Ryosuke sprinted down the street, the wind whipping his hair into the air.
Behind him, someone on a bicycle was catching up. Ryosuke tilted his head and realized the person had been following him for a while. Cold sweat instantly broke out.
The cyclist suddenly surged up alongside him. All Ryosuke could see was a pair of bangs flying wildly. The owner of those bangs took a deep breath and asked, "Do you like running?"
Big Cat froze. "Huh?"
The man repeated himself. "Do you like running?"
Still dazed, Ryosuke slowly came to a stop. So it wasn't a stalker after all. That was a relief.
"I don't like running. I play volleyball."
Hearing that, the man with the flying bangs nodded regretfully.
Then he introduced himself. "My name is Kiyose Haiji. If you're interested in the future, you could try applying to Kansei University. I can take you to run the Hakone Ekiden."
Proud face.jpg. Shameless talent poaching.
Volleyball players can run on the side sometimes too, right? I'll just quietly steal him over first. Haiji began entertaining some dangerous thoughts.
Ryosuke hurriedly waved his hands. "I really do play volleyball. I won't be running the Hakone Ekiden. But if you ever need someone to run with, you can come find me.
I run here every day after school."
Haiji looked genuinely regretful. "Eh~ Is that so? Well then, I'll wish you good luck in your future matches."
"Let's add each other on LINE. You have to come watch my matches someday!" Ryosuke had made another new friend today. Big Cat felt secretly pleased.
After saying goodbye to his new friend, Ryosuke headed home in high spirits.
Standing in front of Coach Washijō's house, Ryosuke hesitated for a long time. He gathered his courage and lifted his hand to press the doorbell, only to pull it back again.
When I left, I didn't say goodbye to Madam… She must be angry with me.
But I didn't want to leave her. I didn't want her to worry. And yet, I really didn't say a proper farewell.
Big Cat fell into an intense inner struggle right there at the door.
What he didn't know was that Madam Washijō had already been watching him from the window for quite some time. Seeing the tangled expression on Ryosuke's face, she laughed softly and opened the door.
Ryosuke looked up at her in surprise.
Madam Washijō smiled warmly. "What are you standing there for like a fool? Come in already."
Ryosuke's lips trembled, his eyes instantly reddening.
It had been so long since he'd heard that voice. This was his home.
He would never dare pounce on Coach Washijō, but Madam Washijō was different. She was gentle. She accepted Ryosuke, even indulged him.
Only in front of the Washijō couple did Ryosuke act like a child.
Ryosuke lunged forward with flailing arms. Madam Washijō was already standing there with her arms open wide.
"Welcome home, Ryosuke."
Big Cat burst into loud sobs in her embrace, just like when he was little and came crying to complain after being spanked by Coach Washijō. Every time—countless times—whenever he felt wronged, Ryosuke would cry like this.
Madam Washijō held the child tightly, her heart full of both helplessness and joy. After raising him for so many years, he was already her own child.
Not far from the house, Coach Washijō stood holding a bottle of alcohol. He snorted softly but ultimately chose not to disturb them.
Turning away, he began to stroll around leisurely. Fine. Let that brat cry for a while.
Now Madam Washijō sat watching Ryosuke on the sofa, his eyes swollen shut, struggling to hold back her laughter.
He's already grown up, yet when he cries, it's still earth-shattering.
Ryosuke pouted. This was so embarrassing. Crying like that was way too humiliating!!
Thankfully, Madam Washijō didn't say anything. After a while, Coach Washijō wandered back in, still carrying his bottle.
Pretending not to notice Ryosuke's red, puffy eyes, he said flatly, "Dinner's ready."
Ryosuke was long used to this side of Coach Washijō. He looked fierce, but every now and then, he would soften.
After dinner, Ryosuke grinned as he went to check the room that had been prepared for him.
It was just like before—almost nothing had changed—but everything was spotless.
Only then did Ryosuke truly feel that he was home.
Big Cat leapt onto the bed, his whole body bouncing on the soft mattress. He reached out and scooped up the fluffy calico cat plushie from the headboard, hugging it to his chest and kneading it happily.
Mmm~ This texture… so soft. Straight to the soul. Big Cat gradually went feral, burying his face in the plushie and breathing it in like crazy.
Only then did he realize that the entire room was filled with fluffy plush toys…
Case closed. Big Cat was a plushie addict. Once he saw something fluffy, he couldn't move on. All of these toys were Ryosuke's collection.
More than thirty of them—not a single one missing!
Ah, I'm so happy. Ryosuke finally lifted his head from the plushie and sighed in bliss.
Not long after, he fell asleep on the bed. His soft breathing made his hair rise and fall gently.
I think that tonight, Ryosuke Cat's dreams must be filled with warm colors.
The next morning, Ryosuke struggled immensely to get out of bed. When he looked in the mirror, he found that although his eyes weren't swollen anymore, they were still red.
The corners looked as if they'd been brushed with rouge.
Ryosuke tilted his head. Something felt a bit strange??
But it also looked completely normal. Forget it. Time for school.
Today, Ryosuke Cat was in a good mood too.
He hopped onto his bike and sped off.
Today! He was going to play a match with his seniors!