Chapter 14

  Captain Rainbow Joins the Club

  By now, I was used to the stares the moment I walked into the classroom.

  But today, they felt… different.

  Whispering voices followed me.

  “He’s here.”

  “He looks dead.”

  “What did he do yesterday?”

  Apparently, today I was being worried about.

  “Morning, Hinomichi. Takachika. You guys are on lunch duty today, right? You sure you’ll be okay?”

  The class representative spoke up.

  “Hey, Hinomichi, don’t spill anything this time!”

  The jokers immediately jumped in.

  (I am never touching miso soup again.)

  I silently swore it to myself.

  Morning homeroom began.

  Japanese school life was strange.

  There was a morning meeting and an end-of-day meeting.

  The homeroom teacher handled all announcements.

  Subject teachers rotated, but the homeroom teacher stayed the same.

  And in elementary school, one teacher taught everything.

  Japan’s system still made no sense to me.

  “Club registration deadline is today,” the teacher announced.

  “Two students haven’t submitted yet. Hinomichi-kun and Harumiya-kun.” “Please decide today. It affects your school record.”

  The classroom stirred.

  —Club activities were mandatory.

  Apparently, that was how public middle schools worked.

  “Hey, Hinomichi!”

  Someone slapped my shoulder from behind.

  I turned around to see the class clown grinning.

  “Join the soccer club!” “Your moves in PE were insane.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Takachika glanced at me.

  “Is that because of the manga we read yesterday?”

  “Probably.”

  Last night’s soccer manga scenes flashed through my head.

  “Midori-chan is cute,” I muttered.

  “Agreed. I’m more of a manager fan.” “I wouldn’t mind becoming one. Yours, I mean.”

  The classroom went silent.

  “…Huh?” “What are these two even saying?”

  The clown froze for a second, then burst out laughing.

  “You guys are weird as hell! But come on, just try it!”

  And just like that, we were dragged to the soccer field for a trial.

  The team was practicing on the field.

  Not many players, but the atmosphere was tense.

  “Thinking about joining?”

  A solid-built upperclassman called out.

  “We’re just observing,” Takachika answered calmly.

  We joined a light passing drill.

  The ball rolled toward me.

  —My body moved on its own.

  Trap.

  Kick.

  Run.

  Too natural. Too familiar.

  Takachika called out.

  “Hinomichi, right side!”

  I saw the open space.

  Without hesitation, I passed.

  Takachika sprinted in.

  Shot.

  —Goal.

  The air shifted instantly.

  “…Wait, what?” “Who was that?”

  All eyes locked onto us.

  The upperclassman grinned.

  “What was your name again?”

  “Hinomichi Nia.”

  “…Rainbow?”

  “You’re Captain Rainbow now.”

  And then he added—

  “How about we choose a new captain?”

  The field went silent.

  The current captain stepped forward.

  “Sounds fun. Let’s do it.”

  How did this happen?

  Before I knew it, I was standing at midfield.

  Takachika leaned in.

  “You look like you’re having fun, Hinomichi.”

  “…You’re imagining things.”

  My heart was pounding.

  My body was burning.

  And once again—

  I was standing on the pitch.

  Captain Rainbow versus the current captain.

  The battle for the armband had begun.