TRAPPED IN THE STORAGE ROOM; SACHIKO'S CONFRONTATION

"Hey, Tetsuo, can you bring these hurdles to the storage room? We need to cool down for our last session, and you know how scary Hayami-sensei is. Plus, you can run faster than anyone here, so you won't be late," said a boy from Class 1T.

"Okay, I guess," replied Tetsuo as he picked up the hurdles and made his way to the storage room.

After a few trips back and forth, Tetsuo was finally down to the last two hurdles. He placed them with the others and brushed the dirt off his hands.

"And that's the last of it. I have to get back to class—I don't have much time," he said to himself as he walked towards the door.

As he got closer, he noticed Sachiko walking in with a box of equipment. After placing it down, their eyes met for a second. Wanting to avoid any interaction, Tetsuo tried to walk past her, but Sachiko blocked the door behind her and shut it.

"This is perfect timing," she said with a smile.

"Move out of my way," Tetsuo said bluntly.

"No, I won't. It seems like you have a real problem with me, and I don't even know why. We need to talk about this right now," Sachiko said sternly.

"I'll say it once more. Move. We're going to be late for class."

"I will—once I've talked to you."

"Naomi, here's the key. Hurry up and lock the storage room," said Miyu.

"Alright, I'll be right there," Naomi replied as she walked towards the door.

"Oh no, wait! Naomi is coming. If she finds out I'm in the storage room alone with Tetsuo, I won't hear the end of it. I can't let her see us, or she'll get the wrong idea and tease me forever," Sachiko thought to herself.

"Come on, Tetsuo, let's hide," she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him behind a shelf.

Naomi opened the door and looked inside.

"I could've sworn I heard someone in here… Oh well," she muttered, then shut the door and locked it.

"Wait… did she just lock the door?" Sachiko rushed over and tried to open it.

"Crap! We're going to miss class. Naomi! Are you there?" she shouted, banging on the door.

"It's too late. No one will hear you. Everyone's in class by now. We'll have to wait until track practice starts before we can get out," Tetsuo said.

"Where the heck is Tetsuo? Homeroom is about to end. He's in for it tomorrow when Hayami-sensei gets her hands on him," Noboru muttered to himself.

"It's weird for Sachiko to miss a class. She never does. I wonder if the student council called her for something important… That must be it," Naomi thought.

"Alright, everyone, we'll talk more about the trip we're going on next year. As for the expenses, Rie and Shino will be managing the money, so when the time comes, they'll be responsible," Hayami-sensei said as the bell rang.

"Noboru, do you know where Tetsuo went?" Shino asked, concerned.

"I'm as clueless as you are. It's not like him to miss class," Noboru said as he picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder.

"Oh, that's right. Makoto, you coming?" Noboru asked.

"I'm skipping today. Got things to do," Makoto said as he walked off.

"Nanaho is gonna be pissed," Noboru muttered to himself.

After about an hour of silence between Tetsuo and Sachiko in the storage room, Sachiko finally tried to break the ice.

"Listen, Kawaguchi, I'm really sorry about you missing class. That wasn't my intention," she said, guilt evident in her voice.

Tetsuo didn't respond immediately. After a few minutes, he finally spoke.

"It's not your fault. You just reacted without thinking," he said.

"Yes, I did. But honestly, Kawaguchi, I really want to know. Please talk to me. Why are you ignoring me? Did I do something so horrible that you had to start treating me like this? I don't even know what I did, and that's why this is really bothering me. Please, just tell me," Sachiko pleaded, her tone filled with sadness.

"You really don't remember what happened, do you? Fine, let me tell you," Tetsuo said.

In the basketball gym, Nanaho was wrapping up training with the team. Yukio, Takahiro, and Shino were playing against Liam, Hayato, and Noboru in a three-on-three match.

"Listen up, Hayato. After Liam steps up to the top of the free-throw line, I want you to pass the ball to him. Noboru, set a screen for him, then pop out to the top of the three-point line. Got it?" Nanaho instructed.

Hayato dribbled to the top of the three-point line, guarded by Takahiro. Noboru shook off Shino and ran to set a screen for Hayato. Using the screen, Hayato immediately passed the ball to Liam, who stepped to the free-throw line and cut through the paint. Yukio, guarding Liam, stepped out on Hayato, giving Liam the perfect opening to drive in and slam the ball through the rim.

"Great work, everyone. That was a solid effort. That's it for today—you guys can go home," Nanaho said.

"I can't believe Tetsuo didn't show up today. I wonder if he's okay," Yukio said.

"Yeah, it's unusual for him. He never misses training," Liam added.

"Speaking of which, Makoto didn't show up either," Hayato noted.

"Yeah, I thought he'd be here, but Noboru said he was tired and went home," Takahiro said.

"Just you wait, that slacker Makoto is going to get what's coming to him," Nanaho said with a smirk.

"May God save you from the tragic pain and suffering that's coming your way, Makoto," Noboru muttered to himself.

Back in the storage room, Sachiko was stunned by Tetsuo's words.

"What do you mean, Kawaguchi? I would never say something like that about you," she said, shocked.

"You didn't say it to my face, but I heard you and your friends talking about me and my little sister behind my back. From that day on, I never trusted anyone again," Tetsuo said, his expression blank.

"Please, it wasn't like that! Let me explain," Sachiko pleaded.