Protection

"Can we leave now?" - Ryosuke asked irritably, looking at his older brother.

"Hahaha, sure, let's go! I'm starving, let's stop at a restaurant first!" - Kyosuke laughed, nodding as he got up and began walking toward the bleacher steps.

"Fine..." - Ryosuke muttered, following his brother. The boy clearly wasn't in a good mood, as his older brother had insisted they stay until the end of the awards ceremony, meaning he'd had to watch all his former teammates happily receive their medals.

---

Outside the stadium, near the Shoto Junior High School bus...

"Mom, is Bro really going to come by here?" - Little Yumi asked excitedly, looking up at her mother with big blue eyes.

"Yes, dear, he should be coming soon." - Aiko answered gently, glancing at her phone. It had been about five minutes since she spoke to Shun on the phone, so she knew her son should be arriving any minute.