The first time Shiori called me in months, she asked if we could meet at the school’s tennis court. And when I showed up, she challenged me to a game.

“I’ve been thinking hard, you know,” Shiori said, her hand squeezing her racket, “how might I talk to you again after you betrayed me? It hurt, yes, when you spread bad rumors and got me out of the tennis club. But then, since you let out your worst for all to see, everybody became wary and eventually kicked you out as well.”

What she said stung—

Because every word rang true. I stabbed my friend in the back, then tasting my own medicine.

“Still,” Shiori continued, “it’s all over already, right? So I asked to see you today, since it’s the school holiday. How about we play a game just for good old-time sake?”

I didn’t want to.

“Hey, who knows?” Shiori said. “You might feel better if you beat me.”

That did it.

Before I knew what happened, my hand was already gripping hard at my favorite racket. And once the game started, I was in such a state of my hand that many of my shots ended up scoring.

But Shiori did not relent. She scored against me just then. “Forty-Thirty!” She declared.

I managed to win the next point. “Forty-Forty, Deuce!”

Now, either of us would need to win at least two more consecutively to win the game. Having run back and forth, my breathing became hot, and sweat ran down my back.

But I was still happy.

Win or lose, it didn’t matter, now that I played a game with my old friend once more.