Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792435430255318
To cut to the chase—Nakajima kun was right.
The members of Class A weren’t just good. Not only me, but even Nakajima kun and the other basketball club members couldn’t compete with them at all.
And that difference was reflected in the score.
By the time the third quarter started, it was 18-104. …Literally, there was a huge gap in ability.
“…Ayata, pass!”
“Got it!”
In response to Kujou kun’s call, I made a sharp pass as best I could.
It went through, but…two members of Team A’s defense closed in on Kujou kun. Unable to move, Kujou kun had the ball taken away from him in an instant.
Immediately after, Team A connected a quick long pass to a shot, scoring again.
Cheers erupted from Team A’s cheering section.
On the other hand, Team B’s side…was in a situation that felt like a wake.
“Well…..I guess this is how it’s going to be.”
This isn’t even a game or a match anymore.
It’s just bullying the weak. Needless to say, we’re the weak ones.
(…No wonder Nakajima kun warned us.)
I heard we didn’t stand a chance.
But I never thought it would be this bad.
First of all, the speed of their passing was too different. Next was the pressure of their defense, and on top of that, the accuracy of their shots. In every aspect, there was an overwhelming difference between us and Team A.
…Indeed, there was no point in practicing.
Besides, with such a miserable game, even Sena wouldn’t get angry.
So there was no point in me trying hard anymore. But—
“Teranishi kun, over here!”
“Eh? Got it!”
As someone who isn’t on the basketball team, I wasn’t even being marked by Team A’s members.
So naturally, the defense on me was loose. And with loose defense, there are more opportunities to get open.
This was the perfect chance. I caught the pass from Teranishi kun and dribbled—but no, that won’t work. There’s no way someone like me could get past them.
So, I decided to go for it. With that in mind, I took a three-point shot from where I was standing.
But…my shot was easily blocked by the rim.
Class A grabbed the rebound, and once again, the offense and defense switched sides.
“Damn it—”
I hurried back to the goal and got into a defensive position.
However, I couldn’t keep up with the opponent’s speed and they scored again.
“Don’t worry, Ayata. That was a nice shot.”
Nakajima kun patted my shoulder and offered words of encouragement.
“…I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
“Don’t worry about it. …I don’t care anymore.”
At the same time, the whistle blew to end the third quarter.
Just as we were about to return to the bench,
the blond-haired class A student who had just dribbled past me and scored a shot—I think his name was Machida—turned his gaze toward me and said,
“You’re Ayata, right? I think you’re Fujisaki chan’s childhood friend.”
“Huh? …Well, yeah.”
“You better not get too cocky. You’re just a loser.”
His voice was cold.
…He was clearly mocking me, Machida kun. Does he have a grudge against me, or does he just hate losers like me? Either way, he doesn’t seem like a very nice person.
“Don’t worry about it, Ayata. Machida is just like that.”
Nakajima kun tries to comfort me. …I’m such a loser.
But now that it’s come to this, I feel like scoring 18 points was a miracle.
I glance at the B team’s cheering section—it’s no good, the atmosphere is completely awkward. Even Sena looked like he had given up.
…Of course. With this point difference, with this difference in ability. There’s no way we can win from here.
(But…what happened to me…?)
Why did I take that three-point shot just now?
Why did I defend so fiercely against an opponent we had no chance of beating?
Doing something like that was just a waste of time and made me look foolish. …It’s just like Machida-kun said. Someone like me, who isn’t even a proper basketball team member, should just keep quiet and focus on supporting the others.
I look at the scoreboard.
18-108…exactly a 90-point difference. Maybe we should change the rules of the sports festival next year.
(This reminds me of that day…)
When I was in my first year of middle school, I was beaten up by a senior in front of Fujisaki.
It was so bad that there’s no other way to describe it. I couldn’t even hit back once; I just kept getting kicked in the back endlessly.
(…I see. That’s how it was…)
Even now, the situation is almost the same as it was back then.
Fujisaki is watching this historic defeat from the stands.
Ayata Akito is such a pathetic, hopelessly uncool person—and I’m sure she’s burned that image into her memory.
That fact.
Made me feel so helplessly—deeply, deeply ashamed.
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