Although I don’t know the rules of American football well, I know that you have to carry the ball into the end zone at both ends of the rectangular field to win. Well, if you know this much, you know almost everything.

In the 1st quarter out of 4 quarters, Spring team’s offense began.

Whenever Spring’s offensive team caught the ball, Rowing’s defensive team quickly clung to them to stop their advance.

Seeing nearly ten players clinging to the opposing team’s quarterback like a zombie outbreak and tumbling around, I felt drained and tired.

“How can they break through the defense in that state? Their bodies must be covered in bruises after the game.”

As I said with trepidation, Michelle laughed, “Hoo hoo hoo.”

“You don’t know, Juno. That’s the charm of American football! Courage and hand-to-hand combat! And fast legs, strong arm strength, and intelligence are vital.”

“I don’t really understand.”

They run 120 yards wearing shoulder, knee, and elbow pads weighing several kilograms each, and helmets with sponges inside.

As it requires strong physical strength, the intensity of practice is also high, to the point where some even vomit in the middle. For skinny people like me, it was a sight that made me dizzy and drained just by watching.

Whether Victor’s words about them being rivals were true or not, the two teams fiercely restrained each other and fought physically to break through.

“It’s more intense than I thought.”

Even if I don’t know the rules well, there’s a charm to live sports broadcasts that somehow draws you in to watch.

Moreover, Victor, being the drama protagonist, seemed to be more skilled than others.

After switching between offense and defense, when our team went on the attack and Victor, the quarterback, decided to run or pass, the other team could barely keep up with his tail.

And after the 15-minute 1st quarter ended, there was a short break before the 2nd quarter started immediately.

After our team advanced to the end zone, Victor caught a ball that flew in from a long distance and entered the end zone, scoring 6 points with a touchdown.

Michelle captured that scene with perfect timing.

“No wonder college teams have their eyes on McQueen since his freshman year, right? He’s probably the most noticeable quarterback in the high school tournament.”

As I was blankly watching Victor’s play, Michelle said with a satisfied face. In short, the position Victor plays is said to be the most important position that leads the team.

‘I thought it was just the position that dates cheerleaders in high teen dramas.’

Absorbed in the game, I belatedly glanced at the seat next to me. Alan was watching the game without any particular reaction.

Rather, he seemed to have little interest in the game.

‘He doesn’t seem interested in sports, so why did he come? It’s not like he came to see me. He wouldn’t have known I was coming to the stadium…’

Alan was quite pretty for a boy, but if he didn’t smile sweetly like he did to his parents, he had a very cold impression.

Seeing his expressionless face made it feel like winter rather than spring.

‘Could it be that he’s in a low mood because of the email rebuke earlier?’

I randomly put some ice from the lemonade I bought at the stand into my mouth and rolled it around.

As I tried to focus on the game again while crunching the ice, I suddenly felt Alan’s gaze.

“What?”

When I turned my head immediately, Alan asked without even trying to hide his blatant gaze.

“Is that quarterback over there the one who gave you the ticket?”

“Yeah. Victor. He’s on the same dungeon team.”

“Boyfriend?”

“What?”

I narrowed my eyes and looked at Alan with an unpleasant face.

“It’s not like that. We just became close because we’re on the same dungeon-closing team. We haven’t even known each other for long.”

Why am I explaining this in detail?

“Ah, the Connecticut dungeon team.”

Alan mumbled softly and followed Victor with his eyes. Seeing his searching gaze, I said,

“Instead of staring blankly at my face, why don’t you cheer for your team too, Alan? It would be good if you went to the Spring seats to cheer.”

Alan looked at the field with an inscrutable expression.

Then he suddenly leaned his head on my shoulder.

“…?”

My eyebrows shot up to the ceiling at the light weight felt on my narrow shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

Although he asked casually, it was a question that caught me off guard.

Alan slightly turned his head to look at my face.

His large eyes rolled like marbles, seemingly taking in my eyes, nose, and mouth in order.

At that sight, I froze stiffly, regardless of whether people around were cheering or not.

Alan spoke in a low but clear voice.

“It’s not like you really see me as a man and feel uncomfortable. If it’s awkwardness from meeting after a long time, it will soon dissipate.”

“…”

“But it hurts if you keep pushing me away. Is it because I cut off contact first, like you said earlier?”

“That’s…”

“If you’re still bothered by it, I’ll apologize again. Juno. I’m sorry for not contacting you. But if you push me away too much, I’ll get hurt too.”

“No, it’s fine. That’s not…”

I turned my face forward, trying hard to glance at him with an embarrassed expression. Alan’s pale green eyes clearly reflected me.

I couldn’t figure out what emotion was reflected in his eyes.

Alan continued speaking without fluctuation in his voice.

“I don’t want to become awkward with you, Juno. I just want to be like we used to be. I liked how we were in the past, and I think we can go back to that time even now. Back to when we lent each other our shoulders.”

“…”

“If you’re angry with me about something, tell me honestly. I’ll fix anything and treat you better. Is there anything else that makes you uncomfortable with me?”

Looking at the handsome face that had suddenly come close, I unconsciously thought.

‘These actions right now…’

Without realizing it, my shoulders stiffened and my body became rigid. All the nerves in my body focused on the shoulder Alan was leaning on.

Then Alan, who had been looking at me with an expressionless face, soon grinned, showing his teeth.

And he raised his right hand and pinched my cheek gently.

“Uh, uh? (What?)”

“Relax your expression, Juno. I know you’re pushing me away because you’re a pubescent girl. You don’t have to be too conscious of me as a man. Think of me like an older brother.”

Alan burst into hearty laughter hearing my muffled pronunciation. A warm energy now swirled in his green eyes.

“…?”

Where did the stern gaze that had been looking down at me until just now disappear to?

Alan is a boy who strangely exudes pressure when he’s silent, but when he laughs heartily like this, showing all his teeth, both awkwardness and wariness disappear.

‘…Is this a high-level technique?’

Could it be the pretty boy tactic?

After letting go of my cheek, Alan pressed the cold ice cup against my cheek. Then he threw his gaze back to the field.

“You said that guy is also on a high school dungeon team, right? I’d like to have a conversation with him sometime?”

“With Victor? Why?”

“Well, it’s also the team you’re on…”

“…”

“I’m very interested in your dungeon team.”

Then he glanced at me and took the ade cup I had been pressing against my cheek, putting the ice inside into his mouth.

Alan had returned to his expressionless state when I stole a glance at him from the corner of my eye.

* * *

It was halftime after the 2nd quarter ended.

As soon as halftime started, a classmate who looked like a manager came and delivered a message.

“Hey, Victor wants you to come to the front row of the audience seats right now. He says he wants to talk?”

“With me?”

Why is he calling me when he should be memorizing tactics and strategies?

When I went down to the very front of the audience seats, I could see the cheerleaders putting on a performance.

And right below, Victor was standing.

“Why did you call me?”

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“What do you mean?”

When I asked, Victor looked at me with a displeased face and tapped the ground with one foot. However, he couldn’t open his mouth readily and had a sulky expression.

“Do I have to say it with my own mouth?”

“I don’t know, so you have to tell me.”

“…”

“What’s going on?”

Did he and I have something to talk about during the game?

After a long time of moving his lips, Victor blurted out.

“…I told you not to come with a guy.”

“What?”

“What’s with that guy next to you! That guy with black hair! I couldn’t concentrate on the game because you were sticking with him throughout the game! Even now, I couldn’t perform well because of you and we’re behind in score!”

The thunderous shout pierced through the cheerleaders’ chants and stuck in my ears. Ah, did he boil a train funnel and eat it…

‘What now.’

Trying hard to ignore the gazes fixed on us two, I said,

“Don’t misunderstand. Alan is just my childhood friend. We got in touch after a long time.”

“Childhood friend or whatever. I thought I gave you the ticket telling you not to come with a guy?”

“I kept my promise. Didn’t you see Michelle from the newspaper club on the right? I gave the ticket to Michelle and came with her. I didn’t bring Alan, we met by chance.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Why would I lie?”

At my answer, Victor’s expression, which had been fierce all along, softened a little. The narrowed space between his brows seemed to widen by about 1mm.

By the way, did he come to the audience seats without even wiping his sweat because of that?

No wonder, Victor now looked like a mouse soaked in rain due to sweat and water. Especially with his hair dyed gray, he looked even more like a pitiful sewer rat.

‘Where in the world would you find such a big mouse with a loud voice?’

Victor asked with a triumphant expression.

“So he’s not your boyfriend? The guy on your left.”

I’m hearing a lot of boyfriend questions today.

“Yeah, he’s not. There’s absolutely no possibility. He’s just a friend.”

Now Victor’s lips formed a complete curve. He couldn’t hide his satisfaction like a child.

With sweat, dirt, and makeup caked on his face. As if he had never lost his temper with me, he exclaimed cheerfully with his hands on his hips.

“That’s good then!”

“What’s good?”

“You said he’s not your boyfriend. That’s what’s good!”

“…”

I was at a loss for words at Victor’s response.