Bright and early in the morning, golden sunlight spilled through the windows of the second-floor classroom, casting a warm hue across the scuffed wooden floors.
The girls of the newspaper club had already begun their club activities, huddled around a long table scattered with notebooks, half-drunk juice cartons, and a bulky camera case.
Outside, a soft breeze rustled the cherry blossom trees. One tree, however, stood out starkly from the rest—its bark pale and cracked, branches bare like skeletal fingers reaching skyward.
A click echoed through the morning calm.
"Airi, could you please stop taking so many pictures of that dead tree? That's not what we're here for," Kanae said, her short-cut bangs swaying slightly in the morning breeze. The faint scent of cherry blossoms mixed with fresh air as she shifted her weight, crossing her arms with a sharp glance.
"Right, sorry, Kanae," Airi replied, lowering her camera. She brushed a strand of hair from her face, the strap of her camera swinging lightly against her side.
"It's just… it's strange that it's the only one that's dead while all the others are blooming."
She gave a small, sheepish smile, glancing back at the other trees around them.
Kanae crossed her arms and adjusted her glasses, the sunlight glinting off the lenses.
"Okay, I get it, but make sure you take the pictures that actually matter. They'll be in the newspaper this week," she said, her tone sharp but controlled, carrying over the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.
She really is something else, Yuri thought, watching Airi fidget with her camera. I still can't believe we became friends last year… of all people.
Yuri's gaze shifted to the fourth member, who stood a few feet away near the entrance of the courtyard.
The girl gripped her notebook tightly, fingers trembling slightly. Her knees nudged together every so often, and her face was pale, almost as if the sunlight had washed the color from it.
"Um, Rie, are you okay? You look pale," Yuri asked, her voice gentle, carrying over the soft rustle of leaves in the courtyard. A stray petal drifted past, brushing against her shoulder.
"Um… y-yes, I'll be fine, Yuri," Rie replied, her hands clutching her notebook a little too tightly. Her voice quivered despite her attempt to sound calm, and she shifted from foot to foot on the warm pavement.
"Don't be nervous," Yuri said, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"We're just going to interview the sports teams and extracurricular clubs for our article. Remember, we're the newspaper club—it's our job to keep students updated and give feedback on everything happening at school."
"I-I know… but I can't help feeling nervous," Rie admitted, her fingers tightening around her notebook. "This will be my first time talking to complete strangers."
A small breeze ruffled her hair, and she shivered slightly.
Yuri exhaled softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she placed a reassuring hand on Rie's shoulder.
"Well… there's not much I can do to boost your confidence," she muttered quietly, watching Rie take a steadying breath.
"Is everyone ready?" Kanae asked, her voice cutting through the soft chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves around them.
"Yes!" the others responded in unison, their voices carrying lightly across the courtyard—well, all except Rie, who only offered a tight, hesitant nod.
"Then let the exploration begin," Kanae said, stepping forward with a brisk, confident pace, the soft crunch of gravel under her shoes marking the start of their journey.
Their first stop was the gymnasium.
As the girls stepped inside, a strong, earthy scent of sweat and body heat hit them immediately. The sharp thud of feet slamming against the mats echoed in rhythm with the grunts of exertion.
Dust motes floated in the sunlight streaming through the high windows, making the air shimmer. The Judo club was in full swing.
"You're definitely not going to lift me off the ground, Captain!" a Judo member shouted, laughing as he squared off with a taller boy. His gi rustled with every movement, and the mat creaked under his weight.
"Okay, we'll see about that, you little runt," the captain growled playfully, gripping the boy's gi.
With a practiced twist, he flipped him over his shoulder. The younger member hit the mat with a solid thud, the reverberation bouncing through the gym and drawing a few scattered cheers from nearby teammates.
"Point! And that's the match. Great work as usual, Captain," another member said, clapping. The sound echoed lightly off the high gym walls.
"It'll take years before you can beat me, rookie," the captain said with a grin, helping his opponent to his feet.
The gi rustled as the boy straightened, brushing dust from his sleeves.
Kanae stepped forward, her voice cutting clearly across the gym.
"Good morning, Judo club members. I'm Kanae Yamaoka, president of the newspaper club. We're here to interview and observe you for our articles. If anyone objects, please speak now."
Her sudden presence drew all eyes toward her.
The chatter faltered, leaving only the scrape of feet against mats and the faint creak of swinging doors as the club room fell silent.
"Well, we're in the middle of practice, but if it's for your club, let's get started," the captain said, brushing back sweat-drenched bangs. The scent of exertion hung around him, mingling with the faint metallic tang of the mats.
"Okay, then I'll start with this: Roman, you've been the captain of the Judo team since your first year, correct?" Kanae asked, flipping through her clipboard.
Her voice carried clearly across the gym, calm and precise.
"Yes, I have. I've led this team since I was just a kid," Roman said, squaring his shoulders, the muscles in his arms tensing slightly.
"Under your leadership, do you believe this club has accomplished anything significant?"
"Of course we have!" Roman replied, pride bristling in his stance, the mat squeaking under his shifting weight.
"Could you elaborate on your achievements?"
"Well… you see…"
"We conducted some research and background checks on the Judo team's performance over the years," Kanae said, tapping her papers.
The rustle of the sheets punctuated her words.
"We found that under your leadership, the team lost in the first round twice."
Murmurs rippled through the Judo members.
The scrape of feet against mats and soft rustle of gis filled the brief silence. Roman's brow furrowed, and he clenched his jaw, his hands tightening at his sides.
A few members exchanged awkward glances, shifting uneasily on the mats.
"Further research shows that those losses were the worst defeats in the Judo team's history," Kanae added, her tone flat and precise, like she was stating a fact rather than making a comment.
"Are there any plans to change this?" she asked, her expression unreadable.
Roman's eyes flared with renewed determination, the sheen of sweat on his forehead catching the sunlight streaming through the high windows.
"For two years in a row, we faced the champions in the first round. It's no surprise that we lost. But of course, there'll be a change! My team and I are going to the championship this year. We're going to be champions," he said, fire lighting his gaze as he squared his shoulders.
"I see. Then I'll come back for another scoop when you… lose—I mean, win the championship," Kanae said with a smirk, the corners of her lips tilting up as the mat squeaked under her steps.
"Let's go, girls."
"Say cheese, everyone!" Airi called, raising her camera.
The shutter clicked sharply, capturing a tense snapshot—Roman's jaw tight, a few members glaring, and others forcing awkward half-smiles.
The faint smell of sweat and dust hung in the air around them.
"…Did she just call us losers?" one Judo member muttered under his breath as the group shuffled out, the scrape of feet on the mats echoing behind them.
"Wow, Prez, that was way too harsh," Yuri said as they walked down the hall, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor.
Rows of faded student flyers and peeling club posters brushed past their shoulders.
"You just hurt that guy's pride. You pointed out all his failures, compared them to past Judo teams, and shoved it in his face."
"If facts and the truth are harsh, imagine how much a lie would affect them," Kanae replied, her tone calm and matter-of-fact.
She adjusted the strap of her bag as they passed a flickering fluorescent light.
"Giving people false hope with deceptive words isn't my style. I prefer to tell them their current standings and the chances they actually have."
"…Whatever you say, Kanae," Yuri muttered, tugging at a stray thread on her sleeve.
"Rie, which club is next?" Kanae asked, keeping her brisk pace, the soft scuff of her shoes marking the rhythm.
"Um… let's see… the soccer club," Rie said, clutching her clipboard tightly, her fingers pressing into the edges.
"Alright, let's get this over with," Kanae said, leading the way down the hall.
The soccer field stretched wide behind the main school building.
The smell of freshly cut grass mingled with a faint trace of chalk from the painted lines. Cleats scuffed against the turf as the team passed the ball between drills, the rhythmic thumps echoing lightly across the open space.
"Hello, beautiful young ladies of the newspaper club!" a boy called out, jogging toward them with a confident grin.
"My name is Maki Abe, ace of Toshigawa Academy's soccer team. I'd like to say this team was exceptional before I enrolled, but now that I'm here, we'll take the Golden Boot trophy and become champions this year!"
He struck a dramatic pose, thumbs-up raised, sunlight glinting off his teeth.
"It's true you made it to the quarterfinals last year," Kanae said, adjusting her glasses, her voice calm but cutting through the hum of practice.
"However, the soccer team lost terribly to Yokohama High School—ten goals to none."
Maki's confident smile froze mid-pose, and the energy around him seemed to slump.
The thud of the ball on the turf suddenly loud in the quiet that followed.
"I'm not sure 'exceptional' is the right word," Kanae continued, her tone even.
"How about 'humiliation' or 'embarrassment'? Those words seem more suitable."
"What are you doing!?" Yuri whispered harshly, stepping closer. I knew they lost badly, but I didn't know it was that bad…
"But I'm here now! That kind of loss won't happen again!" Maki said, forcing a chuckle, his shoulders stiff.
"How many students do you think get into Toshigawa Academy based on athletic ability?" Kanae asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Hmm… I'd say roughly ten?" Maki replied, glancing down at the turf nervously.
"Did you know students who enroll through sports are immediately placed on academic probation? Their first-semester grades determine whether they're even allowed to play for the school," Kanae said coolly, the faint scent of sweat from the players mixing with the grass around them.
"Is that true? I… I didn't know about that," Maki stammered, color draining from his face.
"Yes, it is. So be sure to get good grades this semester, or you won't be playing in the tournament at all," Kanae added, turning away without a glance.
"Say cheese for the camera!" Airi said, snapping a photo of Maki's dazed expression.
The shutter clicked, freezing the moment—eyes wide, jaw slack, processing everything he'd just heard.
"Kanae, that was really mean. That was uncalled for," Airi said softly, lowering her camera.
"Well, that's Kanae for you," Yuri muttered, rubbing her temples.
"She doesn't consider anyone's feelings."
Rie didn't speak. She just stared at Maki, gripping her clipboard tighter, a faint whisper escaping her lips.
"…This is gonna be a long day."