SK   Booyah! Touchdown!

SK   I mean - aww, same difference. Still football!

You take a victory lap around the field, kicking at a stray tuft of grass because you feel like it. You even let loose a couple of whoop-whoops, not caring if you look like a crazy person. Feeling alive means putting aside things that would embarass the weaker man!

The ball's still inside the goal when you make it back. So, you crouch down and concentrate.

SK   C'mon...

SK   Blow towards me! Right now!

You feel your body glow with sky-blue color, with the same tingling in your hands you've learned to anticipate. A stirring gale envelopes of the field, and you take a wide stance to catch the ball in your -

POW!

SK   OWWW!!

You stagger back as the ball careens off your face and into the sky. Your arms go flailing, hoping to conjure up enough gust to right yourself, but all you do is float a bit before falling on your rear. The ball comes bouncing down beside you.

SK   Fuh... frick.

SK   (cough)

You place the back of your hand against your nose, checking for any blood.

SK   All clear.

Suddenly feeling very self-conscious, you dart around for any witnesses. This is usually Ciel's cue to chime in with some smart-aleck line - something about building up your Value useage rather than blowing it all at once. But he's absolutely refused to wake up early this week due to studies.

Wimp. You get the best B+'s in the business - who's he trying to impress?

SK   Hey, Saiki - can you double-check for me?

You raise a hand and out comes a Billowfly. Your best friend in the whole world.

SK   Hey, don't say things for me!

SK   I haven't even seen the whole world, yet.

SK   Just - make sure I'm not being watched, okay?

SK   Just in case!

It nuzzles its antennae against your face. But Skylar, it seems to say in your mind. You are.

SK   What?

You whip around to the seating area. At the same time, you see something duck admidst the long rows of seats.

SK   You could've said something earlier!

But Skylar, it seems to say again. I thought you didn't mind an audience.

SK   It's not about the wipeout!

SK   Okay, it's only a little about the wipeout.

SK   The point is - what if they needed the field for something?

SK   I was so caught up in practice that...

SK   What if I was hogging everything to myself?

SK   Geez... now I have to go check!

You pick up your ball and break into a run towards the bleachers, honing in on that one spot where you saw movement. Your Specter flutters behind you cheerfully.

SK   Hey! Anyone there?

SK   Sorry for not noticing sooner - did you need the field for something?

SK   I like to use the whole thing when it's just me, but you can use it too!

SK   I tend to get really lost in the -

??   ♡ STOP apologizing!

A solitary pointer finger rises from the middle row, pointing firmly at you.

??   ♡ Did I SAY you did something wrong?

??   ♡ Did I ASK to be a part of your kick-the-ball game?

You briefly look around, just in case they're talking to someone else. But it's just you standing on the grass.

SK   You didn't, but...

??   ♡ Then, DON'T apologize! Everything was going PERFECTLY FINE!!

As it lowers, you squint. You can just barely make out a pinkish white figure in the shadows.

SK   What do you mean, everything was going fine?

SK   What are you even doing in there?

??   ♡ ...

You step closer.

??   ♡ I'm, um, studying!

??   ♡ Nothing to see here.

SK   What.

SK   Seriously? Is nothing sacred?

You groan loud enough for the benches at the other side of the field to hear. Just in case there are any weirdos over there, too.

SK   This is the best place to avoid that kinda stuff! What are you thinking?

SK   The equipment, the grass, the fresh air! It's just waiting for you!

SK   Here, feel the dang ball!

In a fit of fury, you throw your beloved soccer ball into the benches, right around where that voice is. There's a loud noise of collision alongside a high-pitched cry, and you are immediately awash with regret.

SK   Frick! Sorry!

SK   Aww, dang it, I didn't mean to... I'm being a real jerk!

You quickly sequester your Specter and dive into the benches. The world underneath is dark and shadowed, but you're able to make out the silhouette of a crouching figure.

SK   Are you okay?

??   ♡ Ooooough...

Wiping your hands on your pants, you feel around for where they're grabbing. Must've hit them on the head. You don't feel anything out of place, though, so you let out a sigh of relief.

SK   I'm really sorry about that.

SK   It's not my business what you do in, uh, the seats over here.

SK   I shouldn't have attacked you with my ball.

??   ♡ ...

??   ♡ Why are you... touching me?

SK   Huh?

SK   I was making sure I didn't do too much damage!

SK   I don't feel a bump or any blood, so we don't have to get you to the nurse.

SK   I would've if there was! It'd be my responsibility.

Their hair feels soft, softer than you could've imagined hair could feel. They also smell really luxurious, like one of those uppity perfume shops that always linger near the sports ones. It smells vaguely familiar... maybe you've walked by this person in the halls before. Even if you did, you'd be hard-pressed to remember who. There are hundreds of students in your year, after all.

SK   I probably smell awful, don't I? I've been out here for a while.

SK   I'll get out of your hair.

SK   Literally. Ha.

As you retract your hands, you find yourself wishing there was more air circulation below the bleachers. Even if you can't see anything, you can usually use the breeze to feel the space out around you. Here, you're utterly blind.

Wait a minute.

SK   How are you getting any studying done down here?

SK   I can barely see my hand in front of my face.

??   ♡ It's, um... it's all on my phone.

SK   'Kay.

SK   So, what're you looking at?

??   ♡ Wh-why do you wanna know??

SK   Huh? What's wrong with asking?

SK   Maybe I can study too. Not a bad place, I guess.

SK   You can take a lap right outside during breaks.

??   ♡ Well, you can't look! It's private!

SK   That doesn't make any sense! Is it for a secret class?!

You hear them huff and puff.

??   ♡ Fine... you really want to know?

??   ♡ I'm not studying! I'm just using my phone!

??   ♡ Happy?

SK   ...

SK   No! Why all secret and in the dark? Are you doing drugs on it?

??   ♡ Wh-What does that even mean?

SK   I dunno! I don't get any of this!

SK   Can't you just tell me your deal? It's way too early for this funny business.

??   ♡ It's not funny, it's the truth!

??   ♡ You wouldn't GET it. I have to do it all here!

??   ♡ You don't have someone at home who's...

They trail off. But when they speak again, it's with a renewed vigor.

??   ♡ The point is, it's NONE of your business.

??   ♡ And I don't even HAVE to study, by the way. Because I'm a FANTASTIC student!

??   ♡ Teachers LOVE me! Everyone does!

You can hear their clothes ruffling. Are they assuming some kind of posture? Maybe they can see better in the dark than you can. But the more they talk, the more you've decided you've had enough.

SK   Do whatever you want.

SK   I'm going back to the field.

You hear them start to say something - maybe to usher you back - but you've already made up your mind. You walk back towards the bright blue light of clear skies, kicking your ball along the way.

SK   People are on their phones all the dang time these days.