Volume 2
Chapter 2: Thoughts run wild in everyday life (Part 3 of 5)
───● The Basketball Club JC Has a Bright Smile ●○●
The scorching heat of summer is in full swing on this Sunday.
The cicadas’ chirping is starting to feel downright annoying. I’ve been cooped up at home since waking up, with nothing particular to do.
“So hot…” I groan.
It’s way too hot!
Sure, I’ve got an air conditioner in my room, but I try to save on electricity bills, so I usually keep it off.
I could make excuses—it’s unbearably hot, after all—but summer’s only just begun. If I start relying on the AC now, I’m in for a rough time ahead.
“…Guess I’ll head out,” I mutter.
It might be hotter outside, sure, but it’s a matter of mindset. Sitting here wilting in the heat is worse than getting out and doing something.
I take a quick shower to wash off the sweat and change into comfortable, athletic clothes. I toss a basketball, a towel, and some other essentials into my backpack.
“…Yuka might be there,” I say to myself.
Checking my phone, I see a message from her, sent early this morning as usual.
That wholesome basketball club girl is probably practicing even now.
It’s kind of surprising how much I’ve come to look forward to playing basketball with Yuka.
She’s getting better and better, and it’s honestly fun to watch. At this rate, she might actually take that court back from me. Sad as that is!
Is she really just a junior high school girl?
“Alright, let’s go,” I say, locking the door and heading to the park.
The midsummer sun is relentlessly baking the concrete, but the fresh air feels surprisingly nice.
As expected for a Sunday afternoon, the park’s basketball court is already occupied.
“Well, guess it’s not gonna be that easy…” I start to say, but then—
A strong sense of déjà vu hits me.
As I get close enough to make out the figures on the court, I realize something.
Among the four girls playing basketball, there’s one I know very well.
“Yuka,” I say under my breath.
Her short black hair, adorned with a blue hairpin, stands out.
Maybe it’s because she’s not in her club jersey but in the casual clothes she wears when we play together, but I spot her instantly.
Could it be… bullying again?
After what happened last time, a bad feeling creeps in. I decide to get closer to the court to check.
“Over here!” one girl calls.
“Got it!” another responds.
“Go for it!” says a third.
“Nice shot!” they cheer.
Okay, they’re fine.
All four of them have serious expressions, clearly immersed in the game, unlike that incident before. They’re giving it their all.
“I’m beat!” one says.
“Let’s take a break,” another suggests.
Wow, this is kind of refreshing. Yuka’s taking the lead.
From their conversation, they sound like classmates. I think Yuka mentioned she’s the only first-year on the team who plays in matches, so it makes sense she’d take on a leadership role.
The four head toward the bench by the court.
Hmm, what should I do? It’d be a shame to interrupt Yuka and her friends’ practice. But I came here to play, and I kinda want to shoot a few hoops.
…If I shoot with my back to them, maybe they won’t notice me?
I’ll just take a few shots and head home. Yeah, that’s the plan.
I pull the basketball out of my backpack and sneak onto the court, keeping my back to them. I dribble a few times.
A light warm-up.
I pass the ball between my legs, then behind my back…
Yeah, the ball feels good in my hands.
I bounce it once, twice, then take a mid-range jump shot.
The ball swishes cleanly through the hoop with a satisfying sound.
Nice, I’m pretty consistent at this distance.
Alright, two or three more shots, then I’ll head out—
“Onii-san,” a familiar voice calls from behind.
…What?
“How… did you know it was me?” I ask, turning around.
“How many times do you think I’ve watched you play, Onii-san? I’d recognize you right away,” Yuka says, standing right behind me with a bright smile.
Her grin is dazzling.
“Oh, uh, sorry, sorry. Didn’t want to interrupt, so I was gonna leave quick,” I say hastily.
“Huh? You’re leaving already?” she asks, surprised.
“Your teammates are here, right? You should focus on practicing with them,” I say, waving her off as I tuck the ball under my arm to leave.
At least I got a few shots in.
“Wait!” a voice calls out as I crouch to put the ball back in my bag.
I turn to see three girls—probably Yuka’s teammates—approaching me together.
What’s going on?
“““Please teach us basketball!!””” they say in unison.
Uh…
Even Yuka seems caught off guard, and the four of them start bickering.
Or rather, it feels like Yuka’s the one getting mad while the other three brush it off.
Did I mess up somehow?
“Uh, Yuka, I think I’ll head out. Sorry about this,” I say.
“No! It’s not—Onii-san, don’t go…” she stammers.
“…? You sure?” I ask.
Her face is red. Is she okay?
“Please teach us basketball like you teach Yuka!” one of the girls says.
“I mean, I can teach what I know, but…” I reply hesitantly.
From what I saw, Yuka’s clearly the standout in this group. The others seem like typical junior high basketball club members.
They’re decently skilled, though. I could probably teach them a thing or two.
“Yay!! I’m Suzuka, nice to meet you!” one says enthusiastically.
“I’m Kaho!” another chimes in.
“And I’m Miho!” says the third.
Wow, they’re full of energy… so young.
Am I already an old man? They offer handshakes, and I return them, my hands getting vigorously shaken up and down.
So much energy…
“Moooo!!!” Yuka suddenly yells.
She’s pissed. I must’ve interrupted her practice after all…
I’ll apologize to her on SNS later.
Maybe it’s because they’re junior high kids, but they pick up techniques crazy fast.
They apply what I teach them right away and make it their own.
No wonder people say middle schoolers are the best to teach. I forget who said that—wait, wasn’t it about elementary schoolers?
“Onii-san, Onii-san!” one of them calls.
Since Yuka calls me Onii-san, the other girls have started doing the same. Miho-chan even called me “Onii-chan” once, and Yuka got super mad. Scary.
This ponytail girl… Suzuka-chan, right?
“What’s Yuka-chan to you, Onii-san?” she asks boldly.
“Suzuka!!” Yuka shouts, putting her in a headlock.
Whoa, that’s gotta hurt…
Yuka probably doesn’t want any misunderstandings, so I should clear things up to help her out. Gotta recover those goodwill points.
“Yuka, huh? We haven’t known each other that long, but… she’s like a little sister to me,” I say honestly.
It’s true. I’ve come to enjoy playing basketball with her, and we talk about more than just sports now. I actually like hanging out with her.
Was that too forward? She seems to like me well enough, so I hope she doesn’t mind…
“L-Little sister…” Yuka mumbles.
Oh no, she sounds upset. My bad, I misread that.
I wanna cry. Total misunderstanding.
“Okay, my turn! Onii-san, do you have a girlfriend?” Miho-chan asks, her tone super gal-like.
Kids these days are so bold!
“Nope, I’m single,” I reply casually.
“What?! No way! Alright, then I nominate myself as your girlfriend!” she declares.
“Miho!!” Yuka yells, fuming.
Whoa, Yuka’s really mad. She was a bit down earlier, then angry—her emotions are all over the place. I’m kinda worried.
“““Thanks so much!!””” the three girls say as they head back to the bench.
“Thanks for letting me join you guys!” I call after them.
Miho-chan even says, “I’ll confess to you in three years!” as she leaves.
She’s got that gal vibe but seems like a lively, good kid. She’ll probably forget all about me in three years…
“Thanks, Masato-nii-san,” Yuka says quietly.
“Hm? Nah, sorry for butting in,” I reply.
Not sure what changed her mind, but she’s started calling me Masato-nii-san. I’m fine with it, but didn’t she just get upset about the “little sister” thing? Was that my imagination?
“They’re good kids. Take care of them,” I say.
“Yeah. If you want, come watch one of our games sometime,” she offers.
“Oh, definitely! I’d love to see you play in a match,” I reply.
Can regular people watch those games? Maybe if it’s a tournament…
“Um…” Yuka starts, her cheeks faintly red in the sunset’s glow.
Looking at her now, even though she’s young, her face has a soft, feminine roundness that’s really cute. Her jade-green eyes are clear and beautiful.
She’s gonna be a real beauty someday.
There’s a brief pause.
“It’s nothing,” she says finally.
“…? Alright. Catch you later then. I’m always up for practice,” I say.
In those few seconds, I don’t know what she was thinking.
It looked like she swallowed some words, but…
“Sure! Next time, I want to practice… just the two of us,” she says.
“Haha, yeah, that makes sense. It’s easier to teach you one-on-one,” I reply.
Her skill level is way above the others, so practicing alone with her would definitely help her improve faster.
“Yes!! Let’s do it!” she says brightly.
Her final smile, as always, is absolutely adorable.
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