The afternoon sun beat down against the stadium grounds, glinting off colourful banners flapping in the breeze. The familiar buzz of high school Sports Day filled the air with cheers, whistles, and sneakers pounding against dirt tracks.
Aimi stood near the edge of the field, arms loosely crossed over her chest, watching the event unfold with a neutral expression. It felt strange to be back. She hadn't set foot on her old high school's grounds in years.
"Aimi-sensei, you really came!!" Kenji's voice broke through the noise.
"Of course, sensei would!!" Minato chimed in right behind him, panting and flushed.
"Kenji-kun, Minato-kun," a small smile unfurled on her face, "You two look well."
"Yes! We have been warming up to prepare for the match."
"I can see that." She watched their dripping sweat and handed them two handkerchiefs she just bought, it was laced with the word 'goodluck' next to a 4 leaves clover, "Use this. Just a small gift."
"Omg thank you Senseiii," They respectfully took it from her, "you didn't have to-"
"Don't worry about it. Have all the fun, I will be watching from here." She smiled.
"Oh, right. Is the spot here comfortable, sensei? Do you want us to find you a seat? We can get you one close to the stadium." Minato asked, fidgeting nervously, "You don't have to stand..."
"Don't worry about me. This spot's perfect for viewing." She gave each of them a light head pat, her face softening. "Today's your special day. Just focus on that."
Their faces lit up like the sun.
"Thank you, Aimi-sensei! We'll do our best!!"
"Keep your eyes on us, sensei! We'll win this for you!!"
"Good luck." " she waved them off as they dashed back to the field.
It was the school's Sports Day, and Kenji and Minato were lead players for the baseball match. They had hesitantly asked their dojo sensei to come, not expecting her to show up, but Aimi was never good at saying no to her students, especially, when most of them see her as an older sister more than a teacher.
The field buzzed louder as the match began, and the announcer shouted participant names from each team. The energy was infectious.
A tall boy with short pink hair stretched lazily near the pitcher's mound, his grin carefree. The second his name was called, whispers exploded around Aimi.
"That's THE Yuji Itadori?"
"Yeah! Heard he's freakishly strong. Like… national athlete level strong."
"My cousin said he threw a shotput and it broke the football fence..."
"No way, he's just a normal student, right?"
Aimi's eyebrow lifted hearing every word.
The whistle blew, signalling that the opening was over and the game was starting. Yuji launched into action. His throws were absurd; missiles flying through the air, landing with pinpoint precision. It wasn't just speed or strength; there was an effortless, animal-like grace in how he moved.
Her arms tightened across her chest, watching the match with full attention.
The game rolled on. Her students waved at her whenever they spotted her watching, their faces beaming with pride. She returned a small nod, the corner of her lips twitching up.
Final round.
Yuji stepped into position, winding up. But just as he was ready to throw, his gaze flickered upward and caught sight of a duck-like bird flapping across the sky, looking oddly fake. He blinked in confusion for a moment, and before the blew signal of the whistle got him moving. His aim was bad. Terrible. But it took off.
The ball veered off at an off-putting angle.
Aimi's eyes were still on the batter, and before she realised it-
THWACK.
Something slammed straight into her face.
The crowd gasped in horror, and the game immediately screeched to a halt.
"AH CRAP—!" Yuji's face turned chalk-white.
She staggered back a step, blinking slowly as a sharp sting bloomed across her nose. Warmth trickled down to her lips. That was one violent shot. Anyone but her could've just died from a concussion, or head smashed.
Without missing a beat, Yuji sprinted across the field like a human bullet, cutting through everyone.
"I'M SO SORRY!" he yelled. "Are you okay?! I swear I wasn't aiming at you! Oh man—are you bleeding?!"
Aimi clamped a hand over her nose, feeling the wetness slip through her fingers.
"...I'm fine," she muttered, her voice nasally and flat. "Just a nosebleed. It'll stop soon."
Kenji and Minato crashed onto the scene as well, their faces horrified.
"Sensei! Are you okay?!" Minato's eyes shimmered with panic.
Yuji turned to them in horror. "You guys know her?!"
"You really went and did it, you bastard..." Kenji groaned, digging out a handkerchief and gently helping his teacher to clean up. "She's our martial arts teacher, you idiot."
"It's fine." Aimi chuckled dryly, accepting the handkerchief. "Thank you, Kenji-kun."
"You're not fine, sensei, you're bleeding—!" Minato's voice cracked dangerously close to tears.
Yuji bowed a perfect 180 degrees. "I'm seriously, seriously sorry, Aimi-sensei!"
She sighed, waving them off casually. "Relax, it'll heal soon I said, don't worry. Go back to your team."
Yuji straightened, still twitching with guilt. "Seriously, though, please let me make it up to you! Like—buy you lunch! Or—carry your groceries! Anything-"
The conversation was cut short as a few teachers and medical staff jogged over, checking on her hurriedly. After confirming she wasn't concussed or severely injured, the tension broke, and the match cautiously resumed.
Her students lingered, hovering uncertainly, but Aimi waved them off again. They returned to their bench while whispering and throwing worried glances her way.
Aimi wiped the last of the blood off her face, dabbing carefully. She shoved her hands back into her jacket pockets, the cool fabric comforting.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze following Yuji as he rejoined the game. His energy was explosive, but there was a certain clumsy earnestness in how he moved.
"...Hmm," She hummed thoughtfully under her breath.
The sun soon dipped lower, and the day was over. Students milled about, chatting animatedly, their faces still flushed from the excitement of the game as they left the stadium.
Aimi stood near the benches, talking quietly with Kenji and Minato.
"You guys swing too early," she said, demonstrating a subtle wrist motion. "Patience. Timing beats strength."
Kenji scratched his head sheepishly. "I was worried for you, Sensei, so I was sorta distracted."
"Oh my god," she sighed, "You two know best I get hit worse weekly, this is nothing."
Minato let out a defeated laugh. "But still..."
Before she could retort, a familiar blur approached at full speed.
"Ah—Aimi-sensei!" Yuji called out, jogging toward them with that same desperate guilt plastered all over his face.
Her students exchanged a knowing look and quietly excused themselves, leaving her to deal with the pink-haired tornado alone.
Yuji came to a halt, slightly out of breath. "Are you sure there's nothing I can do to make up for earlier? You still look like you're bleeding a little—no, wait, maybe that's just my imagination-but but still!"
Aimi tilted her head. He looked like a kicked puppy.
She folded her arms. "You want to help that much?"
"Yes!" he said, nodding so fast his hair bounced.
"...Mmm," she said after a long pause. "You can treat me to ice cream."
His face lit up instantly. "YES! Ice cream is easy! Anything else?"
"More?" She raised an eyebrow. "Well, you can help clean the dojo for a few days?"
Yuji blinked. Processing.
"You don't have to. Just the ice cream is fine."
"No No No! I will do it. I was just surprised you'd let me come to the Dojo!"
"Why wouldn't I?"
He grinned brightly, "hehe, it's nothing. Thank you for letting me help!"
They exchanged numbers right there, with Yuji fumbling with his phone a little, finally managing to save her contact under 'Aimi-sensei (FIRST VICTIM)'.
She caught a glimpse of the nickname and laughed.