The simulator screen faded to black, and Yuto sat there in silence, his breath ragged, palms sweating. The Blue Ridge Descent was far from perfect—his turns were tight, his altitude management off—but he had flown. For the first time in years, he had allowed himself to leave the ground, even if only virtually.
He closed his eyes and let the silence wash over him. It didn’t feel like triumph. Not yet. But it didn’t feel like fear, either.
That meant something.
The next morning, Sora was waiting for him by the school gates, arms crossed and one eyebrow arched.
"You were in the simulator last night."
He blinked. "How did you—"
"Coach Amano told me. He said your landing was a disaster, but you didn’t crash."
Yuto looked away. "It wasn’t a big deal."
Sora shoved his shoulder lightly. "It’s a huge deal. You flew."
Her smile was annoyingly radiant.
"So?" she pressed. "What’s next?"
Yuto hesitated, but then he gave a small nod. "I want to fly again. Not just simulations. The real thing."
Her eyes lit up. "Yes! I knew it. We’re going to tear the sky apart, you and me."
Coach Amano wasn’t surprised when Yuto approached him after classes.
"You’re sure?" he asked gruffly, arms folded.
Yuto met his gaze. "Yes. I want to train again. Seriously."
Amano nodded slowly. "Then let’s get to work."
Over the next two weeks, the school hangar transformed into their second home. Yuto began physical conditioning again—endurance runs, balance drills, and high-altitude breathing exercises. He relearned how to feel the wind, how to anticipate lift and drag, how to respond to sudden changes in weather and weight.
Sora trained beside him, tireless and passionate. She challenged him constantly, never letting him settle. Together, they improved at a pace that amazed even Amano.
Despite her recklessness, Sora had an uncanny intuition for flying. Where Yuto calculated every move, she flew by feel. But as she absorbed his knowledge, she grew sharper. Faster. Her instincts fused with precision.
They began flying tandem in a two-seater glider on weekends at the local training field.
On their first flight together, Sora let him take the controls halfway through.
"Welcome back to the sky, Captain Yuto," she said with a grin as they soared over the forest.
He didn’t reply. He was too busy listening—to the wind, the hum of the wings, the sky whispering its familiar song.
He was flying again.
One evening, after an especially long flight, they sat on the hood of Amano’s van watching the sunset.
"You really were amazing once, weren’t you?" Sora asked.
Yuto shrugged. "I don’t know about amazing. I just loved flying. Still do."
"Your dad… you talk about him like he was a legend."
"He was. To me, at least."
Sora tilted her head. "Was it your idea? The Spiral Phoenix maneuver?"
Yuto flinched. "Yeah. I begged him to do it. He said yes… and then he didn’t come back."
There was a long pause.
"You blame yourself."
"Wouldn’t you?"
Sora looked at the sky. "If I did, I wouldn’t be flying. I’d be sinking. And that’s not what he’d want."
Yuto stared at her, then nodded slowly. He didn’t have words, but something inside loosened, just a little.
The day of the local qualifier arrived with a crisp blue sky and a steady tailwind. The airfield buzzed with energy—gliders being towed, teams preparing, checklists reviewed. Shiratori High had entered two competitors: Sora and a senior named Riku Hamasaki, a tall, quiet boy known for his mechanical precision.
Yuto stood beside Sora as she prepped her glider.
"You sure you’re ready?" he asked.
She grinned. "Only one way to find out."
Amano approached. "Riku will go first. You’re second, Sora."
They watched as Riku soared through the sky, executing every move with cold perfection. He landed with a flawless glide, earning nods from the judges.
Then it was Sora’s turn.
She strapped in, winked at Yuto, and launched.
The glider arced into the air like a phoenix, cutting through wind and sun with a grace that turned heads. She danced through the course, her movements smooth but daring, every risky maneuver executed with practiced boldness.
As she approached the Spiral Gate—the final obstacle before landing—she hesitated. It mimicked the Spiral Phoenix, albeit on a smaller scale.
Yuto’s breath caught in his throat.
She dove.
The spiral was tight, fast, dangerous—but she held it.
Then she pulled up, wings trembling but intact, and soared across the finish line.
Cheers erupted.
Yuto exhaled, realizing he’d been holding his breath.
When she landed, she was shaking with adrenaline.
"Did you see that?!" she beamed.
"You were insane," Yuto said. "But brilliant."
The results were announced that afternoon. Riku placed first. Sora placed second.
Both were going to the Skyfire preliminaries.
That night, the team celebrated with ramen at a local diner. Amano even cracked a rare smile. Sora was practically vibrating with joy.
"Next stop—Skyfire," she declared, raising her chopsticks like a sword.
Yuto smiled, but quietly. His heart felt full but restless.
He wanted more.
Later, walking home under the stars, Sora turned to him.
"You should compete too."
"I’m not ready."
"You flew today. I saw it in your eyes—even from the ground."
Yuto didn’t answer. But he looked at the sky.
The stars didn’t look so far anymore.
[End of Chapter 3]
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