The late evening air outside the gym was cool but faintly humid. The sound of sneakers scraping the pavement mixed with the low hum of streetlights overhead. Noboru, Shino, Hayato, Liam, and Makoto clustered briefly near the school gates before parting ways, their voices overlapping in tired, frustrated and cheerful tones.
"Ensure you text me when you get home, guys!!" shouted Nanaho, her voice echoing faintly down the street as she waved her hand high.
Noboru glanced over his shoulder but didn't bother responding. His steps grew quicker, hands shoved into his pockets.
"There's no way I'm texting that monster," he muttered under his breath, low enough for no one to hear. His brow tightened slightly. "She's already so annoying and demanding too much during training, so no thanks."
The group scattered in different directions. The sound of footsteps faded as the quiet of the evening settled in.
The train rattled along its tracks, humming in a steady rhythm. Its interior smelled faintly of steel and cleaning solution, the overhead lights flickering softly. As the train reached the third stop, Takahiro, Tetsuo, and Tomoe stepped out together, the faint chime of the station bell following them.
"See you later, Takahiro," said Yukio through the open doors before they closed.
"Safe travels, everyone," Nanaho called, raising her voice slightly as the train slid away, its noise fading into the distance.
The three of them stepped onto the quiet street outside the station.
"Yukio, isn't it great?" Nanaho exhaled deeply, letting out a relieved sigh. Her lips curled into a soft smile as she shifted her bag on her shoulder. "We didn't just find a talented center—we've got a solid point guard now too. I'm honestly so happy for you… I can't wait for the season to start."
The faint hum of the departing train echoed behind them, and Yukio's gaze lingered on the dimly lit tracks for a moment.
"Yeah… me too." His tone was calm, but there was a flicker of anticipation in his voice. "For the first time in years, we actually have a team that can stand toe-to-toe with the Four Pillars."
Nanaho nodded, her steps slowing as if the weight of her next words needed room. "You're right. It won't be easy, but we can do it." Her voice softened slightly, thoughtful. "The Four Pillars of the Interhigh preliminaries… they haven't changed for over five years." She glanced at Yukio, her expression firming. "First, there's Yokonan High. Then Jyoyo High. Seiho High School. And, of course, the one no one's ever toppled… Shibuki Technical."
A cool breeze rustled past them, carrying the faint smell of the nearby station.
"For Yokonan High," Nanaho continued, her brows knitting slightly as she recalled each detail, "they've got Takeshi Kayano, Keichiro Yamada, and Kogure Kobayashi. Jyoyo High? Basically a one-man army led by last season's top scorer, Azuni Obini. Seiho High are the titans—Kiba Matsuoda, Ryouma Osaka, Ryouhei Ikagami. And finally…" She exhaled slowly. "Shibuki Technical. The foreigner, Noah Inozawa. The Sukuma twins, Koji and Kujo. And their captain… Jun Uozumi. We'll have to get through all of them to reach the Interhigh."
Her voice lingered in the air, heavy with the names that carried history and pressure.
Yukio stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if picturing each opponent in his mind. The faint sound of their footsteps filled the pause.
"…Yeah," he said finally, his tone firming. "But the only way to take them down is to push forward with zero fear. No hesitation. No doubt that we'll win. We fight until the final whistle."
Nanaho looked at him, and for a brief moment, the quiet night felt sharper—like they were already standing on the edge of that battle.
Their voices faded into the distance as the street grew quieter. The soft glow of the station's lights dimmed behind them, replaced by the faint orange hue of scattered streetlamps. Takahiro glanced at a narrow lane that branched off ahead, his steps slowing.
"I'm headed this way, Tetsuo." He turned, lifting a casual hand in farewell. "Since Tomoe is heading in your direction, why don't you walk her home for me?"
Without waiting for an answer, Takahiro stepped into the dimly lit lane. His figure disappeared quickly into the shadows, leaving only the sound of his retreating footsteps.
A stillness settled between Tomoe and Tetsuo as they continued forward. Their footsteps echoed softly on the pavement, mixing with the faint buzz of cicadas hidden in the trees. The air was cool and quiet, heavy with the scent of distant rain that hadn't yet fallen.
Tomoe's hands were clasped loosely in front of her. Her gaze remained low, fixed on the uneven sidewalk. She bit her lip slightly, glancing at Tetsuo from the corner of her eye before looking away again.
Several minutes passed in silence before her voice finally broke through, soft and hesitant.
"…Thank you, Tetsuo," she mumbled, barely above a whisper.
"For what exactly?" His voice was flat, steady. His gaze didn't waver from the path ahead.
Tomoe blinked, a small flicker of surprise crossing her face. She hadn't expected him to hear her at all.
"For today," she said after a brief pause, her words carrying quiet sincerity. "It was really great. It's the first time in a very long time that I felt at ease. You weren't lying—everyone was really nice, and I got to read my books without anyone whispering my name. And also…" Her voice softened, faintly nostalgic. "…I enjoyed watching the team play basketball way more than I expected. My older brother used to play basketball here at this school. I'm not really a fan of the sport, but when he played, it gave me chills."
Her pace slowed slightly. She glanced at him briefly, her expression faintly wistful. He didn't look at her. His steps stayed even, his face unreadable.
"And also…" Tomoe continued, her voice quieter now. "For some reason, the way you played today and how you shot the ball reminded me so much of my older brother Hiroki… when he used to play in junior high and his first year at Toshigawa Academy. I was stunned by how similar the two of you played. To the point where I couldn't look away from the court for the entire session."
"I see," Tetsuo replied, his tone unchanged. "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed watching me and the rest of us play. You're free to come by the court anytime you feel like it."
Tomoe's lips curved into a faint smile. "I definitely will. Thank you."
"And what about your older brother Hiroki?" Tetsuo asked, still expressionless. "Where is he now?"
Tomoe's smile faltered. Her eyes lowered slightly, and she hesitated for a beat too long. "…Well, he's…" Her words trailed off, quiet. Then she looked ahead and straightened slightly. "Well, it looks like I've reached the lane where my house is. We can discuss that another time."
"I can walk you to your gate. I don't mind," Tetsuo said, his voice the same calm tone as before.
"It's alright. I can take it from here." She gave a small wave, forcing a polite smile. "Thank you so much for walking me. You have a long way to walk, so get moving. Good night."
She turned and stepped into the quiet side street, her figure slowly swallowed by the dim glow of scattered streetlights.
Tetsuo stood still for a moment, his eyes fixed on where she disappeared. His face betrayed no reaction. After a quiet breath, he turned and began walking, his footsteps steady and deliberate.
The faint hum of cicadas filled the silence.
Near Tomoe's house, a figure shifted from the shadows. The streetlamp above flickered faintly, revealing only the outline of a boy leaning slightly against a wall.
A slow, unsettling smile curved his lips as he whispered to himself, voice low and deliberate.
"I'm back, Tomoe…" His eyes gleamed faintly under the weak light. "…I wonder if you've missed me."
Tetsuo reached his house after a quiet walk. The door creaked softly as he slid it open.
"I'm home, Usagi," he said in his usual calm tone, slipping off his shoes without hurry.
The faint scent of miso soup still lingered in the air, now slightly cooled. The living room was dim except for the soft glow of the TV's standby light. Usagi lay curled up on the couch, breathing lightly, her blanket half-slipped from her shoulders.
Tetsuo stepped closer and crouched beside her. "Usagi, wake up. You'll catch a cold if you sleep out here." His voice remained even as he gave her shoulder a light shake.
Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first. "…Big brother…" she mumbled, yawning. A thin line of drool clung to her chin.
She rubbed her eyes lazily, then pouted. "Where were you? I was waiting… we were supposed to eat dinner together. I even made your favorite."
"Sorry about that." Tetsuo straightened slightly, his tone unchanged. "I walked Tomoe home. That's why I got back later than usual."
Usagi blinked at him, suddenly more awake. "Wait, Tomoe? You mean that girl you mentioned before? The one from the literature club?"
Tetsuo gave a small nod.
"I see…" Usagi leaned back on the couch, a faint smile forming. "So you two are still on good terms. That's good. You know, when I think about it… you've been different lately."
He glanced at her silently, waiting.
"When I was walking her home," he said finally, "she looked… at ease. Her eyes brightened up again. But…" He paused briefly, his voice still flat. "I asked her something that clearly hurt her. I could tell from her silence."
Usagi sat up fully now, hugging her blanket. She let out a soft sigh. "Jeez, big brother… this side of you—this caring, overthinking side—it's what I wanted to see for so long, but now that it's here, it's… kind of troubling."
Tetsuo remained expressionless, saying nothing.
She leaned forward, her tone more teasing now. "Since you're clearly thinking about her nonstop, why don't you just ask her out already? Go on a date. If the way she's acting bothers you that much, then show her you care."
"And you think that'll work?" he asked, his voice still neutral, as if weighing her words.
"Of course it'll work!" Usagi said firmly, her eyes narrowing with confidence. "She's not made of stone. Just… pay attention to what she likes. Make that the heart of the date. Simple."
There was a short pause. Tetsuo finally nodded slightly. "…I see. Thanks, Usagi. I'll do that."
Usagi smiled faintly, relaxing back into the couch.
—
Meanwhile, in her room, Tomoe sat on the edge of her bed, a book open in her lap. The soft rustle of the pages was the only sound in the stillness. Her lamp cast a warm circle of light, leaving the corners of the room in shadow.
But as she read, her mind drifted away from the words. It went back to the gym earlier that day—the sharp sound of sneakers on the floor, the rhythmic bounce of the ball, the clean swish of a perfect shot.
She paused mid-page. Unbidden, memories of her older brother Hiroki surfaced—his carefree laugh, the way his hands moved effortlessly when he dribbled. A faint ache settled in her chest.
Her phone buzzed suddenly on the nightstand, breaking the quiet.
She picked it up. A message.
"Hey, are you still up?"
Her fingers hesitated briefly before typing back.
"Yes. I'm reading a book right now."
The reply came quickly.
"Good. Are you free on Sunday? I want to bring you somewhere."
She stared at the screen for a moment, blinking. Then she typed carefully.
"By somewhere… do you mean on a date?"
There was a short pause. Then the next message appeared.
"Not exactly what I was aiming for, but… yes, if you want to call it that. Meet me at the train station this Sunday at ten. Goodnight."
Tomoe lowered the phone slowly. The glow of the screen dimmed as the room felt quieter again. She could feel warmth creeping into her cheeks.
"…What's wrong with me?" she murmured softly, touching her cheek with her free hand. "Why am I getting so flustered… over being asked out by my junior?"
She let out a quiet breath, then buried her face into her pillow, muffling the small, restless sound that escaped her.
Outside her window, the night deepened, the faint hum of the streetlights and distant cicadas the only reminders of the world beyond her room.