"If you're gonna try something cool, at least follow through with it, beanstalk!"

Right as the thought came to mind, and before I could truly process what happened, Kiharu sprinted into view. Her foot connected with the ball in the air, and she slammed it right into the lower left corner of the net.

The whistle rang at that, signalling the end of the game.

Nobody moved a muscle. We couldn't. But the sole girl who'd warranted our shock lurched from the ground and threw a triumphant punch. "Gold, baby!"

It was thereafter cheers bleated into the air. Groans from the other team followed, but all the girls on the field raced toward Kiharu, yelling their awe about what she'd just done. Tsumugi who'd watched from the sidelines also dashed onto the field.

"Kiharu, why are you so reckless?"

"Yer such a worrywart, Tsumugi," Kiharu chuckled, hauling herself to her feet. "My recklessness got us gold, didn't i—"

She collapsed right back onto the grass.

"I also seem to have twisted my ankle," she muffled against the dirt. "Help me."

Those around her scrambled to guide her up. Tsumugi was especially angry.

"Kiharu! Jeez! What did you expect?"

The said girl chuckled after others raised her arms, keeping her upright.

It was to the least of my expectations when her gaze flickered to me.

"Beanstalk!"

My eyebrows darted high. Beaming to her ears, she extended a fist to me.

"You weren't too bad. But it'll take a while before yer on my level it seems."

A light as the breeze smile seized my face as I bashfully connected our knuckles. "I don't like that idea at all."

With an airy snort—not helping her breathless state in the least—she laughed some more. It was contagious, so not only our team members and Tsumugi, but even I ended up joining in.

It was the first time I'd ever felt accepted by my classmates—the girls, at that. Even if it was selfish. . . Even if Kiharu and Tsumugi themselves didn't see me as a friend—as a precious companion. . . would it be all right for me to start thinking of them that way, even if only a little? Would I be in way too over my head to hope that one day, they would come to reciprocate that sentiment, too?

The Sports Festival concluded without a hitch. The girls soccer team received their awards, other classes and teams were awarded also, then we all were off. Most aided in putting everything away. Some slacked off.

I was one of the ones who slacked off. I didn't mind helping out, but after finishing up with the required mess I was responsible for, I was tuckered out. I found solace in the forest behind the school building, and took cover under the shade of one of the trees.

It hadn't gotten too cold yet. However, the autumn breeze was profound. It sifted through my hair and against my face in cooling spurts, and I shut my eyes to appreciate the overall serenity.

Gentle notes filled the air as well. I initially ruled it off as coming from the distance but was quickly corrected when I noticed it was coming from much closer. Someone was humming, I realized thereafter. And when I'd rounded the bend, sheathed behind the multicoloured leaves, I spotted a familiar head.

The cowlick at the centre of his hair made me frown. Why did I keep running into him?

I was about to turn tail and crawl off before he could catch sight of me, but was stopped in my tracks by a whisper.

"Who's the cutie pie? That's right, you are."

I slithered back. Peeked over the bushes, too.

The sight waiting to greet me left me open-mouthed.

Igarashi. Surrounded by cats. Coddling them in his arms, one against his cheek.

My heart subconsciously melted.

What were these cats doing here? This was school grounds. They were so affectionate towards Igarashi, too.

Not that he displayed any less endearment.

"You got somewhat bigger, Azuki. Have your owners been feeding you well? Oh, and Hime, you're as cuddly as ever."

I watched in horror as Igarashi continued to hug each cat or play with them, prodding their paws on his lap and even petted their heads. All, with a goofy grin slapped onto his face.

I didn't know how long I was staring but soon enough, he caught it. Snapping to his senses, he craned his neck.

His scowl was immediate.

"What?" he demanded.

"Don't mind me. I'm just observing an unnatural phenomenon."

He hitched his chin. "If anything's unnatural, it's how much you eat for someone so thin."

"Should a midget with the appetite of a wild animal really be talking?"

I bit my tongue. Honestly, I hadn't exactly spoken to him since the day of my meltdown. It was because part of me didn't know how to approach him, considering leading up to that event, we'd always come for each other's throats. Clearly, however, I was thinking too much into it. He had no issue insulting me, per usual. And I'd went and retorted by pure instinct alone.

I hauled myself to my feet, but that action alone brushed the bushes. The cats scampered off in a heartbeat; the one currently rested on Igarashi's lap took off also.

His bitterness grew tenfold. "Great. You scared them off with your ugly face."

"Shut up," I spat. Then paused. "Where did they all come from anyway?"

"No clue. They probably live in the neighbourhood and just like roaming around here. Not that I'm complaining. They're good company."

I wanted to ask how many times he'd encountered them but decided against it. Instead, I digested the scattered sheets of paper surrounding him. His school uniform hit me next. My eyelids fluttered.

"Were you ditching?"

"I played in the morning," he excused.

"Did you lose?"

"In what world would I lose? I carried our team to victory."

I rose an eyebrow.

"Fine. Third place. But bronze is still a win."

A beat.

"Okay! We lost! Horribly! Pathetically!" He glowered. "Happy now?"

I smirked. "Very."

He scoffed.

My gaze travelled back to the grass and insurmountable sheets. I picked one up.

I recognized the symbols straightaway.

"Composition sheets?"

It was swiped right out of my hand. "Don't touch what's not yours."

Igarashi collected his papers in a loud huff, but the gears in my minds were churning.

"You write music?"

"So what if I do?"

My jaw fell. "No way! What kind? Let me read!"

"Never," he refuted.

I puffed my cheeks. "What? Are you embarrassed or something?"

"Of course not. I just don't understand why I have to show 'em to someone who won't appreciate their worth."

He ascended while I pouted at him. "Cheapskate. Even I know good music when I hear it. Mortal Mania fanatic, remember?"

His green eyes flitted to me. "Mortal Mania doesn't count."

"Then, Upperclassman Hanai's music is great and I appreciate it!"

I didn't catch him wince in time.

"In fact, I was planning on attending the Music Festival to hear her performance. She's winning an award for the songs she's written. Unsurprisingly considering she is a great composer and singer. Even if your song will never reach her level, I'm sure it's still worthwhile to hear. So don't beat yourself up about its mediocrity and show it to me."

When no immediate retort came, I admit, I was stunned.

It was possibly the most dejected I'd ever seen him. Crumpling the papers in his hand, he stuffed his other in his pocket and ambled forward. "An award, huh?"

"Igarashi?"

He waved over his shoulder. "Head back to class already. See you there."

He vacated the premises at that. I pushed myself onto my toes, heart sinking to my gut. What was that all about?

"Did I hit a nerve?" I mumbled to myself.

"You hit more than that."

A scream left my mouth. I reeled left, arms readying in defence, only to come to terms with the pink-haired girl who'd unknowingly snuck up behind me.

"K-K-Koshiba?"

The typically cutesy high school girl was anything but. Arms folded over her chest, eyes narrowed menacingly, she never pried her gaze from the distance, where Igarashi had disappeared to.

"It's a pleasure, isn't it, Kisaragi?" Koshiba spat. "When's the last time we saw each other? Oh, right. When you got me kicked out of that family restaurant."

Don't look at her, my conscience was screaming. If you look into those eyes, you'll turn to stone!

"Wh-whatever do you mean?" I sputtered. "I remember no such thing."

Koshiba sighed. "Even your audacity to approach Toru now. . . It's like you're trying to incur my wrath."

She was watching us this entire time? Well, realistically speaking, she was always accompanying Igarashi everywhere so I shouldn't be too surprised at the notion. Nevertheless. . .

"But your biggest mistake was bringing up that bitch."

I gulped hard. I shouldn't have twisted my head, but my confusion had gotten the better of me. "Do you mean. . . Upperclassman Hanai?"

Her black look froze my lungs over, and summoned goosebumps across all inches of my skin.

"Who else would I mean? You dumb or something?"

Her cute appearance was a waste on this demon!

Nonetheless, I didn't break eye contact. "What's wrong with bringing up Upperclassman Hanai? Don't tell me—are Igarashi and her mortal enemies or something? Constantly battling it out with written music, but Upperclassman Hanai takes the win every time?"

I nodded at the idea. It made sense. Even their confrontation yesterday coincided with that.

"Shut up, idiot. You have no brain cells. Say anything else as dumb as that and I'm ripping out your tongue."

"Y-y-yes, ma'am!"

She sneered, folding her arms tighter. "In the first place, that two-faced bitch is in way too over her head. A good musician? All she has is a good voice and a cute face."

A premonition wrapped around my neck, suppressing my airways. "What do you. . ."

"Toru wrote the song."

My eyes bulged.

"All of them. Every single one of them. Wrote the lyrics for them, too. And she's stolen all the credit." Keiko Koshiba didn't sugarcoat a single word. "And now, after the show on Friday, she's going to live his dream herself."