After leaving the bathhouse, we stopped at a convenience store to purchase some stuff we needed before returning to the dorm.
"You kids are back. How was your first outing together?" The coach asked, sitting on a couch in the sitting room and typing something on his laptop.
"It was cool." Watabe said.
"The best outing!"
"I wished it'd never end."
"Seems like you all met out, that's quite relieving. I have no problem with you guys having fun, just don't have too much fun and forget what you're here for." He said, turning off the laptop and standing up.
"Yes coach." We replied as he walked out of the sitting room and to his room.
"Good night."
"Till tomorrow then."
"Yawn… I'm really tired."
"Today was really fun."
"Ah, good night then, Akatsuki-kun." I said before walking up to my room.
I walked into my room and turned on my flashlight.
"I'm back…" I mumbled, throwing my phone on my bed and walking towards Ueta's bed.
*Whoa, that's hot.* I thought, taking my hands off her.
I looked at her and it looked like she was in a lot of pain.
*What am I to do? She's asleep, so I can't touch her without her permission. Well, kinda already too late for that.*
As I was still thinking of what to do, she opened her teary eyes gently.
"Oh, you guys are back." She said, trying to sit up.
"Yeah."
"You're creepy. What was your face doing so close to mine?" She asked as I moved back immediately.
"I just checked your temperature cause I heard you weren't feeling too well." I said about to walk out of the room.
"Thanks."
"Ah! I'll make you some porridge, I'll be back as soon as I finish making it." I said, walking out of the room.
"Mmn…"
I walked down to the kitchen immediately and grabbed a pot.
"Oh, I didn't put a compressor on her head. Ah! I forgot to buy one. I'll just use a towel and cold water." I said, pouring some water into a bowl.
I took the porridge up to her first before going back to get the water and a towel.
By the time I returned, she was already lying on her bed asleep.
"Hey, wake up." I said, sitting on a chair near her bed.
"Oh, you're back." She said, trying to sit up.
"Let me help you." I said, giving her a hand.
"Thanks, I'm really sorry about this." She said.
"No problem, sorry I didn't notice. When you're done with the porridge, I'll put the towel on your head."
*Wait a minute, someone's meant to wipe the sweat off her body with the towel.* I thought, looking at her as she ate the porridge.
"Seems like you didn't need my help." I said jokingly.
"Would you have fed me if I had asked you to?" She asked as my face turned red.
"H-Huh?!" I asked, standing up immediately.
"Just kidding." She said, still eating.
"Ha… don't joke with such things." I said, walking back to my bed.
"What happened?"
*But I can't go into another girls room. They might think I'm a pervert.* I thought, nodding my head disapprovingly.
"I'm done with the porridge, thanks." She said as I kept the plate on the floor.
*Wait, I exchanged numbers with Sugawara, maybe I'll call her.* I thought taking out my phone and searching for her number.
"Hey." Sugawara said, walking into the bedroom.
"Ha… Thanks for coming over. I don't know what I would have done."
"I was surprised when you asked me to come over so suddenly." She said.
"I'm really sorry about that. Anyway, there's the towel and water. I'm leaving the rest to you." I said before walking out.
I walked down the stairs, out of the dorm and into the exercise room.
"Looks like I'll be sleeping here tonight." I said, sitting on a bench.
*Ha… its really cold.* I thought, putting on my gloves.
*Luckily, I brought these out.* I thought, rubbing my hands against each other.
After failing to feel sleepy, I walked out of the room and into the field. I looked up at the sky and smiled a bit.
"It's not too dark out, I'll just try playing a little bit." I said, going into the equipment store and grabbing the balls.
"Again." I said, kicking the ball hard as it went into the post.
*Tch. I just remembered something really unpleasant.* I thought kicking another ball.
Memories of the past flashed through my mind. The times I used to enjoy playing soccer with my uncle. At that time, there was no thought of playing in a team or with other kids.
My Uncle was really good at soccer and became a soccer coach for some reasons known to him alone. Whenever I got back from school, I'd run to him and force him to join me.
At that time, even though I was constantly insulted, I believed I had something fun to do whenever school was over. I had something to look forward to so I didn't really listen to what they said about me.
School was really annoying at some point. I just wanted to stay back home and go through some drills with my uncle.
He left one day without informing me. It was really sad because I had something I was looking forward to badly.
Mom did say he left suddenly because he had something important come up.
After that, I began drifting further away from soccer. There was no one to play with, no one to learn from, nothing at all, and I just… gave up.
*Wait, now that I think about it, there was a kid who played with us at that time. I can't remember his name, but he's Uncle Shiros' kid.* I thought, placing another ball on the floor.
"You know, I was really trying to force myself to go to bed, but you just kept being persistent." Someone said as I turned around.
"I'm sorry if I kept you awake, I'll try being more quiet." I said as he chuckled.
"Why don't we play together, Atsu-kun." He said, placing his leg on the ball and pulling it backwards before double tapping it with his instead.
The ball bounced over his head and he caught it with his hands.
"You really don't feel like sleeping now, do you?" I asked, trying to tackle him.
"You won't get it if you keep acting that way. Try looking well before tackling." He said.