The very first meeting was on a Friday, Sakura had just finished morning practice and was on her way to the restroom.
As she walked in, three other female students walked out, giggling.
Reina stood in front of the mirror, washing her face as Sakura walked past her.
Reina released a deep sigh, *Ugh! Why'd they have to drag me to the restroom? It's so disgusting.*
She looked at the mirror, checking to see if there was any injury on her face.
As she stared at the mirror, her handkerchief fell on the floor.
"Ah..." She muttered, watching the handkerchief as it fell on the floor.
*Yikes.*
Sakura just got out of one of the restroom stalls. Seeing the handkerchief on the floor, she bent without a word, picking it up and holding out for Reina.
"Here."
She stared at Sakura, *Huh? Why'd she help me?*
"Uh… ah, thanks." She grabbed the handkerchief, still staring at Sakura.
Sakura walked out of the restroom without saying another word to Reina.
*Hm…*
By lunch break, Reina walked up the stairs leading to the rooftop, staring at her phone screen.
*Who's this person? Always posting negative comments.*
She pushed the door open, walking into the rooftop.
Sakura lay on the floor, behind a wall on the rooftop, listening to music from her earphones.
*Ah, it's the girl from this morning.*
Reina stood by the door, still staring at Sakura.
*I should probably thank her for earlier.*
Sakura opened her eyes when she noticed someone staring at her.
She turned towards the door, her eyes fixed on Reina for a moment.
Reija looked away immediately, *Ugh… I was staring too hard. That's too embarrassing.*
*Someone's come to disturb my peace. I'd better leave.* Sakura sighed internally.
Sakura stood from the ground, walking towards Reina.
*Wh-why's she coming over?* Reina thought, stepping back.
As she stepped back, Sakura walked closer, closing the gap between them.
Reina felt the wall behind her, *I've been cornered! Wait, why am I trying to run away? It's not like I did something wrong to her.*
Sakura leaned in, their eyes locked for a while before Sakura raised her hand over Reina's head.
*I should probably push her aside. We don't even know each other, Why's she so close?*
Sakura placed her hand on Reina's head, gently stroking it, "There was dirt on your hair."
Sakura stepped back, "Sorry about that… Your hair's really pretty. Take good care of it."
「"I like your hair. It's really pretty."」
She stepped back again before walking out of the rooftop, leaving Reina there alone.
Reina stood frozen, the warmth rushing to her cheeks.
She slid down the wall, burying her face in her palm, *What just happened?*
""That line… where have I heard it before?"
She couldn't really meet Sakura again after that day, and since they had a busy schedule in school, it was even more difficult.
On another Friday, Reina had gone to the school field to grab her phone. She was dragged out of joint PE class held in the school field by some meddling Senpai's.
The girls from the tennis club were busy with their practice, and so were the guys from the basketball team.
*Where did I leave it?* She sighed, looking around the areas she stopped by with her friends.
"Hey, watch out!" Someone shouted.
She immediately turned in the direction the voice came from.
A tennis ball hit her face as blood rolled down her nose. Some others ran towards her to help her up.
She stared at the floor, blood dripping on it before looking up to see who had hit her.
Sakura threw her racket on the floor angrily before walking towards Reina.
*Ah… she's the girl from that time! Why'd I have to see her now? It's so embarrassing.*
Sakura walked past her angrily, grabbing her bag and leaving the school field.
"Hey! Kageyama-san! You just hit someone!"
"Tsk."
*Kage-yama?*
Reina turned to see her walking past the chain-linked fence.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"What's with Kageyama? She didn't even wait to see how she was doing!"
"She's always been that way!"
"I didn't expect her not to care after hurting someone."
Reina stared at the fence blankly, *Huh? What's with her?*
"Come on, let's go to the infirmary."
And now, they met again on the rooftop.
Reina sighed, sliding down the door, *She was so kind before. Why'd she become rude all of a sudden? It's already too late for regrets.*
Reina blinked after recalling their previous meetings.
*But just now… that expression of hers. I've never seen it before. She looked… broken.*
◇◇◇
"Ha! Ha!"
Sakura was in the tennis court, practising her swings and jumps.
*Tsk.*
She grabbed a tennis ball, tapping it against the racket continuously.
"Yo~!" Mayu called, walking towards a bench.
Sakura glanced at her before continuing with her practice.
Mayu placed her bag on the bench before walking towards Sakura.
She picked up a racket before jogging to the other side of the court.
"I had a feeling you'd be here. Thank goodness I wasn't wrong." Mayu smiled, bending her knees slightly while stretching.
"… what do you want?"
"Hm… nothing. Hey, why don't we play a set?"
"No." Sakura replied bluntly, not sparring a glance at Mayu.
"Hey, at least think about it for a second."
"I'd rather not."
"Why though? Scared that I'd win you?" Mayu smirked.
"Hmph. Scared? As if."
"Then? First to three wins. Let's do a set."
"Okay… cool."
"You serve."
"Of course."
Sakura stepped back, standing at the backline before tossing the ball above her head.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the ball till it reached its arc.
She bounced off the floor, sending the ball to the other side of the court, the serve precise.
Mayu reacted on time, lunging to her right and sending the ball back to Sakura before it could bounce on the court for the second time.
"Whoa, almost an ace."
"Hmph."
Sakura stepped back, shuffling to the right, sending the ball back to Mayu.
The rally continued for some minutes before the first point was gotten by Sakura.
"Love 15. I'm getting the next one." Mayu smiled as Sakura got ready for the next serve.
Their 'one' set lasted almost an hour before a winner finally emerged.
The set was won by Sakura with a score of 3-2.
"Wah! You're really good." Mayu smiled, sitting on the floor.
Sakura sighed, drying her sweaty face while walking to the bench.
She grabbed a towel from her bag, "You're not so bad either."
Mayu stared at her, mouth slightly open. She then smiled, "Thanks…"
"It's already late. We'd better leave."
"Mn."
Sakura studied her for a while before looking away, "Let's buy a shaved ice on our way back."
"R-really?!"
"You don't wanna?"
"No-no! I do, let's do it!" Mayu shouted, standing from the floor and lunging for her bag.
*She's really loud… but I don't dislike it. Maybe this won't be so bad after all."
"… then let's get going."
"Okay! Cool."
Mayu grabbed her bag, walking behind Sakura, "What's your class doing for the cultural festival?"
"… A cafe, I guess."
"A cafe?! We're doing a play."
"Oh?"
"I'll come over. You should, too. I promise you, it'll be really fun."
"…"
"You'll come, right?"
"… I guess."