Haruko shoots another mid-range shot, and to her surprise, it swishes again. Encouraged, she quickly grabs the rebound and lines up another shot. This time, it bounces off the rim with a sharp clang, rolling away toward the edge of the court.
"I got the gist of it, but it seems like I need more practice to be consistent," Haruko said as she picked up the basketball, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yes, just keep working on it, and you'll be a great help to your team," Tetsuo said. He stepped toward the arc, dribbling the basketball between his legs, then behind his back with fluid precision. His sneakers scraped lightly against the court as he stepped back and rose up. The ball left his fingertips cleanly and sank through the hoop with a crisp swish—a perfect shot.
Haruko's eyes widened slightly, her breath caught in her throat. So cool… this guy is absolutely amazing. It's not just that he makes shots—his form is so perfect, so beautiful, she thought, unable to look away from the smooth mechanics of his shot.
Tetsuo casually retrieved the ball, took another step behind the line, and launched another three-pointer. Again, the net barely moved.
"Since you're just staring, why don't we play a friendly one-on-one to seven?" Tetsuo suggested as he held out the ball.
Haruko blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, I'm sorry, was I that obvious?" she asked, her cheeks coloring slightly.
"Yeah, it kinda was."
"I'm sorry about that. It's just that I haven't seen someone this good at shooting before," she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.
"So how about it?" Tetsuo asked again, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Oh, you're so on!" Haruko replied with a determined grin.
"I'll give you the ball first, but bear in mind—just because you're a girl doesn't mean I'll go easy on you," Tetsuo warned as he bounced the ball toward her.
"That's fine by me," Haruko replied, catching it confidently.
She dropped into a triple-threat position, knees bent, eyes focused. Without hesitation, she drove forward, dribbling between her legs, then behind her back. She stepped back quickly and launched a mid-range jumper. Tetsuo sprang upward, hand extended to contest, but the ball sailed cleanly over his fingers and dropped through the hoop.
"I made it! I actually made it!" Haruko thought to herself, barely containing her joy.
Tetsuo caught the ball as it bounced back and passed it to her without a word.
"Beginner's luck. It won't happen again," he said calmly.
On the next possession, Haruko attacked the basket with a burst of speed, aiming for a layup. But Tetsuo leapt up with impeccable timing and swatted the ball away, snatching it before it hit the ground.
I'm just realizing… this guy is like a giant with the way he jumps, Haruko thought as she landed lightly, slightly stunned.
Now on offense, Tetsuo dribbled slowly, then faked a shot. Haruko bit, jumping to block. He smoothly stepped aside and fired another three-pointer. Swish.
I fell for his fake… but who wouldn't after seeing how well he shoots? she thought, breathing heavily.
Possession after possession, Tetsuo showcased his range and footwork. He hit a quick crossover, spun, and drained another shot from deep. Haruko tried to adjust, upping her defense, but no matter how close she stayed or how fast she reacted, his shots kept dropping—each one smooth, efficient, effortless.
Eventually, the score reached seven.
Haruko bent over, catching her breath, sweat trickling down her temple. "You're really amazing, Kawaguchi," she said between breaths. "He made seven three-pointers in a row… if this were a real game, he would've scored twenty-one points."
"To be honest, you're a great player—decent handles, excellent defense, and now you can shoot," said Tetsuo, his tone genuine.
"Thanks for the compliment. You're not half bad yourself," Haruko teased, cracking a grin as she wiped her forehead with her wrist.
The sun had risen higher in the sky, its golden light filtering in through the open gym windows. Dust motes danced in the air, and the sound of a distant bird call echoed faintly from outside.
"It's getting brighter… it's about time for me to leave. Thank you for teaching me," Haruko said sincerely, standing upright again.
"It wasn't really anything special," Tetsuo replied, picking up the ball casually.
"Well, it was to me. It won't just make me more reliable on the court and in games—it'll also make me a better overall player. I really appreciate what you've done for me. I can't thank you enough," Haruko said as she began to walk toward the exit.
Then she suddenly stopped and turned back around.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" she exclaimed, twirling back to face him. "Um… if it's okay with you, can we meet here again so you can give me more tips on how to improve?" she asked, her voice a bit shy, her cheeks pink.
"Sure, I'll be coming here often, so why not?"
"Alright, great! Let's exchange numbers."
"Uh, okay," Tetsuo said, slightly caught off guard.
They quickly exchanged contacts. "Thank you! Well then, see you later," Haruko said, offering a bright smile before heading off.
Later, alone on the court, Tetsuo stood beneath the hoop, dribbling with a slow rhythm. He drove to the rim with astounding speed and lifted the ball to the backboard. It bounced gently and dropped through the net. The ball landed softly with a thud and rolled to a stop.
Tetsuo stood still, his hands resting on his hips as he stared at the rim. His thoughts wandered.
"Join the basketball team for your own sake. I know you love the game. My well-being is what's holding you back from doing what you love, and I don't want to deny you that," Usagi had said.
"But you're not. You're my responsibility," he had replied.
"I know that part of you yearns to play basketball again, which is why you haven't stopped playing all these years," Usagi had insisted.
Tetsuo exhaled quietly, sweat still clinging to his skin. Looks like Usagi was right… I really do love playing basketball. Today was the most fun I've had in a long time… and yesterday's gym session too. Maybe… I really should join the team, he murmured to himself.
At the school entrance, the chatter of students filled the morning air. A group of girls stood gathered near the gates, excited voices rising over the noise.
"I went to karaoke last night with two of my good friends, and we met two members from the boy band The Seven Crimson Hearts," one girl said, practically squealing.
"Whoa, for real?!" her friend responded, jaw dropping.
"Yes! And they sang for me all night! Their voices were so angelic," the girl gushed, placing her hands over her heart.
"I envy you! Why didn't you call me?!"
"I even got one of their phone numbers," the girl said smugly.
"No way! Can I get it too?" her friend asked, bouncing slightly in place.
"Yes, you can—for five thousand yen," she smirked.
"Never mind. I don't have that kind of money to waste," her friend said, deflating.
"I thought you were a big fan of theirs, but I guess not," the girl teased.
As Tetsuo approached the school entrance, walking calmly with his hands in his pockets, Sachiko suddenly stepped into his path.
"Good morning, Kawaguchi. Can I talk to you for a bit?" she asked, trying to maintain a casual tone.
But Tetsuo walked right past her without even a glance.
"What the…? That's it!" Sachiko snapped in her mind. She reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"Hey! What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you avoiding me?" she demanded. "Ever since the first day of school, you've been acting cold toward me, and I don't even know why. Did I ever do something to you?!"
Tetsuo turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "Let go of me," he said, his tone quiet but cutting.
Sachiko recoiled at the coldness in his voice. She quickly released his hand. "Oh… sorry. I got carried away," she muttered, trying to recover.
"There's something important I'd like to discuss with you," she said, more cautiously now.
"And why should I listen to what you have to say?" Tetsuo shot back, his expression unreadable.
"What's your deal?" she asked, voice rising again.
"Class is about to start. I don't have time for you or your problems," he said flatly before walking away.
Sachiko stood frozen in place, her fists clenched.
That guy is really getting on my nerves. I thought he was someone I knew… but I guess I was wrong, she thought to herself bitterly.