"Beautiful…"
The sight of Senior Malfoy racing alongside the Firebolt should have been impossibly fast.
And yet, for some reason, it felt as though that moment alone had become a world belonging only to the two Seekers, as if time itself had slowed to a halt.
Everyone around us was shouting in excitement, but none of it reached my ears. I could only stare vacantly, following the figures of the two of them. I was completely captivated by that sight.
Strength is justice. Beauty is also justice. And they say that pursuing the pinnacle of strength leads directly to beauty.
But beautiful moments last only an instant.
"Ah—"
The older sister beside me instinctively covered her eyes. Senior Malfoy, who had been diving straight down at full speed, failed to react to the Snitch's sudden change of direction and crashed into the ground. To be precise, he threw himself off and tumbled across the grass several times.
"He really is a complete idiot…"
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
After all, getting fired up over such a messy match, giving it everything he had, and on top of that suffering an injury bad enough to nearly kill him. There was no way to explain that logically.
I thought he must regret it by now. Feeling a little twisted, I was ready to throw out a snide remark like, "Serves you right."
I followed him with my eyes. And then I saw it.
Draco Malfoy was smiling shyly, wearing an expression that perfectly matched a boy innocently enjoying a sport.
Beside him, Elaina looked exasperated as she mercilessly patted his shoulder. Each time, Senior Malfoy made a pained face, yet somehow he still looked like he was having fun.
Anyone could see that he was enjoying this very moment with his whole being.
With the championship cup on the line, the opponent riding a Firebolt, and everyone convinced this match was already lost, there was no way he should not be tense. No way his spirit should not be on the verge of breaking.
And yet, he wore a carefree, slightly foolish grin.
At last, I understood why I disliked him.
I take pride in knowing that I have no regrets. The current Astoria Greengrass is the top first-year student at Hogwarts, praised by parents and teachers alike. Giving up Quidditch, the days spent desperately studying, and trying to shoulder everything alone.
Because all of that happened, I am who I am today. I am proud of the person I am now.
But still—
If only, if only… I could have lived like that.
If I could have given everything and lived an ordinary, childish student life like him.
**
After receiving first aid from Madam Hooch, Senior Malfoy turned toward the stands and gave an exaggerated, overly formal bow.
Even though his entire body was caked in mud, his face was set in a sharp, composed expression. The overly theatrical motion somehow suited him perfectly, making the scene absurdly surreal.
Before I knew it, laughter erupted from the stands. The kind of laughter that said, "What a ridiculous guy." Senior Malfoy looked embarrassed, but like an actor at a curtain call, he slowly swept his gaze across the audience.
Then, all of a sudden, our eyes met.
With the smug look of a child who had successfully pulled off a prank, he chuckled softly and winked at me. That kind of surprise attack felt unfair.
Don't make that face in a situation like this.
Before I realized it, my heart had skipped a beat.
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I could feel my pulse quickening. No matter how hard I tried to suppress it and stay calm, my heart refused to settle down, which only made it more frustrating.
I had decided that today was a day to sulk. I had resolved to keep a cool, detached attitude toward such childish notions as dazzling everyone with the championship cup.
So why?
Why won't my heart stop racing?
Before I realized it, I was already running.
I dashed past my startled sister, shoved aside several upperclassmen in front of me, and tossed off my fluttering robe on the spot so it would not get in the way. Pushing my legs to their limit, I sprinted down the spectator stands at full speed.
Stand up, my hero.
Leaning far over the railing, I screamed with all the strength in my lungs.
"Get uphhhhhhhhhh!"
I saw his eyes widen in shock.
At that point, I could not think about anything complicated. I just wanted to cheer for the upperclassman who was giving it his all right in front of me, acting like a fool with everything he had. I wanted to cherish that feeling that kept welling up no matter how hard I tried to suppress it.
No matter how full of loopholes the rules might be, no matter how pathetic the losing battle looked, the smiles and efforts of the people who give it everything there are surely not lies.
So I, Astoria Greengrass, shout at the top of my lungs.
"Don't loseeeeeee! Draco Malfoy!!"
◇◆◇
A gritty sound rang out.
It was the sound of Draco Malfoy's foot, who had been lying on his back, digging into the ground once more.
The match was not over yet.
There was still a chance.
This was not the end, as long as this body could move even a little.
"—!"
He forced himself up again.
His entire body was screaming in pain. He might have broken several bones. There was probably hardly any strength left in him.
Even so… so what?
I will do it my way. Firebolts, pressure from the stadium, injuries… I do not care about any of that. In my world, I am always the protagonist.
So.
The version of me who stands firm here today is surely the coolest guy in the world.
"Draco, you bastard…"
A voice suddenly came from behind me as I gave a shy grin.
"You really did it…!"
Standing there was Senior Marcus Flint, his entire body radiating fighting spirit.
"Elaina too. You brats, acting all cool like you're something special…!"
Flint's eyes were burning. Every other player was the same, flames of anger blazing in their eyes.
That anger was not directed at me for overstepping and getting badly injured. It was aimed at themselves, at their own pathetic weakness for buckling under pressure and resorting to rough play, creating a situation where they felt they had no other choice.
"Damn it, what's so special about a Firebolt anyway! You idiot!"
Unable to hold it in, Senior Flint slapped himself hard across the face. As the spectators recoiled in shock, he let out a small breath.
"Sorry. You had to see something so pathetic."
Watching him, Elaina grinned with the face of an evil witch.
"That was seriously lame."
"From here on, it's different."
The Firebolt, the opponent's lead, the depth of Gryffindor's lineup, the pressure from the crowd. Every possible disadvantage was stacked against us.
And that had clouded our vision.
"Thanks. Whether we're at an advantage or a disadvantage, what we have to do doesn't change. Thanks to you guys, I've made up my mind. We're turning this around right now."
The score gap was already significant, but that did not matter.
It was not just Senior Flint. Seniors Warrington and Bletchley slapped our shoulders as well.
"I'm disgusted with myself for even thinking, just for a second, that next year would be enough…!"
"Yeah. Anyone who can't cherish this moment won't get a next time."
"Thanks for reminding us," Senior Pucey said, bowing his head.
"No matter what, we're turning this around from here," Senior Montague said, clenching his fist.
In the end, the answer had been there from the start.
We had turned our eyes away from the obvious answer and kept thinking up excuses to run from the match. If you have even a bit of brainpower left for that, then use it to come up with reasons to stand your ground. Use your head to win, not to lose.
Because anyone can give up in an instant.
At the very least, let's struggle until the match is over.
The suffocating thoughts of the seniors synced together, telling us not to pull such disgraceful stunts as grown men hiding behind underclassmen.
"Muscles…"
Suddenly, Senior Flint shouted at the top of his lungs.
The Slytherin team snapped their attention to their captain.
"Never betray you!!"
That act probably meant nothing for the match itself. Even so, guided by his soul, Marcus Flint roared with everything he had.
"Training…"
Six voices answered his call.
"Never lies!!"
Senior Warrington, Senior Pucey, Senior Montague, Senior Bletchley. All of them shouted as if their voices might reach the heavens.
A roar like a thunderbolt crashing down echoed across the entire pitch. The Gryffindor team wavered, and the spectators stood stunned. Still, the shouting did not stop.
"Then train!!"
"And you shall be rewarded!!!"
From Elaina to me, from me to Senior Flint. From Senior Flint to the entire team, and then to the spectators. A heat intense enough to burn surged through us. This must be what it means to set your heart on fire. I felt it with my whole body.
The atmosphere changed.
It was like watching heavy rain clouds finally clear.
"Slytherin is…"
Light poured down.
"The strongest on the ground!!!"
The cloudy sky scattered away, and a blazing red sun shone down on everyone.
(End of chapter)
Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon
https://patreon.com/Glimmer09