Courage Covered in Mud
The sun bathed the schoolyard in warm light, while a passing breeze cooled the students’ slightly sweaty skin. Today’s PE class activity was soccer.
“Alright, let’s do this!”
The athletic boys were fired up, and as the ball rolled onto the field, the excitement naturally intensified. Sota, Ren, and Yuto’s faces lit up with enthusiasm, as if they had been waiting all day for this moment.
Among them was Reo. The corners of his mouth curled upward as he kicked the ball at his feet, his competitive spirit on full display. As the ace of the soccer team, standing out wasn’t just a desire for him—it was a necessity.
“I can’t afford to lose.”
Reo muttered to himself, and the other boys around him, fueled by the same energy, prepared for the game.
In contrast to the buzzing excitement, Subaru hesitated.
“…I’m really bad at sports…”
He let out a small sigh in his mind, but there was no avoiding it—it was PE, after all. Reluctantly, he rolled up the sleeves of his jersey. At that moment, Reo’s gaze landed on him, and irritation flickered deep in his chest.
(Lately, this guy had been standing out more in class.)
Every time Reo saw Subaru hanging out with Yuto, Sota, and Ren, a sharp pang of jealousy struck him. They were at the center of the class’s social circle. Reo had always taken pride in being the one in the spotlight, the ace. But now, it felt like Subaru was starting to edge his way into that “center.”
(Don’t get cocky. A guy like you has no business standing out. What a joke.)
Reo kicked the ball sharply and looked away.
Following the PE teacher’s instructions, the class was divided into two teams.
Whether by coincidence or fate—Subaru and Reo ended up on opposing sides.
“Sorano, huh? So you’re on the other team… Well, don’t worry. You’re not even worth considering as an opponent.”
With a smug smirk, Reo stepped closer to Subaru. His tone was casual, but his eyes weren’t smiling. Subaru muttered under his breath, “…What the hell,” forcing a strained smile.
Before things could escalate, Sota quickly stepped between them.
“Hey, hey, Reo, don’t take this so seriously. It’s just PE.”
Ren lightly patted Reo’s shoulder also chimed in,
“Yeah, it’s just for fun. No need to get so worked up.”
But Reo only shrugged them off.
“What are you talking about? Even if it’s just a game, there’s no point if you don’t go all out.”
On the surface, he seemed relaxed, but the sharp glint in his eyes said otherwise. Sensing this, Yuto leaned in and whispered to Subaru,
“…Reo’s on edge today. Just ignore him.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
Subaru let out a sigh, his expression wry. But deep down—
“…Seriously, why does he have to pick me of all people to compete with?”
He couldn’t help but wonder.
The sharp blast of a whistle echoed across the field, signaling the start of the game.
Right from the kickoff, Sota and Ren took control, displaying flawless teamwork. Their passes connected seamlessly—Sota dribbled skillfully into enemy territory, while Ren set up the perfect opportunities for a shot.
“Nice pass, Sota!”
“Ren, finish it!”
The boys erupted into cheers at their dazzling plays, letting out an impressed “Ohhh!”. Yuto, with his natural athleticism, led his team with ease. His precise ball control and solid defense made it obvious to anyone watching—he was at the heart of the team.
Reo, as expected of the soccer team’s ace, dominated with effortless dribbling and powerful shots. The ball moved as if it were an extension of him, glued to his feet.
“Reo, that was amazing!”
“Wow, soccer team players really are on another level!”
Even though PE was divided by gender, the girls gathered on the sidelines, cheering as they watched. Reo attracted the loudest applause, but Sota, Ren, and Yuto weren’t far behind, earning excited “So cool!” squeals.
—However, amidst all this, one person had become a clear target: Subaru.
Reo took every opportunity to mess with him. The moment Subaru stepped forward to intercept the ball, Reo was already there.
“Oh? Sorano, go ahead—take it if you can.”
With a taunting grin, Reo rolled the ball lazily at his feet. The second Subaru lunged for it, Reo smoothly pulled it away, looking down at him with a smirk full of provocation.
“Damn it…!”
Even so, Subaru refused to back down. He kept challenging Reo. But Reo didn’t hold back—he came in with aggressive sliding tackles and body checks to steal the ball.
“Hey, Reo! You’re taking this too far!”
Sota frowned and stepped in, but Reo only smirked and shrugged.
“What? This is sports. Nothing wrong with giving it your all.”
“Yeah, but… Sorano’s not really good at this stuff…” Ren added hesitantly, but Reo wasn’t listening.
—At that moment, Subaru fell.
He hit the ground hard, caked in mud. A dull thud rang out, and for a second, the entire field fell silent. Even the girls muttered, “Is he okay…?”
“…!”
Gritting his teeth, Subaru pushed himself up. He brushed the dirt from his jersey and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
(Seriously…? He’s coming at me with everything he’s got…?)
His frustration was evident. Seeing his expression, Reo let out a satisfied snort.
“Come on, Sorano! Show me what you’ve got!”
Uneasiness spread among the players, but the game continued.
As the game neared its end, Reo’s relentless marking only intensified.
Every time Subaru reached for the ball, Reo was there, stealing it and scoring. Each time, he celebrated with an obnoxious “Hell yeah!” making the atmosphere around them more and more uncomfortable.
“Wait, this is getting too much…” Yuto muttered, while Sota also tried to step in. “Reo, that’s enough.”
But Reo refused to back down. “What? Sports are all about competition, right?”
Subaru, breathless and exhausted, struggled to keep up. His entire body was drenched in sweat and coated in mud, his hair sticking to his forehead.
(Damn it… Why me? Why is he doing this to me…?)
And yet—deep down, something inside him stirred.
—It wasn’t that he wanted to beat Reo. He just didn’t want to run away anymore.
“…Screw this. I’m not giving up.”
He didn’t say it out loud, but his eyes now held a quiet determination. As Reo moved in to steal the ball again, Subaru didn’t let go so easily. He clung to the play, stretching his foot, chasing after the ball with everything he had.
Then, the whistle blew. The game was over.
“Game over!”
The teacher’s voice rang out, and the field fell silent.
“Haa… Haa…”
Still covered in mud, Subaru dropped to his hands and knees, catching his breath. The weight of defeat pressed against his chest, frustration swelling inside him.
“…I have to work harder.”
He muttered under his breath.
Sota chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder.
“Hey, you did pretty good! Even if you’re covered in mud.”
“Yeah, you’ve got more guts than I thought!” Ren laughed, while Yuto held out a hand. “You better give it your all next time.”
Slightly surprised, Subaru reached out and grasped Yuto’s hand. As their dirt-streaked fingers met, the weight in his chest lifted just a little.
—Reo had completely crushed him. But this wasn’t the end. Next time, he wouldn’t lose.
A small resolve took root inside Subaru.
The game had ended, and the tension that had gripped the field slowly began to fade.
“That was a bit much, wasn’t it…?”
A few girls standing at the edge of the field exchanged uneasy glances. They had seen how many times Reo had gone after Subaru with excessive force, and now, seeing Subaru covered in mud left them with a lingering sense of discomfort.
“I mean, that was just mean. Sorano-kun isn’t even good at sports.”
“Yeah… Reo-kun is usually cool, but this felt kinda off…”
On the other hand, the more outgoing girls reacted differently.
“Eh, it can’t be helped. It’s a sport! Reo just got serious.”
“Right? He was just giving it his all. That’s what you’re supposed to do. And honestly, Sorano-kun is just too weak.”
“Exactly! If you don’t go all in, what’s even the point?”
While they defended Reo with bright smiles, a few of the other girls frowned, sensing a disconnect in how people were reacting.
As class wrapped up and students began to disperse, a small group of girls naturally gathered around Reo.
“Reo-kun, you were so cool! You move totally differently from everyone else!”
One of them, a flashy girl named Misaki Fujita, clung to Reo’s arm. Her wavy, light-brown hair was nearly blonde, and the tips of her manicured nails tapped against his sleeve as she tugged playfully.
“Hey, teach me soccer next time too~!”
“Uh… yeah, sure.”
Reo looked slightly surprised, but he didn’t seem to mind. If anything, he smirked—being surrounded by girls only stroked his ego.
From a distance, Kanon watched, her gaze sharpening.
(…What the hell is this? Why is he letting her cling to him like that…? I’m his girlfriend. He should push her away already.)
Folding her arms, Kanon glared at Misaki and Reo, irritation written all over her face. When Misaki casually placed a hand on Reo’s shoulder, Kanon’s frustration only deepened.
Reo glanced in her direction for a moment but quickly turned back to Misaki.
“Kanon, you okay? You’re making a scary face.”
A friend nudged her, but Kanon simply muttered, “It’s nothing.”—her tone cold.
(Why is he acting so happy being fawned over by a girl like that? Ugh, he’s so shallow.)
With an annoyed sigh, she turned away.
“Hey, Reo, you’re pretty popular, huh?”
Sota teased, and Reo let out a smug snort.
“Well, yeah. When you’ve got skill, people naturally pay attention.”
But beneath his cocky attitude, there was something else—an unmistakable sense of superiority over Subaru.
(This is how it should be. No matter how hard he tries, I’ll always be above him.)
When Misaki giggled, “Reo-kun, let’s go eat together sometime~!” Reo smirked. “I’ll think about it.”
But out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Kanon’s scowl.
(Tch… What’s her problem? Whatever.)
Basking in the attention, Reo stood confidently—
—But beneath it all, the air around him was beginning to shift.