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Our team’s first game is over and I come back courtside for a breather.
The score difference is two points. We just barely beat the other side.
I missed a few shots, but it was still a good feeling for the first game in a while.
—It’s fun.
Even if it’s just a ball game, the tension is such that you can’t lose. The sound of a shot being taken, the feeling of overtaking your opponent.
All of these things made my heart race.
After all, I love basketball. I have to thank Suika again for making me face the game once more.
All that’s left is to keep going at this rate.
“Hey.”
“……?”
Someone spoke to me as I sat leaning against the gym wall, drinking a drink.
Who is this? I just need a bit more rest.
I suppress the feeling of being in a hurry and look up at the person who is talking to me.
The guy with a somewhat grumpy atmosphere is my opponent from earlier – Machida.
“What do you want?”
“What was that thing about earlier?”
“What was that?”
“How the hell did you get a shot like that!”
What on earth is he so angry about? But I can understand why.
The last shot I showed him…… it’s called a turnaround fade-away shot.
You dribble with your back to your opponent, turn around and shoot while flying backwards.
It’s one of the shots that those basketball gods were good at. I don’t think there are many guys who can do this, even if I say so myself.
And moreover, I did it, I’m not even on the basketball team. It’s a natural question.
“Because I practised it to death back in the day.”
When I was in primary school, I watched old NBA games at a friend’s house. I adored it and practised like that all the time.
For the past few days, I’ve been practising alone in the park to regain my senses.
It’s not perfect, but it’s still a powerful weapon, no doubt about it.
“Why you, who are not even in active service,…………, I won’t lose to you!”
After saying that, Machida-kun left.
I know how frustrating it is. Despite having such a long blank, I can still play so well.
I’m sure there is no active player who doesn’t feel something there.
“…… or rather, what was that declaration of not losing?”
You don’t have to play any more matches.
And in this league, only one team can make it to the final tournament.
I’m left with a weird question and I decide to relax until the next match starts.
◆
“Did you see that, Arase? You saw me make a spectacular shot!”
“Oh, I saw it, I saw it.”
“….. What kind of shot?”
“The ………… lay-up?”
“You definitely didn’t see that! I made a three-pointer!”
Lunch break.
The games were somewhat digested and in the afternoon it was only the final tournament.
We kept on winning and got into the final tournament.
Four teams are allowed to play in the tournament, which means the next match is the semi-final.
And from our class, it was decided that there would be two boys‘ teams and one girls’ team.
“I’m sorry. I’ll watch the match at lunchtime.”
“Hm! absolutely okay? Well, you don’t have to, because Arase have a game too.”
“Oh, I didn’t expect that. I thought you were going to tell me to definitely watch it.”
“Well, I’d like you to watch …but that would cut into your training time, and I don’t want to lose. ……”
“……”
I couldn’t help but feel unsteady. I don’t feel bad if you say something like that while blushing.
“W-Well, I’ll see if I can. I was busy with various things in the morning. Sorry.”
“N-No need to apologise! Besides, it was cool to see …… Arase playing basketball.”
“—“
The heartbeat becomes louder. My face becomes more and more embarrassed because I was told cool, and because I thought Yuri is cute too
“Um… Could you please stop flirting in front of me?”
“!!!???”
We come back to ourselves when he says that.
“…… Why are you here?”
“It’s okay if I stay since it’s lunchtime. Besides, Kurase-senpai is here too. You should complain more, too ‘Stop flirting in front of me’.”
“Hahaha ……”
“We’re not flirting.”
Yuyu suddenly appears and expresses her dissatisfaction. But I’m not particularly flirty.
And Kurase must be in trouble too.
“If that’s the case, that’s fine. But Senpai, it was so cool to see you playing basketball! I fell in love with you all over again!”
“Yes, yes.”
“Isn’t your reaction different from with Asagiri-senpai’s?”
“It’s just your imagination.”
Yuyu puffs out her cheeks in protest.
It’s true that even after Yuyu says something like this…I don’t get too excited.
Is it because she looks like a younger sister?
“But from my point of view, Ito-kun was very good. Even though his opponent was on the basketball team, he won. Were you an experienced player?”
“Well, I played a bit in the past.”
“That’s amazing.”
After all, the conversation with Kurase feels awkward.
“The next match is more important. Can you win? It’s Nakashiro’s team, isn’t it?”
“Yeah …….”
Yes, the next opponent is Nakashiro’s team, who are also in the same class.
We had an exchange before the game started, but we both survived.
But aren’t these things usually promised to be played in the finals or something?
“It’s tricky. Unlike us, they’ve got crushing victories over all the teams.”
“Huh, was Sasaoka there?”
“I am here!!”
I’ve seen other games, but I don’t think we can win normally.
Nakashiro’s team has the only basketball player on it, but as well as his own ability, they are also very complete as a team.
“There are former members of the basketball team on the other team, as well as guys who were good friends with Nakashiro in junior high school. The teamwork seems to be perfect. And Nakashiro doesn’t seem to cut corners, no matter who his opponent is, even if it’s just a ball game tournament. It looks like he’s really afraid that his fans will fall in love with me.”
“I don’t think so.”
I’m saying this, but to be honest, Sasaoka’s contribution is immeasurable. He’s a chirpy guy, but he’s quite athletic, not as good as the basketball team, but he had a certain amount of dribbling and shooting skills.
“I’ll be counting on you next time.”
“Yeah, we’re counting on you!”
“We’ll have to work hard too.”
“Yes, we can’t lose to Arase”
Yuri and Kurase were apparently full of spirit too.
“It’s the same time there, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. I wonder if the person who came up with this timetable is an idiot. If we, the three teams in four groups, had the same time, the cheering would be spread out!!”
“I’m surprised. Are you the type of person who wants cheering?”
“You don’t understand at all, do you, Senpai? Asagiri-senpai wants Senpai to support her.”
“…… Why?”
‘──Haa. Do I have to tell it? Listen? Asagiri-senpai is──”
“Aaahhhh, Mitani-san, what are you talking about!?”
“Eeee, Senpai-senpai is so naive, so I thought Yuyu would tell him.”
That’s a terrible thing to say.
“You don’t have to say anything unnecessary! A-anyway! Arase, concentrate on your own game! Okay!!?”
“I’ll do so even if you don’t tell me. I don’t know what you’re so impatient about. But it’s certainly a pity that I can’t cheer for Yuri and Kurase in your matches.”
“W-Why?!”
‘That’s because we’re in the same class and there’s a meal ticket at stake, so I’m sure I’ll cheer for you.”
“……”
“What’s with that face? ……”
“Senpai, you really can’t help yourself, can you? ……”
“Haha …… Ito-kun, that’s a bit ……”
Huh …… why are you all looking at me like that! Stop it!
“You don’t understand the heart of a girl at all, do you, Arase-kun? You’re such a……Gyaaaaaas!”
Somehow, I felt like I was being made fun of by Sasaoka imitating a blue cat-shaped robot, so I blindfolded him.
◆
Lunch break.
I was having lunch with Natsu. It was as if it was a lie that we had been awkward until the morning.
The trigger was Arase-kun.
We had seen Arase-kun play, and we were all talking about it.
“It’s really surprising that Ito-kun is so good!”
“Yeah! It was amazing!”
‘Our class was close, too, though. There was nothing we could do if he showed us a shot like that.”
“That’s right.”
The last shot that Arase-kun’s team made when the score was reversed.
I thought it was amazing for Arase kun to make such a difficult shot.
And the expression on Arase kun’s face when they were competing.
The serious and happy look in his eyes. I felt like I had seen him somewhere before.
I saw that kind of Arase-kun…
“───”
I remember it and my face turns red.
“But even so, I’m glad you’re feeling better. After all, a loving boyfriend is different.”
“B-Boyfriend?!”
“AhahaI’m only joking! I finally got to see that reaction!”
“Moouu Natsu’s an idiot ……”
It’s good that you’re getting better, but that’s not the same as this.
First of all, he’s not my boyfriend . ……. somehow, I’m bothered.
“I’m sorry about Machida, too. Why don’t you comfort him later?”
“Why does Suika have to comfort Machida?”
“See? don’t mind Machida~”
“…… what?”
“Anything.”
It’s the usual Natsu. She’s grinning happily by herself because I don’t understand. ……
“Next Ito-kun, he’s going to do it with Nakashiro right?”
‘Nakashiro,…… I’m sure they’re in the same class, aren’t they?”
“Yes, a showdown between the foru. Ito-kun was good, but Nakashiro is pretty good too.”
“Yeah. ……”
Nakashiro is in a class of its own on the men’s basketball team. He earned a place in the starting lineup from his first year and is now a player who has even been selected for the prefectural selection.
“Arase-kun, will he be alright ……?”
“Maybe the support from his beloved suika will be the key~”
“Yeah. …… I have to support him.”
“Orya? No response. ……”
“Even Suika understands that she’s being made fun of if she’s told that many times.”
“Boring.”
“We have a semi-final to go to, so we have to do our best there too.”
“That’s right. For now, let’s defeat our opponents quickly and concentrate on cheering for Ito-kun and the others.”
I nodded in agreement with Natsu’s words and, in order to motivate myself, I ate a hearty lunch before heading off to the afternoon match.
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