The scheduled date arrived in the blink of an eye. Even though Koi had received special training from Ashley right up until the day before, all he had managed to master was barely being able to stand upright. With nerves tying his stomach into knots, he headed to the cheerleading team.
The mont he entered the indoor gym, the mbers, who had been stretching, noticed him and stopped what they were doing. Soone whispered sothing quickly, and a girl who had her back turned spun around. It was Ariel.
“You’re right on ti.”
Ariel checked the ti on her phone as she spoke.
“If you’d been late, you’d have been cut imdiately. Punctuality is the bare minimum requirent, after all.”
Clenching a tie between her teeth as she ssily tied her hair, she clapped her hands twice. Drawing the team’s attention, she pointed at Koi and said,
“This is the new recruit who volunteered to join just for this season. You’ve all heard about him, right? Today we’re doing the basic movent test, so watch and take part in the vote.”
Finishing her explanation, Ariel turned to face Koi.
“Alright, go ahead. You don’t need music, do you?”
“N-No.”
Koi nodded and adjusted his posture. Just being the only guy in a group of girls was enough to make him want to die of embarrassnt—but now he had to move his body in front of everyone? If his past self had known, he might’ve just killed himself then and there.
But it was too late to die now. And Koi had to get into the cheerleading team. He exhaled a trembling breath and opened his mouth.
“I’ll start.”
*
The clock on Ashley’s phone ticked past 6:30. Waiting patiently, Ashley checked the ti and then slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Today was Koi’s first test for joining the cheerleading team. Of course, even if he passed this one, there was still a second and a third to go, so it was too early to relax. Still, as they say, well begun is half done.
Fortunately, the ice hockey team didn’t have practice today, so he sat on a nearby bench waiting for Koi to finish the test.
The cheerleading team usually practiced either on the field or in the gym. Since the ice rink was mostly used by the hockey team, they had to coordinate in advance if the cheerleaders wanted to use it. Days like today, with a solid reason, were perfect opportunities for them to take over the rink. But once the test was over, they’d likely move to a different °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° location.
Which ant there was a high chance of running into Ariel...
Ashley had considered waiting in the car instead, but gave up on that idea. They went to the sa school—he couldn’t avoid her forever. It was sothing he’d have to face eventually. Not that he wanted to. He’d rather avoid her at all costs, but since the ice hockey and cheerleading teams were practically joined at the hip, it just wasn’t possible.
“...Haa.”
Suddenly, a stinging sensation sparked behind his eyes. He scrunched his brow and stifled a groan. This pain had started a while ago. Even after visiting the ophthalmologist, there was no diagnosis. All he got was a vague suggestion that it was due to stress or overwork.
But wasn’t that clearly a misdiagnosis? Lately, Ashley was having the best ti of his life. Stress? Ridiculous. He saw Koi every day at school, they even went ho together. On top of that, they spent over two hours doing private training just the two of them. What was there to be stressed about? There was no father here. No Oga either.
That only left overwork. But even that seed unlikely. His physical routine hadn’t changed much. He wasn’t studying excessively either. Staying up late to finish assignnts was standard for any student at his level. Claiming overwork was suddenly the reason for eye pain? Nonsense.
In the end, he couldn’t figure out the cause. Sure, it was a relief that nothing serious was found, but these sudden pains weren’t exactly welco either. If sothing like this happened during a ga or while driving, it could turn into a major issue.
I really should quit hockey once I’m in twelfth grade.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Ashley thought to himself. His career path was already decided. He wasn’t going pro, so there was no reason to risk ruining his college admissions just to play in matches during a critical year.
Still, it left a bittersweet feeling. Bill was aiming for a pro team and would stay on. If Ashley quit, Bill would likely beco the next captain.
Ashley leaned on his hand, lost in thought. Things were only going to get busier from here on out. Eleventh grade was the last chance to breathe. This season, he was determined to win. And then, he’d retire in style.
Had Koi passed the test?
That thought crossed his mind just as the gym doors opened. Ashley sat up straight, no longer resting his chin in his hand. He stretched his neck to peer through the crowd of girls spilling out, looking for Koi—but instead of the person he wanted to see, sothing else leapt out at him.
“Kai.”
A quiet gasp. Then murmurs began to ripple through the group. Of course, they recognized him too. Ariel stopped walking, her brows twisting sharply. Ashley raised one hand awkwardly.
“Hey, Ariel.”
Ariel’s expression turned even more sour.
*
Ashley sat in one of the outdoor chairs of the cafeteria, with the face of his very angry ex-girlfriend staring at him from across the table. He had known, at so point, he’d have to talk to Ariel again. He just hoped that day would co much, much later. He hadn’t expected it to hit him so suddenly like this.
You were sitting right there in front of —how could you not know?
Ashley let out a sigh, the dull ache in his head now spreading from his eyes to his temples. Of course, sighing wouldn’t change the look on Ariel’s face.
“Ahem.”
Ashley cleared his throat first. They couldn’t just sit there forever. Since it had co to this, might as well get it over with.
“How have you been, Elle?”
He smiled and greeted her as if nothing had changed, like he used to. Ariel let out a scoffing breath, utterly incredulous.
“Do you really think if you smile at like that, I’ll just forget everything because of your precious little face?”
Ashley gave a sheepish grin.
“Is that not the case?”
For a mont, Ariel’s hand clenched into a fist. He honestly thought he might get punched five tis this ti, but thankfully, she restrained herself. After taking a deep breath, Ariel finally spoke.
“I’ve thought before that soday we should have an honest talk.”
She didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly.
“Why did you do it?”
With one leg crossed, arms folded, her tone sharp and unrelenting, she continued.
“Weren’t we doing fine? I don’t rember you having any complaints. So why? Out of nowhere, you show up in the middle of the night and say you want to break up.”
Ariel laid out her thoughts calmly but clearly. She must have played this scenario in her head countless tis. Ashley hadn’t thought that far, but he knew honesty was his best option now.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Of course I didn’t.”
Ariel’s eyes narrowed as her tone snapped. Seeing that, Ashley gave a slight laugh—but it didn’t last. The bitterness quickly returned to his face as he said,
“I wish I’d realized it sooner. But I couldn’t admit it to myself.”
Ariel stared at him, dumbfounded. Ashley offered another apology.
“I’m sorry, Ariel.”
She said nothing for a long while, just quietly looked at his face.
*
It was over!
Koi, having hurriedly packed his things, was the last one to leave the gym. As he stepped outside, he exhaled all the air he’d been holding in.
He couldn’t rember a single thing he’d done. The pressure of all those eyes on him had left him breathless, his mind blank, his thoughts scattered. All he could do was move chanically, squeezing every fiber of his body to recall the movents he’d practiced again and again—hoping muscle mory would kick in.
When it was finally over, Koi stood there, tense and shaking, waiting for the result. The team mbers gathered around, but none of them said a word. Suspicious glances and an eerie silence made his gut churn, and just as he was about to panic, Ariel spoke.
“We’ll begin the vote.”
He thought they’d go into a separate room and mark O or X on so form, but it turned out to be much simpler than that. All they did was raise their hands—yes or no—and then count.
Later, he was told that for temporary mbers, they didn’t need to follow any grand procedure.
Koi watched every hand go up and down, nerves tearing at him.
In the end, he passed the first test—by a single vote. Just barely.
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