The girls at Hachioji Academy had just finished an intense series of drills. Their sneakers made soft, quick sounds against the polished court as they stepped away from the baseline. Warm air clung to their skin, the scent of varnish and sweat faint in the gym. Their breaths came out in light, steady rhythms.
Sayaka ran the towel across her forehead, strands of hair sticking to her cheek. Her gaze moved slowly across the court.
"Haruko is not here… that's a bit strange." Her voice came out low, carrying a trace of unease.
Kazue crouched down and tugged lightly at her shoelace, the faint creak of the floor echoing beneath her. Her eyes shifted toward the gym doors, where the light from the hallway spilled in softly.
"That's true… she never misses training. Not even once," her voice came out quiet, the words carrying a small trace of surprise.
Suzume stood with her towel hanging loosely around her neck, her face calm and eyes steady on the court. The faint hum of the ceiling lights filled the short silence before she spoke.
"Even if she was sick, she would still come... and train until she fell," her tone was flat, giving away neither praise nor worry.
Kotone tilted her head slightly as she drank from her water bottle, the faint click of the cap breaking the quiet. She let out a short breath before speaking.
"Hey, are you forgetting that time she skipped training and school to watch the Yokonan practice match?" Her tone carried a light teasing edge as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Why are you all so surprised now? Maybe she just went on a date with Kawaguchi."
Sayaka's brows lowered a little as she looked toward Kotone. The faint sound of her shoe touched the floor once.
"Maybe she is only late, you know? Why do you always think in that way, Kotone?"
As the girls talked, the gym doors opened with a low creak that echoed through the quiet hall. Haruko walked in, her warm-up jacket hanging loosely over her shoulders. Her steps were steady, her face calm and hard to read.
Instead of going to the locker room, she went straight toward Coach Maeda, who was standing by the bench, pen moving across a small notepad.
Sayaka watched Haruko walk across the court, her fingers holding the towel a little tighter. A small wrinkle showed on her forehead.
What is it, I wonder… Haruko's face looks so serious, the thought moved quietly in her mind.
Haruko stopped in front of Coach Maeda. The sound of a ball rolling somewhere in the gym touched the quiet air. Her hands rested neatly at her sides.
"Coach… may I please take one day off from training today?"
Her voice came out a little careful, the words moving slowly.
"There is something important I must do. Tomorrow, I will train double to make up for it."
Coach Maeda lifted her eyes from the notepad, blinking once before giving a small nod. The pen in her hand stopped moving.
"I don't mind. You have been working harder than anyone, after all." Her tone was calm, steady, almost gentle.
"Thank you for coming to tell me first. Please take care of what you must, Haruko."
Haruko gave a short nod. "Okay… thank you, Coach."
Her voice was quiet as she turned and began walking toward the door, the faint sound of her shoes brushing the floor.
Kazue straightened suddenly, her eyes wide.
"No way… she really left?"
Kotone leaned closer, a small grin pulling at her lips as her elbow touched Sayaka's arm.
"See? I told you. She went on a date with Kawaguchi."
Outside, Haruko walked quickly across the quiet campus. The afternoon air was still, carrying the faint sound of distant voices. Near the fence, Usagi stood with her arms folded, her bag resting on one shoulder.
"Usagi… sorry for keeping you waiting." Haruko's steps slowed as she came closer.
"It's alright. I didn't wait so long," Usagi answered, a small smile touching her lips.
"That's good. Then… shall we go?" Haruko's tone was calm, and the two of them began walking side by side away from the school grounds.
At Toshigawa Academy, the gym was filled with the steady rhythm of a basketball striking the floor. Shino moved through a row of cones, his steps quick and light. Sweat slid down the side of his face, catching the light as he turned.
"Twenty-seven… twenty-eight… twenty-nine… thirty… thirty-one…"
His voice came out low between breaths, each word measured as he pushed his left hand to stay steady and firm.
The ball suddenly caught the edge of his fingers and slipped away, bouncing off a cone before rolling toward the sideline.
Shino exhaled through his teeth and jogged after it, the sound of his shoes scraping lightly against the floor. He picked it up, his palm damp, the rubber cool against his skin.
"Again," he muttered under his breath, wiping his forehead with the back of his wrist before starting the drill from the top.
From the side of the court, Nanaho stood with her arms folded, the clipboard resting lightly against her hip. Her gaze followed Shino's movements, steady and focused, not missing a single step.
Even when he makes a mistake, he doesn't stop to complain anymore… he just keeps going. He really has come a long way, she thought, her face composed while a quiet approval settled in her eyes.
Nearby, Yuri walked along the open corridor, her steps slow, one shoulder lowered beneath the weight of her school bag. The air carried the faint echo of bouncing basketballs from the gym.
Today was really tough… Her lips moved faintly as she muttered to herself, brow furrowed. I really have to start studying, or those surprise quizzes will crush me.
A small sigh escaped her.
These teachers keep talking about the future, about goals… The words trailed in her mind, heavy and dull.
"But none of that matters to me right now," she breathed out, the sound sharp in the quiet hallway.
Adjusting her bag, she kept walking—until her eyes caught sight of someone standing still near the open gym doors.
Wait… that's Rie? Yuri slowed her steps, blinking in surprise. What's she doing by the basketball gym… watching that boy?
She frowned lightly, curiosity pushing her forward. The sound of her shoes tapped against the floor as she approached.
"Hey, Rie!" Her hand landed on Rie's back with a soft pat, the sudden contact breaking the quiet around them.
Rie flinched, her fingers slipping against her phone before she caught it. She turned quickly, one hand pressed to her chest as a quiet breath left her lips. Her eyes lifted, the tension easing when she saw Yuri.
"Yu… Yuri, please don't scare me like that." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, the words uneven. Half of her face remained hidden behind the long strands of her bangs.
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I was just wondering." Yuri tilted her head a little, her brow lifting as her gaze shifted toward the gym.
"Are you here to watch Katsuragi practice?" Her tone carried quiet curiosity, light but probing.
"Shh!" Rie's voice came out in a rush as she reached forward, her palm pressing over Yuri's mouth. Her cheeks flushed, eyes darting nervously toward the gym. "Do you want him to hear us?"
Yuri blinked, her words muffled beneath Rie's hand. "Alright, alright, I get it…" She spoke against her palm, the sound faint.
When Rie slowly lowered her hand, Yuri exhaled. "But you come out here every day to watch him. Why not just talk to him, even once?"
"I can't…" The words slipped out softly as Rie lowered her gaze, the tips of her ears turning red. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her phone. She stared at the floor, one of her eyes barely visible through her long bangs.
Yuri watched her quietly. "Then… what do you feel about him, Rie?"
Rie's breath caught. "Well, that's—" Her voice trailed off, the rest of the sentence caught somewhere in her throat.
"Alright, everyone—seven-minute break!"
Nanaho's voice carried across the court, clear and firm. The sound of bouncing balls and sneakers gradually faded as the players began to relax, a brief stillness settling over the gym.
"We're really starting to work together now." Yukio stood with his hands on his hips, sweat clinging to his shirt. His breathing was still heavy, but there was a spark of confidence in his eyes.
"The plays Nanaho made… they'll be the key for us to win."
Liam let out a cheerful laugh, the sound bouncing lightly across the gym. "Yes, Captain! You're totally right!"
He straightened his posture, still smiling as he draped the towel around his neck.
"Coach's plays are really something. If we keep training like this, I'm sure we can win for real."
His tone was bright and earnest, his tall frame relaxed but respectful beside Yukio.
Tetsuo stayed silent, lowering himself to sit on the floor. The cool surface met his palms as he reached for his bottle, taking a slow sip of water. The faint sound of the cap twisting back into place filled the brief lull in the gym.
Shino ran his wrist across his forehead, his breathing steadying as he exhaled through his nose. A small, tired smile touched his lips.
From nearby, Takahiro leaned forward, hands resting on his knees, still catching his breath.
"Hey, Shino… can you go grab a drink for me from the vending machine?" His words came out between short pants, a hint of a grin in his tone.
Shino nodded, taking the coins from Takahiro's open palm. "No problem, I'll go get it."
Before he could step away, Hayato reached over and dropped a few more coins into his hand. "One for me and Liam too."
Shino's fingers curled around the coins, the metal cool against his skin.
"Hey, Tetsuo, want one as well?" Hayato's voice carried lightly across the court.
Tetsuo lifted his head just slightly, his face unreadable. "No." The word came out quiet, his tone flat as he looked back down at the floor.
"Okay, I'll be right back, everyone." Shino's voice carried as he jogged toward the gym doors, the sound of his footsteps fading.
Outside, Rie froze when she saw him coming. Her eyes widened, breath catching in her throat.
"Oh no… he's coming this way." The words tumbled out in a rush, barely above a whisper. What should I do…?
She pressed herself behind Yuri, fingers clutching at her friend's shoulders, her heartbeat quick and uneven.
"Um… you're from the newspaper club, right?" Shino slowed his pace as he neared them, rubbing the back of his neck. His voice carried a hint of nervousness.
"Are you here to take more pictures?" The words came out a little rushed, his eyes flicking away as a faint memory crossed his mind—the last time Yuri had snapped photos of him during practice.
"No, don't worry," Yuri replied, a small grin tugging at her lips. "I'm not here to take pictures of you today. I'm here because Rie asked me to. She has something she wants to tell you."
Rie froze. Wait—Yuri, no… please don't… Her thoughts stumbled over each other as her hands trembled, fingers tightening against Yuri's uniform.
Yuri gave her a gentle push on the back. Rie stumbled a step forward, her shoes scraping softly against the floor. Her head lifted, eyes wide, every muscle in her body locking in place.
Shino blinked, a faint crease forming between his brows, unsure of what was happening.