From that day forward, I quit basketball, never to touch another ball or set foot on a court again. The sound of sneakers squeaking against the gym floor, the rhythmic bounce of the ball, and the sharp blast of a whistle all became memories I pushed aside. The ache in my chest when I walked past the court near my house was a constant reminder of what I had abandoned. Although it was painful to stay away from such an amazing sport, I eventually adapted to the idea of not having it in my life.
I poured myself into studying. The long hours of reading under a flickering desk lamp, the scratch of my pen against paper, and the buzz of classroom chatter slowly filled the space basketball had left behind. I aimed for a prestigious school, one where my efforts might matter. Ironically, I chose Toshigawa Academy—the very same school Yukio once said we'd both attend so we could play together again.
"Hey, you two are freshmen, right? My name is Yukio Hamaguchi, a third-year and captain of the basketball team," said Yukio. He stood tall, voice confident but friendly, his hand extended with the ease of someone used to leadership.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Katsuragi Shino," said Shino. His voice carried a nervous energy. "I came here to ask if I could join the basketball club!"
"I like your energy. Sure thing, you can start training after school today," Yukio said with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. He then turned to me. "And you? Do you wish to join as well?"
"No, I'm not really a fan of the sport. I just followed him here so he could ask to join. Besides, it would be too much work for me," Makoto replied, keeping my expression neutral even though my heart tightened slightly.
That day, he knew exactly who I was, and I remembered the promise he had made. But without needing to say a word, he understood my silence. He didn't press me—not even once. A part of me wanted to step forward and say yes, but the weight of what happened in junior high held me back.
A day passed. The campus air was crisp in the mornings, scented with freshly cut grass. Makoto went through his routine—classes, homework, quiet lunches—until one morning, he bumped into Shino again.
"Um, Kurai, good morning," he said, his voice timid. He stood slightly hunched, clutching his bag strap tightly.
"Huh, oh, it's you. What do you want?" Makoto asked, blinking the sleep from my eyes.
"I heard that a mini-basketball tournament will be held for us freshmen this session."
"And what does that have to do with me?"
"Well, we need five people to play, and as you know, I'm really shy and introverted. You're the only person I've talked to since I started attending this school, so I'm asking if you could fill one of the spots, please!"
Shino looked like he might fold in on himself, voice cracking just a little. His cheeks flushed, and he shifted his weight nervously.
"Okay, okay, jeez, quit making a scene out of it." Makoto rubbed the back of my neck.
I didn't know what came over me, but somehow, he convinced me to take up a ball again.
The gym buzzed with energy that afternoon. The air inside was warm and slightly stale from all the movement. The wood floor gleamed under the fluorescent lights. As the ball hit his palm, a familiar jolt ran through his arm. Makoto dribbled once, twice. The bounce felt natural.
We were up against two seasoned players, and he played hard. His feet moved instinctively, cutting across the court with quick pivots and calculated plays. His breathing grew heavier, chest rising and falling as sweat dotted his forehead.
I was having fun. The thrill in my gut rose with every shot and steal. I tried to suppress it, to ignore the rush, but it was undeniable. Still, the scars from junior high lingered. Back then, my teammates had betrayed me, poisoned the very game I loved. I didn't want that to happen again.
Back at the school gate, Makoto and Noboru stood in silence. The afternoon heat clung to their skin, and the metal gate creaked gently in the breeze.
Shino sat on the ground, arms locked around his knees, shoulders trembling. He was still sobbing—quiet, sharp sounds that cut through the still air. His face was damp with tears, flushed, and tight with pain.
"I didn't know that all that went down in junior high, and I'm sure it would be hard even for me to trust a team based on such hypocrisy. But assuming that every team is the same doesn't make sense. It's a cruel way to block out good people who actually want to see you play. Take Yukio, for example. He's really a good captain, you have my word on that," said Noboru, standing beside me.
"You don't have to tell me that Yukio is a good captain, I already know. And the only way to move on from my hatred for them is to play basketball again, which is why I've decided to join the basketball team. So that I can get revenge on those bastards," Makoto said, his voice low, fists clenched.
"I promise that from this day forward, I won't cry anymore. I'll improve to the best of my ability and defeat Musashi High School with my own strength. That's the only way I can move forward from the trouble and pain they caused me," said Shino as he wiped his tears with the back of his hand, eyes reddened.
"So we all agree that we need to beat them. Let's make a promise that we'll take them down, the three of us," Makoto said. Their fists met in the middle, solid and united.
"Alright, let's head back, Shino. Our seniors must be worried sick about us," said Noboru.
"Let's bring these beverages back to the team," Makoto said, grabbing a few bottles and handing some to Shino.
"That's right, I almost forgot. My throat is dry and I'm thirsty. Give me mine," said Noboru as he snatched the apple juice from Shino.
"You are paying me back for that, right?" asked Shino.
"I'll pay you tomorrow, don't worry," replied Noboru with a grin.
Back at the court, Nanaho paced along the sideline. Her arms were crossed, her expression unreadable.
"Due to Noboru and Shino being late, we'll focus on free throws," she called out.
Takahiro stepped up first. The gym fell quiet. He bounced the ball twice, squared his shoulders, and released. One swish, one clang off the rim.
Hayato followed, adjusting his stance smoothly. Both of his shots sank with ease, the net snapping softly.
Liam shuffled forward nervously. His height gave him an edge, but his posture was stiff. The ball flew wide and thudded awkwardly off the backboard—twice.
Tetsuo and Yukio each approached with practiced calm and drained both their shots, the thud of the ball rebounding lightly back.
Nanaho narrowed her eyes.
"It's not like Shino to come back this late. I wonder what happened," Takahiro said.
"I wonder what's taking Shino so long, and Noboru isn't back from his stamina training. Should I be worried?" asked Yukio.
Nanaho's jaw clenched. "I know that something might have happened to Shino, so I'll let him off with something light. However, Noboru is going to wish that he was dead."
The doors swung open.
"Hey guys, we're back," said Noboru, stepping in with Makoto and Shino behind him. The scent of sweat and cold air followed them.
"Where the heck were you, Noboru? I just want you to know that something harsh has been plotted for you," Nanaho snapped.
"Oh please, not that. I have a really good excuse this time," said Noboru, raising his hands. "You see, Shino was buying the beverages like you told him to. However, he bumped into some of his old teammates from Musashi High, and he was in a pickle because they were saying a lot of hurtful things to him, so I had to go and help him. Okay?"
"So you're saying that players from Musashi High were picking on Shino, right?" asked Hayato.
"Musashi High is known for their defensive prowess and physicality, but what stands out about them the most is their dark personality. Trash-talking, insults—they will stop at nothing to get into a player's head," said Nanaho. "I'm glad that you stepped in when you did. Thank you, Noboru."
"And I see that you brought Makoto with you. Was he also involved?" asked Takahiro.
"Yes, I was. They were insulting me first, but Shino stepped in to try and help me. However, it only ended up making them pick on him. As for the reason why I'm here... I feel like I'm ready to fulfill that promise we made that day Yukio..."
He stepped forward, standing straighter than before.
"I will join the basketball team and play to the best of my abilities. Although this will be a pain and leave me absolutely drained, I believe that I'm ready to start."
"So you mean that we now have eight members?" asked Liam excitedly.
"Yeah, that seems to be the case," said Takahiro.
"Hi, nice to meet you again. My name is Liam Ainsworth. We played against each other in a gym match, remember?"
"Yeah, how could I forget someone with such a presence? I didn't know that you joined the team," Makoto said.
"Thank you so much for joining the team, Makoto. I look forward to playing with you," said Yukio with a smile that lit up his face.
"Likewise. However, I'll be starting tomorrow. I need to get some sleep."
As he turned to leave, Makoto glanced back at the court. The faint smell of polished wood, the distant echo of bouncing balls, and the quiet buzz of camaraderie—it all felt like home again.
Nanaho stood at the sidelines, arms still crossed but her lips curled into a smile. "I'm so glad for Yukio. Even though we couldn't predict this outcome, we now have such an amazing team. Now to work hard on preparing them for the upcoming matches."
The future didn't feel so uncertain anymore.