───● The Middle School Basketball Club Girl Becomes Conscious ●○●
I love basketball.
I’ve always liked moving my body, and the swoosh sound the ball makes when it goes through the hoop is so satisfying that I quickly became obsessed with the sport.
—But, maybe I got a little too obsessed.
“Yuka-cchi, good work today~ I’m heading home~”
“Ah, okay! Bye-bye!”
The elementary school gym.
Since it’s spring break, it’s currently open for us graduates to use freely. So, I was playing basketball with my friends, but…
Everyone started to head home in the early afternoon.
(I guess it can’t be helped.)
I wanted to practice a little more, but it’s important to go along with everyone else.
I reluctantly packed up to leave.
“What! Rika, you’re going out with Shouya-kun!?”
“I confessed to him at the graduation ceremony, and he said okay~!”
On the way home, everyone was excited, talking about their love lives with the boys.
“Eh? But wasn’t Shouya-kun going out with Suzuka?”
“Maybe they broke up? Well, even if they didn’t, I figured it was fine~”
Falling in love, confessing, dating, becoming a couple.
I long for those things, but I don’t have anyone I want to be with like that.
There are boys in my class and on the basketball team, but I don’t find them attractive at all.
“…? What are you spacing out for, Yuka? Didn’t you confess to anyone?”
“Eh? Me? Umm, I don’t have anyone I like, so…”
It’s the truth.
The boys in my grade are all childish, and yet they’re always looking down on you. I don’t like it…
“Yuka, you’re such a basketball nut~”
“It’s amazing. Of course, I joined the basketball club because I wanted to play, but honestly, part of me was aiming for the boys.”
“You’re really saying that out loud? Well, I had some hopes too!”
Basketball is a sport that a certain number of boys also play.
I was very surprised to hear that some people join the basketball club hoping to interact with boys from other classes.
But I just wanted to play basketball, and though I didn’t tell anyone, I wanted to win more games.
They know that’s my personality, so they probably won’t bring up this kind of topic with me… just as I was thinking that.
“But you know~ Yuka pretends to be a basketball nut, but she’s actually secretly lewd.”
A bomb was dropped.
“W-Wha…! That’s not true!?”
“You don’t have to hide it~ Everyone knows you’re secretly lewd, Yuka.”
“Th-That’s not true! I’m normal! I’m telling you, I’m normal!”
I looked around and saw my friends nodding in agreement… Eh?! Why are you all acting like you know it for a fact?!
“Ehh~? But Yuka, you’re always reading pervy books in class and smirking, right?”
“!?”
“Hey, now that you mention it, when I went to Yuka’s house, there was something suspicious under her bed…”
“Waah, waah! Stop! Seriously!”
My head is going to explode!
I’m a girl too, so of course, I have some interest in boys!
“Yep, she’s secretly lewd.”
“She’s secretly lewd Yuka-cchi.”
“Stop it already~…!”
I’m average! Average!
“See you later~!”
“See you in middle school~!”
I said goodbye to my friends.
Most of my friends are going to the same local middle school, so we won’t be separated even after graduating.
“Umm…”
After waving, I opened and closed my right hand.
Honestly, I still haven’t moved enough. Thinking that, I looked up at the sky and saw that it was still a dazzling blue.
“Maybe I’ll go to the park.”
And just like that, I decided to head to the nearby park that has a basketball hoop.
Thump, thump, thump.
I loved the sound the basketball made when it bounced on the ground.
But, for that sound to be heard before I’ve even arrived at my destination… that means someone is already there.
(It’s rare for someone to be here at this time…)
Just because someone was there didn’t mean I was going to timidly go home.
If there were only one or two people, we could take turns shooting, and there wouldn’t be any problem. With that in mind, I kept walking.
I could start to see the person playing basketball.
“…A guy?”
The person playing basketball was a guy.
Probably a high school or university student.
His existence itself wasn’t that unusual. But the situation of a guy practicing alone, that might be rare…?
I got close to the court, close enough to see his face. And then… I received the biggest shock of my life.
“Hmph…!”
His dribbling was fast. His handling was as if the ball were glued to his hand. Crossover, behind-the-back. A number of techniques I want to master.
And after that, he moved toward the basket like the wind…
“Hup.”
A layup. And not just from the front, but from behind, assuming a defender was there—a reverse layup.
“…”
I was captivated.
I’d seen skilled plays in videos and such.
But this was completely different. It was the first time I’d ever seen a man play so gracefully right in front of my eyes.
He’s cool, I thought, simply and honestly.
“Hmm…?”
Our eyes met.
He had well-defined features, a handsome guy. Suddenly, my chest started to pound.
“Ah, I’m leaving now, so please, go ahead and use it!”
“…Eh? Ah, yes, thank you…”
He’s leaving already!?
Ah, is it because I came? Standing here holding a ball under my arm, of course, he’d know I came to play basketball.
While I was thinking that, the guy was putting his ball in his backpack, getting ready to leave.
Something, I want to say something.
If I miss this chance, I might never get another one! …Just once, I want to talk to him…!
“U-Um!”
“…?”
The guy turned to look at me.
…But, what should I say?
You were really cool? No, if I said that, he’d definitely be put off!
Can I have your contact information? That’s just blatantly showing my ulterior motives!
Will you play basketball with me? No, no, that’s impossible for a first meeting~!
“I-It’s nothing…”
“? Okay? Well, I’m heading out then!”
Aah… I blew it.
I just wanted to talk a little…
The guy walked further and further away, and eventually, he was out of sight. I was left alone on the court.
I could feel my flushed body starting to cool down.
Thump, thump, my heart was pounding.
He was cool.
But it wasn’t just that. It felt like his vibe, his voice, everything about him had pierced me.
“Why… why couldn’t I say anything… I’m so stupid.”
Cursing my own powerlessness, I muttered to myself.
But of course, I didn’t give up.
How could I give up! I’m Maeda Yuka, a girl who doesn’t know when to quit!
Today’s the day I meet that cool guy again!
“Okay, I’m heading home!”
“Eh!? Yuka, wait, there’s a club information session today!”
“I’m joining the basketball club anyway, so it’s fine!”
Ever since that day, I’d been going to that park whenever I had the time.
I saw him around 3 PM. He looked like he’d already been practicing for a while, so if I went a little earlier, my chances of seeing him would be higher!
I’ve been going every day since, but I haven’t been able to see him.
But today is Friday, the same day of the week I first saw him, so the probability should be high!
“What’s gotten into you lately, Yuka?”
“Did you start chasing after an idol or something?”
My classmates are throwing some weird suspicions my way, but I don’t care.
Because right now, I’m busy!
“There he is…!”
The time was 2:30 PM.
Finally… I was finally able to meet him again!
There was a very real possibility that I’d never see him again. I worried about what I’d do if he was just visiting from far away that day and happened to stop by…
His footwork was the same as before.
His shooting form was also beautiful.
He really is so cool…
I steeled my resolve and headed for the bench near the court. As I did, the guy, who was in the middle of practicing, noticed me.
“Hey, aren’t you the girl from the other day…”
Thump. I felt my heart leap.
No way, he remembers me? Even though it was just for a moment?
Even while thinking it couldn’t be true, the happiness of being remembered was already making my face burn.
Today! Today, I have to at least get his contact info…!
For the past week, while searching for him, I was so anxious that I might never see him again. I mean, I knew the chances of not seeing him were higher, but I didn’t want to give up.
I don’t want to feel that fear of never seeing him again!
“U-Um…!”
I squeezed the words out.
I have to say something. Anything.
“I, uh, I used to, practice here a lot.”
“Oh! You did?”
Huh, wait? Am I saying something completely different from what I planned?
I want to play basketball with you. So can I have your contact info… Ah, but that would just be hitting on him, wouldn’t it? Would I get reported to the police or something?
What should I do, what should I say…
“So, I wanted to, practice here too.”
“I see, I see! Sorry about that, in that case, I’ll head out now!”
“Eh, that’s not, what I meant!”
Oh no, my voice was too loud. But I don’t want to make the same mistake as last time…!
He looks surprised, too… I have to clear up this misunderstanding, quickly.
“U-Um, will you… with me…”
I have to say it. I have to tell him properly…! At some point, he had bent down slightly to meet my gaze. He was listening to me.
I have to say it, ‘play basketball with me’, I have to say it…!
I took a deep breath.
“Will you! Have a match with me!”
“Ehh!?”
About an hour later.
“Whoa, Yuka-chan, you’re really good!? You surprised me.”
“Thank… you…”
I was no match for him at all. I knew it from watching him play, but he was really good at basketball.
I’d never lost to a boy my age, but I couldn’t even touch him. But that’s fine. In fact, that’s better.
The match was a lot of fun, and in between, I was able to ask his name. Katasato Masato. That’s this guy’s name.
And one more thing.
“Hahaha! But you still couldn’t beat me~. As promised, I guess that means I can still practice here, right?”
As long as I challenged him with all my might, and as long as I lost, we made a promise that he would come back here. It’s a little twisted, but it’s a promise just between me and him.
When I think about that, my chest tightens.
“Next, next time, I won’t lose.”
“Haha, you’re out of breath, you know? You should get some water, Yuka-chan.”
It’s true, I haven’t had anything to drink since I got here. Urged by him, I headed to the bench and sat down.
And from my backpack, I reached for my water bottle…
“Huh…?”
The water bottle isn’t there. Did I leave it at school, or at home…?
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, no, it seems I forgot my water bottle.”
“Oh.”
“But it’s okay! I have my allowance, so I’ll go buy one!”
Luckily, I have some coins in my wallet. There’s a vending machine nearby, so I’ll buy a sports drink.
“Eh, that’s a waste. If you don’t mind mine, you can have it. Here.”
“…Eh?”
Just as I was about to stand up, he handed me a plastic bottle. When I took it, I saw that the contents inside were… partially gone.
Which meant it had already been opened. In other words, he had already drunk from it.
…Eh?
Isn’t this an indirect kiss? Yeah, it is, right?
No no no no no way no way no way, but this is bad! If he finds out I’m making a big deal out of it, he’ll be weirded out! I want to drink it! I really want to drink it! In more ways than one! But if he realizes I’m conscious of it, he might never see me again!
Quickly! Swiftly! I have to drink it! Naturally! If possible, naturally! Calm down, me!!
“Th-th-th-th-th-thaaaaank yoooouuuu.”
“What’s wrong!? Your face is beet red!”
It was completely impossible. My hands are shaking.
I have to take off the cap, and drink this, quickly.
I slowly bring it closer to my lips. My heartbeat is deafening.
Hot. Hot. My heart is on fire.
Wait, my vision, is…
“Unyah…”
“Yuka-chan!? Ehh!?”
My consciousness is fading… Ah… my indirect kiss… Watching Masato-san’s flustered state, I thought.
Falling in love with someone… is such a happy thing.
I’m sure, from the very first time we met.
My heart had already been hopelessly captured by this guy.
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