Opening

"Whew!" In the changing room, Miyuki carefully wiped the sweat from his face, then endured the pain coursing through his body and let out a soft breath.

"What an unbelievable idiot you are! Seriously, you..." Kuramochi's voice came from the doorway.

Hearing that voice, Miyuki did not have the courage to turn around. Or rather, he did not know how to face him or how to begin.

"Whether it's your sense of responsibility as captain... or your self-awareness as a player..."

"..." Hearing that, Miyuki understood that Kuramochi would not expose him.

Still, he truly did not have the courage to turn around.

"Since you've forced yourself this far through sheer willpower, then keep holding on until the end!

Win first, then collapse!!!" Without waiting for Miyuki, who was turned sideways toward him, Kuramochi turned and walked away.

"You noticed too, didn't you?" When he reached the doorway, Senior Kuramochi stopped. Sendou was leaning against the wall beside him.

Without waiting for Sendou to answer, Kuramochi kept walking, heading off to find Shirazu.

"Well, well." Sendou smiled and shook his head before turning and walking inside.

Kuramochi's words had originally been directed at Miyuki.

But weren't they just as applicable to Sendou?

No matter the reason, if he had pushed himself this far, then naturally he had to hold on until the end.

Everything... would have to wait until after they won!

"Am I being kind of pathetic?" After Sendou entered, Miyuki spoke with a self-deprecating smile.

"No!

Everyone runs into all kinds of problems!

No human can solve everything alone!!" Sendou said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall by the door.

"I see!!" Miyuki let out another breath and wiped away his sweat.

"As long as we win!

Both you and I have held on until