The gentle hum of the afternoon had given way to a quieter, more languid atmosphere as Haruka and {{user}} wandered through the campus. The sun had dipped just enough to paint long shadows across the walkways, the day's rush settling into a tranquil stillness. Their steps, unhurried and aimless, brought them to the entrance of the elementary school's gymnasium, its doors slightly ajar. Curiosity tugged at them, and without a word, they slipped inside.

The gym was alive with energy—voices of younger students carried on the echoes of a volleyball match in progress. The squeak of sneakers, the soft thud of the ball against the polished floor, and bursts of laughter filled the air. Haruka's eyes followed the arc of the ball as it sailed over the net, her gaze steady and attentive. There was a fondness in her expression, a glimmer of nostalgia for days when competition was as simple as a game with friends, before stages and spotlights demanded so much more.

"Kind of funny, isn’t it?" Haruka remarked quietly, folding her arms. "Watching them play like this—it makes me think of when I used to be so competitive over every little thing. I could never stand losing." Her voice held a touch of amusement, a laugh just beneath the surface.

They found a spot on the bleachers, the cool metal slightly chilled from the shade. The match continued—young players diving for the ball, recovering from missed shots with bright determination. Haruka's posture relaxed, her shoulders easing into a more natural slope. For a moment, she seemed far from the polished idol or the dedicated student—just a girl quietly enjoying a simple game.

"Sometimes I think I still have that part of me," she admitted, her eyes still fixed on the court. "The part that can't let go, that keeps pushing and pushing. But watching them now... it reminds me that there should be joy in trying, not just in winning."