeing that Yuusuke flicked her forehead once. «Nevermind, my apologies.»
The pain brought her out of her musings. And she glared at him. Him assaulting her head was getting on her nerves.
«You're acting strange today. Are you okay, Yuusuke?» She said as she absentmindedly rubbed the sore place on her forehead.
Takao watched their exchange from the corner of his eyes. He shared the same opinion as Yui. Now that Yuusuke had filed him in on what happened and what he did, Takao could assess the situation much better.
At first he thought his friend just acted out of guilt and conscience but now he was convinced that that was not the only reason why.
The way he saw them now it seems like a worried mother-hen and her baby chick.
Takao smiled at that revelation and held his thoughts to himself.
«I will ask another question then...» Yuusuke suddenly continued surprising both of them.
«?»
He smiled charmingly. «Can I hear you play the piano after school?»
His question was met with two different reactions. Yui's eyes widened in pure surprise.
«Eh?» She asked at the very random question.
Meanwhile Takao jerked as if he figured something out. «!» 'Don't tell me-'
Putting a hand on his friend's shoulder he smiled a smile that did not hide his murderous intent.
«Excuse us for a minute, Yui. I need to talk to Yuusuke about something.»
With that he dragged Yuusuke away from the oblivious girl who just waved at them until they disappeared from her sight. In her mind she could hear Megumi sighing and saying 'Guys...' with a shake of her head. Thinking of her best friend the girl chuckled softly.
The dragging continued until they were out of eye and earsight from everyone.
He then let Yuusuke go with a deep sigh.
«You thought you had me figured out, didn't you?» Yuusuke broke the silence first as he adjusted his collar and sleeves.
A sly smirk was on his face as he did so.
Takao just sighed again and crossed his arms before his chest. His eyes cold as they locked on his friend.
He looked towards the direction of the field and then back at Yuusuke again. His eyes now calm and piercing.
«Seriously, don't bother.» Takao spoke. It was a demand not a suggestion.
Yuusuke shrugged disinterested. «... What do you think about these two?»
He suddenly asked.
«? What do you mean- What do I think...» Takao started to get angry but then blatantly calmed down with a sigh as he leaned against the wall and looked at the sky.
«I think they might make a good pairing.» Yuusuke continued casually.
About a minute of silence passed them.
«Regardless of what you think... and me as well, people's feeling and emotions aren't something for you to toy around with.» Takao said softly.
Yuusuke looked at him. These words sounded uncommon coming from the usually logical and cold, calculative politician's son.
«Isn't that something An would say?» Yuusuke teased.
«Shut up-» Takao countered with a slight blush at the mention of his girlfriend.
Yuusuke just smiled and looked at the sky.
'It's true. It doesn't matter how long you've known each other. People change when they meet the right one.'
After renewing his resolve again, Yuusuke heaved a sigh and look at his friend.
«Okay, I won't meddle anymore. But at least let me check this one thing. And I'll stop afterwards.»
Takao had his doubts. But after giving his friend a long and hard stare, he decided to trust him.
The next coming words were very unexpected for both of them.
«... Don't hurt, Yui.»
«I won't.»
Arriving back at the football court they were greeted by the sight of Yui chatting with some strangers of the opposite sex.
Having a bad feeling about it, they hurried with their steps.
«Hey!» Yuusuke greeted once he was in ear wide. He watch the guys tensing and retreating with a flustered expression.
«Oh, you're back. Welcome back.» Yui greeted them calmly. As she turned around their eyes fell to the few milk and juice packs in her arms. They could immediately guess what just happened.
«Would you guys like to have some?» She offered casually.
Yuusuke's first instinct was to decline but Takao beat him to it by taking a few of it with a smile.
«You shouldn't take things from strangers.» Takao said in a cryptic tone. He took some but did not open them.
Getting the clue of what his friend was trying to do, Yuusuke took the rest of the beverages from her arm.
Yui looked down at the now empty space with a confused expression. Thinking that her friends might just be very thirsty or fond of the drinks she just shrugged it off.
«That's not what I meant- But I guess, I'm glad you like them.» She ended things peacefully.
The two of them sighed with relief at her simplemindedness.
«Yui, actually I have yet to receive an answer.» Yuusuke said as he glanced sideways to look at the smaller girl. She was now nipping happily on her tea flavored drink.
«?» Yui looked up at him with bright dazzling eyes. He could see how she was still excited and captivated by the football game in front of her.
Yuusuke hesitated to answer for a moment. It did not help that Takao stood on Yui's other side and was watching Yuusuke with eyes that resembled a ready to pounce wolf.
«... the piano...» He said a bit hesitantly.
Yui took one last sip of her drink and squeezed it tight once to make sure it was really empty before blowing it up again to properly fold and discard it off.
«Of course, if it's for you gladly.» Yui replied with a cheerful and bright smile and soon focused back on the game again.
Something about how happy she looked made Yuusuke smile as well.
«Do you have anything you want to hear?» Takao asked Yuusuke switching the topic with ease.
His question also got Yui curious as she looked at him expectantly.
Yuusuke thought for a moment. «How about... a song that's fitting for this occasion?»
Yuusuke said and pointed towards the field.
Yui followed his finger and a few seconds later her eyes lit up with sparkles in an eureka moment.
Pumping her fist against the palm of her hand in conclusion.
«In that case... This might work.» She mumbled to herself before she spun on her heel and set off towards the faculties.
«Sorry, I gotta go before break ends. See you later!» Yui said dashing off with a joyful wave.
The two guys waved her off in their own casual way. Their smile seem to be frozen in place at the sudden awkward atmosphere.
'Well..., what now?' They both thought now that their reason for hanging out here had just disappeared.
With nothing else to do they slowly trudged back to class to spend the remaining time of their break there.