Yuma Kikuzawa didn't know why Yuuki suddenly froze with a stiff expression. He also reached under the seat for his bag, but the moment his h
Yuma Kikuzawa didn't know why Yuuki suddenly froze with a stiff expression. He also reached under the seat for his bag, but the moment his h
Yuma Kikuzawa didn't know why Yuuki suddenly froze with a stiff expression. He also reached under the seat for his bag, but the moment his hand touched it, he realized something was wrong. When the truth dawned on him, his heart leaped to his throat, and the brothers became two silent statues of embarrassment.
Since they were playing against Shiratorizawa today, the Aoba Johsai team didn't need school bags - everyone had brought sports duffels instead.
Currently, the duffel under the seat only contained volleyball shoes, a water bottle, towels, and spare clothes. The breakfast the Kikuzawa brothers had been counting on was still sitting in their school locker along with their backpacks.
Fantastic! The Kikuzawa family actually had two such careless idiots~
Yuma started sweating bullets. When he looked up, he saw Yuuki staring at him with pitiful, pleading eyes.
His mouth twitching, Yuma averted his gaze and grabbed the seat in front of him. Without much hope, he poked the shoulders of the two people seated there.
"...Kindaichi, Kunimi, do you have any food?"
The two who had been whispering turned around. Kindaichi asked in surprise, "Yuma, you didn't eat breakfast?"
"Ahem." Yuma coughed awkwardly, forcing a strained smile. "Actually, neither Yuuki nor I ate. Our breakfast is still at school with our bags."
Hideaki Kunimi gave them an exasperated look, as if tired of the unreliable twins' antics: "Kindaichi and I didn't bring food. Let me ask around for you."
Kunimi tapped the seats in front of him and said something to those players. They shook their heads, then proceeded to ask the people in front of them.
Maybe we should just give up... Going hungry isn't that bad... Yuma was so embarrassed he could probably dig out an entire gymnasium with his toes.
He could only watch helplessly as their shameful situation got passed row by row forward, until finally - under his suffocated gaze - Coach Irihata and Coach Mizoguchi turned around.
Coach Irihata whispered something to Coach Mizoguchi. Since they were seated far ahead, Yuma couldn't hear them. Soon Coach Mizoguchi left his seat, perhaps not wanting to disturb napping students, and quietly walked down the aisle to the back.
"You didn't eat breakfast?"
Coach Mizoguchi's tone was gentle, but the Kikuzawa brothers practically buried their heads under the seats.
What's more embarrassing than losing face in front of classmates? Well, probably losing face in front of authority figures.
"Remember to eat breakfast earlier next time." Coach Mizoguchi took out several chocolate bars from his pocket and placed them in Yuma's hand. "Use these to tide you over so you don't get hypoglycemic. You can go to Shiratorizawa's cafeteria after we arrive - just make sure to return before the match starts."
Yuma's eyes welled up with tears: "Thank you Coach Mizoguchi! We'll definitely eat properly from now on!"
Yuuki: "Thank you coach..."
Watching the back of this suddenly heroic and reliable adult walk away, the Kikuzawa brothers shrank into their corner and quietly nibbled on the chocolate.
In the oppressive silence of their mutual embarrassment (entirely one-sided from the brothers), the school bus smoothly entered Shiratorizawa's campus.
Everyone, whether chatting or napping earlier, perked up to observe Shiratorizawa's grounds.
The first impression was grandeur.
Even compared to elite private schools like Aoba Johsai, Shiratorizawa's facilities were exceptionally lavish.
This was evident in every detail - not just the magnificent, spacious academic buildings, but even the meticulously maintained roadside flowers gave off an air of "having too much money to spend." The swimming pool went without saying, but Shiratorizawa even had dedicated equestrian tracks and fields.
"Tch. No matter how many times I see it, it still pisses me off."
After getting off the bus, Oikawa clicked his tongue while glaring at Shiratorizawa's extravagant campus.
"Shiratorizawa's team is coming - keep it down."
Iwaizumi elbowed Oikawa as a warning. Spotting the approaching Shiratorizawa members, Oikawa instantly switched to a polite, gentle smile as if his previous expression had been an illusion.
With both Coach Irihata and Coach Mizoguchi present for Aoba Johsai, Shiratorizawa naturally sent their own coach and manager to greet them.
Shiratorizawa's Coach Washijou - Tanji Washijou - was a fierce-eyed old man. In his youth, he'd been benched by coaches due to his height, which made him obsess over physical attributes. When he became a coach himself, his primary requirements for players became height and power. He was a stubborn old man who believed "Simple is Best."
Though later Coach Washijou would be won over by Shouyou Hinata's perseverance and become his devoted fan... but that's a story for another time.
Facing the visiting team, Coach Washijou's expression was extremely unpleasant. His vulture-like sharp gaze swept over each Aoba Johsai player as if trying to dissect them alive.
"You're late. Hurry up and prepare for the match!"
Though Coach Washijou's attitude was terrible, his temper was infamous throughout Miyagi Prefecture, so no one took offense.
Shiratorizawa's manager, Akira Saito, stepped forward to smooth things over with some polite words and led the Aoba Johsai group toward the gymnasium.
On the way, Yuma asked the seemingly more approachable Shiratorizawa manager about the cafeteria's location, then dragged Yuuki away from the group.
"Quick, let's grab something to eat. Hopefully Shiratorizawa's cafeteria accepts cash, otherwise we'll have to borrow a meal card from a student..."
Yuma took out his wallet and entered the cafeteria with Yuuki.
Since classes were in session, the cafeteria was nearly empty except for some faculty members eating. This spared the Kikuzawa brothers the embarrassment of being surrounded by curious students, allowing them to finally relax after their string of humiliations.
But when Yuma stood at the food counter with his wallet, he realized he'd relaxed too soon.
Just as he'd feared, Shiratorizawa's high-end cafeteria only accepted high-end card payments.
This created a problem - the Kikuzawa brothers needed to borrow a meal card, but the only people in the cafeteria were increasingly stern-looking teachers.
Two unfamiliar visiting students approaching teachers to borrow a meal card?
Awkward...
Just as Yuma hesitated, steeling himself to swallow his pride and make the request, a drifting voice reached his ears.
"Ara~ Aren't you two from Aoba Johsai? What are you doing in our cafeteria~?"
A red-haired boy with spiked-up hair, carrying a bag of drinks, started circling the Kikuzawa brothers.
His eyes were wide open, and his demeanor carried an oddly inhuman eeriness that made Yuuki - seeing him for the first time - hide fearfully behind his brother.
"Classmate! Lend us your meal card!"
Unlike Yuuki's fear, Yuma unceremoniously grabbed the boy's hands and shook them vigorously in a friendly manner, making the drink cans in the bag clatter noisily.
Isn't this Satori Tendo? Perfect timing!
"Ara...?"
Even Satori Tendo was taken aback by the stranger's familiarity, tilting his head in confusion.
Realizing how presumptuous he'd been, Yuma released his hands and compensated with a perfectly polite smile.
"Sorry for being rude. We're Aoba Johsai players here for a practice match today. Since we missed breakfast, we wanted to eat at your cafeteria. Could you lend us your meal card? We'll pay you in cash, of course."
Tendo pressed his index finger and thumb against his chin, squinting as he examined the two identical silver-haired boys. After a moment's thought, he smiled and took out his meal card.
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