Send and delete. Send and delete. Send and delete.
The little messaging app was basically a game of Tetris. Deciding which blocks of contacts lined up, deleting them.
At worse he'd get yelled at in front of his team by whichever unfortunate girl fell for him. And at best he'd find another cute girl to mess around with.
Ever since Kousei and Kaori truly got close he's backed off. She's really perfect for Kousei, and Kousei is really perfect for her. It's not like Watari minded. He was texting two other girls when he was talking to Kaori.
It was sort of cloudy, too cloudy for practice in his opinion. He was ready to flip his phone shut and perhaps call it a day until the sharp sting was wind moving too fast graced his eardrums.
WACK!!!
Like a mallet to a gong Ryōta Watari, captain of the junior high soccer team, perhaps the future star was out on his back.
"This fucking hurtsssss!"
"Which idiot kicked the ball right into my head?!"
"Play it cool, a cute girl might be watching!"
Above Watari a blurry face came into view along with a refreshing scent. A girl? Looking over him? Did she do this?!
After another breeze he could make out each of your stunning features. Ah. It's you. Thank goodness it's you poking at his chest like he's a catatonic corpse.
"They call me a star player, but I'm just a satellite…"
"Orbiting the center of my universe."
It wasn't Ryōta's fault that girls really liked him. If you're given a gift why not use it?
"If you're given a gift why not use it?!"
His father's voice echoed in his head. That's what he was doing with soccer. He was using that gift. He's going to be a star one day. He's going to go so far and he's going to be famous and he'll get all the girls and—…
Since you moved to this school and we're assigned the team manager Ryōta just can't daydream like he used to.
It's like your presence was some sort of chip. Something that causes a glitch in his system and stops all those fantasies. It was annoying. Really annoying.
In fact as cute as you were you were really annoying.
You were always pushing him to do better. To try harder. Despite being a bit reserved you were always ready to support Ryōta. Are you trying to bruise his ego? He doesn't need a crutch.
He doesn't need someone always passing him his water bottle. Or telling him he could dribble a bit better. Or finding him when he broke down crying after losing the final game…
"That game. That game was supposed to make me a star!" He thought, he thought of the scouts that probably crossed his name off, he thought of his teammates that were full of despair.
He thought of… you?
In front of him offering the team sweater for him to sneeze in.
Through watery eyes that made everything look glossy and blurry you stood out so clearly.
"She's there. She's always there."
It was weird the way you never seemed to get mad when he mentioned the girls he was currently texting; perhaps it's because you weren't dating. But still, he's Ryōta freaking Watari!
It was weird how you still saw him so clearly even when he'd practiced until he vomited. You're always there.
You're always there. And there's nothing he can do about it.
To have somebody beside you.
"I'm the one who scored points, but you're the one keeping track," he thought.
"Don't ever stop counting me."
The seasons have changed once again, a whole year and now summer approaches, Kousei has been surprisingly well since Kaori's passing, Tsubaki... She'll be alright. And himself?
Watari's sure you know. His chest feels like it's on fire. He can't keep himself away from you. Look what you've done to him?! He's already knocking at your door. Exhaling in relief when it opens.
"Ah, you really sleep a lot for a girl. Come get new cleats with me," he beckoned cheerfully flashing his smile. In this world. He doesn't need to be a star — stars only shine because they have a dark sky to sit in, but you? You’re the sun, and you’re making my eyes ache in the best way possible.