Volume 2
Chapter 2: Thoughts run wild in everyday life (Part 4 of 5)
───● The Basketball Club JC is Serious ●○●
My basketball club classmates are mostly good kids.
Even when I was getting picked on by the seniors, they always had my back. …Oh, the bullying’s gotten a lot better thanks to Onii-san. I can’t thank him enough.
Anyway, my classmates are all close, and I trust them.
I’ve been thinking it’d be great if, by the time we’re third-years, we could all work hard together at tournaments.
“Ugh, who was that hot guy?! Yuka, how could you not introduce us to someone like that?!” Suzuka exclaims.
“I might come here every day…” Kaho muses.
“Yuka, you were planning to keep him all to yourself, weren’t you?! What have you two been up to? Have you done it? How far have you gone? Spill, you little perv!” Miho teases.
…I’m this close to hating them right now.
How did things end up like this?
Today, there was no club practice, and we were all free, so we decided to play some basketball.
We considered using the community gym, but it’s stuffy inside, so we opted to play outside.
I suggested the park where I play with Onii-san since I knew it had a court.
…It’s our place, so I was a little hesitant, but…
So there we were, playing at the park, when, during a break, some guy started shooting hoops on the court.
“Hey! Someone took our spot while we were gone!” Miho complains.
“…Wait, it’s not just some guy. He’s alone, that’s rare,” Kaho observes.
When I looked at him, I knew right away.
It was Onii-san.
His height, his vibe, and… his basketball moves.
Any one of those would’ve tipped me off, but with all three? No way I wouldn’t recognize him.
My favorite person.
“Yuka, where are you going?” Suzuka asks.
“Yuka, no! Even if you’re a secret perv, hitting on a random guy is a crime!” Miho calls out.
…Rude much?
I’m not a perv! I’m normal! Totally average!!
So, yeah… I went to talk to Onii-san, and that was fine, but…
Before I knew it, the other three showed up and, of all things, asked him to coach us!
That’s my thing with him…
“U-Um, Onii-san’s been coaching me privately…” I try to explain.
“What kind of coaching, huh?” Miho teases.
“Private love lessons… Details, please,” Kaho adds.
“I thought you’ve been acting more mature lately, and now I get why…” Suzuka says slyly.
“No, it’s not like that!! Ugh, I’m so done with you guys!! Stop saying rude things to Onii-san!” I snap.
This is the worst.
Who knows what they’ll say to him now…
“Uh, Yuka, I think I’ll head out. Sorry about this,” Onii-san says.
“No! It’s not—Onii-san, don’t go…” I stammer.
“…? You sure?” he asks.
I don’t want him to leave.
But I’m also worried they’ll say weird stuff to him.
I’m so confused!!
Meanwhile, the three of them are cheerfully introducing themselves to him.
Is… is this okay?
Oh no. Miho’s grabbing his hand…
Ugh, I’m so annoyed! Onii-san’s my Onii-san…
“Moooo!!” I yell.
I shouldn’t have suggested this park!
Surprisingly, once we got to the actual coaching, everyone listened attentively.
They really do love basketball.
That made me kind of happy. Onii-san tailored his coaching to their level, and he didn’t forget about me either.
Every time he’d say, “Yuka, like I told you before…” it felt special, like it was just for me.
The time I spend with Onii-san is precious to me.
I hope it means something to him, too.
“Onii-san, pass!” Suzuka calls.
“Wow, Onii-san, you’re amazing!” Kaho cheers.
…Okay, but why is everyone calling him Onii-san? He’s my Onii-san…
Ugh, I’m losing it.
If they’re all calling him Onii-san, I need to change what I call him.
Masato-san…? No, he said he likes it when I call him Onii-san… Masato-nii-san. Yeah, that’s it.
“Onii-san, Onii-san!” Suzuka calls, running up to him during a break.
I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
“What’s Yuka-chan to you, Onii-san?” she asks boldly.
“Suzuka!!” I yell, grabbing her in a headlock.
What is she even saying?!
“Ow, ow! …But you’re curious too, right, Yuka?” she says.
“Ugh…” I falter.
Okay, fine, I am curious. What am I to Masato-nii-san…?
I’d be so happy if he thought I was special…
After what happened before, maybe, just maybe, he might like me…
“Yuka, huh? We haven’t known each other that long, but… she’s like a little sister to me,” he says.
A sharp pang shoots through my chest.
“L-Little sister…”
Little sister.
Sure, it means he cares about me. I can feel that.
But being a sister isn’t enough.
Because as long as he sees me as a sister, he’ll never like me the way I want.
He’ll never see me as a girlfriend.
I like Masato-nii-san.
I want him to like me back.
The pain in my chest spreads slowly.
“Does Onii-san have a girlfriend?” Miho asks, her tone bold as ever.
Whoa, that’s a big question!
“Nope, I’m single,” he replies casually.
Phew…! Thank goodness.
If he’d said he had one, I’d probably have cried. No lie.
I’d have gone home sobbing.
“No way, that’s so surprising! Alright, then I nominate myself as your girlfriend!” Miho declares.
“Miho!!” I yell.
She’s so shameless!
Didn’t she just say she got a boyfriend?!
---
After practice, I catch my breath and go to thank Masato-nii-san.
Alone.
“Um, thank you so much, Masato-nii-san,” I say.
“Hm? Nah, sorry for butting in. They’re good kids. Take care of them,” he replies.
“Yeah. If you want, come watch one of our games sometime,” I offer.
“Oh, definitely! I’d love to see you play in a match,” he says.
…I’m so happy.
Just hearing that warms my heart.
I’m so simple…
That’s why I want to change how he sees me as a sister.
The words slip out before I can stop them.
“Um…”
“Hm?” he responds.
But what do I say?
A million words come to mind and vanish just as quickly.
I don’t have the courage to confess.
I can’t just say, “See me as a girl!” That’s basically a confession.
It’s not that I hate being treated like a sister.
I love it when he pats my head or praises me.
But I want to take it a step further.
“…It’s nothing,” I say finally.
“…? Alright. Catch you later then. I’m always up for practice,” he says.
I’m such a coward.
I curse myself silently.
But to him, I smile.
“Sure! Next time, I want to practice… just the two of us,” I say.
“Haha, yeah, that makes sense. It’s easier to teach you one-on-one,” he replies.
Just the two of us—
My heart skips at those words.
Does he also think it’s better with just us?
…Someday, I’ll make him see me. Really see me.
Unlike the others, my love—
“Sure!! Let’s do it!” I say brightly.
—is serious.
---
That night, I’m lying in bed in my pajamas, lost in thought.
I keep replaying Masato-nii-san’s words from today.
“She’s like a little sister to me.”
Sister, huh.
How do I move past being a sister?
“I need to make him see me,” I murmur.
How do you make someone you like notice you? I tried looking it up online, but there’s not much about liking someone older, so it wasn’t helpful.
Still, I think making him aware of me is key.
Aware… how?
Hug him? No, I tried that before in the heat of the moment, and he just patted my head.
It stayed in “sister” territory.
Hold his hand? Hmm, hugging’s a step above that, right?
So, hugging’s the way to go…
“A kiss… maybe?” I whisper.
My face burns.
I bury it in my pillow.
No, no, no! That’s too much!
But… it might work. If I went that far, he’d definitely notice me.
I picture his handsome face.
His lips…
“…!” I squeak.
I’m getting dizzy.
Could I even do it? But if I did, how amazing would that be?
My first kiss, given to my first love—how sweet would that be?
“Ha…” I sigh, clutching my pillow tightly.
I can still feel the warmth of hugging him that one time.
It’s etched in my memory.
If I kissed him…
The more I think about it, the dizzier I get.
Maybe even beyond that…
Oh.
…I don’t think I’m sleeping tonight.
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