Airi stepped up first, her ponytail swaying as she walked across the court.
The squeak of her shoes cut through the steady thump of basketballs around them.
She stopped in front of a tall player who was dabbing sweat from his face with a towel, the faint smell of soap and sweat hanging in the air.
"So you're the coach of the team, right? It's so great that you're training with them even though you're older," Airi said, her smile bright as she held her notepad ready.
The faint squeak of sneakers echoed behind her, punctuating the pause in her words.
The boy blinked, pausing mid-wipe. Sweat glistened on his forehead under the gym lights.
"Um… I'm actually a player. I'm in my third year of high school," he said, shoulders sagging slightly as he set the towel aside.
Airi's eyes went wide, her pen hovering above her notepad. "What? Really? I'm so sorry!"
He chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "No worries. I get that a lot."
Airi cleared her throat and jotted a quick note, the tip of her pen scratching sharply across the paper. "So, what's your name?"
"Takahiro Morikawa," he replied, brushing a strand of damp hair from his face.
"So, Morikawa, how long have you been playing on this team?" she asked, tilting her notepad slightly toward him.
"I've been playing for two years, going on three now," he said, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Okay. Has this team been successful in any of its matches?" Airi's pen hovered, ready to record his answer.
Takahiro offered a small, confident smile. "We haven't played any official matches yet, but I'm sure we can go all the way this time around."
A few steps away, another player spotted a girl with long black hair standing near the wall, her notebook tucked under one arm.
He bounced the basketball once, then tucked it against his side as he jogged over.
"My name's Noboru Takemoto. And what's yours, beautiful?" he said, flashing a wide grin.
"You can just call me Yuri, like everyone else," she replied, her tone polite but cool.
"I must say, the name Yuri truly suits that divine face of yours." His grin widened as he leaned forward slightly.
"Um… thanks, I guess," she said, forcing a small smile. She already regretted making eye contact.
Hoping to steer the conversation back on track, she asked, "So then, what position do you play on the team?"
"I play every position!" Noboru declared proudly, puffing out his chest. "Someone as talented and versatile as me could never be limited to just one."
Yuri suppressed a sigh, watching him puff out his chest like he owned the court.
This guy is absolutely full of himself, she thought, tightening her grip on the notebook. He's not even close to six feet tall. I don't know what kind of fantasy he thinks he's living in, but he's completely delusional.
Meanwhile, Airi moved on to another player, recorder in hand. She held it out carefully, her notepad tucked against her side.
"So, Nakajima, do you think this team has what it takes to reach the Inter-High?" she asked.
Hayato stood tall, shoulders squared, his expression calm. He gave a steady nod.
"Of course we do. As long as we prepare properly and put in the work, I'm confident we can make it."
Airi shifted the recorder slightly closer and jotted a quick note. "How long have you been playing with the team?"
"Well, this should have been my second year," Hayato said, lowering his gaze for a moment. "But I suffered a serious injury during a practice match. I had to miss the whole tournament because of it. This year, though—I'll make up for it."
Airi's pen slowed mid-scribble. Her eyes softened. "You were injured in your first year? I'm really sorry to hear that."
"Don't worry about it," Hayato replied with a small, relaxed smile. He straightened his posture as if to prove it. "I'm fully healed now."
Across the court, Kanae adjusted her glasses as she approached the team captain.
She stopped in front of him, clipboard tucked casually under one arm.
"You're the captain of the basketball team, Yukio Hamaguchi, right?" she asked.
"Yes," Yukio said with a short nod.
Kanae pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "How do you think this team will fare in the upcoming basketball tournament?"
Yukio's expression grew serious. He crossed his arms, pausing before answering.
"If I'm being honest, Toshigawa Academy's team will probably only make it to the fourth round at best. We're decent, but we don't have enough players to rotate properly. Stamina could become an issue, and… there's always the risk of injuries."
"You're also forgetting that you need at least seven players just to qualify for the tournament," Kanae pointed out, adjusting her glasses.
"Yes, I'm aware," Yukio replied evenly. "I already have an idea of what needs to be done."
In the far corner of the gym, Shino kept bouncing the ball between his hands in a steady rhythm.
Sweat slid down his forehead, dripping onto the polished floor.
The chatter and laughter of his teammates faded into background noise.
I don't have time for their interview, he thought, narrowing his eyes at the basket. If I rest now, I'll never catch up to Tetsuo. Noboru seems to be enjoying himself, though. I'll just keep practicing.
From the sidelines, Rie clutched her notebook tightly, her fingers damp against the cover.
Her eyes stayed fixed on Shino, and her heart pounded against her ribs.
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "Um… hello, Ka… Katsuragi," she stammered, her fingers gripping the edges of her notebook.
Shino paused his dribble, letting the ball rest against his foot, and turned toward her. "Oh, Morioka. What are you doing here?"
"Well… I'm part of the newspaper club," she mumbled, staring at the floor to avoid his gaze.
"Oh, I see. I didn't know that," he said, giving a small, neutral nod.
"If it's not too much trouble… ca… can I interview you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shino's expression softened further. He gave a small, reassuring nod, though he felt a faint tension in his chest he couldn't hide. "Sure. Go ahead."
Back near center court, Noboru kept bouncing the ball energetically.
"Did I mention I was a great basketball player in middle school? I scored thirty points in my debut game. Even I was shocked at how amazing I was!"
Does this guy even have an off switch? Yuri thought, her jaw tightening. She shifted her weight on the balls of her feet, trying not to roll her eyes. He's the most annoying, self-centered person I've ever met.
She glanced over toward Shino, eyes widening.
"Huh? Rie is actually interviewing someone?" she muttered under her breath, barely moving her lips.
Rie, still a little flustered, lifted her notebook and asked, "So… what's your favorite color?" Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of the cover.
Shino raised an eyebrow, a faint flush creeping onto his cheeks. "That's not really related to basketball, but my favorite color is orange. There's actually a funny story behind it. Want to hear it?"
Rie nodded quickly, her eyes lighting up. She leaned in slightly, as if drawn toward him despite her nervousness.
"One time, I was helping my father paint my cousin's room yellow," Shino began, shifting the basketball slightly under his foot as he spoke. "He was rushing me for more paint, so I mixed some—but I accidentally spilled another color into it without realizing. When my father started painting, the color turned out orange instead of yellow."
He chuckled softly, scratching his cheek. "He got so angry that he threw the bucket of paint at me. The paint wouldn't wash out for weeks, and from that day on, everyone called me 'Pumpkin Head.' That's how orange became my favorite color."
"Haha! P-pumpkin head? That's… that's such a funny name!" Rie giggled, covering her mouth as her earlier nerves melted away.
"Yeah, that name stuck with me until junior high," Shino replied with a soft chuckle, scratching his cheek.
Yuri raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a sly smirk.
Wait… what? Could it be…? Rie's… interested in him? Huh… how interesting…
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?!" Noboru suddenly shouted, waving his hands like a madman.
Ugh… this guy is impossible… Yuri groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Uh… I-I need to go interview that guy over there now, so… please excuse me!" she said, backing away quickly, flustered, and practically bolting out of his line of sight.
"Oh, okay! If you want more details, you can listen after you're done!" Noboru called after her, waving both arms energetically. His basketball thumped against the floor with each step as he jogged in place.
Yuri exhaled sharply, letting her shoulders drop. Finally…
She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she turned toward her next target.
"Um… excuse me…" she said, her voice trembling slightly. She tapped the notepad against her leg, the sound echoing in the gym.
Tetsuo didn't even look up.
The basketball hit the rim with a sharp clink, then swished perfectly through the net.
His sneakers squeaked against the polished floor as he pivoted for another shot.
"Can I ask you a few questions?" Yuri tried again, taking a small step closer.
This time, his eyes flicked toward her briefly, just long enough to acknowledge her presence. Then he returned his gaze to the hoop, resuming his shots with the same calm rhythm.
Yuri sighed, her chest rising and falling quickly. She glanced at Tetsuo, who didn't even spare her a moment of his time, and muttered under her breath, Yeah… he's totally ignoring me. Rude.
As the interviews wound down, Kanae straightened her glasses and addressed the team one final time.
"Thanks for your cooperation," she said, snapping her notebook shut with a sharp clack!
She tapped the side of the notebook with her pen, eyes narrowing slightly. "Fukazawa, I'm going to need an overall medical report for each of them so I can make the article more detailed. Make sure it's done, alright?"
Stepping back, she gave a brisk nod and a small smile. "See you guys around! I'm expecting great things from you this year. You may be a small team, but if you've got the guts to fight, you'll be alright!"
Her shoes squeaked softly against the polished floor as she turned and strode toward the exit.
"S-see you later, Katsuragi," Rie murmured, her voice barely audible. She hugged her arms to her chest, feeling her legs go slightly weak.
Shino turned toward her. Without thinking, he reached out and gently took her hand, his fingers brushing against hers.
The basketball thumped quietly behind him, but it felt distant in that moment.
"Call me S… Shino. And… if it's okay with you, can I call you Rie?" He spoke softly, shifting his weight slightly, hands relaxed at his sides.
"Ye… yes, Shi… no. See you tomorrow," she stammered, cheeks burning bright red. Her heart thudded in her chest, and she fidgeted with her fingers, trying not to look at him directly.
He held my hand! He actually called me Rie! And I… I called him by his first name… Shino. I'm so glad… this is like a dream come true! Rie thought, cheeks burning as she pressed her hands lightly against her face, her heartbeat thudding in her ears.
Yuri walked beside her, smirking with an exaggerated tilt of her head.
"Whoa! That's the first time I've ever seen you this talkative—and with a guy, no less! Wait… don't tell me… you've got a crush on him?"
"Wha… what?! No, it's not like that!" Rie yelped, pressing her hands against her flushed cheeks.
"I'm right on the money, aren't I?" Yuri teased, leaning closer with a sly grin, one eyebrow raised.
"No! Quit jumping to conclusions!" Rie stomped lightly, a little squeak escaping her as she spun away.
"But you're as red as a tomato," Yuri pointed out, nudging her shoulder playfully. "What else am I supposed to think?"
"I am not! And lower your voice—he'll hear you!" Rie hissed, glancing nervously over her shoulder.
"Yes, yes, your secret is safe with me," Yuri said, hands raised in mock surrender, smirking.
"It's not a secret! Just stop, please!" Rie shouted, hopping in place as her cheeks burned even hotter.
Meanwhile, Noboru strolled over, bouncing the basketball lightly under one arm, and gave Shino a firm pat on the back.
"Shino, I didn't know you were such a playboy," he teased, grinning broadly.
Shino straightened, brushing the pat off casually, his expression calm. "What do you mean? We're in the same class—you know we're both the class representatives."
"That's not how I see it, but okay," Noboru said, shrugging with a playful smirk.
Yukio clapped his hands sharply, the sound echoing across the polished gym floor.
"Alright, sorry for the delay, everyone. Let's get back to training."
The thump of basketballs resumed, louder now, echoing with squeaks of sneakers on the polished floor as the team picked up the pace, the gym alive with energy and anticipation.