Title: The Visit of Cold Air

The unexpected turn of events froze not only me, but everyone in the room. Everyone closed their mouths and waited with baited breath to see what she would say. Like people waiting for Hitler’s speech.

A few members of the basketball team practicing also had their gazes glued to us. There was a strange atmosphere, and Arina took a breath and finally cut in.

“You guys, are you animals who can’t even keep a single promise?”

Arina said coldly.

The sharp tone of her voice rang in my ears.

They all froze at her words. They didn’t know how to react to her relentless statement. And why would she be here to reprimand them? Why did she willingly cut in? No one knew.

Both the badminton club, which was being opposed by her, and the tennis club, who she was supporting, were confused.

“Do you hear me? I don’t think I’m shouting loud enough that I’m going to break eardrums. It’s a one-sided and unfair demand from the badminton club, no matter how you see it. Can’t you understand that, even though you’re in high school?”

She always ends her sentence with a provocation. It’s a tone that’s very much like her.

One of the girls from the badminton club opens her mouth.

“Again, it’s none of your business.”

“That again? Earlier, the mitochondria behind you said something about a judge or something, and he’s right. Reconsider what you’re saying from the perspective of a third party for once. Be aware that you’re yelling like a self-centered, cheeky, and whiny child. In the first place, you’re treating you’re senior’s promises as if they’re rotten. I wonder what your seniors would think if they saw you.” [T/N: Mitochondria as an insult is new.]

“You don’t have to explain that to me—”

“This is hard to listen to. I think the seniors from the tennis club would feel betrayed if I told them. That the petty juniors from the badminton club were being hard on their juniors. You don’t want to be bothered by your seniors feeling sorry for you like that, do you? Right, Yuri-san?”

“Eh? Oh, I can’t be bothered with seniors.”

Yuri was upset for a moment when she was suddenly talked down to.

“If you still want to have a barren argument, it’s a pain, but I’ll call you and the other seniors of the badminton club. What do you think?”

The girls at the head of the badminton club flinched at Arina’s almost threatening words. I couldn’t see it, but I’m sure Arina’s face was colder and more frozen than the Ice Age. Mammoths would be surprised. If you don’t pour some boiling water on it soon, the girl at the front of the group is going to cry.

I decided it was time for me to go. What Arina had to say is the most valid, but she’s not the one who should be saying that. As much as I admire her, being here any longer would only serve to distract from the point of the conversation. She’s not wrong by any means, but I’m not sure it was the right time.

“Arina, let’s go.”

I whispered that. I fixed my face without twitching my ears.

A few seconds of silence passes.

“Come on, let’s go.”

For the second time, Arina finally moved. Without saying anything, she turned her body towards the gym exit. That’s where I saw Arina’a profile. She still had the same cold expression on her face. Maybe it was my imagination, but she seemed to feel alive. I’m sure I was confused too.

“Yuri, sorry for disturbing you. I’ll apologize later.”

Yuri nodded awkwardly.

I followed Arina out of the gym. Until the end, the two parties stared at us as we walked away, looking like they’d just seen a UFO.

I don’t know what happened after that.

Arina moved forward silently and left.

I didn’t call out to her, but I saw her off. My gut was telling me not to follow her.

I went back to the Rose Garden alone and thought back to the flow of events that had just taken place.

It was still a mystery why Arina showed up. Did she follow me because I went to the gym? Or was it because she was curious about the tennis club? But that’s unlikely, given Arina’s personality.

The fact that Arina, who hated trouble more than anything else, went out of her way to intervene. The fact that this is the case made it all the more troubling to me.

“I don’t get it.”

I left school without clearing the haze in my mind.