Private Toyozaki High School No. 18 and Kirixian High School No. 17.
Therefore, the winner is the private Toyosaki High School."
As the referee made his announcement...
"Win... win——!!"
Miyazaki shouted and rushed towards Nomiya.
"Great! Well done Nomiya! That last arrow shot was so beautiful~~~!"
"Wow, you guy, don't hug me suddenly!"
"What does it matter? We are the champions!"
"Well……"
Looking at Miyazaki who was jumping and fussing with his arms around his neck, Nomiya couldn't help but let out a big sigh, and then looked back.
The young man was sitting silently on the seat, holding the bow with the broken string in his hand, frowning slightly.
He couldn't help being stunned when he saw this, then pushed Miyazaki's hand away and walked up.
"...What the hell, Kato-kun."
After searching in his mind for a while, Nomiya said dryly: "Don't worry about what happened just now, you have already done a good job."
"Wow, you really don't know how to comfort people, Nomiya."
Miyazaki followed him and said carelessly:
"Hey~ Kato-kun, thank you for your hard work!
It means that it was really dangerous just now. Fortunately, the opponent's No. 4 made a mistake, and Nomiya was still on track, otherwise he might have been dragged into the extra round~
By the way, were you injured just now? Do you want someone to take a look at you?"
Facing Miyazaki's inquiry, Kato Yusuke calmed down the expression on his face and shook his head, "...It's nothing. Thank you for your concern. I'm fine."
"That's it, um, that's good!" Miyazaki said nervously.
Nonomiya coughed maturely and made arrangements.
"Okay, anyway, let's go meet everyone first, and we'll get ready to receive the award later."
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but smile.
No one laughed at him.
Except for Kato Yusuke, the faces of the other three people were filled with joy from the bottom of their hearts.
The group of people started to pack their things.
…
Leave the shooting range and come outside.
The other members of the Archery Club were already waiting there.
Seeing them appear, they surrounded them excitedly.
"Everyone is so awesome, we won the championship!"
"To be honest, I really didn't expect you would reach this point."
“It’s really amazing!”
"Thank you for your hard work. Come here and give you mineral water~
"In the men's and women's categories, individual competitions and team competitions, we can actually win two individual championships and a team championship! It's like a dream~~~!"
"This is all thanks to Nakano-senpai and Kato-san!"
"Honestly, I was so nervous just now, especially when Kato-san had an accident, my heart almost jumped out of my chest."
"Really, it's a pity that Kato-kun didn't get four full rings."
As Zuomi said this, everyone else nodded in agreement.
Kato Yusuke had no reaction to this. He drank water absentmindedly from a plastic bottle, his eyes wandering between the venue and the auditorium.
Groups from various schools were scattered around, chatting lively and making a noisy buzz.
--Nothing worth noting.
There was a trace of self-mockery in his eyes, and he felt a little ridiculous about his auditory hallucinations.
Ryoko Nakano, who came from the auditorium, just caught the emotion in his eyes. She couldn't help but pause slightly, and then came to the people with a normal expression.
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work."
"""""Nakano-senpai!"""""
"Congratulations on winning the team competition."
Nakano Ryoko smiled and said: "Also, Nomiya-kun, the organizer is about to award an award. Can you go and receive it?"
"Uh, me...?"
When his name was called, Nomiya scratched the back of his head and asked hesitantly:
"About this... shouldn't it be better for Kato-kun to come forward? After all, he is the biggest contributor this time."
"That's it. Are you going then? Yu-kun." Ryoko Nakano said and looked aside.
As she expected, Kato Yusuke refused without any surprise.
"...No, I am not a member of the Kyudo Club. I am not suitable to show up here. There is no need to consider me."
Seeing that his expression didn't seem to be fake, Nomiya felt relieved and said with some embarrassment: "Okay, I'll go then, Kato-kun, Nakano-senpai."
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his feet and walked forward.
The other members of the Kyudo Club did not want to miss this scene and ran to join in the fun. In a blink of an eye, only Kato Yusuke and Nakano Ryoko were left.
"Nakano-senpai."
Kato Yusuke took the initiative and said: "Return this bow to you. I'm sorry for breaking the string. I will be responsible for the corresponding compensation."
"..."
Nakano Ryoko reached out to take the bow, twisted the bow string with two fingers, observed for a moment, and asked with a smile:
"Well, there's no need for compensation, but I'm curious about how it broke. Can you tell me what happened?"
"I accidentally used too much force. Sorry, I broke it."
"Don't say that. I'm very grateful for Yu-kun's willingness to come to the competition, and this bow only needs to be replaced with a string, so it's okay."
Ryoko Nakano put his hand into his pocket and took out a medal and gave it to him.
"And this, this is the personal medal you asked me to keep before, and I will give it back to you now."
"Thank you, senior sister."
"You're welcome."
Kato Yusuke accepted the somewhat lukewarm medal and put it into his pocket.
As the game came to an end, the crowd began to disperse.
After waiting for about ten minutes, the members of the Kyudo Club left and returned.
The leader, Nomiya, walked with majestic steps and couldn't hide his excitement as he handed the commendation book and trophy to Nakano Ryoko, and received a few words of encouragement from the latter.
Seeing this opportunity, Zuomei said coaxingly.
"Senior, senior, for the sake of our school winning the championship, can we hold a celebration party? By the way, we can also spend Christmas together!"
Miyazaki questioned this.
"What about Christmas? Didn't it end last night? If you insist on saying so, today is Boxing Day. How can anyone celebrate the holiday today?"
"There's nothing we can do. It's just such an unlucky coincidence that we have to play on Christmas Day. Besides, there's no rule that says we can't make up for it today, right?"
Ryoko Nakano watched their interaction with a smile, and then said to everyone:
"Well~ that's right. We have really worked hard these days, so let's hold a celebration party. I will pay for the party expenses myself."
"Yeah~~~!"
Zomi said happily: "Then I want to have Christmas dinner!"
Seeing this, Miyazaki insulted her again: "Wow, you really can't make it through Christmas."
Of course, this is just a joke.
When they heard that a celebration banquet was going to be held, no one present was unhappy.
Just when everyone was discussing where to go next, Kato Yusuke spoke.
"Sorry, everyone, I have something else to do, so I won't go to the celebration party later."
"Hey, why——!?"
Sami couldn't accept it and said: "We finally won the championship, wouldn't it be strange if Kato-kun, as the protagonist, doesn't go?"
"Zamei, don't embarrass others."
Ryoko Nakano said this first, and then turned to look at Yusuke Kato.
"Then where do you plan to go next? Yu-kun."
"I should go home first."
"I see, then I will arrange for someone to take you back."
"……What?"
Ignoring Kato Yusuke's dazed reaction, Nakano Ryoko couldn't help but said: "After all, I asked you to participate in the competition. Anyway, Yuu-kun, come with me."
After greeting everyone, the girl led him outside the venue.
Before I knew it, the sky had turned completely dark.
Bright street lights dotted both sides of the road, lighting up the night.
White snow covers the streets, dyeing the city white.
Ryoko Nakano made a phone call.
The two chatted and waited.
Almost five minutes passed.
A black car drove slowly from the corner of the intersection and finally stopped in front of them.
"Miss."
The driver in a crisp suit stepped out of the driver's seat and walked quickly to them holding an umbrella, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Nakano Ryoko didn't say anything, tightened the silk jacket tightly, and then introduced to Kato Yusuke:
"Well, Yu-kun, you can get in the car. This is my driver. He will be responsible for taking you home."
"..."
Kato Yusuke first looked at the middle-aged man holding the umbrella for them, then looked at the S600 in front of him, and couldn't help but smile helplessly.
"Isn't this too grand? Senior sister."
Ryoko Nakano smiled and said nothing, stretched out her hand to open the rear door, and joked: "As a national champion, I think this is a very reasonable treatment, so please get in the car~"
Kato Yusuke suddenly felt even more helpless.
However, rather than rejecting it, he felt that it was better for him to accept the other party's kindness honestly.
Just when he was about to say thanks...
"——Iwanami-san!"
A nervous voice suddenly came from behind.
Kato Yusuke's expression froze and he suddenly looked back.
In the wind and snow, the girl standing there was as illusory and beautiful as the mirror image on the ice, occupying his field of vision.
The night breeze ruffled her hair slightly, and the familiar eyes under her long eyelashes were fixedly staring at him.
Kato Yusuke's pupils trembled violently, and his heart suddenly shrank.
Just by looking into each other's eyes, his mind will be completely taken away.
The surrounding sounds suddenly became quieter, as if they were coming from a very far away place.
"Iwanami-san..."
Sayu walked over with her legs spread wide, her tight little face looming in the hazy white air, with a touch of redness due to the cold temperature in her white skin, and she revealed a slightly forced smile.
"I want to talk to you, can I...?"
The girl declared this, her amber eyes full of sincerity.
"Huh……"
Ryoko Nakano let out a light sigh and whispered: "You are the one in the audience..."
"?"
After hearing this, Sayu glanced at her doubtfully, his eyes wandering between her and Kato Yusuke, hesitation appeared on his face for a moment, and he pursed his lips slightly.
'The girl next to him has changed again...'
She couldn't help but think about it, then took a deep breath and explained:
"...I don't mean anything else. I just want to talk to you, Iwanami-san. It only takes five...ten minutes! I will leave after that, okay?"
There was a hint of apprehension in his clear eyes.
'Iwanami-san...?'
Ryoko Nakano looked at this scene thoughtfully and asked the boy beside her: "Yu-kun?"
"..."
Kato Yusuke was silent, his dark eyes flickering like candlelight, and his throat seemed to be blocked, unable to make a sound.
He stared at the girl in front of him quietly, his eyes seemed to be traveling in the long river of time. Finally, he closed his eyes, exhaled heavily from his chest, and then opened his eyes again.
"……Who are you?"
Frightened by his indifferent and distant tone, Sayu's weak body trembled, and he frowned and bit his lips and said:
"You know who I am... If you don't know, I am Sayu... Sayu from Asahikawa High School in Hokkaido."
There was a touch of stubbornness in his voice.
The young man remained silent, and the things in his eyes silently extinguished and dimmed.
He turned around and faced the senior sister beside him.
"...I'm sorry, Nakano-senpai. Thank you for your kindness. Can I go back by myself next?"
Nakano Ryoko's eyes stayed on their faces for a few seconds, and then she smiled and nodded gently.
"I see."
Without asking any questions, she took the umbrella from the driver and handed it into his hands.
"Then please be careful on the road, Youjun. I'll give you this umbrella. It doesn't matter if you don't need to return it to me."
"..."
Kato Yusuke said nothing, nodded solemnly, and then stepped forward in the opposite direction to the car.
As he passed by, Sayu suddenly heard "Follow me."
This made her slightly startled, and then she suddenly woke up and quickly turned her body to follow his footsteps.
Two people, one in front and one in back.
Just slowly walked towards the depths of the night.
Behind them, the driver took out an umbrella from the car and held it for his young lady.
The girl wearing a silk coat was always looking at them.
◇
On both sides of the straight road, street trees are neatly arranged.
Snow was hanging on the bare branches, and it was about to fall with a heavy weight.
The whole journey was silent.
The heavy and light footsteps echoed in the quiet night, leaving deep and shallow footprints.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, the young man in front of him suddenly stopped.
"...Just here."
He whispered, and then walked towards a store across the street.
"Ah, okay."
Sayu quickly followed the footsteps and instinctively looked around.
A rather fashionable-looking coffee shop comes into view.
The two of them entered the store one by one, and were led by the waiter to sit on the sofa area by the window.
It's brightly lit here.
Although Christmas has passed, the store still retains its festive decorations.
Soft bossa nova jazz fills your ears.
Bright soft lights fill the entire interior, creating a unique atmosphere of the coffee shop.
There is an indescribable sense of distance between the guests' conversations, which makes people feel as if they are floating in the water.
Looking out of the window, the monorail is running in the night, with an advanced atmosphere that is not found in Hokkaido.
"What do you two want to order?"
I was brought back to reality by the waiter's question.
Sayu subconsciously looked to the opposite side and happened to hear the young man ordering a cup of American coffee and casting his gaze at her.
There was no emotion in the other person's eyes, but it made her a little nervous for no reason, so she hurriedly said: "Please give me a matcha latte, thank you."
The waiter who took the order turned and left.
While waiting, Kato Yusuke spoke bluntly: "So, what can I do for you?"
Sayu unconsciously sat upright and didn't know where to start.
She first lowered her head and stared at the table for a while, then slowly raised her head and asked word by word:
"Maybe it's a bit sudden for me to say this...but, I want to know, did we know each other a long time ago?"
…
Thanks to [Reader 1543569666868273152] and [The Mouse with Two Cats] for the reward.