Chapter 87.

"What do you mean by saying that?" Akaji asked.

"Akaji. I don't think you should…"

"Tch! Haha, I know why you're acting this way. It's because Akane…"

"Akaji!" Akane shouted.

"Hm…?" I asked, looking up at her and smiling.

"Atsushi-kun." She called.

"Sushi-kun!"

"What's it, Yui-chan?"

"More." She said as I tried to avoid slapping my face.

"Here." I said, cutting some more.

"Thanks."

"It's getting late. You'd better go to bed, Yui-chan." I said.

"Just one more." She said.

"Ha… do whatever you want." I said.

"Are you ignoring me?" Akaji asked.

*What's with the sudden change in attitude? He's been acting weirdly for a while.* I thought, looking back at him.

"Isn't it enough already, Akaji?" Teijiro asked.

"Huh?"

"I decided not to talk since I wasn't originally with you guys but… aren't you acting like a kid?" He asked.

"How dare you?" Akaji asked.

"I…"

"Okay, okay. That's enough kids." The coach said, walking into the sitting room.

"Haruya-san?" Hiroto called.

"It's Yamazaki-san to you." He said, relaxing on the sofa.

"Coach." Akaji called.

"I already know what's going on. No need to repeat it." He said before yawning.

"O-oh…"

"Anyway, Coach 'Yuki' and I already planned on taking you all to the beach tomorrow, but it looks like our plans will fail." He started.

*Beach?*

"The beach?!" The others asked.

"I heard something about a beach, and I came out." Kenji said.

*He woke up?!*

"Yes, the beach. But it looks like it won't work since you all are not getting along. Ah… ah… what can I do now?" He asked.

"C-coach!" Akaji called.

"Hmm?"

"L-look, we were just playing around." He said.

"Yes yes. Haha, don't mind us. We love playing around." Akatsuki said.

"Yes, we get along so well. See…" Hitotose said, bumping fists with Teijiro.

*What's with them? Is the beach that much of a big deal?* I thought as I felt eyes on me.

"Huh?" I asked, looking at them.

"Captain. Are you guys all good?" The coach asked as I forced a smile.

"I guess. It's just a game we play." I said.

"Good then. No playing from now on." He said.

"Yes!" The other boys shouted.

*I don't want to quarrel with anyone anymore. We're a team after all.* I thought.

"Get ready, we'll be heading out on Monday, and we'll be staying out for a week or so. Depending on how you guys act." He said, standing up and walking out.

"Hell yeah!" Akatsuki asked.

"It's been long since I last went to the beach." Aoi said.

"Same here." Sakura said.

"Let's go pick some swimsuits."

"Yeah!"

"Yui, aren't you coming?" Aoi asked.

"Mmn! Yui will join you." She said, jumping down the chair and rushing towards them.

"Atsushi, aren't you happy too?" Teijiro asked.

*Well, I'm happy that we'll be able to relax in a different place.* I thought, looking up at him.

"Yes, I am." I replied.

"Ah… what were we saying again?" Yusuke asked, smiling.

"Buying stuff." Kimishita answered.

"Anyway, good work, bro." Ryuto said, giving me a thumbs up.

"Yeah…"

◇Monday◇

"We're here!" Kenji and Ryuto shouted as we got down the van.

"Looks like we arrived before the others." I said, looking behind the van.

"What does it matter? Let's go have fun." Ryuto said.

The coach took us to the building we were to spend the week in.

"Whoa! The rooms aren't half bad." Akatsuki said, picking the room beside mine.

"Yeah." I said, walking in and placing my luggage on the table beside my bed.

"Man, this feels like a school trip." Teijiro said, walking into my room.

"Yeah!" Akatsuki concurred.

◇◇◇

"You kids have fun. Don't cause trouble for others." Coach Yuki said.

"Okay."

"Hehe, time to go feast our eyes." Yusuke said.

"I've been waiting for this." Ryuto said.

*I'm so tired. I think I'll sit this one out.* I thought, walking back to my room.

"Hey hey! Where do you think you're going?" Akatsuki asked, pulling me back.

"My room."

"The coach might think we're on bad terms." Koenji said.

"Ah…"

"Don't ruin our fun." Ryuto said.

"Sorry. Let's get going then."

"Now you're talking." Kimishita said.

"You've never been to a beach?" Teijiro asked as we walked behind the others.

"No."

"He always loved staying indoors. Ignore him." Akatsuki said.

"…"

"Let's go. The others are leaving us." Teijiro said.

"Yeah…"

◇◇◇

"Hey!" Natsumi said, hitting the ball to the other side of the net with her hands clasped together.

"Ooooooooh…" Takeru said, rubbing his hands together and smiling weirdly.

*It's hot.* I thought, sipping my orange juice.

"Hey, I found a ball. Let's play together." Shinji said.

"You sure? I thought you guys wanted to have fun." I said.

"It's fine, it's fine. Come on." He said as I stood up and followed him.

…

"Hey, did you get that move now?" Akatsuki asked, passing the ball to me.

"I got it." Kenji said.

*Isn't that guy just sleeping?* I thought, passing it to Teijiro.

"Make sure you get this one." Teijiro said, flicking the ball backwards and trapping it between the back of his head and neck.

"Oooh… that's good. Mine will be better." Shinji said as Teijiro played a high pass.

"Okay!" He shouted, controlling with his chest.

"That all you can do?" Akatsuki asked jokingly.

"I hope you don't always expect so little from me." Shinji said, alleviating the ball lightly and doing a side flip before trapping the ball on his right foot.

"Whoa!" Teijiro said.

"Hmph." Shinji snorted, looking smug.

"Hmph! I'm sure I'd do better." Akatsuki said.

"You sure? I mean, the ball's still trapped on my leg." He said.

"Look at my move!"

"Haha." I laughed.

"He finally laughed." Teijiro said, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Huh?" I asked.

"You've not been looking okay. We thought maybe Akane's stuff was still bothering you." Akatsuki said.

"Akane?" I asked.

"Yeah. You know, how she's acting lately." Akatsuki said.

"Ah! Don't let that bother you. I just remembered something like that happened."

"Really?"

"Yeah! And I really didn't expect anything from her. That's just how things are, a temporary crush or something like that." I said, rubbing the nape of my neck.

"Haha, as expected of a soccer-brain." Shinji said.

"Soccer brain?" I asked.

"I mean, that's the only thing you think about."

"He's right, though."

"But soccer brain?" I asked again.

*Well… I wouldn't say it didn't affect me. After all, I took her as a love interest. But now that I've found out about her and the other guy, I don't feel anything. Unlike with Kuroba, this time, I just feel relief. Maybe it's cause I was trying my hardest to return her feelings before. Or cause I had some feelings for her before. Well, that's a load off my chest.* I thought.