The late evening air outside the gym felt cool, carrying a faint trace of humidity. Shoes scraped lightly against the pavement as the low hum of the streetlights filled the space overhead.
Near the school gates, Noboru, Shino, Hayato, Liam, and Makoto paused in a loose cluster before splitting off, their voices crossing briefly—some edged with frustration, others lighter with leftover energy—before fading as they headed in separate directions.
Nanaho lifted her arm high and waved as the group moved away from the gates. Her voice carried down the street, clear even as distance began to stretch between them. "Make sure you text me when you get home, okay."
Noboru glanced over his shoulder but didn't bother responding. His steps grew quicker, hands shoved into his pockets.
There's no way I'm texting that monster.
His brow drew together as his jaw tightened. A moment later, his mouth shifted again, the words staying low and contained.
She's already annoying enough. Always pushing us too hard during training… I'm not doing it.
The train rattled along its tracks, humming in a steady rhythm. Its interior smelled faintly of steel and cleaning solution, the overhead lights flickering softly. As the train reached the third stop, Takahiro, Tetsuo, and Tomoe stepped out together, the faint chime of the station bell following them.
Yukio leaned slightly toward the open doors, one hand resting against the frame as the train prepared to move. "Take care, Takahiro."
The doors slid shut with a soft chime. As the train pulled away, its rumble stretching down the platform, Nanaho lifted her voice just enough to carry. "Safe travels, everyone."
Nanaho let out a deep breath, the tension easing from her shoulders as she shifted her bag higher. A soft smile formed as her gaze turned toward Yukio. "Yukio… isn't it great? We didn't just find a talented center. We've got a solid point guard now too. I'm honestly happy for you."
Her eyes lingered for a moment before drifting back toward the platform. "I can't wait for the season to start."
The faint hum of the departing train echoed behind them, and Yukio's gaze lingered on the dimly lit tracks for a moment. He nodded once, his breath steady as his eyes remained forward. "Yeah… me too. For the first time in years, Toshigawa might actually have a team that can overcome the Four Pillars in the interhigh prelims."
Nanaho slowed her steps and gave a small nod, her gaze steady ahead. "You're right. It won't be easy, but we can do it."
Her tone eased, turning more measured as she continued. "The Four Pillars of the interhigh preliminaries haven't changed for over five years."
She glanced toward Yukio, her expression tightening just slightly. "First is Yokonan High. Then Jyoyo High. Seiho High School. And the one no one has ever brought down… Shibuki Technical."
A cool breeze rustled past them, carrying the faint smell of the nearby station.
"For Yokonan High," Nanaho continued, her brow drawing together as she sorted through the names, "there's Takeshi Kayano, Keichiro Yamada, and Kogure Kobayashi. Jyoyo High is almost a one-man team, built around last season's top scorer, Azuni Obinai. Seiho High are the titans—Kiba Matsuoda, Ryouma Osaka, Ryouhei Ikagami, and their captain."
She released a slow breath before finishing. "And then… Shibuki Technical. Noah Inozawa. The Sukuma twins, Koji and Kujo. And their captain, Jun Uozumi."
Her voice settled, quiet but firm. "We'll have to get through all of them to reach the Interhigh."
Her voice lingered in the air, heavy with the names that carried history and pressure. Yukio stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if picturing each opponent in his mind. The faint sound of their footsteps filled the pause.
Yukio paused for a moment, then nodded once, his gaze fixed ahead. "…Yeah. But the only way to take them down is to push forward without fear. No hesitation. No doubt that we'll win."
His voice settled, firm and controlled. "We fight until the final whistle."
Nanaho looked at him, and for a brief moment, the quiet night seemed to narrow around them, the weight of what lay ahead settling in.
Their voices thinned as they moved farther down the street, the surroundings settling into quiet. The station lights fell behind them, giving way to the faint orange glow of scattered streetlamps.
Takahiro's pace eased as he glanced toward a narrow lane branching off ahead. He slowed and turned, lifting one hand in a casual farewell. "I'm heading this way, Tetsuo. Since Tomoe's going in your direction, why don't you walk her home for me?"
Without waiting for an answer, Takahiro stepped into the dimly lit lane. His figure disappeared quickly into the shadows, leaving only the sound of his retreating footsteps.
A brief quiet settled between Tomoe and Tetsuo as they walked on. Their footsteps carried softly along the pavement, joined by the low buzz of cicadas from the trees. The air felt cool, carrying the faint hint of rain yet to come.
Tomoe kept her hands loosely clasped in front of her, her gaze lowered to the uneven sidewalk. She pressed her lips together, stealing a quick glance toward Tetsuo before looking away again.
Several minutes passed without either of them speaking before her voice finally broke the silence, low and careful. "…Thank you, Kawaguchi..."
The words left her quietly, measured rather than timid, her tone polite but sincere as she kept her gaze forward.
Tetsuo answered without slowing, his voice even. "For what?" His eyes stayed on the path ahead.
Tomoe blinked once, a trace of surprise passing across her expression. She hadn't expected him to catch it. "For today," she answered after a brief pause, her voice settling into something calm and sincere. "It was… really good."
Her gaze stayed forward as she continued, words chosen carefully. "It's the first time in a long while that I felt at ease. You weren't wrong—everyone was kind. I could read without anyone whispering my name."
A short pause followed, her tone easing. "And… I enjoyed watching the team play basketball more than I thought I would."
She drew a quiet breath before adding, her voice carrying a faint note of memory. "My older brother used to play basketball here, you know. I'm not really into the sport, but when he was on the court… it was exciting."
Her pace slowed slightly. She glanced at him briefly, her expression faintly wistful. He didn't look at her. His steps stayed even, his face unreadable.
"And also…" Tomoe continued, her voice lowering a little. "For some reason, the way you played today—especially your shot—reminded me of my older brother, Hiroki."
She hesitated briefly, then went on, keeping her eyes ahead. "When he was in junior high, and during his first year at Toshigawa Academy… you moved the same way. I was honestly surprised."
Her words came out more quietly at the end. "I couldn't take my eyes off the court the whole time."
Tetsuo answered after a brief pause, his tone unchanged, eyes still on the road ahead. "I see. If that's the case, you're free to come by the court anytime you want."
Tomoe's lips curved into a faint smile as she gave a small nod. "I'll take you up on that. Thank you."
Tetsuo spoke without turning, his expression unchanged. "And your older brother, Hiroki...where is he now?"
Tomoe's smile faded, her gaze dipping for a moment as she hesitated a beat longer than before. "…Well, he's—"
The words stopped short. She straightened slightly and looked ahead, her voice settling back into control. "It seems this is the lane to my house." A brief pause followed. "We can talk about that another time."
Tetsuo slowed slightly, his tone and expression unchanged. "I can walk you to your gate. I don't mind."
Tomoe shook her head once, the movement small but firm. She lifted her hand in a brief wave, a polite smile held in place. "It's alright. I can take it from here. Thank you for walking me."
Her voice stayed gentle but decisive as she added, "You still have a long way to go, so you should head back. Good night."
She turned and stepped into the side street, her footsteps fading as she moved farther beneath the dim spread of the streetlights. Tetsuo stood still for a moment, his eyes fixed on where she disappeared. His face betrayed no reaction. After a quiet breath, he turned and began walking, his footsteps steady and deliberate.
The faint hum of cicadas filled the silence. Near Tomoe's house, a figure shifted from the shadows. The streetlamp above flickered faintly, revealing only the outline of a boy leaning slightly against a wall.
A slow, unsettling smile curved his lips as he whispered to himself, voice low and deliberate.
I'm back, Tomoe… I wonder if you've missed me.
His eyes gleamed faintly under the weak light.
Tetsuo reached his house after a quiet walk. The door creaked softly as he slid it open. He stepped inside and slipped off his shoes without hurry. "I'm home, Usagi."
The faint scent of miso soup lingered in the air, already cooled. The living room stayed dim, lit only by the small glow of the TV's standby light. Usagi lay curled on the couch, her breathing slow, the blanket slipping partway from her shoulders.
Tetsuo moved closer and crouched beside her. He reached out and gave her shoulder a light shake. "Usagi, wake up. You'll catch a cold if you sleep out here."
Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first. "…Big brother…"
A yawn followed, her mouth opening wide as a thin line of drool clung to her chin. She wiped at her face, rubbing her eyes slowly before her lips pushed into a small pout. "Where were you? I was waiting."
She shifted under the blanket, voice still thick with sleep. "We were supposed to eat together. I even made your favorite."
Tetsuo straightened slightly. "Sorry about that. I walked someone home, so I got back later than usual."
Usagi blinked up at him, sleep fading from her eyes. "Wait—do you mean Haruko?"
Her brows drew together as she pushed herself up a little. "Or was it that girl you talked about before? The one from the literature club?"
Tetsuo gave a small nod.
"I see…" Usagi leaned back against the couch, a small smile forming as she looked up at him. "So you're still getting along. That's good."
She paused, eyes narrowing slightly as if thinking it over. "You know… when I think about it, you've been kind of different lately."
Tetsuo spoke after a short pause. "When I took her home, she looked more relaxed. Her eyes were clearer."
He stopped briefly, then continued, words steady. "But… I asked something that made her uncomfortable. I could tell when she didn't answer."
Usagi had pushed herself fully upright, the blanket gathered in her arms. She let out a small sigh and looked up at him. "Jeez, big brother…"
She hugged the blanket tighter, her expression conflicted. "This caring, overthinking part of you—it's what I wanted to see for a long time. But now that it's actually here… it's kind of worrying."
Usagi leaned forward, a playful edge creeping into her voice. "If you're thinking about her that much, why don't you just ask her out already?"
She tilted her head, eyes bright. "Go on a date. If the way she's acting keeps bothering you, then show her you care."
Tetsuo paused, considering her words. "And you think that would work?"
"Of course it'll work." Usagi spoke with confidence. "She's not made of stone. Just pay attention to what she likes, and make that the heart of the date. It's simple."
Tetsuo nodded slightly. "I see. Thanks, Usagi. I'll do that."
He patted her on the head. Usagi relaxed back into the couch, a faint smile on her face. "If it means I get praised by you every now and then, I don't mind giving advice."
Meanwhile, in her room, Tomoe sat on the edge of her bed. She adjusted her glasses with one hand, the book resting open in her lap. Pages shifted softly as she turned them, the sound standing out in the quiet room. The desk lamp illuminated the bed and her hands, while the rest of the room remained dim.
Her eyes continued moving across the page, but the words failed to settle. Her attention drifted back to the gym earlier that day—the squeal of sneakers against the floor, the steady rhythm of the ball hitting the court, the crisp sound of a clean shot dropping through the hoop.
She stopped turning the page. Her fingers lingered against the paper as memories of her older brother, Hiroki, surfaced without warning. His laughter came back to her clearly, along with the familiar way his hands moved when he dribbled. Her chest tightened slightly as she exhaled.
A sudden vibration cut through the stillness. Tomoe reached for her phone on the nightstand and lifted it into view. A message waited on the screen.
"Hey. Are you still up?"
Tomoe's thumb hovered above the screen. She adjusted her grip on the phone, the book sliding slightly against her thigh as she shifted. After a brief moment, she typed. "I am. I'm reading right now."
The response arrived almost immediately. "That's good. Are you free on Sunday? I want to take you somewhere."
Her eyes lingered on the message. She blinked once, then again, her shoulders drawing in slightly as she sat straighter on the bed. Her fingers moved with care as she typed. "Somewhere… do you mean a date?"
The typing indicator vanished. Seconds passed. Tomoe watched the screen without moving, her breath shallow. A new message appeared.
"That wasn't exactly my intention, but yes. If you want to call it that. Meet me at the station on Sunday at ten. Good night."
She lowered the phone into her lap, the light from the screen fading as it dimmed. The room felt still again. Heat gathered at her cheeks, spreading slowly as she pressed her lips together.
"…What's wrong with me," she murmured, her voice barely carrying. She lifted her free hand and touched her cheek, fingers warm against her skin. "Why am I getting this flustered… just because my junior asked me out."
She exhaled softly, then leaned forward and buried her face into the pillow. The fabric muffled the small sound that slipped out as she shifted, gripping the edge of the bedding.
Beyond the window, the night remained quiet. The steady hum of distant streetlights filtered in, unchanged, as Tomoe stayed curled where she was.