Hayama Hayato and the others didn't stay long. Soon the rest of the soccer club filed out too, leaving only the captain lingering at the doorway to call back, "Take care of yourself, Yukinoshita-san! Shirase told us the intel on Toritsu High was something you pulled an all-nighter for. We're all really grateful."
Yukinoshita Yukino replied coolly, "He paid me. Naturally, I did a thorough job."
The captain paused mid-step, then laughed. "Trading intel on a tournament favorite for two little charms? If it were that easy, I'd go buy out the whole store right now."
Waiting by the door, Hayama lifted an eyebrow. So the captain had known all along?
Shirase looked over too, a little impressed.
Who'd have thought the club's carefree, big-hearted captain had such sharp eyes?
As they left the infirmary, Hayama sidled up to him. "About what you said just now…"
"You're asking me?" the captain grinned. "Don't tell me you haven't figured it out already."
He went on, "Honestly, Shirase's popularity with girls is insane. I noticed he and Yukinoshita-san were close ages ago. At first, I even thought the two of them might—uh, wait, nope. Shouldn't say that out loud."
Hayama glanced back toward the open door. "Didn't realize you paid attention to stuff like this."
"How could I not? I'm human! Everybody's curious about something! Like when Shirase said you had a crush—I was so curious I couldn't sleep!"
"…That's a bit much."
The captain chuckled and let it drop. "With how many girls like Shirase, I bet he ends up in a warzone someday—so stuck he won't even be able to get out of bed."
Hayama blinked, then laughed—unusually freely for him. "You might be right."
He decided the visit had been worth it. Turns out the usually soccer-brained captain was the most clear-eyed one here.
...
Back in the infirmary—Yuigahama Yui chatted quietly with Yukino in soothing tones.
Nakano Nino ate an apple.
Shirase peeled another.
At first, Yukino tried to focus on Yui, but the shh—shh—shh of the peeler kept tugging at her attention. Her eyes drifted toward Shirase.
He blinked innocently. "What's wrong?"
She glanced at the apple in his hand, saying nothing.
"Oh—you want it?" Shirase said, as if only just realizing. "You could've said so earlier. I can't read minds."
Yukino's expression darkened.
And then Shirase turned to Yuigahama and waggled the apple. "Yuigahama-san, want it?"
Yui puffed her cheeks. "Shirase-kun, stop teasing her."
"My bad, my bad. You know how generous I am—whenever I have something tasty, I just instinctively want to share," he said with a perfectly straight face.
Yukino's voice went arctic. "You call that generosity? All I see is a monkey bouncing on my nerves."
"Monkey again?" Shirase sighed. "Can't you pick a different animal? At this point I'm starting to think the intel team got it wrong—you don't love Mr. Pan the Panda, you prefer Mr. Kojiro the Monkey."
"Because right now your behavior matches a monkey perfectly. Or rather, it's identical—"
She suddenly held out her hand. "Give me the apple."
"You've wanted it since you woke up, haven't you?" Shirase said, smirking.
Wanting it but refusing to admit it—then getting flustered when called out…
For a second, the aloof genius looked like any ordinary embarrassed girl. It was… pretty cute.
Nino took another bite, lips quirking.
Yuigahama pressed her mouth shut, fighting a laugh.
Yukino, cheeks faintly pink, glared daggers at Shirase. She swore that once she recovered, she'd teach this shameless guy a lesson he'd never forget.
After he handed it over, Shirase dropped the teasing. "I get the pressure you're feeling with me catching up academically. But if you keep pushing like this, we might not be there to catch you next time."
Yukino froze, apple hovering at her lips, teeth not yet sinking in.
Did he just lecture me?
Shirase didn't press it. He turned to Nino. "I'm heading to practice. You?"
"I've got nothing else. I'll go too." Nino stood and left with him.
Only then did Yukino bite into the apple.
It was, annoyingly, sweet.
...
By the time Shirase reached the field and changed, the team was splitting into starters and subs for an intrasquad scrimmage.
On the sideline, Miura Yumiko and Nakano Nino chatted. Yumiko felt a little awkward. She'd once assumed Shirase and Nakano Itsuki were a thing, but this morning Hayama had set her straight: Nope. If anyone, it's Nino.
Embarrassing memories always make you want to scream and delete your brain.
"Hey, Nino-san—why have you been staring at Isshiki Iroha for so long?" Yumiko finally asked.
Nino flushed. "No reason. Just… she's pretty good at the manager job."
"That's true. Hayato said Isshiki-san's always diligent—never slacks."
"Oh, really?" Nino's lips curled with faint disdain.
Of course she works hard. It's all for Shirase, isn't it?
This "Kingdom map" of hers—so obvious it's practically a billboard—somehow still went unnoticed by most people.
The only comfort Nino had was yesterday's face-off: she'd discovered this potential rival had pitiful combat power.
What Nino didn't realize was that Isshiki Iroha, who seemed to be diligently taking notes, was also quietly watching her.
Following Hayama-senpai's advice: if I keep acting soft and harmless in front of Nino-san, she'll eventually let her guard down.
The girl full of little tricks made a silent note to herself.
---
bonus chaps
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300 stones -> 3 chapters
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