—-Yui—-
It was a quiet afternoon, usually I go home after I'm done with my student council work after class but lately I have been staying late to wait for Kana's volleyball practice.
I opened the door at the gymnasium and I saw the volleyball team practicing as usual. I bowed to the coach as he saw me enter, thankfully he and the other members didn't mind that I watched them practice.
I went to where Kana was over with a towel around her shoulders.
"Yui! Sorry for making you stay again! I promise I'll treat you to ice cream later~" she chuckled, putting down her water bottle on a chair.
"I don't mind. I'll just head up there and watch from above." I pointed upstairs so I could read a book and not worry about catching some stray volleyballs.
Kana smiled at me, giving me a playful wink before returning to her teammates. I made my way upstairs to the balcony area overlooking the gym, finding a quiet spot where I could read without distractions. The sound of volleyballs bouncing against the floor and the occasional shout of encouragement from the coach filled the air, but it was peaceful enough up here to lose myself in the pages of my book.
As I flipped through the pages, I couldn't help but occasionally glance down at Kana. Her movements were so fluid, her focus so intense. I admired how dedicated she was to her sport, how much energy she put into each practice, even when she was exhausted.
Though I guess I shouldn't be surprised, she is famous for her volleyball skills and was even on national television last tournament.
Time passed slowly, and before I knew it, the practice session was coming to an end. Kana wiped the sweat from her brow with the towel around her shoulders and jogged up the stairs to join me, while Emilia was behind following her.
Kana plopped down beside me with a loud sigh, stretching her arms behind her head. "Finally! I thought that last set would never end."
Emilia reached us a moment later, her blonde hair slightly damp from sweat and sticking to her forehead. She seems just as energetic as Kana even after the intense practice.
"Miss Kana, are you two going out after this?" said Emilia.
"Yeah! I promised Yui here for ice cream" she smiled as she replied.
I closed my book as I looked at both of them. "You two look so sweaty, and you both kind of smell.."
Kana gasped dramatically, clutching at her chest as if wounded. "Yui! How could you say such a thing to your beloved friend?" She leaned closer and grinned mischievously. "Come here, let me share the full post-practice aroma with you."
"N-No.. Get away from me." Yui started to scoot over as she was sitting from the ground.
Emilia also started to move closer with her fingers going on a fondling motion. I noticed this and scooted even more.
"N-noOo, not you too Miss Campbell. Stay away!"
Emilia smirked, her pale blue eyes gleaming with amusement as she advanced with exaggerated menace. "Resistance is futile, Miss Yui~ This is your punishment for speaking the truth."
I yelped and scrambled to my feet, nearly dropping my own book. "I take it back! You both smell like… like fresh flowers and fragrance! Just—just don't hug me!"
Kana lunged forward with a laugh, grabbing my waist before I could escape further. "Too late!"
"Nooo—!" I tried to twist free, but Emilia was already on the other side, wrapping her arms around my shoulders with surprising strength.
"Sorry not sorry!" Emilia added.
And just like that, I was sandwiched between the two of them, Kana with her towel still damp around her neck, and Emilia's ponytail brushing against my cheek. The scent of sweat, fabric softener, and maybe a hint of citrus shampoo overwhelmed me in the best and worst way.
Kana giggled, tightening the hug. "We are your friends. That's why we're giving you the full VIP after-practice experience."
"I feel honored." I said dryly, squirming in their grip. "Truly. Deeply. Please let go now."
"Most guys would only dream of this y'know~" Emilia said as she chuckled and tightened her hug.
"Well it's a shame, I'm not a guy!" I retorted. The two both continued on their antics, As they grabbed me tight, something warm settled in my chest. Their arms, their laughter, the ridiculousness of the moment, it made me forget about how ordinary this afternoon had started.
After the volleyball team has finished packing up at the gymnasium and is currently at their club room, I told Campbell and Kana that I'll just meet them at the school gate. A few minutes of waiting and scrolling through my phone, I saw the two of them in their uniforms again instead of their gym attire. Kana was waving at me and so I waved back.
"Let's go?? Emilia said she'll also be tagging around."
"Hehe! I hope you don't mind, Miss Yui!" she said cheerfully with a peace sign.
"I don't mind." I replied quietly.
This first-year is pretty lively. She's just like Kana. Maybe that's why they're such good friends and close at the club. Kana stretched her arms above her head, her bag bouncing at her side. "Mmm, I can already taste the ice cream. I want something chocolatey… maybe double chocolate fudge!"
Emilia's eyes sparkled. "Oh! They have that limited matcha parfait, don't they? I saw it on their flyer last week!" She skipped a little as she walked ahead of us. "We should all get something different and share!"
Kana gasped. "I like that! Yui, you have to get strawberry. You always get strawberry."
Eek.. She knows me too well.
"Sure thing, Kana"
"Hope it's not too expensive though.." I muttered to myself unconsciously while fiddling the bottom of my uniform.
When we got on the ice cream truck, we had bought the flavors that we wanted, and when I was just about to pay as I brought out my purse, Kana said to the cashier that she'll be paying for me casually. It had really caught me offguard, I didn't know how to react but just instinctively bow. "Th-thanks, Kana."
"Of course!!" she smiled at me with warmth.
We spent our time walking around the park while eating our delicious ice cream. It was very peaceful, the sun was setting and the wind gave us a fresh breeze, there were a few people in the park as well, some jogging and a few walking their dogs.
"Guys, I have a question! If it's not too much." Emilia went ahead in front of us, tucking her hair.
"Hmm? Ask away, my precious underclassman~" Kana immediately replied with usual playfulness.
"It's fine. What is it?" I said with a calm tone, a bit curious about her question that it made her address us less casually.
"You see, I was just wondering if you two like someone already, hehe.." Emilia smiled as she put her hands behind her, with a cutesy pose.
I paused for a moment, my spoon halfway to my mouth. The sudden shift in Emilia's tone caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but look at her a little more seriously.
"I-I don't have time for that kind of thing." I said with a small, somewhat awkward laugh. "I'm just busy with school and.. other stuff, you know? I just.. focus on getting through the day."
Emilia pouted slightly, tilting her head as she turned to Kana for her opinion. "What about you, Miss Kana? Do you like anyone?"
Kana held a finger on her chin as she looked up at the sky and hummed for a couple of seconds. After that, she shrugged and with a playful grin.
"Not really, volleyball keeps me busy as it is so I don't really think about romance at all."
Emilia puffed her cheeks, clearly unsatisfied with our answers.
"Ehh? That's no fun!" she said dramatically, spinning around to face us while walking backward. "You two are so cool and pretty, I thought for sure you'd be drowning in confessions!"
Kana laughed at that, shaking her head.
"I mean you're not wrong about that. Just last week, someone confessed to Yui here at the back of the gymnasium." Kana then looked at me with a teasing smile.
I blinked, startled. "W-What? Kana!" My voice cracked as my face flushed instantly. "You weren't supposed to tell anyone that!"
Emilia gasped, eyes wide as saucers.
"No way! Miss Yui, you didn't tell me this! Who was it?! What did you say?!"
"I—I didn't say anything!" I stammered, hiding half my face behind the little paper cup of strawberry ice cream. "I mean, I turned him down, okay?!"
"And.. that was it.." I added.
Kana chuckled, clearly enjoying this far too much.
"She was so flustered, it was adorable. I only found out because I walked in on them mid-confession. The poor guy was so nervous too!"
I reached over to cover Kana's mouth so she could stop speaking any further with panic in my hands. "S-stop it okay?!" I said, my face red already.
She tried to speak but her voice was muffled. I turned to look at Emilia but she was just laughing, she then slowed down her pace to match ours.
"It's alright, Miss Yui! Good thing you rejected him, it would be a problem if you went out with someone you didn't know right away yeah?" she continued looking at me with an enthusiastic carefree smile.
Oh, she's so precious and free. It's like she just speaks whatever's on her mind. I wish I was like that too. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Y-Yeah.." I replied softly, fiddling with the small plastic spoon in my now half-empty cup. "I guess you're right…"