Chapter 2 | “Choices Forced for the Sake of the Future”
“—Yawn… So sleepy…” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.
The morning after staying up with Charlotte-san, talking about dreams until dawn, a heavy wave of drowsiness crashed over me. I’d only crawled into bed as the sun peeked over the horizon, leaving me with barely any sleep.
“To think we’d keep going until morning…” I muttered, a wry smile tugging at my lips.
When Charlotte-san asked to continue, I couldn’t resist indulging her. My sense of time slipped away entirely, and before I knew it, morning had arrived. Just how deep am I falling for her?
…That aside, is Charlotte-san… maybe a bit intense in that area? The way she kept asking for kisses made me wonder. It’s like she could go on forever if nothing stopped her. Not that I’m complaining, mind you…
“—Akihito-kun?”
“Whoa!?” I yelped, spinning around.
“Eek!?” Charlotte-san squeaked, startled by my reaction.
Her sudden voice had caught me off guard, but it seemed I’d startled her just as much. “Sorry, sorry, you’re back, huh?” I said, scratching the back of my head.
Since today was a day off, we’d planned to head to the park to hang out. Charlotte-san and the others had gone to their rooms to change. By the way, Emma-chan was the one who woke us up this morning. Usually, she sleeps until we rouse her, but today she was buzzing with excitement to play and got up on her own.
“Were you thinking about something?” Charlotte-san asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
As expected, her intuition was razor-sharp. “Yeah, something like that,” I replied vaguely.
No way could I admit I’d been wondering if Charlotte-san had a strong… drive. Her head tilted curiously, and she studied my face. She could be oblivious at times, but she was usually quick to pick up on things. I had to keep my expression neutral.
“—Onii-chan, aren’t we going yet…?” A small tug on my sleeve pulled my attention downward.
Emma-chan stood there, clutching a soccer ball, her cheeks puffed out in dissatisfaction. Right, we’d promised to play soccer at the park today. Her waking up early wasn’t just about playing—it was because soccer was involved. Lately, it’s been her obsession.
“Sorry, let’s go,” I said, smiling.
“Yay! Carry me!” Emma-chan nodded vigorously, spreading her arms wide.
“We’re just going to the park nearby today, so let’s walk, okay?”
“Muu,” she pouted, but she understood.
I’d been having her walk more to strengthen her legs, and though she protested with a pout, she obeyed. Of course, I couldn’t refuse her too often, or she’d get frustrated, so I balanced it by reading her mood. Eventually, she might not need me to carry her anymore.
—No, that thought actually felt a little lonely. Is this what a dad feels watching his daughter grow up?
Hand in hand, the three of us headed to the park together.
◆◆◆
“—Onii-chan, I’m going…!” Emma-chan called out, raising her right hand energetically to check with me.
She was really getting the hang of this. “Anytime you’re ready,” I replied.
“Okay! Here…!”
From a distance, Emma-chan kicked the ball with enthusiasm. It landed perfectly at my feet.
“Nice, that was perfect,” I praised.
“Ehehe,” she giggled, beaming with pride.
How many five-year-olds could kick a soccer ball with such control? This kid was a bundle of talent.
“Emma-chan, wanna try kicking it back directly next?” I suggested.
“Hm?” She tilted her head, puzzled.
“Just kick it,” I said, figuring it’d be easier to show her. I passed the ball to her, and when she kicked it back, I returned it directly, landing it right at her feet.
“Whoa…!” Emma-chan clapped her hands in delight, her eyes sparkling at the ball’s unbroken momentum.
Her reactions were always the best.
“Next, Emma’s turn…!” she declared, fired up, and passed the ball to me.
I considered returning it directly but decided to stop it first, as usual, before passing it back. And then—
“Ah…!” Emma-chan, putting too much force into her kick, sent the ball veering off in the wrong direction.
“Pretty tricky, huh?” I said, jogging to stop the ball before smiling at her.
Her cheeks puffed out in frustration. “Muu…”
“It’s okay, you’ll get the hang of it in no time,” I reassured her.
If she could aim a stopped ball accurately, she’d figure out direct kicks once she got the feel. Emma-chan would probably nail it fast.
Sure enough, after about four direct kicks, her shots started stabilizing. By the third try, she was already making small adjustments, clearly grasping the sensation. We kept kicking the ball back and forth, like playing catch, until she was satisfied.
Playing with her like she was my own daughter was just so much fun. Losing this happy time was the last thing I wanted.
…A fiancée, huh.
“—Good work out there,” Charlotte-san said, handing me a water bottle as Emma-chan and I returned to the bench for a break.
Just watching must be boring, but she never showed a hint of complaint—she was truly an amazing girl. “Thanks,” I said, taking the bottle.
“Emma too, here,” she offered, holding out another bottle.
“Nuh-uh,” Emma-chan refused, shaking her head and looking at me.
She was probably waiting for me to sit down.
“Emma-chan, staying hydrated is important, so drink even if you’re not thirsty, okay?” I said, settling next to Charlotte-san.
Emma-chan climbed onto my lap and glanced at the water bottle in Charlotte-san’s hand. “Mhm,” she nodded, then held out both hands as if to say, “Gimme the water bottle.”
As always, she was such a good listener.
“—Is something worrying you?” Charlotte-san asked suddenly.
“Huh?” I blinked, caught off guard.
“You were thinking about something while playing soccer, weren’t you? And earlier, when we went back to our rooms, you seemed deep in thought too.”
True, I’d been thinking about something earlier, but it was different from what was on my mind now. Both were hard to explain, though.
“Just a bit sleepy, that’s all,” I said, dodging the question.
“Should we go home and take a nap?” she offered.
“—!”
A nap was an incredibly tempting idea. If I napped, Emma-chan would probably join me, and there was a chance Charlotte-san might too. That’d be way too perfect. But—
“Onii-chan, next, juggling…!” Emma-chan tugged at my clothes, her eyes sparkling with eagerness to keep playing soccer.
“Emma, we’ve only rested a little. You need to rest properly,” Charlotte-san said, looking troubled by Emma-chan’s boundless energy.
“I’m fine…!” Emma-chan insisted.
Even if she said she was fine, those around her might still worry. But it was cool today, and she wasn’t sweating too much, so it should be okay to start again soon.
…The three of us napping together would have to wait.
“Alright, let’s do a bit more—”
“—Yo, looks like you’re having a blast, Akihito,” a voice called out, cutting me off.
I turned to see a guy I hadn’t seen in years, grinning cheerfully. “Riku…”
Kannagi Riku—the most famous soccer player of our generation—stood before me.
“Don’t be so on guard. I’m not here to pick a fight or anything,” he said, raising his hands.
I didn’t respond, my eyes shifting to the person next to him. Shimizu-san stood there, looking awkward. What was their connection?
“Shimizu-san… so that’s how it is…” Charlotte-san murmured, her eyes narrowing sadly, as if she’d pieced something together.
“Sorry…” Shimizu-san apologized, her expression guilty.
What was going on?
“I’m sorry, Akihito-kun,” Charlotte-san explained. “About an hour ago, Shimizu-san asked me on a chat app what I was doing, and I told her we were at the park playing with you guys.”
So Charlotte-san realized Shimizu-san had asked because she planned to show up here. She didn’t seem surprised by Riku’s appearance, so she likely knew he and Shimizu-san were connected. Was Shimizu-san Riku’s girlfriend?
“Why’d you come here?” I asked, my tone cautious.
I knew of Riku’s success, but we hadn’t seen each other in years. Even if I remembered his old personality, people change. More importantly, with my current issues with the Himeragi conglomerate, I couldn’t afford to trust anyone too easily. You never know where a trap might lie.
“I told you, don’t be so wary. I’m really not here for anything bad,” Riku said, his tone earnest. “I just… heard from Akira that you’ve finally started moving forward, so I came to talk. About something important.”
I couldn’t sense any deception in his demeanor. Riku had always been a pure, soccer-obsessed guy.
“Muu…” Emma-chan puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Riku with dissatisfaction, likely upset that our game had been interrupted.
Noticing, Riku flashed her a friendly smile, but Emma-chan turned away with a huff, toddling over to Charlotte-san and burying her face in her legs. She was definitely sulking, convinced I wouldn’t play soccer because of this intruder.
“She’s super honest, huh…” Riku chuckled.
“It’s your fault for showing up without warning, Riku,” I shot back.
“If I’d contacted you beforehand, you wouldn’t have met me, right?”
He had a point—I probably wouldn’t have. I’d been avoiding people from my middle school days as much as possible.
“What’s this important talk about?” I asked, curious.
Riku glanced at Charlotte-san. “Can we talk alone?”
It seemed like something he didn’t want her to hear. Since I didn’t know what it was about, that was probably best. It’s not like it was about the fiancée thing, right?
“—Riku, I don’t know what you’re gonna talk about, but… keep your promise to me, okay?” Shimizu-san said, glaring at him.
Riku gave a reluctant smile and nod, suggesting some drama had unfolded before they arrived. Calling him by his first name implied they were close. Were they really dating?
“Um… Shimizu-san, is it okay if I explain?” Charlotte-san asked, noticing my curiosity about their relationship.
“Ah, well, yeah. I mean, since we’re here together, there’s no point hiding it…” Shimizu-san laughed awkwardly, her gaze wandering.
So she’d been keeping it under wraps until now.
“Aoyagi-kun, we’re cousins,” she said, her eyes meeting mine with a serious expression.
“Cousins…”
That explained why Shimizu-san had been so hostile toward me—it was because of Riku. Still, I’d never fought with him, so her hostility didn’t fully add up. The world felt surprisingly small. At least it clarified why Charlotte-san was curious about Riku—she’d known about his connection to Shimizu-san.
“Alright, now that things are clear with Arisa, shall we move somewhere else?” Riku suggested.
“Yeah, sure. Charlotte-san, take care of Emma-chan, okay?”
With that, I stepped away with Riku, staying within the park so I wouldn’t be too far from Charlotte-san and Emma-chan.
“—So, what’s this important talk?” I asked.
“You can probably guess why I’m here, right?” Riku said, his tone teasing.
“I’m not a mind reader, you know,” I replied, furrowing my brow.
“Haha, fair enough. There’s only one reason I’d come to see you, right? I’ll cut to the chase. Come join my team,” he said, holding out his right hand.
He hadn’t changed a bit.
“You know I quit soccer, right?”
“I know. But you’ve started moving forward again, haven’t you?”
“Sure, I’m moving forward, but…”
“Then let’s do it together. Your greatest strength is your brain and knowledge. A break from playing doesn’t matter.”
Riku had been overestimating me since we first faced off. Because of that, even when he lived in Hiroshima, he’d show up at my place during practice breaks, usually to recruit me. Oh, and he used to message me incessantly back then.
This guy was persistent as hell.
“Sorry, but I’m not planning to play soccer. If I had any intention, I’d be on the same team as Akira by now, right?”
“Yeah, I figured you’d say that.”
“Then that’s the end of—”
“—But, are you sure about that?” Riku’s tone lowered, his eyes searching mine.
“What do you mean?” I turned back, on guard, sensing an unusual vibe.
“That girl… she’s not someone introduced by the Himeragi conglomerate, is she?”
My stomach twisted. Riku knew enough about my situation with the Himeragi conglomerate to guess where this was going.
“I heard from Arisa, but she seems to really adore you, huh? And you care about her a lot too. I bet the reason you’re not going pro is because it’d cut into the time you spend with her, right?”
“So what if it is?”
“Don’t play dumb, you know what I mean. To stay with her, you can’t keep following the Himeragi’s orders.”
He wasn’t wrong. The Himeragi president didn’t approve of my relationship with Charlotte-san. Given Riku knew my position, it wasn’t hard for him to piece it together.
“A regular guy going against the head of a major conglomerate? You’ll just get screwed over for life,” he continued.
“So, become a pro soccer player?”
“At the very least, our team’s owner is a rival to the Himeragi conglomerate, so you won’t have to worry about pressure. If you’re serious about a future with her, shouldn’t you think carefully about your options?”
He was sharp, as always, despite his pretty-boy looks. Realistically, defying the Himeragi president would bring their full weight down on me, potentially affecting Charlotte-san and Emma-chan too. But if I succeeded in soccer, Riku’s team owner might shield me. As long as I was useful, I’d be valued—same as anywhere.
“That incident—most people in the soccer world probably know about it. They wouldn’t let me join, would they?”
“I’ve already talked to the coach about that. I can’t go into details, but you’re not the kind of guy who’d ruin a team, and I said I’d take responsibility if anything happens. The coach was already interested in you, so it was an easy sell.”
“Even if the youth team coach agrees, it’s the first-team coach—the pro coach—that matters. If they don’t approve, it’s impossible.”
Even if I excelled in the youth team, I couldn’t move up without the first-team coach’s approval, meaning no pro career.
“Oh, right, I didn’t mention. I’m getting promoted to the first team next season. So, naturally, I talked to the first-team coach. Well, he used to be the youth team coach, but still. It’s impossible to put you straight into the first team, but if you perform in the youth team, he’s promised to promote you.”
I was stunned. I knew Riku was talented, shining as the ace striker for the generational national team. But getting promoted to a J1 League title-contending first team while still in high school? That was insane.
“Congrats—but if that’s the case, don’t you have better things to do than hang around here? You’ve got a brutal fight for a starting spot coming up, so shouldn’t you be practicing? Plus, you’ve been getting a ton of media exposure lately, so what’s—”
“Hey, hey, don’t change the subject. For me, getting you on the team is more important than my own practice. There’s no way I’d let someone with the nickname ‘The Ruler of the Pitch’ slip away,” Riku said, flashing a grin.
In response, I groaned. “No, don’t bring up that nickname…! You guys are just messing with me, aren’t you!?”
I couldn’t help raising my voice. Apparently, it had spread beyond my old teammates, and it was giving me a headache. Seriously, who came up with it? It was practically character assassination. The bitter memories tied to that cursed nickname made my blood boil.
“I think it’s a cool nickname,” Riku said.
“How is it cool!?”
“Whatever. More importantly, we’re ready to welcome you, so think it over seriously. For your cute girlfriend’s sake too, right?”
He glanced at Charlotte-san, who was talking with Shimizu-san on a bench. My eyes followed, and I locked gazes with her perfectly. She’d probably overheard our conversation. That girl had freakishly good hearing.
“…Yeah, let me think about it,” I said.
Riku had a point. To stand against the Himeragi conglomerate, I’d need a backer. I doubted my ability to go pro, but it was a valuable offer to protect my future with Charlotte-san. Still, aiming for pro meant dedicating nearly all my time to soccer, leaving little for Charlotte-san and the others. Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose?
“Heh, just getting you to consider it is a big win. If there was no chance, you’d have shut me down flat,” Riku said, chuckling.
“…Anyway, we’re done here, right? Let’s head back to Charlotte-san and the others,” I said, ignoring his amusement and starting to walk.
Then—
“Mhm…!” Emma-chan spread her arms, signaling she’d been waiting forever.
Knowing she wanted to be picked up, I gently lifted her.
“Oh, man, seriously?” Riku said, sounding troubled.
“What’s up?”
“Well, when the time comes, I’ll just edit her out. Alright, cheese!”
“Hey!?”
Riku threw an arm around me and snapped a selfie of the three of us with his phone’s front camera. I raised my voice in protest.
“Riku…!” Shimizu-san snapped, her usually calm demeanor giving way to irritation. She was kind of scary when mad.
“Both of you, don’t get so mad,” Riku said, unfazed.
“You’re doing too much on your own! We agreed you wouldn’t be pushy or cause trouble!”
So that was the promise Shimizu-san had mentioned. She was definitely a stickler for rules.
“It’s just one photo, no big deal,” Riku said.
“Can you say that looking at her face!?”
Shimizu-san pointed at Emma-chan, who I was holding. Emma-chan’s cheeks were puffed out, her glare fixed on Riku in clear displeasure. Yeah, that was the face of someone who totally hated him.
“This might be the first time a girl’s ever hated me,” Riku said, scratching his head.
“Enough with the ‘I’m popular’ bragging, just stop doing weird stuff. She doesn’t like being forced or loud noises,” I said.
“Got it, sorry. Uh—Emma-chan, right?”
“Hate you…!” Emma-chan pointed at him sharply, her frustration bursting out.
She’d been interrupted since he arrived, and her anger had finally exploded.
“There, there,” I said, patting her head to calm her while glancing at Riku, who looked a bit dejected.
“She’s just honest because she’s young,” I added.
“That’s not helping!?” Riku retorted, his eyes widening in surprise.
Well, I wasn’t trying to help. Grumpy, Emma-chan rubbed her face against my chest, likely bothered by the loud voice.
“If we’re done, I’m going home!” Shimizu-san said, slightly pissed, trying to drag Riku away by his arm.
It was probably the first time I’d seen her this mad. But Riku, despite his pretty face, was seriously built. No way a girl with less strength could move him.
“You’re not budging…!” Shimizu-san cried in frustration, struggling to pull him.
“Don’t be a jerk, just go with her,” I said, giving Riku a light push on the back.
“No, it’s not about being a jerk, I’m just not ready to leave yet…”
“Didn’t we finish talking?”
“Not that, it’s lunchtime, isn’t it? Since we’re here, wanna grab something together?” Riku invited, his smile carefree.
He had a clueless side, huh. I looked at Emma-chan in my arms.
“Emma-chan, you hungry?”
“Nuh-uh… Soccer…”
She wasn’t hungry and still wanted to play. Even if it was a misunderstanding, she’d taken a dislike to Riku, so it was probably best we didn’t hang out together.
“Sorry, maybe next time,” I said.
“…Got it,” Riku replied, surprisingly backing off easily.
Had he finally sensed it was a bad idea to get on Emma-chan’s bad side?
“Sorry, Charlotte-san, Aoyagi-kun, for interrupting your fun,” Shimizu-san said.
“No, you’ve always been so helpful, so please don’t worry about it,” Charlotte-san replied maturely, smiling.
They must’ve patched things up while I was talking with Riku.
After that, Shimizu-san and Riku left, and Emma-chan and I went back to enjoying soccer.
◆◆◆
“—Hey, Charlotte-san. If I said I was going to aim to be a pro soccer player, what would you do?”
After Emma-chan fell asleep, while Charlotte-san sat on my lap, I brought up my conversation with Riku. I wanted to discuss things openly.
Charlotte-san, seeming to have her own thoughts, slid off my lap, straightened her back, and looked at me. “Seeing you play soccer, Akihito-kun, would be really cool, and I’d want to watch. But—if you’re only doing it out of obligation and not because you want to, I’d be against it.”
Her directness caught me off guard. She’d never opposed anything so straightforwardly, not even at school. I could tell she was serious, but there was probably more to it. She’d definitely overheard my talk with Riku.
“Akihito-kun, please lie down,” she said suddenly.
“…Huh?” I blinked, thrown by the request.
“Please,” she insisted, her expression earnest.
Unable to refuse, I lay down as she asked. Then—
“Your head, here, please,” she said, gently guiding my head onto something incredibly soft.
Wait, this was…
“For once, let me be the one to spoil you,” Charlotte-san said, her cheeks flushed as she gazed down at me.
I was getting a lap pillow from her. My heart swelled with ridiculous happiness. …Was it okay to turn my face and rest my cheek against her thigh?
“Um… could you say something…?” she asked, clearly embarrassed by my silence.
“Sorry, I was just kinda surprised,” I admitted.
“You’re always the one spoiling me, so…”
As she spoke, Charlotte-san began stroking my head, her movements gentle and careful, though slightly ticklish.
“I know you’re always thinking about me and Emma, Akihito-kun. I also know things are tough with your family situation right now. But—please don’t ignore your own feelings. As I’ve said before, if there’s a problem, let’s think about it and overcome it together. And—”
She paused, leaning her face close to my ear. As a result, a very important part of her pressed firmly against my face. She didn’t seem to notice, though.
“I… just being with you, Akihito-kun, is enough for me. I don’t need anything else.”
Her whispered words, soft and warm, brushed gently against my ear.
The pressure on my face eased, revealing Charlotte-san’s face, flushed a vivid red.
My own cheeks likely mirrored hers, burning with the same heat.
Those murmured words carried such weight, such power.
—Of course, studying was impossible after that. Instead, I found myself curled up with Charlotte-san, drifting into sleep in her embrace.
