───● The Childhood Friend Co-ed and Basketball JC Underestimate Each Other ●○●

It’s all well and good that Mizuho and I decided to conquer Masato together, but you could say our preparations are still far from sufficient.

“Therefore, I am initiating the 1st Masato-Get Operation Execution Committee.”

“Yup, you’re really into this, Koumi…”

We were at the university cafeteria during a free period with few people around.

“Mizuho, you know Masato’s personality too, right? If we leave him like that, who knows when he’ll be kidnapped by some random woman?”

“Well, that is certainly true…”

I wanted to say I’d like to kidnap and confine him, but that would probably creep her out, so I stopped myself.

“First, confirming the status quo is important. I heard Masato is tutoring a high school girl, but do you know anything else?”

“Wha?! T-Tutoring…? You mean he’s teaching Masato study—I mean, teaching a girl? And at her house? What is that, I’m so jealous!”

“I think so too.”

Or rather, is that high school girl even okay being in such a dreamlike situation?

“Being tutored like that, it’ll definitely become her first love! Unless she experienced first love at a tiny age like Koumi!”

“Stop bringing up that story~!”

First love. How nostalgic.

I had someone I liked in my childhood. A memory just as important as when I first met Masato.

In the end, without even being able to convey my feelings, that person suddenly disappeared. Little me cried all day long.

I already told Mizuho, who loves love talk, back in high school. True, she was super hyped when I first told her, so she still remembers it clearly…

“Look, never mind my story! Mizuho, don’t you know anything about what’s happening around Masato?”

“I wouldn’t say I don’t know, but…”

Mizuho, twirling the straw in her iced café latte, answered somewhat vaguely.

“…? Anyway! Is it okay to lack such a sense of crisis?! He’s working at a Boy’s Bar, meaning Masato might get taken home by some woman?!”

“R-Right.”

“Don’t just agree! Are you okay with that, Mizuho?”

“That… I’d hate it, but…”

“Then I’m counting on you to investigate that side, Mizuho!”

“Y-Yes ma’am…”

I’ve never been to the Boy’s Bar where Masato works, but Mizuho has. In that sense, Mizuho is better suited for the bar investigation. Actually, shouldn’t I just make Mizuho go every day when Masato is working?

Honestly speaking, I want him to quit a job where he serves women who come looking for men, but apparently, there are circumstances preventing him from quitting.

“What will you do, Koumi?”

“I heard Masato plays basketball with a girl on Fridays. I’m going to investigate that.”

I heard Masato plays basketball with a girl before his shift on Fridays. What is that, I’m jealous… no wait, I have to investigate this thoroughly.

“Heeh~ Masato likes sports, after all. So he has a basketball friend. Someone from our uni?”

“No, apparently she’s younger.”

“Ho-ho. Does that mean a high schooler?”

“No…”

Kyoton. Mizuho’s eyes went wide. I understand that emotion. I was surprised when I first heard it too.

“Seem’s she’s a middle schooler.”

“…Seriously?”

After that, Giving a swift chop to the head of Mizuho—who was muttering to herself, “Could it be Masato is into that…? B-But, does that mean I have a pretty good chance…?” while looking down at her own chest—the 1st Masato-Get Operation Execution Committee was adjourned.

And so, after classes on Friday, I came to a certain park with Masato. When I asked if I could tag along, he refused at first, but apparently, the girl in question said she’d rather meet me, so I was able to accompany him without issue.

“We used to play at a different place, but it got torn down.”

“Oh my, is that so?”

A little distance from the station. Masato and I walked through the large park. The park on a weekday afternoon had a peaceful atmosphere, and it felt really good.

And considering Masato is next to me, it’s truly the best!

“So anyway, recently we’ve been playing over there…”

Where Masato pointed, surely enough, inside a fenced-off area, was a place that looked like a basketball court.

“Oh, there she is.”

Entering the court, standing in the center like a guardian deity with a basketball tucked under her arm, was a girl about as tall as Masato’s chest.

“Yuka, yahoo.”

“Hello, Masato-san. Um, the person behind you is…”

My first impression was that she was a cute girl. Short bobbed black hair with a sheen; an atmosphere that suggested she would surely become a great beauty in the future.

“Nice to meet you! I’m Igarashi Koumi, a friend from the same university as Masato. You’re Yuka-san, right? I’ve heard about you from Masato.”

“Nice to meet you… I am Maeda Yuka. I have also heard about you from Masato-san.”

“I see! Let’s have fun today!”

She spoke clearly, unlike a middle schooler. Feeling a bit of hostility from her is… surely because this child also has extraordinary feelings for Masato.

After lightly warming up, I touched the ball Masato brought. I’ve never learned basketball formally, but I’m on the skilled side. I dribbled lightly and took a shot from where I stood.

Making a pleasant swish sound, the ball was sucked into the net. Yep, not bad.

When I picked up the ball and returned, it seemed Masato and Yuka-chan had finished warming up too.

“As you saw, Koumi is good at basketball too, so if you’d like, keep her company for a bit.”

“Hey Masato, what’s with that phrasing!”

Even if she plays in a club, considering I’m confident enough in my athleticism not to lose to a middle schooler, those were words I couldn’t ignore.

Then Masato looked at me and waved his index finger, tsk tsk tsk.

“No… Koumi, if you underestimate Yuka as just a middle schooler, you’re going to get hurt.”

Listening next to him, Yuka-chan laughed fufun triumphantly.

S-Somehow that’s annoying!

“If you’re going to say that much… let’s have a match!”

“I accept your challenge.”

Yuka-chan declared boldly. Thus, the match between Yuka-chan and me began.

First, Yuka-chan’s offense. I passed the ball with a bounce pass and got into a defensive stance.

Glancing slightly behind me, I could see Masato watching our duel with a happy expression.

Just as Masato said, this child is probably skilled. But I have some experience with basketball too… and besides, I’m taller. Since basketball is a sport where height greatly affects play, it was clear I had the advantage.

“Here I come.”

Holding the ball, Yuka-chan showed a posture to drive to the right. But this is surely—

“…!”

If I hadn’t heard from Masato that she was good, I might have fallen for that fake. But because I thought she’d be skilled, I was able to react. Her real aim is to the left—

“──Eh?”

The moment I thought that. Yuka-chan slipped past my left side—a drive to her right—with tremendous speed.

By the time I turned around… I saw her gracefully scoring a layup.

A roll turn. A skill she used utilizing her small frame. The movement was so refined I couldn’t follow it at all.

“See? I told you.”

“I see…!”

Masato didn’t even try to hide his cheerful expression. True, this is too skilled for a middle schooler… but seeing Masato looking happy about it is also kind of annoying, so I have to show my good side too!

Change of possession, Yuka-chan took a defensive stance. Her body isn’t big, yet there was a lack of openings that made it feel like she would follow no matter which direction I dribbled. I felt it during the earlier offense, but I realized she truly is good at basketball.

And then, just then.

“H-How far did you do it?”

“…Eh?”

With a voice quiet enough that Masato, watching from a distance, wouldn’t hear, Yuka-chan suddenly asked that.

“…I heard you went on a trip together. …How far did you go? …S-Surely not all the way…”

“Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you saying, Yuka-chan?!”

All the way means doing what all the way?!

“Opening found!”

“Ah!”

Taking advantage of my surprise, Yuka-chan slapped the ball I was holding away.

Just like that, my offense ended disappointingly.

“W-Wait, isn’t that a bit unfair?!”

“I-If you are shaken by this level of thing, you cannot serve as Masato-san’s partner.”

“Gununu…”

This girl says bold things despite her appearance?!

Well, when I was around her age, I might have been similar!

Regaining my composure, I switched to defending against Yuka-chan.

After that, we repeated my offense and Yuka-chan’s offense several times.

But in the end, I couldn’t stop Yuka-chan’s offense even once.

“Haa… Haa… You’re really… strong, Yuka-chan.”

“No… Koumi-san is strong, too. I can’t believe you’ve never learned properly.”

By the time Yuka-chan scored 10 points and the match was decided, we were both exhausted. Both she and I were completely out of breath.

Exchanging words during the play, I was happy to have gotten a little closer to Yuka-chan.

“Koumi, you were super good too! I thought your reflexes were good since we went to the batting center, but it was beyond my imagination!”

“Good work,” Masato said, handing me a sports drink. Aah~ if Masato were the manager of a club, surely I could work as hard as needed.

“Good work to you too, Yuka! As expected. Ah, but regarding that offense on the 8th point──”

“Yes, that moment.”

While drinking the sports drink Masato handed me, I watched the two begin a review session.

Something I felt playing basketball with the two of them today. They certainly seem to get along very well, but the gaze Masato directs at Yuka-chan feels more like brotherly affection. It’s probably like teaching a little sister basketball.

“Indeed, that might have been a bit careless.”

“No, I don’t think it was bad at all, but there was a higher probability option──”

Her thoughtful expression is seriousness itself.

…Yuka-chan might like Masato… but she is still a middle schooler after all, so maybe she isn’t a child I need to be that wary of.

“Ah, Koumi, give that back when you’re done drinking. I’ll drink it too.”

“Eh?”

I looked at the plastic bottle I had just drunk from a little. Masato… is going to drink this too…? Does that mean… an indirect kiss?!

“E-E-Erm, that’s a bit, as expected, how should I put it, um,”

That’s incredibly happy but embarrassing, or rather…

While I was flustered by the sudden event, I remembered Yuka-chan was next to me.

Thinking I showed an embarrassing side, I looked at Yuka-chan next to me.

“…Fufufu.”

Yuka-chan was laughing with her index finger against her lips. …That figure didn’t seem like a middle schooler at all. For some reason, I got a slightly bad feeling.

■

That day I heard Masato-san was traveling with a woman, I was very, very worried. When he didn’t reply for a long time at night even though I asked him to contact me during the training camp, my heart was truly squeezed tight, and I couldn’t even sleep.

Hearing that a friend of Masato-san’s wanted to play basketball with me today, I immediately said I would play.

Masato-san was considerate and said I could refuse, but for me, wanting to check what kind of person she was, it was actually a grateful proposal.

The first thing I thought upon actually meeting her was… she is very cute.

Honestly, because Yuka is a bad girl, I thought… what if I’m cuter? But it seems I can’t compete. Flaxen beautiful hair. Fine, beautiful skin. A bright, cheerful way of speaking.

If she were in my grade, she would definitely be considered the cutest, giving off a “heroine attribute” impression.

This might mean she has long since beaten me to the punch… or so I thought.

“E-E-Erm, that’s a bit, as expected, how should I put it, um,”

Seeing Koumi-san panic tremendously and get shy over an indirect kiss.

I became convinced. Surely, Koumi-san has never kissed Masato-san. Because if she had kissed him, she wouldn’t panic this much over an indirect kiss.

…Well, honestly speaking, even I would still get shy!

This is an unexpected development. Of course, it’s not certain, but listening to Masato-san’s story, he said they weren’t dating, so it’s almost certainly no mistake.

The fact that I am in the lead makes me involuntarily happy.

“Ah, Masato-san, I received a new sports drink at school. Would you like to try it?”

“Eh, I’m curious. Then Koumi, you can have that one after all!”

“Eh, ah, wait?!”

Well, that aside, I have to prevent the indirect kiss, right! That is a privilege meant only for me!

“Shall we wrap it up soon! Good work, you two!”

Only after Masato-san said that did I notice the sun beginning to set.

“Uhe~ I’m tired. Yuka-chan, it’s amazing you do this every week?”

“No, the time playing basketball with Masato-san is fun, so I’m totally fine!”

After doing light stretches, we prepared to go home.

Next to me, Koumi-san was wiping sweat with a towel. Because she was definitely better than the kids in my grade, I was able to play basketball with all my might too. With Masato-san, I inevitably end up in the position of being instructed, so being able to challenge someone one-on-one with full force was something I was very grateful for.

Leaving the park, we walked Koumi-san to the station.

By the time we arrived at the station, the surroundings had already started to get dark.

“Yuka-chan, sorry for intruding today.”

“From me too, Yuka, thank you for today. If it’s okay, I’d be happy if you could play basketball with Koumi again.”

“By all means! I was very grateful too!”

Actually, Koumi-san was a good person… I’d be happy if we could play basketball again.

“Then, see you later, Masato. Yuka-chan too, I’d be happy if you played with me again!”

“Yes! Please do!”

Koumi-san was a good person to the end. But, judging from her interactions with Masato-san, there’s no mistake that Koumi-san likes Masato-san too.

In that case, I have to show that I am the one who will become Masato-san’s girlfriend!

The moment Koumi-san tried to head toward the station, I hugged Masato-san’s arm with all my might.

“Let’s go home too, Masato-san.”

“Eh… w-wait, isn’t this a little too close?!”

“Eeh? Not at all. It’s always like this, isn’t it? Masato-san?”

“Umm… ahaha.”

Today was a very good day. Koumi-san was nice enough that I’d want to play basketball with her again, and anyway, confirming that Koumi-san hasn’t crossed the line with Masato-san yet was the biggest harvest.

But I probably can’t let my guard down.

Apparently, there is one more person Masato-san traveled with… and it’s not limited to that,  there are probably others who are aiming for Masato-san as well.

Before it’s too late, I have to do my best to become Masato-san’s “first”…!

Thinking that, I strengthened the force hugging Masato-san’s arm even more.

[ The Case of Igarashi Koumi and Tonosaki Mizuho 1 ]

​<Mizuho

19:20 | Koumi: I went and met that girl Masato-kun plays basketball with.

19:20 | Koumi: She was incredibly cute! Plus, she seemed quite mature for her age!

​19:30 | Mizuho: Say what?!

19:30 | Mizuho: A mature girl playing basketball with Masato-dono… Verily, that is enviably scandalous, is it not?

​19:45 | Koumi: That’s totally just your personal bias talking…

19:45 | Koumi: It might be fine for now, but who knows how things will be in a few years…

​20:12 | Mizuho: Why wait for years to pass? Should we not simply secure him for ourselves posthaste?

​20:16 | Koumi: Oh, you’re actually making a great point! You’re right!

20:16 | Koumi: I really want to make my move by this winter break.

​20:48 | Mizuho: Ooooh, how bold! Exquisite, I say!

​21:07 | Koumi: You’ll be doing it with me too, right, Mizuho?

​21:14 | Mizuho: That is indeed the plan!

21:16 | Mizuho: By the way, Koumi, where was it that you were working part-time again?

21:18 | Mizuho: Actually, never mind! Forget I asked!