"If that's the case... How about taking a break? It's already morning," Hibari suggested.

"Mmm, just a little more! I'm almost done with this stage!"

"I guess it can't be helped."

 Hibari laughed as he got up. (Once he starts, he never listens.) Today, they were alone together after their discussion with the others. Toki had left early due to a report deadline, and Mitsuru had to work early the next day. (When was the last time it was just the two of us?) As he grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the kitchen, a cry of despair came from the living room.

 "Darn it, I was so close, but I got beaten..."

"Good effort. Here, have some water."

"Nah, it's fine. There's still some beer left."

 "Having a little water might help your body break down the alcohol faster."

"Oh, right."

 Tsugumi accepted the glass and drank it all at once.

 "Darn it...!"

"Well, it's just a game."

"And yet, Hibarin, you practice so much too."

"I guess I have to, to stay ahead of you, who started later."

"But we're in the same boat!"

 They both burst into laughter.

 "Oh, by the way, Hibari. What was that you were looking at on your phone earlier? You said, 'What is this'?" Tsugumi asked.

 "Oh, that... I received an email from Tobichan... it's this."

 Tsugumi took a look. "The 'DigPro Big Sports Day Announcement'... seriously?"

 "I wish they would stop with these seasonal events. I finally became a non-student..."

"It's fine! We'll win as Team Inkuro!"

 "Well, of course I'd want to win if I participate, but I hate anything that requires cooperation with others. I dislike being compared to others and being tested by them. So, no matter how much I hate it or how much trouble it is, I have to be excessively prepared because that's my nature, and it's painful."

 "I think that's amazing, you know? That side of you. I can't do anything like that at all."

"That's not true. If you put it in Tsugu-chan's words, it's just that you don't want to admit defeat."

 Hibari was really trying to say, (I don't want to be told I'm unnecessary), but he couldn't bring himself to say it all of a sudden.

 "I'm not going to lose."

 Tsugumi suddenly said, looking at Hibari with a determined gaze.

 "Hibari, you've been winning all along. After all, you became friends with Mitsuru and met me and Toki."

"Tsugu-chan..."

 —Even though I said I'm not feeling good today.

 He wanted to say that, but the words wouldn't come out.

 "And also, 'Identity'."

 Please, hold off on that topic.

 But of course, Tsugumi didn't wait for him to say anything.

 "We're awesome for making Akane sing that, right?"

 Being told something like that directly and face-to-face really made him uneasy.

 (Because recently, my tear ducts are weak. Really weak.)

 So, he clenched his back teeth and endured, repeated the restraint, and then whispered softly,

 "....Sports Day."

"Hm?"

"I want to throw a ball at Akane during the ball-tossing event."

 While saying something childish, he turned his head away and took a deep breath. Tsugumi narrowed his eyes and smiled.