Solitude

The crisp morning air hung heavily over the field as the Seiryuu High flag football team worked through their drills. A faint mist still clung to the edges of the grassy expanse, shimmering in the early sunlight. From a quiet corner near the bleachers, Ayane stood silently, her arms crossed loosely as if shielding herself from an invisible chill.

Her eyes tracked the players—Sota in particular—as they moved across the field with precision. She wasn't watching them as someone simply admiring skill or form. No, there was a different depth to her gaze—a longing that seemed to anchor her in place, as though she was stuck between wanting to be closer and the impossibility of it.

She tightened her grip on her arms, her fingers digging into the fabric of her jacket. Even from afar, the emotions were too much to contain. Her vision blurred, tears threatening to spill over.

"Are you all right?"