Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817139558660048790/episodes/16818093076424027697
The venue is enveloped in a frenzy and many cheers can be heard. Both teams can be seen giving their all to each other with increasing intensity.
“Senpai!!!!”
“Nice pass!”
Suika drives through the opposing player. However, help from the other team comes out and blocks Suika’s course.
Suika did not miss the fact that the help defence had freed a teammate who had originally marked her.
The pass that Suika handled produced a complete free for her teammate’s senior teammate.
Senpai responded with a beautiful parabolic shot.
“Good!!!”
It didn’t hit the ring and a pleasant sound was heard as it went through the net.
This gave a five-goal cushion and soon the timer went off and they went into half-time.
At half-time, the players from high school gathered on the bench and the advisor summed up the first half of the game.
They tell the players which plays were good, which plays were bad and what they need to watch out for from their opponents in the second half.
Suika, Okai-san, and the senior who just made a shot, are listening to the teacher’s talk with serious expressions on their faces.
And when the advisor’s talk is over, they try to recover their strength until the buzzer rings for the match reunion.
In the meantime, the students were inspiring each other again.
“Suika! That was a good pass earlier!”
“Thank you! And nice last finish by the senpai too!”
“Alright, let’s keep it going in the second half!”
“Don’t drop back, put pressure on them.”
“Keep the rebounds down. We’ll box out.”
“Yes!”
The team that seemed so disjointed that day was not there.
Even the senior who had just made the last shot – Kawakami senpai who had been arguing with Suika – was communicating with Suika and praising each other for their own play.
—If they keep going like this, they will win.
Everyone’s eyes were shining with such hope.
Seeing Suika and the others like that reminded me of a few days ago.
◇
The day before I took Suika out to visit the cemetery.
I was working for another purpose.
I was waiting for the end of club activities, and I was going to the place marked by the future prediction.
“Kawakami-senpai and Nagai-senpai!”
I call out the names of the two senpai walking in front of me.
“Hey!?”
“Watch out!”
The two managed to avoid the cyclists coming from the corner because of my call.
The bicycle that almost hit the seniors was wearing earphones, or perhaps it passed by without noticing the seniors.
“That guy’s a psycho. Ignore him.”
“It’s true. I’m just saying, if you get hurt this time of year, what are you going to do about it?”
The two of them swore at the man on the bicycle.
After that, the seniors turned to me, who had called them by name.
“Thank you.
Who is he…? Do you know him?”
“No, I don’t know.”
Kawakami-senpai and Nagai-senpai, who were arguing with Suika, shook their heads at each other.
Well, we have never spoken directly to each other, so it’s only natural.
“My name is Ito, I’m in the second year. I wanted to have a little chat with you senpais”
“Eeeh~, you mean like picking up girls?”
“Hmm, not my type, but …… well, I could at least listen to what you have to say.”
It’s hard to deny that I’m getting excited on my own, but I didn’t come to meet them for that purpose.
“No, it’s about Suika.”
“……!”
“Oh, isn’t this the boy who pushed Suika up before?”
“Eh, does that mean he’s Suika’s boyfriend?”
They changed colour when I mentioned Suika’s name. And they also seemed to realise who I was.
“Yeah, what does this boyfriend-kun want?”
“Maybe you mean to complain about something?”
“No, I’m not her boyfriend. It’s not that I’m complaining, but I’d like you to come …… for a while.”
“Haa? I was just leaving.”
“Can you do me a favour and thank me for saving your life earlier?”
“”……””
Even though I’m not very good at it, I still ask for a favor, citing the fact that I helped them.
It seems that the seniors also have some thoughts about the help they received.
And they nodded at my request, as if they had no choice.
I walk a little with the seniors. Despite the awkward atmosphere, I brought them to the park where I had a 1-on-1 with Suika.
What I hear from there is the sound of bouncing balls.
“Suika …….”
“What are you doing here, in a place like this?”
The seniors are both surprised.
Today, the gymnasium was closed as soon as club activities were over because the teacher in the PE instructor’s office had some business to attend to.
Despite that, Suika, who had just finished practicing, was already practicing on her own at the park.
“Suika always practices here after club activities are over and the gym is closed. Even on days when there are no club activities, and even during half-day practices on holidays, she is here most of the time when she has free time.”
“…… So what’s your point?”
“No, I just wanted the seniors to know. Suika always gives her all.”
“……”
“It’s true that Suika might not be playing well at the moment. But she will definitely play well again. So please watch over Suika. I beg you.”
I bowed to the two seniors.
The silent pressure was felt by me.
“Let’s go home.”
“Eh, yeah.”
Without replying, the two seniors turned their bodies in the direction they had come from and left.
◇
Looks like it wasn’t all for nothing.
Not that I would have had to do anything like that, but it would have been fine. The look on Suika’s face now confirms that.
The second half started and the game resumed again.
If I look at Suika now, I can feel that she loves the game of basketball from the bottom of her heart.
It’s not a self-satisfied thing; she enjoys everything about it, whether it’s fighting strong opponents or aligning with her teammates for victory.
The way she hammered away was as bright as the sun, just like the first time I saw her.
And as the match entered the final stages, the score difference was only one point. They are about to enter the final possession with their opponents losing.
With seven seconds left, Suika’s team advisor calls a timeout and calls the final play.
How do you move as a team and how do you go about scoring? Who is going to shoot?
Everyone listens to the advisor, who is very serious and no one shows any signs of dissatisfaction with the content of the discussion.
Then the buzzer sounded to end the timeout and the final play began.
Kawakami senpai handles a pass from courtside and the captain receives the ball.
The captain dribbles and tries to break through.
Everyone thought the captain was going to go straight for the shot.
However, she does not miss a player who is free in a set of screens (where another player plays the role of a wall in order to strip a marksman from a particular player) that were taking place off the ball.
The captain’s eyes were on Suika, who was now free.
The ball is handled and is neatly placed in Suika’s hands.
Suika then shoots fluidly.
The shot drew a perfect, beautiful arc as usual, as if the marksman who came late was not in sight.
─ ─ Bass!
The ball did not hit the ring, but was sucked into the net. And at the same time, the buzzer sounded, signalling the end of the match.
────…….
For a moment, there is no sound from everything in the hall. And then -.
“””””Yaaahhhh!!!!”””””
─ ─ Wow!
─ ─ Amazing!
─ ─ Our High School won!
───It’s revenge for the prefectural tournament!
At that moment, the hall was filled with cheers that were almost screams.
All the players on and off the court embraced each other.
After praising each other for their good fights with the other team and finishing their greetings, everyone went to hug Suika at once.
“Hey, guys!?”
“That’s great, Suika!”
“You did a great job!!!”
“I’ve got goosebumps!”
“Yeah, I’m starting to cry ……”
Then Suika, who was buried by everyone, and I, who was watching from the viewing table, met eyes.
When she realised that I was watching her, Suika made a peace towards me.
“Haha.”
……Suika is a good fit for a smile after all.
I thought it was dazzling as it emitted light.
◆
Our summer was over after the last game with the current team.
The result was victory in the regional tournament. We lost in the prefectural tournament and missed out on the Interhighs, but this time we got our revenge in the regional tournament.
We, the sophomores and the seniors, were all happy at the best result we could achieve at the moment.
And then we cried.
On the way home from the tournament. We took the train back to Suwon, where the high school is located. It was already dark outside.
We heard greetings from the advisor and the seniors at a place out of the way at the station, and then we broke up.
It makes me sad to think that I won’t be able to play basketball with the seniors any more. I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to learn how to play better.
I was thinking like that as I watched the seniors.
“What’s with the scowl on your face?”
“Ka, Kawakami-senpai ……!”
The one who approached me like that was Kawakami-senpai, with whom I had an altercation.
I’ve always thought that she was harsh towards me, but ever since I heard her say bad things about me when I wasn’t around, I realized that she hated me.
I was very surprised to be approached by someone like that.
“You are good ……, don’t you?”
“……!”
“I think it was my fault. I was jealous of Suika’s basketball talent.”
“No, to such Suika….”
“Don’t say ‘such a what’, okay? Modesty can go too far and become sarcasm.”
“Sorry, …….”
“…That’s not what I wanted to say. Suika wasn’t talented. She worked hard. She loved basketball, and she finally understood that it was something she was built on. I understand.”
“Senpai……”
“So, that last shot! That was really cool.
Keep up the good work!”
“Uuuu, senpai ……”
I couldn’t help but burst into tears at the compliment from senpai, who I thought didn’t understand me.
“Hey, don’t cry! It looks like I made you cry…! Oh, look over there!”
“Eh, ……?”
Senpai pointed her finger as if she had found something. The one who was there was,
“Arase-kun ……?”
“Look, you have a boyfriend, so why don’t you go home with him? He praised you for your performance today.”
“H-He’s……!”
“It’s okay, it’s okay! Hey, you, junior!”
Arase-kun seemed to notice that he had been called, and looked at me with a slightly troubled look on his face.
…You don’t have to make that face.
I’m a bit baffled.
“Suika wants to go home with you, so go home with herー！! It’s dangerous in the dark!”
“Hey, senpai! you are being too loud!”
The other women’s basketball club members who noticed this screamed with delight, and under their warm gaze, I left the station with Arase-kun.
◆
“…..”
“…..”
Awkward. ……. How did this happen.
After watching Suika’s regional tournament final, I took the train back to our town.
I was a little tired after a long time away, so I thought I’d go home and get some sleep.
And yet, as soon as I left the ticket gate, I was tangled up with a senior member of the women’s basketball club.
Why is she still there? Even though the other side left first, …….
Moreover, it was the senior who had clashed with Suika.
I don’t understand women. They’re getting on so well with each other. ……
Because of that, for some reason, I ended up going home with Suika. Well, is it appropriate to say a few words of thanks here for the time being?
“You were tired, weren’t you?”
“Y-yeah…..! Thanks!”
It feels awkward. It doesn’t even look like the usual Suika. Let’s stop ……. I just got into an argument over this the other day.
“But I didn’t think we’d actually end up winning. And then there was the dramatic buzzer-beater at the end. That’s a bit too much, don’t you think?”
“Hahaha ……! I think so too.
But if you say that, then Arase-kun, too.”
“…… I’m what? What’s that about me?”
“Look, the ball game. Don’t you remember?”
“Oh, that was ……”
The ball game. I remember when we played the team from Nakashiro in the semi-finals.
Last possession. In a similar situation to today’s Suika, I fired a final reversal shot.
As a result, the ball bounced off the ring and we did not win the reversal.
After that, Nakashiro and his team won the championship.
Incidentally, on the women’s side, Yuri’s team made it to the final, but they lost normally against Suika, who was blown away.
Yuri was so frustrated. It was rare to see Yuri so regretful.
Even so, our class came first in the overall points and got the food vouchers.
“If it was dramatic, we would have to win, wouldn’t we?”
“Yes, Suika thinks so too. Usually don’t you win? In that scene.”
“Ugh. ……”
“See? I mean, you lost because you even made a one-sided promise to Suika, right? You said that winning would give you confidence…but you lost, Arase-kun.”
“Stop it! I’m so embarrassed! Don’t say it out loud! I’m embarrassed that I couldn’t do what I said even though I was dressed up like that!!!”
Finally, Suika also made fun of me.
“Haha, Arase-kun, your face is bright red.”
“Leave me alone!”
I’ll drag you out! If I get teased about this for a while, I’ll fall asleep!!
But I’m really glad. You’ve completely regained your energy. Dazzling.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, Suika’s like the sun.”
“Suddenly what?”
“No, I’m talking with myself”
“What’s that?”
After a series of such exchanges, we finally arrived at Suika’s house.
At last. ……. I’m a bit tired.
“Thanks, Arase-kun.”
“You’re welcome. Well, it’s no big deal to accompany you”
“No, it’s not that. I’m grateful to you for giving Suika so much energy. Bye.”
“…… Ou”
Suika says her thanks and puts her hand on the gate. There was no need to watch her enter the house, so I turned my back on Suika and was about to go home—-
“…… Eh?”
When I thought I heard footsteps, something touched my cheek.
I tilted my head towards the one that touched my right cheek.
There, I stretched as tall as I could and saw Suika, her face bright red and ashamed.
“Ehehe, I mean this as a thank you!”
“Than— ……”
I can feel my face going scorching hot.
Then, Suika declared to me who was still stunned.
“Suika won’t run away anymore. From myself and everyone around me. And… from Arase-kun too.”
“That’s ……”
“Because I love you! Arase-kun!”
“……!”
It was a pleasantly straightforward confession.
“That’s what it means! From now on, I’m going to give my all to basketball, and I’m going to give my all to Arase-kun too. Be prepared! ! Well then, good night! !”
Suika scuttled back to the front of the house again and went inside.
“…………”
No good. My head is still in turmoil. Suika is …… with me?
My heart is beating loudly at the first time I’m being told
I looked up at the sky, holding back my cheeks, which still had some heat left in them.
“Ah…….”
The starry sky, without a single rain cloud, announced the arrival of summer.
◆
I close the front door and cowering in place.
“Haa…… thought my heart was going to jump out.”
For the first time in my life, I made a confession. And for the first time I fell in love with someone.
When I realised that, I couldn’t hold it back.
“Ehehe …… like…….”
I mutter it again and realise it.
Then I immediately think about the person I love who I just split up with a while ago.
Arase-kun says that I’m like the sun, but that’s not true at all.
No. Arase-kun is the sun. I would say sunflower. A single flower desperately blooming towards the sun.
Watch me like that, okay? I’ll bloom more beautifully!
Determined to do so, I went inside the house.
It is another story that later on in the neighbourhood there was a rumour that I had a boyfriend, and my mother spoke kind words to me.
◆
It was really by accident. And the fact that I saw it. And that I met that person there.
“……”
My chest tightened.
(A/N :
It’s been a long time, but this is the end of chapter 3 (Suika chapter).
I am sorry that I have stopped updating many times since this chapter started.
However, I think I was able to write something satisfactory in the end.
If I had been able to plan it out a little better from the beginning, I might have been able to write something better, but I’m rather satisfied with the end.
Most of the heroines, including Arase, have sad and heavy pasts, but Suika is different. She is from a very ordinary family.
I think it is because of this that Suika was able to give light to Arase.
And Suika is the only one to whom Arase revealed his past, and the only one who confessed. Well, Yuyu is confessing too.
I want to accelerate the romantic colour from here.
Who was the last person she saw?
The next chapter will be about that person. silver-haired gal. Did you notice that she disappeared during the ball game tournament? There is a reason for this…
This gal also has a lot of past.
And then there’s the summer holiday ……. I’m hoping I can put this area together well.
I’ll try my best not to have too long a gap this time.
If you like, I look forward to your full feedback and reviews!
Thank you very much!)
(TL/N : Woaaah after years of break, finally author san finished 3rd chapter, and it has become a really good novel! Please look towards 4th chapter!!)
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