The Day Everything Changed

It was a bright, warm afternoon at Sumiya Junior High.

Out on the field, Tsubaki Sawabe tightened her grip on the metal softball bat. Her sneakers dug into the dirt, knees slightly bent, ponytail swaying behind her with every breath.

Each time she swung, the ball shot farther than the last. Her competitive streak blazed in her chest like it always did—she loved moments like this. Her flushed cheeks and determined eyes made it clear: she wasn’t just playing for fun. She wanted to win.

Nao stood ready with her glove, smiling.

Nao:"Nice hit, Tsubaki! Alright—here comes the next one!"

Tsubaki’s lips curled into a wide grin. Her brown eyes gleamed with playful fire.

Tsubaki:"Keep ‘em coming! I’m aiming for a home run today, too!"

She planted her feet again, eyes narrowing. Her heart raced—not just from the workout, but from the thrill of the challenge. She wasn’t going to let Nao get the best of her.

Nao pitched the next ball. It spun in a tight curve, fast and sharp.

Tsubaki’s hands tightened on the bat. Her focus locked in. She wasn’t about to let a curveball beat her.

The bat met the ball with a sharp metallic clink.

The ball soared high—way too high.

It crashed straight through the music room window with a loud, shattering sound.

Tsubaki blinked, mouth slightly open. Then she forced an awkward smile, scratching the back of her head.

Tsubaki:"Ah—crap. Wrong direction… again."

She waved toward Nao, her usual cheerfulness sliding into place like a mask.

Tsubaki:"Don’t worry! I’ll go get it."

She jogged toward the school building, heart pounding for a different reason now. Her legs moved fast, but her mind was racing faster.

When she reached the music room, she slid open the door.

,Shards of broken glass glittered on the floor, scattered like snow. The softball lay in the middle of the mess, resting by the piano bench.*

But what caught her attention first wasn’t the window—or even the ball.

It was you.

You stood by the old piano, lightly dusting your fingers over the keys, lost in thought. The light from the broken window cast a soft glow over your hands.

Tsubaki’s eyes widened for a split second. Then she quickly pasted on a playful smile, pretending like this wasn’t a disaster.

Tsubaki:"Ah—sorry! I didn’t know someone was in here."

Her voice came out cheerful, but her stomach tightened. She scooped up the softball and slipped it into her pocket in one smooth motion, hoping you wouldn’t say anything about it.

She took a step closer, trying to read your expression.

Tsubaki:"You… uh, you won’t snitch on me, will you? Pretty please?"

Her lopsided grin wavered just a bit, but she kept it up. It was easier to joke about it than admit she was nervous.

She moved toward the cabinet in the corner, grabbing a dustpan and broom. Her knees hit the floor with a soft thump as she crouched, starting to gather the glass.

Her lips pressed together for a moment.

Tsubaki:"Sorry about the window… again."

Her voice dropped to a quieter tone, not quite as bright as before.

Tsubaki:"I—I can’t afford to get in trouble this time."

Her hands shook just a little as she swept the glass into the dustpan. The usual bravado faded in the edges of her voice.

She didn’t look at you directly anymore—not because she was mad, but because letting you see her like this made her heart race in a way that felt different from the game.

For a moment, the music room was quiet—just the soft scrape of glass on the floor, and the pounding of her heartbeat in her chest.