───● The Middle School Basketball Girl Stands on Tiptoe ●○●
This is a disaster.
Today is supposed to be my date with Masato-san… but I can’t decide what to wear!
“Yuka! It’s almost time to go, isn’t it?” my mom called out from the living room.
“I-I know!” I shouted back.
How did things end up like this…?
I had picked out my coat last night, but I hadn’t really decided on the rest of my outfit…
This morning, I picked something out thinking, Is this okay? But then I remembered he said we’d be moving around today. Maybe something easier to move in would be better? I kept second-guessing myself and overthinking, which led me straight to where I am now.
If I don’t leave right now, I’m gonna be late for our meeting time!
In the end, I decided to go with the outfit I had originally planned. It was a bit hard to move around in, but… today was a date, after all.
I hurried down the stairs and rushed toward the front door.
“I’m heading out!” I announced.
“Ah, Yuka, wait a second,” my mom called out.
“What is it?” I asked, slipping on my shoes.
While I was putting on my shoes, my mom walked over from the living room.
I wondered what she wanted to tell me.
“Have a good time… and do your best,” she said with a gentle smile.
My mom knew that today was my date with Masato-san.
When Masato-san told us he would decide who to date by March, I had been so heartbroken that I ended up crying to her about it.
So I knew there were all kinds of feelings packed into that single “do your best.”
“I will!” I promised firmly.
With those words, I pulled open the front door.
Today is probably going to be my last chance.
I’m not scared, and I know the odds are stacked overwhelmingly against me.
Even so, I have no intention of giving up.
We met up at the station, boarded the train together, and set off for our destination.
As far as I was concerned, just being with Masato-san made even a simple train ride feel exciting.
“Have you ever been around this area before, Yuka?” Masato-san asked, breaking the silence.
“Huh? Ah, no, not at all! There aren’t any basketball courts around here, after all.”
“So that’s your metric…” Masato-san chuckled softly.
In truth, I had never traveled toward today’s destination before.
I was pretty sure this was the very first time I’d ever ridden on this train line, too.
But that was exactly why my heart was racing. After all, I was getting to visit a brand-new place for the first time by Masato-san’s side.
I stole a glance at Masato-san sitting right beside me.
Framed against the passing scenery outside the window, his profile was so hopelessly handsome.
“…Hm? Is something wrong?” he asked, turning toward me.
“N-Nothing at all!” I squeaked, quickly shaking my head.
God, I really love him, I thought from the bottom of my heart.
After arriving safely at our destination, we decided to grab lunch first.
The omurice was so delicious that I ended up devouring it like crazy without thinking… I really need to reflect on that.
This was supposed to be my chance to impress him! I can’t let him think I’m just a kid.
Once lunch was finished, we headed over to a shopping mall to browse the stores.
“Is there anything in particular you want to buy?” Masato-san asked.
“Hmm, nothing specific, really. But I don’t buy clothes that often, so my wardrobe is always running a bit light…”
People around me kept telling me that wasn’t good for a girl my age, but I had never really been interested in fashion, so I never cared much about what I wore.
Ever since I met Masato-san, I started buying clothes just to look even a little bit cuter for him, but still…
So even today, I hadn’t planned on buying a ton of stuff. I was just hoping to pick up whatever caught Masato-san’s eye or got his approval.
Inside a clothing store we walked into, I spotted an outfit I kind of liked, so I decided to try it on in the fitting room.
While I was changing behind the curtain, a clerk’s voice drifted in from outside.
“Are you helping your little sister pick out an outfit?”
…My hands froze mid-motion.
She was obviously talking about Masato-san and me.
…Today, I had agonized over my clothes for so long, specifically picking out a slightly mature look.
That was my own little way of putting up a resistance.
I knew our age gap meant I might not look like his girlfriend at first glance. But I was fairly tall for a middle schooler, so I thought if I dressed a little more adult-like, maybe—just maybe—people might mistake me for his girlfriend if I tried hard enough.
Hearing that clerk’s question felt like a cold reminder that my efforts had been entirely futile.
My chest tightened with a painful squeeze.
But right at that moment—
“…She’s my date.”
Masato-san’s clear voice rang out from beyond the curtain.
I was so, so happy.
I could feel the tight ache in my heart melting away, replaced by a deep, radiant warmth.
I really am so head-over-heels in love with Masato-san. I love him so much it’s completely helpless.
What anyone else thought didn’t matter at all.
Because today, Masato-san and I were out on a date together.
Even after I finished changing, my cheeks were still burning hot.
I don’t want to look uncool. I want him to see me and think I’m cute.
Waiting until I calmed down a bit, I took a deep breath and pulled open the curtain.
Pretending not to hear the deafening thudding of my heart in my ears, I stepped out.
“Masato-san… how does it look?” I asked.
After finishing our shopping, we arrived at our main destination for the day: a rooftop sports facility.
“I want to try badminton too!” I exclaimed.
“Alright, let’s do everything we can!” Masato-san replied enthusiastically.
Since it was the weekend, the place wasn’t exactly empty, but Masato-san still agreed with a bright smile.
We played as much as time allowed. While moving our bodies around, I completely forgot we were even on a date and got lost in the sheer fun of it all.
Before I knew it, the hours had flown by, and it was getting pretty late.
I had a curfew at home, so I couldn’t stay out much longer, which made me feel a bit lonely.
“I guess we have to save the best for last,” I said.
“Yeah,” he agreed.
Masato-san and I made our way over to the basketball court for our final game.
“Looks like we won’t have to wait very long to get on,” Masato-san noted.
“It’s gotten pretty chilly out, after all,” I replied.
The rooftop court was set up with lights that turned on after dark, but being winter, the cold air was biting.
Glancing around, there was no line behind the group currently playing, so we’d be able to play right away.
“Though with these shoes and this outfit… I won’t be able to go all-out.”
“I wasn’t planning on going full speed either, so don’t worry about it,” Masato-san assured me.
“…You say that, but we both know we’ll end up taking it somewhat seriously anyway.”
“Fair point. I know the feeling,” he chuckled.
Watching Masato-san laugh gently, a familiar feeling washed over me.
…I really, really love him.
There had been so many moments today where that exact realization hit me all over again.
When I talked to other people, they’d say things like, “Maybe you’ll find someone else who’s good for you,” or “You’re still young.”
But they were completely, utterly wrong.
There’s no one better for me than Masato-san.
I just happened to meet my destined one at a younger age, that’s all.
There is no “next person” for me.
The group that had been using the basketball court just finished up, turning it over to us.
Sunset comes early in winter, and the golden rays of the setting sun spilled across the court.
Looking at that scenery brought back memories of the day I confessed my feelings to Masato-san.
The second the previous group stepped off, I trotted onto the court ahead of him.
Just like I did back then, I turned around to face Masato-san.
“Challenge me to a game, Masato-san.”
When I said that, Masato-san blinked in surprise before letting out a slightly troubled chuckle.
“Alright, let’s do it.”
“…Yes!” I grinned.
“Though… we can’t really play a proper one-on-one, can we?”
“Ah, true…”
Looking down at our outfits, I had to agree. As we had discussed earlier, neither our shoes nor our clothes were suited for athletics, so an intense one-on-one was out of the question.
We could take it easy with other sports, but when it came to basketball, holding back was practically impossible for me…
“How about a free-throw contest instead?” Masato-san suggested.
“Oh, that sounds great!”
A free-throw contest wouldn’t require running around.
Masato-san and I grabbed a ball and walked over to the free-throw line.
“First to make five shots wins—sound good?”
“Let’s do that!”
I won rock-paper-scissors and got to shoot first, but…
“Huh?!”
“It’s not the regulation ball you’re used to,” Masato-san reminded me gently.
The shot I launched clanged hard off the rim with a loud thud.
The ball really is different from usual, and my outfit is so restricting… I should’ve warmed up first!
“Hup,” Masato-san grunted softly as he shot.
Unbothered by any of those factors, Masato-san effortlessly swished his first shot.
I hurriedly adjusted my form and sank my shots from the second attempt onward, but that initial miss was fatal. From there, both of us sank every single shot, leaving us at 3 to 4 going into the fifth round.
Even if I made this fifth shot, as long as Masato-san sank his next one, I would lose.
No way! I don’t want to lose!
“W-Wait a second, Masato-san! I have a proposal!”
“Oh? What is it?” he asked, amused.
Facing certain defeat at this rate, I decided to pitch a special condition to Masato-san. He listened to me with a pleased, amused expression.
Alright. Here goes…
“If I shoot my next shot from way back here and make it, will you count it as two points?”
“…Seriously?”
Saying that, I backed up all the way to the outermost edge of the court—behind the three-point line.
My strategy was to trade the lower success rate of a three-pointer for a two-point reward.
“…Sure, why not.”
“Yay! Thank you so much!”
With Masato-san’s green light, I closed my eyes and concentrated, bouncing the ball twice against the court floor.
My three-pointer percentage wasn’t very high. At best, I’d make three out of ten attempts. Still, Masato-san always praised me whenever I hit one.
…But when it comes to a shot I absolutely have to sink, I have complete confidence in myself.
I bent my knees deeply to transfer power from my legs all the way up through my body. Even with a small frame, proper technique could compensate for a lack of height.
Keeping my core perfectly stable, I released the ball smoothly toward the hoop.
Tracing a high, beautiful arc through the air, the ball I shot—
“…Man, you never cease to amaze me, Yuka,” Masato-san murmured softly.
Swish! It ripped straight through the net without touching the rim.
“I’m sorry you had to walk me all the way home…” I mumbled apologetically.
“Don’t be. Honestly, I wanted to see you home safely anyway,” Masato-san replied with a warm smile.
Well after nightfall, our date had come to an end, and we stood outside my house.
…And with that, my date with Masato-san is over.
…How much was I able to make him fall for me today?
I don’t have… any confidence at all.
“…Um, Masato-san?”
“Hmm?”
I looked straight into his eyes once more.
“I sank that three-pointer today and won our game, right?”
“You sure did. You were incredible.”
“I’m going to keep growing… both at basketball and as a woman.”
Masato-san gasped softly, his eyes widening in surprise.
The sun had long since disappeared, leaving the quiet residential neighborhood wrapped in darkness.
Standing together beneath the streetlight, it felt as though the two of us were carved out from the rest of the world.
Taking a step closer to Masato-san, I closed the distance between us.
I felt strongly that everything I wanted to tell him had to be said right now.
“I’m so truly glad I met you, Masato-san. Before, my life was just basketball every single day, and I couldn’t really relate to anyone around me… but then you appeared in my life. We started playing basketball together… and every single day became so vibrant and full of color.”
I still remembered it so vividly. The day we first met.
How I kept going back to that court every day just hoping to see him again.
How I gathered my courage to ask him for a match.
Because I met Masato-san, this past year was genuinely the happiest time of my life.
“Um, I can’t express it very well… but that’s how much I love you.”
“…Yeah. I hear you loud and clear,” Masato-san replied softly.
He leaned down slightly, bringing his eyes level with mine.
This height difference frustrates me so much.
…But.
Reaching my arms around Masato-san’s back, I stood up on tiptoe.
Our faces drew close… and then slowly pulled apart.
“I hadn’t gotten my reward for winning today yet, after all,” I whispered.
“…You really don’t miss a beat, do you?” Masato-san muttered, flustered.
Steeling my resolve, I walked toward my front porch and turned around one last time.
Looking at Masato-san’s face from a distance made tears well up in my eyes again, but I fought them back.
“You still have so much to teach me about basketball! So you better take responsibility for that!”
“Watch your phrasing!” he called back.
“Ehehe!” I giggled.
Finishing my piece, I opened the front door to my house.
I couldn’t look back anymore. Without glancing at Masato-san’s face, I reached behind me and shut the door.
Once inside, I vigorously wiped my eyes with my sleeve.
All strength left my legs, and I slumped down onto the hallway floor.
I had said everything I wanted to say.
No matter what the outcome turned out to be…
“It’s gonna be okay… It’ll all be okay…”
That was all I could do to keep convincing myself.
[ The Case of Maeda Yuka ]
<Yuka
20:25 | Masato: Thanks for today, Yuka~!
20:25 | Masato: I had a lot of fun!
20:31 | Yuka: Thank you as well! Thank you so much!
20:33 | Yuka: I’m so glad I managed to sink that three-pointer!
20:46 | Masato: Normally speaking, it’s pretty crazy for someone your age to be draining threes, though…
20:50 | Yuka: It’s probably because I’m not normal.
20:56 | Masato: Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean that in a bad way!
20:56 | Masato: It just shows how hard you work and how much you’ve grown. You’re really amazing, Yuka.
21:01 | Yuka: Ah! I’m sorry, I didn’t take it in a bad way at all!
21:01 | Yuka: Because…
21:01 | Yuka: If things were normal, at my age, I definitely wouldn’t be able to date you, Masato-san.
21:01 | Yuka: If it means I can be with you, Masato-san, I don’t care about being normal.
21:02 | Yuka: I don’t need “normal.”
21:34 | Yuka: …Masato-san, I love you.
21:34 | Yuka: I want to keep playing basketball together with you forever! Good night!