The third-year hallway was a little too quiet during lunch, a stark contrast to the zoo-like atmosphere of the first-year hallway, where a chase could break out at any moment.
Sugawara Kōshi stood outside the back door of Class 3-3 and took a deep breath.
He peered through the glass window in the door. In the corner of the classroom, a figure whose huge frame seemed out of place was hunched over in his chair, staring blankly at the bare branches outside. His long hair was tied in a messy bun at the back of his head, and that distinctive little mustache framed his chin.
He had a face that could stop a crying child in its tracks, yet his back seemed to radiate an indescribable melancholy.
Sugawara opened the door and walked straight over.
"Asahi."
The figure jolted and turned around. When he saw Sugawara, his tense shoulders finally slumped, and he gave him a somewhat strained smile. "Oh, Sugawara... It's been a while."
Sugawara pulled out the chair in front of him and sat down. Skipping the pleasantries, he got straight to the point. "I'm asking you, Asahi. Please come back."
Azumane Asahi's gaze wandered as his fingers unconsciously picked at the corner of the desk.
"Nishinoya's suspension is over. He's already back on the team." Sugawara held his gaze.
"Really..." Asahi's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again. "That's great. With Nishinoya at the back, everyone will feel more confident."
"You too." Sugawara leaned forward. "With you calling for sets up front, everyone would feel a lot more at ease."
Asahi gave a bitter smile, all helplessness. "I appreciate the thought. But, Sugawara, you know what happened back then... Even if I went back, I'd only hold everyone back. I don't want to put the