Echizen...you've become someone I can't reach...

No matter how hard I try No matter how much better I became, I could only stand and look at your back, which was getting further and further away without being able to step in and compare.

So what this senior can still do is just support you from a distance and give you encouragement when you're discouraged...

But that's enough. Even if I don't enter your world, if my existence is of some benefit to you... then I'm satisfied.

Echizen was invited to go.

US open...

When Momoshiro found out about this, he couldn't sleep for several days. In my head, I thought only of the face of my younger sibling, my closest friend. My heart was hot and anxious as to whether that person would decide to go to America or not. I knew fully in my heart... that that was the best choice for Echizen, but no matter what, I didn't want him to. A talented junior left him in a place he couldn't reach....

“Echizen, you will go.

US open

So?"

The next day, despite being afraid, Momoshiro decided to ask. But he wanted to hear the answer from Echizen himself so he wouldn't have to suffer by thinking for himself again.

His talented junior looked stunned by that question before his eyes flashed with hesitation. Thin lips were bitten hard. Indicates the owner's tension.

....Don't act like that...and please tell me you'll stay here...

"No.." The voice that replied sounded very longing and forced, but Momoshiro still chose to ignore it. Choose to close your eyes and believe those words. and chose to continue to deceive himself that Echizen did not want to go to America.

"Hahahaha, I bet there's no way you'd leave the team and go to America." He laughed while emphasizing that, while Echizen's face showed a look of pain that made him want to pull him into a hug, but I realized that the younger generation had to suffer this much, not because of anyone, but because of myself....

...I want to make you smile only....I don't want to hurt your feelings, but if I don't say it like that, there probably won't be any way to hold it close to me anymore...

"Oh wei!!!"

Momoshiro pounded on the wall and cursed in pain for making the boy sad. As time passed, Echizen's condition worsened, leaving him no longer the cocky brat like before. Echizen was so depressed that the rest of the club noticed and it seemed as if Buchou couldn't stand the zombie-like state of his junior as well.

"Momo...Echizen was called by Buchou to talk." On the way out after talking with Ryuzaki-sensei. Momoshiro was caught by Kikumaru when he heard the words that came out of his senior's mouth. The two legs immediately ran towards the little brat, his face wet with sweat, hot and worried like never before.

...Is that guy going to get hurt by Buchou? Is he going to make a pained face?

Momoshiro is running around looking for his juniors like crazy, but whether it's the school building chapter or not. in the storage locker In the cafeteria, there was not even a shadow of the first year in sight. Until finally he stopped at the sink. Unexpectedly, Echizen's small figure was standing there. The look of relief and relief on his face was like a mountain had been lifted from his chest, which caused him so much pain.

...Why was it Buchou who made that expression look like that...why wasn't it me...

The large figure walked towards the small figure, hoping to talk to him about something, but Ryuzaki Sensei's warning sounded in his head first.

"Because you're the closest to Ryoma, you might be able to overlook his true needs. Think carefully about what he wants most right now and why he's suffering so much."

...That's why Echizen was in such pain. Because of his selfishness...

"Momo-senpai?" The younger sibling suddenly turned towards him and greeted him in surprise. Momoshiro was silent for a moment before deciding to say something.

"Go to America, Echizen!"

Just saying that sentence, Momoshiro felt like his heart would break as cold drops of water slowly flowed down from his eyes uncontrollably. I accidentally revealed my weakness to my younger generation.

"Senior...."

“Really crazy!! Why does sweat have to fly into my eyes right now? I'm going to go wash my face." Momoshiro hurriedly walked over to the sink and poured water over his head to cover up his tears. Echizen standing next to him looked at his senior with heartfelt gratitude.

Thank you very much, Momo-senpai...

Phew...

The plane had left, but Momoshiro was still clinging to the window, staring blankly at the sky.

...You've gone somewhere I can't reach, Echizen. But it's okay no matter how long it takes. I'll wait for you to come back. And when that time comes, I will finally be able to tell you those words.

...love...

write talk :

Hello, I'm a newbie at decorating. Please introduce yourself. Is there anyone who really likes this couple? After watching the ending, I really wanted to write a fanfic haha.