The Final Tournament ③
“……”
“……”
The night of the day the competition ended, both Yae and I, who are at home, were silent. I don’t know what I should do or what I should say at times like these.
“Thank you for the meal”
“……thanks for the meal”
Yae is frustrated that she lost like the time at the sports day, or rather, she probably cannot completely accept that she lost. Without doing anything else, she is sitting on the sofa and staring at the television screen emotionlessly.
“Yae”
Her reaction to my voice that calls out her is also faint. Her face that turns over here is the same as usual, but unlike always, it was an expressionless face that doesn’t project any emotion. Looking at such a dazed Yae, I resolve myself.
I have not joined any club activities before. Neither have I practised every day together with somebody nor have I won a competition and shared the happiness with everybody. Vice versa, I do not know the tears when hard work doesn’t pay off nor the dilemma of whether or not to carry on like this.
So I have no idea at all whether the words I am about to say now is correct. I nevertheless convey it to Yae, these words──
“You did great”
I have not joined any club activities before.
But I know the fact that Yae practised up until now.
I know the fact that she was enjoying volleyball.
I know the Yae who boasted, ‘I managed a play like that’, with glistening eyes.
I know the Yae who had lost a match and felt frustrated.
I know the Yae who produced bruises for three consecutive days.
I know the Yae who worked hard every single day.
I know that despite it not tying into the result Yae hoped for, the effort that she had indeed piled up.
That’s why I praise her for that hard work.
“……Kazu-kun”
Perhaps my feelings conveyed from the single sentence I said looking into her eyes, light returns to Yae’s empty eyes. At the same time, her tears start overflowing, and her shoulders start shaking. Her voice that calls my name was horribly frail. I suppose the fact that she lost, had now finally struck her.
“Kazu-kun!”
“Yae!?
Yae suddenly leaps over, and I fall onto my butt from that momentum. As I’m being startled by her sudden action, Yae buries her face on my chest and says.
“I wanted to win!”
“If only I caught it more!”
“I wanted to fight, together with everybody, more!!”
“I still, wanted to play, volleyball, with everybody!!”
“More, more!!”
It was regret and envy that came out of Yae’s mouth. Yae also understands that nothing can be done even if she said it. As well as the fact that it was all over. Even so, all the more she could not hold back and spewed her feelings.
I did not say anything. No, I could not say anything. It is because I know that Yae is not hoping for words of consolation. So I gently stroke Yae’s back and head. With hopes that it will ease Yae’s feelings even a little.
“I still……more…..with, every, body……”
Before long, perhaps Yae got exhausted from crying, she ended up falling asleep as it is. She should be exhausted from the competition as well. Let’s put her to sleep as it is.
I, who thought that, gently remove my body from underneath Yae, and open the door to Yae’s room. After I flipped over the blanket, I gently carry Yae up and move her to the bed as it is.
Yae, whom I put to sleep on the bed, was smiling faintly. I cover Yae with the blanket and retreat from the room.
You really did a great job today, Yae.
