Haruko shoots another mid-range shot, and to her surprise, it swishes again. The net rattles softly in the morning breeze.
Encouraged, she quickly grabs the rebound, feeling the rough texture of the ball against her palms, and dribbles once before lining up another shot. This time, it bounces off the rim with a sharp clang, rolling across the slightly uneven asphalt toward the edge of the court.
She jogs after it, her sneakers scraping against the coarse surface, small pebbles crunching underfoot.
"I got the gist of it, but it seems like I need more practice to be consistent," Haruko said, picking up the basketball and feeling its worn, pebbled surface against her fingers. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, sweat prickling at her forehead and settling in the back of her neck from the effort of her shots.
"Yes, just keep working on it, and you'll be a great help to your team," Tetsuo said.
He stepped toward the arc, dribbling the basketball between his legs, then behind his back with fluid precision. His sneakers scraped lightly against the court as he stepped back and rose up. The ball left his fingertips cleanly and sank through the hoop with a crisp swish—a perfect shot.
Haruko's eyes widened slightly, her breath caught in her throat. So cool… this guy is absolutely amazing. It's not just that he makes shots—his form is so perfect, so beautiful. She thought, unable to look away from the smooth mechanics of his shot.
Tetsuo casually retrieved the ball, feeling its weight settle in his hands. He took another step behind the line, his sneakers scuffing lightly against the asphalt, and launched another three-pointer. The ball arced cleanly through the air, sinking through the hoop. The net barely shifted in the slight breeze.
"Since you're just staring, why don't we play a friendly one-on-one to seven?" Tetsuo suggested, holding out the ball. His grip was firm, and his eyes followed her, unblinking, as he waited for her response.
Haruko blinked, caught off guard. She felt her heart skip a beat and heat rise to her cheeks. "Oh, I'm sorry, was I that obvious?" she asked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah," Tetsuo replied, his gaze steady, his sneakers shifting slightly on the rough asphalt.
"I'm sorry about that. It's just that I haven't seen someone this good at shooting before," she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck where sweat had gathered from their practice.
"So how about it?" Tetsuo asked again, his tone flat, the ball resting lightly against his hip as he waited for her response.
"Oh, you're so on!" Haruko said, a determined grin tugging at her lips.
Tetsuo dribbled the ball sharply against the asphalt. Thump… thump… thump.
"I'll give you the ball first, but just because you just learnt how to score that doesn't mean I'll go easy on you." He flicked the ball toward her with a controlled bounce.
Haruko caught it cleanly, the rubber squeaking against her palms. She bounced it once, then again, feeling the weight and tension in her fingers. "That's fine by me."
She shifted her stance, knees bent, eyes locked on him. The faint scent of sweat and the hot asphalt filled the air. Her heart was already ticking faster, but her grip on the ball felt steady.
She dropped into a triple-threat position, knees bent, eyes focused. Without hesitation, she drove forward, dribbling between her legs, then behind her back. She stepped back quickly and launched a mid-range jumper.
Tetsuo sprang upward, hand extended to contest, but the ball sailed cleanly over his fingers and dropped through the hoop.
"I made it! I actually made it!" Haruko thought, her chest rising quickly as she tried to catch her breath.
Tetsuo caught the ball as it bounced back and passed it to her without a word.
"Beginner's luck. It won't happen again," he said calmly.
I'm not so sure about you, but I feel unstoppable right now, Haruko thought, gripping the ball tighter as her pulse quickened.
On the next possession, she drove forward with a burst of speed, her sneakers slapping against the court as she pushed toward the basket for a layup.
Tetsuo leapt with sharp timing, his shadow cutting across her path, and swatted the ball away, snatching it before it touched the ground.
I'm just realizing… this guy is like a giant with the way he jumps, Haruko thought as she landed, her shoes skidding slightly against the court. A faint sting ran up her calves from the sudden stop, leaving her stunned for a moment.
Now on offense, Tetsuo dribbled slowly, the steady thump of the ball echoing across the court. He lifted the ball in a shooting motion. Haruko reacted instantly, jumping to contest. But he sidestepped with ease, his movement fluid, and released a clean shot from beyond the arc.
The ball cut through the air and dropped through the net with a crisp swish.
I fell for his fake… but who wouldn't after seeing how well he shoots? she thought, her breaths coming heavier now as sweat beaded along her forehead.
Possession after possession, Tetsuo showcased his range and footwork. He slipped in a quick crossover, spun on his pivot, and sent another shot sailing from deep. The ball cut through the air and dropped cleanly through the net.
Haruko tightened her defense, her sneakers squeaking faintly as she pressed closer, but no matter how quickly she reacted, his form never wavered—every shot was smooth, efficient, and unshaken.
Eventually, the score reached seven.
Haruko bent forward, hands braced against her knees as she tried to steady her breathing. A thin line of sweat rolled down her temple, stinging slightly as it reached her cheek. "You're really amazing, Kawaguchi," she managed between breaths. Seven three-pointers in a row… if this were a real game, he would've scored twenty-one points.
"To be honest, you're a great player—decent handles, excellent defense, and now you can shoot," said Tetsuo, his tone genuine.
"To be honest, apart from not being able to shoot before, you're not bad at the sport—decent handles, excellent defense, and now you can shoot," said Tetsuo, his tone calm.
"Thanks for the compliment. You're not half bad yourself," Haruko teased, cracking a grin as she wiped sweat from her forehead with her wrist.
By now, the sun had climbed higher, casting long shadows across the court. Warm light spread over the faded paint of the three-point line, and the steady rustle of leaves carried on the morning breeze. Somewhere beyond the fence, a bird call broke the quiet.
"It's getting brighter… it's about time for me to leave. Thank you for teaching me," Haruko said sincerely, straightening her posture as her breathing finally settled.
"It wasn't really anything special," Tetsuo replied, picking up the ball casually and letting it rest against his hip.
"Well, it was to me. It won't just make me more reliable on the court and in games—it'll also make me a better overall player. I really appreciate what you've done for me. I can't thank you enough," Haruko said, her steps light as she started toward the gate at the edge of the court.
She stopped suddenly and spun back around, ponytail brushing her shoulder.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" she exclaimed, jogging a step closer. "Um… if it's okay with you, can we meet here again so you can give me more tips on how to improve?" she asked, her voice softening, a pink tint showing across her cheeks.
"Sure, I'll be coming here often, so why not?"
"Alright, great! Let's exchange numbers."
"Uh, okay," Tetsuo said, slightly caught off guard as he pulled out his phone.
They quickly exchanged contacts. "Thank you! Well then, see you later," Haruko said, her smile bright as she waved once before heading down the cracked asphalt path that led away from the court.
Later, alone on the court, Tetsuo stood beneath the hoop, dribbling with a slow rhythm. He drove to the rim with astounding speed and lifted the ball to the backboard. It bounced gently and dropped through the net. The ball landed softly with a thud and rolled to a stop.
Tetsuo stood still, his hands resting on his hips as he stared at the rim. His thoughts wandered.
"Join the basketball team for your own sake. I know you love the game. My well-being is what's holding you back from doing what you love, and I don't want to deny you that," Usagi had said, her voice firm yet gentle in his memory.
"But you're not. You're my responsibility," he had replied, his tone low, almost stubborn.
"I know that part of you yearns to play basketball again, which is why you haven't stopped playing all these years," Usagi had insisted, the words echoing in his head even now as the sound of the bouncing ball faded into silence.
Tetsuo exhaled quietly, sweat still clinging to his skin. Looks like Usagi was right… I do love playing basketball. Today was the most fun I've had in a long time… and yesterday's gym session too. Maybe… I really should join the team, he murmured to himself.
At the school entrance, the chatter of students filled the morning air. A group of girls stood gathered near the gates, excited voices rising over the noise.
"I went to karaoke last night with two of my good friends, and we met two members from the boy band The Seven Crimson Hearts," one girl said, practically squealing.
"Whoa, for real?!" her friend responded, jaw dropping.
"Yes! And they sang for me all night! Their voices were so angelic," the girl gushed, placing her hands over her heart.
"I envy you! Why didn't you call me?!"
"I even got one of their phone numbers," the girl said smugly.
"No way! Can I get it too?" her friend asked, bouncing slightly in place.
"Yes, you can—for five thousand yen," she smirked.
"Never mind. I don't have that kind of money to waste," her friend said, deflating.
"I thought you were a big fan of theirs, but I guess not," the girl teased.
As Tetsuo approached the school entrance, walking calmly with his hands in his pockets, Sachiko suddenly stepped into his path.
"Good morning, Kawaguchi. Can I talk to you for a bit?" she asked, trying to maintain a casual tone.
But Tetsuo walked right past her without even a glance.
"What the…? That's it!" Sachiko snapped in her mind. She jabbed forward and grabbed his wrist, the sudden contact making her pulse spike.
"Hey! What is wrong with you? Why are you avoiding me?" she demanded, her fingers tightening slightly on his arm. "Ever since the first day of school, you've been acting cold toward me, and I don't even know why. Did I ever do something to you?!"
Tetsuo turned his head just enough to meet her gaze, eyes narrowing. "Let go of me," he said, his tone quiet but sharp, the tension in his shoulders visible even through his calm posture.
Sachiko recoiled instantly, heat rising to her cheeks as she quickly released his hand. "Oh… sorry. I got carried away," she muttered, rubbing the back of her wrist as if to soothe the sting of his grip.
"There's something important I'd like to discuss with you," she added, her voice quieter now, and she shifted slightly to keep a safe distance.
"And why should I listen to what you have to say?" Tetsuo shot back, expression unreadable, the ball of his foot brushing against the pavement as he leaned slightly away.
"What's your deal?" she asked, frustration creeping back in, her voice rising again.
"Class is about to start. I don't have time for you or your problems," he said flatly, stepping around her and walking toward the entrance, his pace measured and unhurried.
Sachiko stood frozen for a moment, fists clenched at her sides, the morning chatter of other students washing over her.
That guy is really getting on my nerves. I thought he was someone I knew… but I guess I was wrong, she thought bitterly, her jaw tightening as she watched him go.