Team 11, led by Umi, tried to rally, but the game remained firmly in Team 10's control. Lacking the exceptional individual skills of Amami-san or Arae-san, Umi's team focused on teamwork to break through the defense. However, the other members of Team 10 had clearly practiced hard, as they struggled to even get the ball near the goal.
"Ugh… this might be tough."
"Miku-chan, pass it back. If you force it, you'll get a foul."
"Ah, okay."
"Thanks… It's a bit far, but the shot clock is about to run out… Hmph!"
With the 24-second clock winding down, Umi took a shot from beyond the three-point line. But the distance was too great, and the ball bounced off the rim.
"Nakamura-san, Ryouko-san, get the rebound!" Umi shouted.
Nakamura-san and Hayakawa-san moved under the basket and jumped, but their efforts were in vain as a white arm stretched out and snatched the ball.
"—Got it."
"Ugh, Amami-chan, you again…"
"Sorry, Nakamura-san, but this is a competition."
Amami-san secured the ball and immediately threw it down the court.
"Arae-san!"
While everyone was focused on the rebound, Arae-san had already started moving. Amami-san's pass flew straight to her, already past the half-court line.
"Tch, not this time…"
Though a step behind, Umi, wary of a counter-attack, quickly got back on defense. She caught up to Arae-san, who was dribbling slowly for a fast break, and they faced off once more.
"I won't let you get past me so easily this time."
"…Oh, really? I had no intention of getting past you anyway."
"Huh?"
"…This is how you shoot a three-pointer."
With that, Arae-san leaped and sent the ball flying in a high arc. In stark contrast to her previous unenthusiastic form, this one was textbook-perfect. Umi jumped to block, but her reaction was a split-second too late, as she had been anticipating a drive. She couldn't even get a finger on the ball.
"! Everyone, rebound—Swish."
Umi's warning came too late. Before she could finish, Arae-san's shot sank cleanly through the net. As if to show off, she slowly lowered her hands and muttered provocatively.
"…Lame."
"You little…"
As if in retaliation for yesterday, she had dropped the "lame" bomb for a second time. It seemed Arae-san was still holding a grudge. Completely outplayed, Umi bit her lip in frustration.
The first ten minutes of the game continued in much the same way. Umi and her teammates worked together to score, but Amami-san's team, with all the momentum, scored at an even faster rate. Just as the point difference reached double digits, the whistle blew, signaling the end of the first half. A short break would follow before the second half began. Could they turn things around in such a short time?
(Umi's getting beaten pretty badly. I wonder if she's okay…)
Although it was just a practice game, it was clearly a simulation for the actual class tournament, so I probably should have been on Amami-san's team. Worried, I stealthily approached Team 11's huddle to eavesdrop. The five of them were in a circle, whispering. A strategy meeting, perhaps?
"…So, how far have you gone with Maehara-shi?"
"You're a couple, so you've at least kissed, right?"
"Have you, um… met each other's parents yet?"
"More importantly, when's the wedding? Right after graduation? You two are probably going to have a student wedding, anyway."
"Wh-why does it always have to be about that…?!"
The strategy meeting must have ended, because by the time I was within earshot, the conversation had strayed far from basketball. The other day, when I was dragged over to Class 11, I was bombarded with questions about my relationship with Umi, but it seemed they were still hungry for more. I was about to slip away, but Umi noticed me and beckoned me over.
"Um, good work, Umi."
"Yeah. So, how did I do in the first half?"
"…That girl totally got the best of you."
"Tell me about it. She looked athletic, but I never would've guessed she was a basketball player. Maki, are you sure she didn't volunteer for this herself?"
"Probably not. She seemed like she couldn't care less."
Still, some questions lingered. Even a novice like me could tell from her plays that she must have been a dedicated player in junior high. Maybe she got sick of club activities? But that wouldn't explain why she'd come to hate the sport itself. The more I thought about it, the more confused I became. She was calmer now, but why was she so rebellious towards the teacher and so hostile towards Amami-san? Did she still have feelings for basketball or not?
…Well, right now, Umi was more important.
"Umi, what's your plan for the second half?"
"It's frustrating, but at my current skill level, I can't beat her. It's not much of a strategy, but we just decided we have to do something. Right, Nakamura-san?"
"You bet. I was pretty pathetic in the first half, so I'm not gonna let that bleached-hair gyaru walk all over us. Right, Miku, Kaede, Ryouko?"
"Yeah!"
"Well, yeah."
"We can't just let them keep scoring on us."
The point difference was daunting, but their positive atmosphere remained unshaken. It didn't seem like Umi needed any cheering up… but as the other four players returned to the court, she stayed behind, staring at me intently.
"Cheer me up already."
That's probably what she was thinking. Umi was always greedy for my attention. There was still some time left before the break ended, so I figured a few words wouldn't hurt.
"Um… Umi."
"Yeah?"
"Good luck in the second half. I'll be cheering for you."
"…Thanks. I'm off."
With a nod, Umi jogged back to her teammates, a light spring in her step.
—Asanagi-chan, did Maehara-kun give you the encouragement you needed?
—A hug? Or a kiss?
—Neither! …It's fine, he gave me the push I needed.
—I see. The captain seems to be in high spirits, so let's give it our all in the second half!
"""Yeah!"""
Relieved to see Class 11's fighting spirit rekindled, I returned to my spot on the sidelines. Then, as if on cue, Amami-san came over.
"—Maki-kun."
"Amami-san."
"Welcome back. Did you find out Umi's strategy for the second half?"
"A little… but I'm not a spy, you know."
"I know. But knowing Umi, she's definitely planning something, right?"
"Probably."
After being so thoroughly beaten, Amami-san must have known Umi would make adjustments. But looking at our team, getting everyone on the same page seemed like a challenge. My gaze, along with Amami-san's, fell upon Arae-san, who was standing alone looking bored, and a short distance away, our other three teammates were passing a ball back and forth.
"Yeah, it seems like getting you guys to work together is going to be tough… huh?"
"Ahaha… Arae-san was amazing on offense, but she never passes, and she slacks off on defense… We got into a little argument about it just now."
That was probably why Amami-san had come over. Umi and Nitta-san used to be the ones she'd talk to, but since they were in different classes, I was the only "friend" she could confide in.
"Just now, I told everyone that we needed to work together to win. But then Arae-san, um…"
"Said something she shouldn't have."
"…Yeah." Amami-san nodded weakly with a bitter smile.
She was probably being kind by not repeating the exact words, but I could guess that Arae-san had said something to belittle her teammates. Arae-san was incredible in the first half, but only for a short while. As the game went on, her tendency to play by herself became more obvious.
"Sorry, Maki-kun, I know there's no point in telling you all this. But I just had to talk to someone. Umi and Nina-chi aren't here right now."
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry for not being much help… More importantly, you seem to be really persistent with Arae-san. Even though she's so hostile, you still try to talk to her. Umi and I have already given up on her."
"Haha, I'm pretty much the same. But I'm the team captain, so I feel like I have to at least try until the actual match is over."
"Besides," Amami-san continued, her eyes fixed on the lone wolf. "If she's going to hate me, I'd rather she hate me after getting to know who I really am. I think it's sad to be judged based on preconceived notions, especially when we've never even had a proper conversation… I think that goes for Arae-san, too."
"You're pretty persistent, huh?"
"…Yeah. I think this is the first time anyone has ever said 'annoying' or 'I hate you' straight to my face. So in that sense, maybe I'm being stubborn, too."
Amami-san was one of the most popular girls in school, so even if Arae-san was in a different class, she must have heard the rumors. Yet, she still had the nerve to say such things to her face. She was either incredibly dense or had a lot of guts. That's probably what intrigued Amami-san about her, though I wasn't sure if Amami-san herself realized it.
"Well, I should get going. Maki-kun, it's fine to cheer for Umi, but I'm in your class too, you know. You have to cheer for me sometimes, or I'll be upset, okay?"
"Um… I-I'll do my best."
"Ahaha, you haven't changed at all, Maki-kun… Oh well, whatever."
"…Amami-san, did you just imitate me? You did, didn't you?"
"Hehe, I wonder~?"
Umi, Amami-san, and even Nitta-san sometimes teased me about the way I talked. I personally didn't think my speech patterns were that unique. For now, Amami-san seemed to have cheered up a bit, so I decided to let it slide.
…However, even though I had declared my support for Umi, it felt like I had ended up siding with Amami-san as well. Amami-san was an important friend, just like Nozomu and Nitta-san, but as Nitta-san had warned me, Umi was prone to jealousy. Was our little chat just now within her acceptable range?
I glanced nervously in Umi's direction. She probably hadn't heard our conversation, but she must have seen us talking.
"—Bleh."
"…Hmm."
She stuck her tongue out at me (which was cute). On its own, that seemed like a bad sign, but she didn't look genuinely angry, so it was a tough call. I decided I'd find out her true feelings after the game.
As soon as the second half began, Umi's team made their move.
"…Lame. Can't win on your own so you're ganging up on me?"
"It's a strategy… Nakamura-san."
"You got it."
Umi and Nakamura-san double-teamed Arae-san, who had the ball. Hayakawa-san, the only member of an athletic club on their team, was marking Amami-san, while the other two players roamed freely. It was clear that Amami-san's team was in disarray, and Umi's team was expertly exploiting that weakness.
"Nakamura-san, just block her path. I'll handle the rest."
"Got it. A perfect use of my talents."
"…Tch."
Facing Nakamura-san's suffocating defense with her long limbs, and Umi positioned a short distance away, ready to react to either a shot or a drive, Arae-san clicked her tongue for the first time.
"Arae-san, over here! I'm open!"
With two players guarding one, a numerical advantage was naturally created. From the way Umi and Nakamura-san were playing, it was clear they were anticipating a pass. There were plenty of open options, including the three unmarked players or Amami-san, who could easily shake off Hayakawa-san. Passing the ball would have given them a much higher chance of scoring. Even a novice like me could see that.
"…"
"Arae-san!"
"…Shut up."
However, despite knowing this, Arae-san refused to pass and instead tried to force her way through the double-team.
"Not gonna pass? Looks like your teammate wants the ball."
"I said, shut—"
Taking Umi's blatant bait, she tried to charge through—and then the teacher's whistle blew. The forceful contact sent Umi tumbling to the floor. An offensive foul.
"What?! How was that a foul? We barely even touched."
But she had clearly pushed her, so the call stood. To make matters worse, she was given another foul for arguing with the referee. Our school's class tournament didn't have ejections, but there was a special rule: if a team accumulated five or more fouls, the opposing team was automatically awarded free throws. So, careless fouls were a huge liability.
"Asanagi-chan, is your butt okay?"
"Don't say 'butt'… But I'm totally fine."
Umi jumped back to her feet, patting her backside. She didn't seem to be injured. She stuck out her tongue ever so slightly. Maybe she had embellished the fall to draw the foul. She was that desperate to get back at her.
Once they had possession, it was their game. Umi's team scored with ease. Whether it was because she was bad at it or simply lazy, Arae-san didn't play defense, which created an easy numerical advantage for them. It was only one play, but that single moment completely shifted the momentum of the game to Class 11's favor.
Arae-san, who had been so dominant in the first half, was completely shut down by Umi's team in the second. She would demand a pass, but once she got it, she would stubbornly try to take on the defense by herself, never looking for her teammates, and ultimately lose possession through a foul or a forced shot. Not even five minutes had passed, but the point difference was rapidly closing.
"—Miku-chan, shoot!"
"You got it~!"
Shichino-san, receiving a pass from Umi, managed to score with a clumsy-looking shot, finally putting their team in the lead.
"Yeah! We took the lead!"
"We can still do this, let's keep it up~!"
Just as Umi had anticipated, their strategy had worked perfectly, leading to an unexpected comeback. The cheers from the Class 11 supporters grew even louder. At this rate, our class would be left further and further behind.
During the restart, Amami-san ran up to Arae-san. No matter how selfish she was, she was still her teammate. So, there should be nothing strange about her actions.
…There shouldn't have been, but…
"Arae-san, it's okay. There's still time. If we all attack together—"
"…Don't need it."
"Huh? What did you just say?"
"I said I don't need it. Don't try to comfort me, it's creepy."
"Th-that's not… I was just trying to say let's pull ourselves together and do our best…"
"Tch… That's why…!"
Was it something about Amami-san's unyielding persistence that finally got to her? The look in Arae-san's eyes, which had been cold and distant until now, visibly changed. This is bad, I thought, but watching from across the net, I was powerless to intervene.
"I said I don't need that… That's what I said!"
With a shout, Arae-san slapped the ball out of Amami-san's hands with a loud smack. The sharp sound and angry voice echoed through the gym, drawing everyone's attention, including the students playing volleyball on the adjacent court. All eyes were now on the two girls.
"Arae-san, why would you suddenly do something like that…?"
"…You're so annoying. I told you to stop talking to me."
Perhaps realizing she had gone too far, Arae-san quickly reverted to her usual cool demeanor, but the tense atmosphere she had created couldn't be so easily dismissed. Umi, catching my eye, nodded and immediately rushed to Amami-san's side. A moment later, the teacher stepped in to separate them.
The game was temporarily suspended, and an uneasy silence fell over the gym, punctuated by whispers of "what's going on?". Yet, Amami-san simply smiled at the two who had come to her aid, as if nothing had happened.
"…I'm fine, Umi. You too, sensei."
"Yeah, but…"
"It's okay. It's just like a child throwing a tantrum."
"! Yuu, you little…"
Although she said it with a smile, her words were laced with a sharp edge. No matter how much she tried to brush it off, Amami-san was still human. It was only natural for her to be angered by such selfish behavior.
"…Oh? I thought you were just hiding behind your friends, but you've got a sharp tongue. Is this your true nature?"
"True nature or not, this is who I've always been. I like to think I'm more patient than most, but everyone has their limits."
This was probably the second time I had seen Amami-san truly angry. The incident with the lottery for the executive committee last year was a distant memory, but compared to how emotional she had been then, her anger now was quiet and controlled. Somehow, her demeanor reminded me of Umi.
"I'll be blunt, you look really pathetic right now, Arae-san. Being stubborn all by yourself, getting frustrated, and causing trouble for everyone… Why don't you take a moment and reflect on your actions? Otherwise, it's just like Umi said the other day. It's lame, embarrassing, and I can't stand to watch it."
"Wh-what…?!"
"I don't know why you hate me. I don't want to know, and frankly, I don't care if you hate me even more. But don't you dare make the people I care about feel bad. If you've got a problem, take it up with me. You're more than capable of that, aren't you, Arae-san?"
"…"
Amami-san had always been somewhat timid around Arae-san, but her sudden change in attitude seemed to have caught Arae-san completely off guard, leaving her speechless. Even Umi, her best friend for years, was taken aback.
"…Sorry, I got a little emotional. But that doesn't mean I haven't been feeling anything. It's just that I was able to take it because my friends were always there to get angry on my behalf."
"That's why you're so annoying. You're just a classmate, not even a friend, yet you have the nerve to lecture me."
"You're right. We're not… friends. But we're still on the same team, aren't we? Even if we're not friends, teammates should help each other out for the good of the team. If you've played basketball before, you should know that much—"
"—We're not teammates."
"Huh?"
"…A burden is not a teammate."
The words that slipped from Arae-san's lips left Amami-san, Umi, and me momentarily stunned. For that brief moment, Arae-san's behavior seemed strangely out of character.
"Tch… Enough. I'm tired… Excuse me, sensei. I feel sick, like I'm going to throw up. I'm taking a break."
Realizing what she had just said, Arae-san clicked her tongue and disappeared into the nearby girls' locker room. The teacher followed, but she had locked the door from the inside and showed no signs of coming out. There was still some time left in the game, but it was clear we couldn't continue like this. And Amami-san, too, had reached her limit.
"…Sensei, I'm sorry. There's not much time left, and we'll just be a nuisance to everyone else. Can we just forfeit this game? I'm going to go outside and cool my head for a bit."
"Sorry," she apologized to her remaining teammates with a weak smile, and then jogged out of the gym towards the water fountain.
As a result, the preliminary match ended in a victory for Umi's team, but given the circumstances, it was a hollow victory that no one could celebrate.
"…Asanagi-chan, what should we do? We're supposed to handle the scorekeeping and clean up after the game."
"Nakamura-san… Sorry, I'm a little thirsty too, so I'm going to the water fountain. Besides, I can't just leave Yuu by herself."
"Got it. The rest of us will take care of everything, so you go and check on Amami-chan. She's your best friend, right?"
"Yeah. Thanks. And thank you to everyone else, too."
We had no choice but to leave Arae-san be, but it was our job to support Amami-san. I'd have to skip the rest of gym class, but that didn't matter. Right now, taking care of our friend was the top priority.
"Maki, let's go."
"Yeah."
We left the gym to find Amami-san, who was probably feeling down and alone. We followed her to the water fountain and found her splashing her face with water. She looked up, sensing our presence, and I could immediately see the faint redness around her eyes. She had probably been crying.
"Yuu, here's a towel. Sorry, it's a little used."
"…Umi."
"Yuu, don't push yourself. There's no one else here but us."
"…Umiii."
As Umi offered her the towel from around her neck, Amami-san didn't take it. Instead, she threw herself into Umi's arms. The force of the impact made Umi stumble back, but I was right there to steady her.
"Umi, Umiii…"
"Geez, you're soaking wet… Here, before you start clinging to me, wipe your face. Come on, let go for a second and look up."
"Okay… sniffle."
Umi gently wiped Amami-san's face with the towel as she responded with a stuffy nose, absorbing the tears that continued to stream from her eyes.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, Umi. I really tried to stay calm, but I was so startled when Arae-san slapped the ball away… I didn't mean to say all that."
"No, no, I was the one who went too far. I was being too obvious about wanting to show her up, even though it wasn't the real thing… Here, come here."
"…Okay."
Once her tears had subsided a little, Umi pulled Amami-san into a hug again, gently stroking her soft, golden hair. She was comforting her just as she had comforted me last winter when I was distraught over my family situation. The familiar gesture seemed to calm Amami-san down, as her sobs slowly quieted.
"…Ehehe, smells just like Umi."
"Feeling a little better?"
"Yeah, just a little… How long has it been since you've done this for me?"
"Hmm, I don't remember. Probably not since we first met? You were such a crybaby back then. I used to comfort you like this sometimes before we were in the same class."
"Really? Well then, I want you to do it more often from now on."
"You're such a spoiled best friend… Well, maybe when I feel like it."
"Ehh? That's what you say when you have no intention of doing it."
"I only do this on special occasions. If I did it all the time, you'd get used to it."
"…But you do it for Maki-kun all the time, don't you?"
"!? Uh, um, what, why…!?"
Umi shot me a panicked look, and I frantically shook my head, denying it. It was true that since we had started dating, she had comforted me by letting me bury my face in her chest on several occasions. When we were just fooling around, or when I came home exhausted from my part-time job… but that was a secret between us. There was no way I would have told anyone, not even Amami-san.
"Oh, I see. I just said it on a whim, but it's true after all. I'm so jealous, Maki-kun~"
"…Yuu, can you let go of me now? You've stopped crying and you've calmed down, right?"
"Aah, I'm sorry~! I'll apologize, so just a little longer~!"
With that, Amami-san nuzzled her face against Umi's chest. Even though no one else was around, she was in full-on spoiled mode. I could understand why, though. That spot was incredibly comforting. I could attest to that, having once slept soundly until morning in Umi's room like that when I was struggling with insomnia due to my parents' issues.
"Maki-kun, I'm sorry too. Even though you tried to stop me, I just brushed you off and ended up losing my temper."
"No, it's totally fine. You were the one who was wronged, so I think you had every right to be angry. Besides, compared to Umi last week, it was nothing—"
"Ma-ki-ku-un?"
"…Sorry, I got carried away."
"Idiot."
I received a light flick on the forehead, but seeing Amami-san laugh at the exchange, I figured it was a small price to pay to cheer her up. Besides, even though she had lost her temper in front of everyone, she must have felt some relief after finally venting her frustrations. Acting on anger is never a good idea, but bottling up your feelings until they consume you is just as bad. I knew from experience how difficult it was to find the right balance. As a beginner in communication, there was still so much I didn't understand.
"Hey, Yuu. If you want, why don't you come with me to Sanae and Manaka's place today? I know I'll be breaking my promise, but let's practice together."
"Huh? Is that okay? I'd love to practice with everyone, but…"
Having decided at the beginning to practice separately until the official match, Amami-san looked hesitant. But still, Umi reached out to her.
"It's fine. When you're feeling down, the best thing to do is to move your body and let it all out. It might be an inconvenience for Sanae and Manaka, but I'm sure they'll be happy to have you, just like last time. Right, Maki?"
"Yeah. Of course, I'll join you too."
Even though they were rivals in the class tournament, Amami-san and Umi were best friends. That hadn't changed, so there was no need for them to hold back. We would all practice together, do our best together, and in the match, we would compete with full knowledge of each other's strengths and weaknesses, leaving the outcome to be decided by the tactics of the moment. That felt like a truly fair and honorable way to compete, and I was all for it.
"Really? If so, I'd be happy too… sniffle."
"Geez, Yuu, you're crying again… You're hopeless."
"I'm sorry, Umi… Hehe, I'm so lucky."
Amami-san's eyes welled up with tears again, but this time, they were tears of emotion, so it was completely fine. After all, Amami-san looked her best when she was smiling brightly like she was now.
"You two, class is about to end, so let's head back soon. We need to thank the teacher and Nakamura-san and the others again."
I was indebted to Nakamura-san and the others, so I would have to go to Class 11 after school to properly thank them. They were a unique bunch, but they were all reliable people.
"…Yeah. Oh, and Arae-san, too."
"Her too? Yuu, you never learn, do you? Even after all she said to you."
"Yeah. I'm a little scared because of what happened earlier… but I still think it's the right thing to do. Is that okay?"
"It's fine. Well, that sounds more like you, anyway."
"Thanks, Umi. You're my bestest best friend."
"I know, right? You should praise me more. Revere me."
"Yeah, yeah, you're amazing. Umi, you're the absolute best."
"Your vocabulary is so limited… Oh well, whatever."
"…Umi, I have to ask, did you just imitate me? Is that a new trend among you guys?"
"Not really~? Right, Yuu?"
"Fufu. Right, Umi."
"…You two best friends."
Well, at this point, all I could do was watch over them from the sidelines. I hadn't felt this way in a while, but seeing the two of them so close like this was, to borrow a word from someone in our class, truly "precious." Is that the right way to describe it? It might not last forever, but I hoped they would stay good friends for as long as possible.
"Anyway, Yuu. Let's let go now."
"Aww, I want to enjoy this a little longer~"
In any case, thanks to Umi's efforts, Amami-san was back to her usual self. We returned to the gym to take care of our remaining duties. But as fate would have it, the day ended without us being able to speak to the other person involved, Arae-san.
According to Nakamura-san and the others who had stayed behind, Arae-san had left school early right after we had gone after Amami-san. The teacher had kept a close eye on her, suspecting she might just be skipping, but she had to let her go because she genuinely looked pale and was acting strangely.
And then today, the next day, Arae-san came to school as usual, but this time, she completely ignored Amami-san.
"Um, Arae-san."
"…"
"I really need to talk to you about yesterday."
"…"
I had been casually observing them, and it had been like this all day, from morning until after school. She would remain silent even when Amami-san spoke to her, and if she tried to get closer, she would simply get up and leave the classroom… It was a complete deadlock.
After school, when we gathered as usual, that was all we could talk about.
"Geez, that girl… If she has something to say, she should just say it. She's acting like a stubborn child."
"Yeah… but why did Arae-san get so angry at that time? She usually just acts annoyed. She's never been the one to lash out first."
"I have a feeling there's a reason… but if that's the case, she needs to tell us. We don't even know what kind of person she is, so expecting us to just 'figure it out' is just selfish."
Umi was right about that. But if it was something she found difficult to confide in a "mere stranger," then there was nothing more we could do.
"Arae-cchi… She's a bit hard to approach, but she wasn't that weird in our first year. Did something happen during spring break, or maybe something related to her club in junior high? Hey Yuu-chin, she looks like she has experience, right?"
"Yeah. She was surprisingly good. In that respect, I think she could hold her own against Sanae or Manaka. That's just my personal opinion, though."
In the second half, she ran out of stamina and was shut down by Umi's team's relentless defense, but in the first half, she had done whatever she pleased, so I could see what Amami-san meant. In that case, maybe she had even played against Nitori-san and Houjou-san's team in a match back in junior high.
"Well, let's put her aside for now and focus on practicing hard today. Sanae and Manaka made time for us even though it's late."
"About that, is it really okay for me to be here? I've met them before and we've exchanged contact information, but this time I'm pretty much a complete outsider."
"It's fine. I told them about you and they said, 'Nitta-san should definitely come too.' I'm happier when everyone is here, like you and Maki-kun."
I would be practicing with everyone here today, but I was also practicing softball during lunch and many other times.
By the way, I had also told Nozomu about today's practice, which resulted in him making me do a lot more practice swings than usual. For now, I just had to make sure I didn't hold everyone back.
Today's practice was being held at Nitori-san's house, which had its own basketball court. A basketball court in her own garden (※ complete with night lighting)… As it was private property, it was the perfect place to practice late into the evening. As expected of a true lady.
About a twenty-minute walk from Umi's house. When we arrived at the entrance of the surprisingly large estate, we were greeted by Nitori-san and Houjou-san, who were already dressed in their practice wear.
"Welcome, everyone. Fufu, I wonder when the last time so many friends came over was."
"Sorry to impose, Sanae-chan, Manaka-chan. You had practice today, and yet we're making you stay late to help us out."
"No, no, don't worry about it. I was planning on doing some independent practice with Manaka today anyway."
"In exchange, you'll have to join our practice today, so be prepared, okay~? Maehara-san, you can't slack off just because you're here to help. Got it?"
"…Y-yes, I'll do my best."
And so, we all changed into our practice clothes and started with a warm-up.
"Maki, let's stretch together."
"Okay."
We split into pairs—Umi and I, Amami-san and Nitta-san, and Nitori-san and Houjou-san—and began to loosen up our muscles. We went through the exercises in order, but my body was incredibly stiff. I couldn't even reach my toes in a forward bend, and the range of motion in my shoulder blades was practically nonexistent. Even the slightest stretch made my whole body want to scream.
"Ma-ki, come on, push yourself. A little more. Okay, stretch~"
"Y-yes… Nngh… Umi, no, please have mercy."
"No-pe, no mercy for you~ Fufu."
"Ugh… Umi, you demon…"
"Yeah, yeah, say whatever you want~"
To make my body bend forward as much as possible, Umi leaned on my back, pressing me down. She hugged me tightly from behind, and her soft chest pressed against my back, but I was in too much pain to enjoy it.
"Hey, you lovebirds over there. What do you think you're doing, flirting under the guise of stretching? This is someone else's house, you know~"
"That's right~ Nitta-chan is right~"
You two, would you like to go for a run around my property? About ten laps should do it."
"""…No, we'll pass."""
Suppressing the urge to fool around with my partner, we obediently moved on to the next set of exercises. It was just a warm-up, but we had already been at it for over thirty minutes. Push-ups, sit-ups, timed runs, and shuttle runs… I felt like I was going to be exhausted before we even touched a ball. Even Umi and Amami-san were sweating, but our coaches, who were doing the same drills, were completely unfazed. According to them, this was just a "light warm-up." They usually did more than three times this amount.
…It was a world I couldn't even begin to imagine.
"Alright, let's start with some shooting practice. Manaka and I will pass the ball to you from under the basket. As soon as you catch it, you shoot. You can do a layup, a three-pointer, whatever you want, but you have to shoot within three steps of catching the ball. Dribbling is not allowed, and if you miss, you do ten push-ups on the spot. Same as last time. We'll demonstrate for now."
First, as an example, Nitori-san threw the ball in a gentle arc towards the free-throw line. Houjou-san, who ran in from the half-court line, caught it and smoothly made a layup. After scoring, she would run back to her original position and repeat the process. The passer would throw the next ball as soon as the shot was made, so if you were too slow to get back, you'd miss the pass and be penalized… It was a simple-looking drill, but it was surprisingly draining.
"So that's how it's done, got it. Also, what should we do with Maki? Because he's technically just here to help me."
"Maehara-san, how about you stand in for Umi when she's doing push-ups after missing a shot? You won't get a penalty if you miss, but for every shot you miss, we'll add a set of push-ups for Umi."
So, that means as long as I keep missing, Umi could be doing push-ups forever.
Maybe, just maybe, this was a heavier responsibility than I'd thought.
"And that's the shooting practice our basketball club does for warm-ups. So, any questions from either of you so far?"
"By the way, it's not clear if this will make your shooting better or anything, so no hard feelings, 'kay~?"
This felt more like training stamina than practicing skills, and it was still just the warm-up. I wondered when the real practice would even begin.
"…Maki, this is what it's like. What do you think?"
"…I-I'll do my best."
"Yeah. Let's do our best."
After getting them to agree to let me know immediately if they got too exhausted, we steeled ourselves and started practice.
"Okay, here we go~ First one."
With those words as the signal, Nitori-san lofted the ball towards the front of the goal in a soft arc.
"So, as soon as I catch this, I shoot, right?"
"Yup. The first throw is an easy one, but I'll gradually make the passes trickier and change the speed, so be careful. Oh, and I won't be using feints this time, so watch my eyes and how I'll pass to some extent, and move accordingly."
"Got it."
Catching the slowly bouncing ball, Umi smoothly made a layup with light steps. As always, her shooting form was so clean you wouldn't think she was a beginner, but she probably learned it from watching Nitori-san and Houjou-san's plays.
"Nice shot~ okay. Let's keep 'em coming~"
"Ou, bring it on."
From there, Umi sank the second and third shots into the goal in quick succession.
The shooting practice was scheduled for ten minutes, so if things continued to go smoothly, I'd just be watching. Of course, our two coaches wouldn't let that happen.
"Okay, from here on, I'll be throwing some mean passes. Manaka, you're up."
"Aight~"
"Eh? Ah—"
The moment the passer switched from Nitori-san to Houjou-san, the passes that had been thrown towards Umi were now directed to the edge of the line where no one was.
Umi managed to react and grab the ball, but since it was quite far from the three-point line, it was naturally difficult to make the shot.
"Ugh, kuu… I missed."
"Yep, a miss. Umi-chan, ten push-ups. If your chin doesn't touch the floor, it doesn't count."
"Muu… you two are so mean."
"No talking back~ Come on, hurry up, or you and Maehara-san will both get tired for no reason."
Along with Nitori-san's voice counting "O~ne, two~o," the sound of a whistle echoed.
Perhaps they were fired up because it was special training, but the two of them were showing us no mercy at all.
"Maehara-san, don't just stand there spacing out, you have to make a shot for Umi-chan. She's not gonna get better by doing push-ups."
"Ah, yeah. Thank you both for your help."
Our special basketball training with the two of them had only just begun.
After a full ten minutes of running around the court to finish our warm-up, we finally moved on to some proper "practice."
From here, it became much more practical, with a minute-by-minute menu of various situational drills, such as one-on-ones against Nitori-san and the others, two-on-one defense in a numerical advantage, and passing practice.
"—Alright, it's been about an hour since we started practicing, so let's take a short break."
"""…Haah…"""
At Nitori-san's words, the four of us sat down in unison.
I felt it too, but even Umi and Amami-san, who were relatively confident in their stamina, were breathing heavily. It was easy to imagine just how intense that hour had been.
While quenching our parched throats with water from the cooler box they had prepared, we decided to tell Nitori-san and Houjou-san about what happened in yesterday's PE class.
I thought that of course, the two of them, who hadn't seen her play, wouldn't know that Arae-san was an experienced player, but… the reaction I got was unexpected.
"…Ah, I knew it. Actually, ever since that day, Manaka and I have been talking about how we might have seen her somewhere before. So it was that Arae-san."
"See~ Sanae. I told you my feeling was right, didn't I? That girl had such an incredible aura when she was holding the ball. Like, the presence of an ace, you know?"
"Eh!? Sanae-chan and Manaka-chan, you knew Arae-san?"
"It's not that we knew her, we just played against her once in middle school."
"Yeah. Uhm, I think it was around the top four of the summer prefectural tournament? She was the only one who was exceptionally good, and a lot of things happened after that match, so I kind of remember… Look, this notebook has a record of that time~"
When Houjou-san showed me the "Basketball Notebook" she took out of her bag, the name "Arae Nagisa" and detailed descriptions of her playing style and countermeasures were indeed recorded on the corresponding page.
There were also pictures of her in her uniform from that time. Of course, it wasn't the sophisticated fashion she has now, but the appearance of a serious basketball girl you could find anywhere.
"Number 4 Captain, Arae Nagisa… Huh, so Arae-cchi had a time like that. Surprising~"
"It's been about two years since then, but she's already quit the club… And now, that same Arae-san has it in for Yuu-chan."
"That's also a surprise~ We should still have footage of the game, but she was leading her teammates with her plays and her voice. She really seemed like the team's ace."
According to the notebook, her school wasn't originally that strong, but after Arae-san became captain, they went on a winning streak. In their third year, they finally made it to the top four, where they faced Tachibana Girls', a regular at the prefectural tournament.
Along with that, they showed me past game videos that were filmed for strategic review from a folder left on a tablet.
And there, a version of her from middle school, unimaginable from the current sophisticated Arae-san who always wore a sullen face in front of Amami-san, was there.
"…Wow."
"…Hmm."
Amami-san and Umi reacted in their own ways.
What we were watching was a video from the top eight, before the match against Tachibana Girls', but in it, Arae-san was thriving as the center of the team.
When they were losing, she would energize her teammates with her plays and her voice so they wouldn't hang their heads. After turning the tide, she would inspire those around her to gain even more momentum, leading by example.
Although the video didn't include audio, watching her clap her hands and shout loudly at her teammates made me feel as if I could actually hear her.
Naturally, her hair was much shorter than it is now, tied up tightly in a small ponytail—her sun-kissed skin was the same, and her face still bore a resemblance, but her aura was completely different.
The Arae-san from back then looked incredibly gallant.
"Whoa, that play just now was casually amazing… Maybe Arae-cchi back then was even better than Nitori-san or Houjou-san…"
"Yes. Putting aside now, I think she was slightly better than Manaka and I back then. I don't think she would be any less capable even compared to our ace."
"Yeah~ She's usually solid, but when it counts, she scores with tricky shots and feints… Her physique was a bit different too, so I remember talking with Sanae about how to stop her~"
In the video, Arae-san, surrounded by three players, was slipping through the defense and forcing a shot from a difficult posture.
After getting a free throw from a foul in addition to the points from the goal, Arae-san struck a victory pose.
For a moment, her figure overlapped with someone else's.
"…Everyone, can I have a second?"
"Maki? What's up?"
"Well, this is just my personal opinion, so if I'm wrong, please tell me… but I thought that last play looked kind of like Amami-san's."
"…Ah."
Seeming to have a similar thought, Umi rewatched the video and nodded.
"What does everyone else think?"
"I'm the one in question so I can't really tell… Sanae-chan, Manaka-chan, what do you think?"
"The basics are different, but I think Maehara-san is right about the play style."
"Yeah. The split-second ideas and stuff are kinda Yuu-chan-like."
The flair-filled plays of Amami-san that I had witnessed many times in practice, and those of the middle school Arae-san who was a star in the video.
It felt as if they overlapped in a fleeting moment. Not their faces, but their auras were similar, especially when they were inspiring everyone.
"But, she was trying so hard and looked like she was having so much fun, yet she quit basketball… Arae-san back then was so cool."
Amami-san's murmured words made everyone in the room, including me, nod.
Of course, I think everyone has their own reasons for quitting. Family circumstances, grades, and so on—if Arae-san quit after coming to terms with it, I have no intention of criticizing her.
But if that's the case, Arae-san's murmur at the end of today's practice match against Class 11, when she was arguing with Amami-san, just doesn't sit right with me.
"—A burden is not a teammate."
Would someone who played to that level in middle school and retired from the club satisfied that they had done it all really say something like that to a teammate, even if they were a beginner?
Of course, even if there is some reason, Arae-san has no right to criticize Amami-san, and picking on her for every little thing is wrong.
The incident at the arcade the other day isn't over yet either, and including that, I'd like her to apologize somehow.
Does she also have troubles she can't confide in anyone, or a gloominess in her heart?
Several days passed, and the day of the class tournament finally arrived.
The morning sun shining through the gap in the curtains was dazzling, and I sat up. By late April, the mornings are quite pleasant, and even if I'm sleepy, I don't find myself longing for my futon.
It's neither cold nor too hot. The perfect time of year.
I went to bed early last night and slept for about eight hours. I slept soundly, so I'm in perfect condition.
"Nn… there we go. Yeah, this should be fine."
I stretched lightly, mindful of the slight muscle soreness remaining from the past few days of practice. Thanks to practicing almost every day until yesterday, in both basketball and softball, my body, which had been hopelessly out of shape, seemed to have grown a little stronger.
I cleaned up the leftover coffee my mom, who had left for work early, had left behind and the ashtray with a single cigarette butt.
The same morning routine as always, nothing particularly different.
As I was washing my face in the sink, I heard the rattling sound of the front door opening.
It's probably Umi coming to pick me up, but the footsteps from the entrance are more numerous than usual.
Besides Umi, there's one, no, two other people.
"Morning, Maki."
"Morning, Umi… and Amami-san and Nitta-san too."
"Morning, Maki-kun."
"Yo, Class Rep. Gray on top and bottom, your pajamas are as lame as ever."
"You talk too much… By the way, this is rare, Umi bringing the two of you."
When Umi comes to pick me up in the morning (or wake me up), she's usually alone. We often meet up with Amami-san and Nitta-san on the way to school, so for the morning, this is a rare combination.
"Sorry, Maki-kun. It's not usually like this… but, uhm, I was a little nervous yesterday. Ehehe…"
"I see… Did you not sleep well last night?"
"Yeah, something like that. Even though I'm usually a sleepyhead."
The corners of Amami-san's eyes, as she smiled troubledly, looked a little darker than usual. It seems it wasn't just my imagination.
"I was planning to meet up on the way as usual, but I could tell something was off as soon as I made the morning call. So, I thought I'd stay with her as much as possible today. And I invited Nina along for the ride."
"Don't say 'for the ride.' I'm worried about Yuu-chin too, y'know?"
It was surprising to have a large group show up suddenly, but if that was the reason, I didn't have a problem with it. If I had to say, it's more troublesome to prepare coffee for everyone… and I'd have less alone time with Umi… but I'd endure that.
Because today is Friday, the weekend—once the class tournament is over, we can make as much time as we want for just the two of us.
As a way to wake ourselves up again, Umi and I made coffee for the four of us. After taking a sip, I let out a breath. We all, including me, added sugar or milk, so it wasn't black, but well, it's the thought that counts.
"—So, in the end, nothing has really progressed with Arae-cchi since last week's PE class, huh?"
At Nitta-san's words, the three of us nodded in unison.
"After hearing about her middle school days, I've been thinking that I want to talk to her somehow… But it's not something to talk about in front of everyone, and Arae-san seems to be ignoring me completely."
I'd seen it too, but since PE, Arae-san had been avoiding Amami-san even more blatantly.
Before, she would react in some way when Amami-san approached her without giving up, but now that's completely gone.
She stopped saying or doing things that would make others feel bad, so the atmosphere in the class has remained relatively calm, but it feels like the gap between Arae-san and the other girls in the class has widened even more.
From skirmishes to a complete cold war.
You could say the situation in Class 10 has gotten worse.
In that state, Amami-san is about to face today's class tournament.
The class tournament is originally an annual event held to deepen the bonds of the new class, but our class is going in the opposite direction.
"Yuu, I've told you many times, don't blame yourself so much. You've done nothing wrong, the one at fault is Arae Nagisa."
"Yeah, yeah. Even if she has her reasons, Arae-cchi is being way too selfish this time."
Combining what had happened in class so far and the information from Nitori-san and Houjou-san, I can predict that Arae-san doesn't just dislike Amami-san for "no reason."
However, that's just Arae-san's personal circumstances, and it's completely out of line for us to try to guess them or be considerate of them.
If she would honestly apologize for everything up to now and explain in her own words why she dislikes Amami-san, our response might be a little different.
But if Arae-san stays as she is, there's nothing more we can do.
"Thanks, everyone. Fua… Muu~ now that I've talked to everyone, I feel relieved and a little sleepy…"
"We still have about thirty minutes before we have to go to school, so if you're okay with it, Amami-san, maybe you should lie down for a bit? You can use my mom's bed… ah, but it might smell a little like smoke."
"Then why not the class rep's room? If it's just for a nap, Yuu-chin wouldn't mind… ah, but that has its own… something else, my bad, my bad."
"What do you mean, 'something else'?"
Even if we're friends, my room is not exactly an environment where I can let Amami-san sleep, so I have to be considerate.
By the way, Umi often takes naps in my bed, but that's that, and this is this.
"Yuu, let's use the sofa for a bit. I'll make sure your clothes won't get wrinkled."
"Ah, okay. If you say so, Umi."
And so, Amami-san moved to the sofa and decided to take a nap, hugging Umi.
"Yuu… it's okay. No matter what happens, we're on your side."
"Nn… thanks, Umi, everyone… suu."
As Umi gently stroked her head, Amami-san started to let out small breaths of sleep within a minute.
Her sleeping face, so sound and peaceful, was truly beautiful.
I really do want her to be able to spend her days like this, without feeling anxious, if possible.
A clouded face doesn't suit Amami Yuu—everyone here probably thinks so.
"Hey, Maki."
"…Yeah."
"…I might become a little more of a bad guy, so please be there for me then."
She was probably talking about during or right before the match. I'd leave the specifics to Umi, but I'd be ready to act immediately if anything happened.
"Got it. Then, I'll be the bad guy with you."
"Then, me too. Dealing with Arae-cchi is honestly a pain… but, well, Yuu-chin is a more important friend, so I'll help."
"Thanks, Maki, Nina—Then, shall we rest a little more? To prepare for the real thing."
We set an alarm for five minutes before leaving the house, and the three of us closed our eyes to relax.
After calming down with a thirty-minute nap, we headed to school again.
As it was the day of the class tournament, among the students on the streets, there were some in jerseys mixed in with the uniforms. In classes that were even more fired up, there were people wearing headbands, clearly aiming for victory.
"Hey, hey, Umi. After today, let's all go hang out somewhere. We can eat together, go to karaoke, and sing our hearts out."
"…So says the princess, but Maki, what do you want to do?"
"I don't mind hanging out… as long as it's not karaoke."
"Ehh? It's fine, let's go to karaoke~ I want to hear you sing too, Maki-kun~"
"Huh? Eh, seriously? The class rep's gonna sing? Can you even sing? Then I'm in on that, sounds fun. Oh, I'll take a video of you singing."
"It's not 'I'll take a video,' it's 'Can I take a video?' isn't it…"
Since it's the weekend, I usually spend time alone with Umi, but given everything that's happened, it might be nice for all of us, including Amami-san, to hang out together just for today.
As for my time alone with Umi, we can make time for that on the following holidays.
"…Alright. If you three are okay with it, I'll join you. I'm not a very good singer, but if you're okay with that."
"It's fine, it's fine. I'm just going to sing whatever I want today too. Ehehe, I thought you might say no because it's Friday, but I'm glad I asked. Then, I'm really looking forward to today!"
Perhaps sleeping with Umi's chest as a pillow did her good, as Amami-san's complexion had returned to a somewhat better state.
If Amami-san's team makes it to the end, they will play a total of five games: three in the league and two in the final tournament.
I hope she does her best without overdoing it.
As we passed through the school gate and walked up the gentle slope leading to the entrance, a figure came running towards us.
Wiping sweat with a towel, Nozomu in his practice clothes came to us.
"Yo, morning to all four of you."
"Nozomu, morning. You've got white powder on your cheek. Preparing the grounds?"
"Yeah. I had to draw the lines during morning practice, just because I'm in the baseball club. Well, I did it because I'd be in trouble if I left it to the other guys and they drew crooked lines."
Baseball and softball. They are similar but also have many differences, and some teachers don't understand that well, so I had to hand it to Nozomu and the other baseball club members.
"Ah, right. Nozomu, about after school today…"
"…choo."
"Eh?"
"Ren, chuga-chuga, choo-choo…"
"? Seki, what's that, are you imitating a train? It's not similar, and it's not funny."
"Nitta, you're noisy. After the class tournament clean-up, we have practice until night, damn it."
"I-I see…"
I had a feeling that would be the case, but it seems that whether there's a class tournament or not, the baseball club's activities are not affected, so I decided not to ask any further for today.
…Well, I'll probably ask him again without giving up.
"Well, I'm going to warm up with my classmates now. Maki, we'll probably face each other in the second game, so good luck then."
"Yeah. I'll do my best to at least hit your ball."
"Ou… Ah, and Amami-san."
"Feh? Me?"
Suddenly being called out by Nozomu, Amami-san wore a surprised expression.
Even when the five of us were together like this, Nozomu rarely spoke to Amami-san, so it was unexpected.
"Ah, sorry, I was just surprised. What is it?"
"Ah~ well… uhm, you don't look so well today, Amami-san. I just wanted to say that if you feel like you can't go on, you should go to the nurse's office. Your complexion also looks a little different than usual."
"I'm fine. I'm a little sleep-deprived, that's for sure, but other than that I'm completely fine. Thanks for worrying, Seki-kun."
"No, it's nothing… Well, then, I'm really off now. Everyone else, it's supposed to get pretty hot at around noon, so be careful of heatstroke. Hydrate often, and take a break as soon as you feel tired."
With a final, subtle show of concern for Amami-san, Nozomu left for the parking lot where the members of Class 4 were waiting.
"Jeez, that Seki, his face was all red in front of Yuu-chin… who's the one with heatstroke now?"
"…Nitta-san, you talk too much."
However, his casual consideration was just what you'd expect from a sportsman.
Perhaps there was a change of heart after moving up to the second year, and Nozomu is trying to do his best little by little, but I wonder when those feelings will properly reach the person he likes.
Afterward, we parted ways with Nitta-san, and the three of us—me, Umi, and Amami-san—decided to talk in the hallway outside the classroom until homeroom, instead of going in.
"Maki, what time is Class 10's softball game? My team members said they want to go watch, so I need to let them know."
"It depends on how the games progress, but I think it's scheduled for a little before eleven… Wait, Nakamura-san and the others are coming too? I'm not going to do anything that great."
They were free to cheer as they please, but… I suddenly imagined what it would be like when it was my turn at bat.
Probably something like this:
'Go for it, Maki. It's okay, if you do it just like you practiced, you'll hit the ball.' (Umi)
'Yeah! Go get 'em, Maki-kun~, hit it out of the park~!' (Amami-san)
'Hey, hey, the class rep is scared~' (Nitta-san)
'Hey everyone, it's Asanagi-chan's boyfriend's turn at bat. Don't you think our high-pitched cheers are needed here? Huh?' (Nakamura-san)
Umi and Amami-san would cheer properly, Nitta-san would get carried away finding it amusing, and then Nakamura-san would incite the others… I was scared it would be like that.
Even though things have calmed down, there are still a lot of jealous voices from the boys, and if the number of girls increases even more… that's a whole different kind of pressure.
Anyway, I'd pray from now that the opposing pitcher's hand doesn't slip and the ball doesn't come flying at my chest. Also, I'd endure the chorus of tongue-clicking.
I needed to be strong today, too.
And then, there was Umi.
"Umi, good luck today. I can't be by your side like in regular PE classes, but I'll be cheering for you near the court."
"Yeah. You'd better keep your eyes on me today… 'Cause I'm gonna go all out."
"Got it. I can't cheer for you since we're on opposing teams, but I'll be watching."
"You said it, you know? I'll be checking on you from time to time, so if you're looking away, you'll get more than just a flick on the forehead."
"Haha, roger that."
If she was going to say that, I had no choice. I'd burn Umi's performance into my memory during the match.
With such a hardworking and cute girlfriend by my side, the jealousy of others was no big deal.
"Muu~ Umi, you're so selfish~ Maki-kun, you'll be cheering for me too, right? Right? We're classmates and on the same team, right?"
"Ah… uhm, yeah. That's right."
"Aww! He didn't even say 'Good luck' to me anymore~!"
After that playful exchange, the three of us giggled.
As I thought, this is fine for us.
There are still a lot of unresolved issues, but as long as we can see each other like this after the class tournament is over, that's enough for me.
…It's enough, so I'd like to focus on the game now, but.
"—You three look like you're having fun. Just as carefree as the weather today. Giggling away, without a clue how I feel."
Right after, we were called out by an unexpected person.
A sloppily worn uniform, sun-kissed skin, and light brown hair.
It was the very same Arae Nagisa I always see.
"! Arae-san?"
"…What's with that weird look, Amami? Is it so strange for me to talk to you guys?"
"I didn't go that far… but,"
However, it was still a rare occurrence.
For Arae-san, who had been blatantly avoiding Amami-san and trying her best not to interact with us, to go out of her way to talk to us right now.
Moreover, she was alone without her usual friends—considering everything up to now, it was a natural reaction for us to be suspicious.
"I didn't come here to do anything… I just had something I wanted to tell you."
"Arae-san, to me?"
"Yeah. Since you're the team leader, it's only natural."
"…Arae Nagisa, what are you planning this time?"
"I'm not talking to you."
With that, Arae-san dismissed Umi's reaction and continued.
"—I'm going to be passing to you today. So, with you at the center, Amami, do your best."
"Eh…?"
It was surprising that Arae-san initiated the conversation, but the content was even more surprising.
Until now, Arae-san had been critical of Amami-san and Umi's plays, and even in the practice match, she had been playing selfishly as if the dead weight was just in the way.
She soured the atmosphere and never participated in team practice… because of that, Amami-san had been focusing on training with Nitori-san and Houjou-san on how to effectively shake off marks and practice passing, so she could support Arae-san, the most skilled individual player on the team, as much as possible.
She even bowed her head to the other teammates so that they could somehow work together as a team.
If you're going to do it, you'll win, no matter what it takes, against the best friend who has become an enemy.
From the beginning, Amami-san's thinking hasn't changed. The reason she was trying so hard to unite the team and persistently trying to communicate with Arae-san was all for that.
Of course, I know that Arae-san has no way of knowing Amami-san's inner thoughts.
But, why would she suddenly say something like that on the day of the actual event.
Amami-san's face, which had begun to return to a calm expression, clouded over again as if time had been turned back.
"…Arae-san, what do you mean by that?"
"What do you mean? It's just as I said. I'm going to be your support today. You've been practicing properly, right?"
"That's true, but… are you really okay with that, Arae-san?"
"Okay with what?"
"That's, well…"
Amami-san glanced at Umi next to her.
It was about the practice match the other day that ended unsatisfactorily.
We lost to Class 11 that time, but even so, until midway through, we were still evenly matched in terms of score, just by Arae-san's power alone. And she hasn't gotten back at Umi for getting the better of her at all.
What comes to mind is Arae-san's figure from middle school.
The Arae-san in the video was extremely competitive. If an opponent got past her, she would get past them right back as if to say 'take that,' and if they scored a three-pointer, she would retaliate with a three-pointer of her own right after.
There's no way that nature would change just because she quit the club for a year or so.
"Aren't you frustrated that Umi got the better of you?"
So, Amami-san asked, but,
"—Hah, I don't really care?"
Arae-san laughed off Amami-san's question.
"I mean, Amami, why are you so serious? The class tournament is just for fun. Everyone has fun and deepens their bonds regardless of winning or losing… Getting serious about something like that is just being a killjoy."
"B-but, you were so serious during the match with Umi…"
"That time, I was just pissed off at that girl over there, so I got worked up. There was the stuff before that too. Well, thinking about it calmly, I do regret acting a little childish."
Arae-san was quite talkative today. She probably has this side to her, but to us, she seems like a completely different person from the one who was always clicking her tongue and being abusive.
Did she reflect on her actions after Umi beat her in that practice match? No, if she were that kind of person, she wouldn't have picked on Amami-san from the start.
At this rate, I feel like it was better when she was just clicking her tongue.
"…So, that's my stance, even though we've had our issues. I'll just slack off enough not to embarrass myself… you know. Moving my body is a pain. I'll leave the whole 'if you're gonna do it, win' hot-blooded stuff to Amami. Well, that's that."
"Ah, wait, Arae-san, wait…!"
As Arae-san tried to leave after saying what she wanted, Amami-san quickly grabbed her shoulder.
Arae-san's face, when she turned around, briefly returned to its previous sullen expression, but it quickly went back to the somewhat goofy expression from before.
"What? My business is done."
"I can't just suddenly be told that… I even asked everyone on the team, and even though everyone had a bad time, we decided to secure the ball and support you as much as possible so you wouldn't be isolated like last time. That's what I thought."
I think it was a difficult decision for Amami-san as well. It must have been against her will to bend her desire for the whole team to have fun and do their best, but even so, Amami-san chose to somehow make the game work with the five of them.
To have that overturned so close to the event, it's no wonder Amami-san would want to say something.
Of course, that goes for me and Umi too.
I gently squeezed back of Umi's hand, which had unknowingly been gripping mine.
All we could do was watch over the two of them for now.
"I get what you're saying. But, why? Is it not okay? It's fine, isn't it? I'm not saying I won't do anything. I said I'll support you. Besides, isn't that more convenient for you? I heard you two are having a personal match, right?"
"That's just us encouraging each other, I would never bring personal matters into a game—"
"Ah, I get it. Are you two fighting over Maehara over there? You guys are pretty close in class. You and that guy. So you're trying to show off and steal him from his girlfriend. Heh, you do some pretty nasty things for someone with such a cute face."
"…!"
The first one to react to those words was me.
She probably let it slip in the heat of the moment, but there's a line between what you can and can't say, and that last remark clearly crossed it.
It's fortunate that there was no one else around—but, I had to make her correct her mistake right here and now.
"Arae-san, take back what you just said. No matter what you say, I can't forgive that."
"H-huh? Why are you getting so serious over a joke? Besides, you're actually into Amami—"
"…"
"…Tch… what's with you, getting all tough in front of your girlfriend… Tch, yeah, yeah, I'm sorry for saying whatever~… There, is that good enough? Anyway, I'm going to change, so I'm leaving now."
"Hey, apologize to everyone first—"
Just as Arae-san forcefully shook off my hand and tried to run away.
—Lame.
Such a voice came from behind.
"Eh?"
"Lame! Arae Nagisa, you're the worst. You're so lame!"
With those words being thrown at her loud enough to echo through the hallway, even Arae-san couldn't just ignore it.
"—Hey, you, what did you just say?"
"…If you can't hear me, I'll come closer and say it again. It's fine, I'm not going to bully you or anything. I'm not a coward like you."
"…Heh?"
With that, Arae-san, her face changed, came stomping back towards us.
She stopped in front of Amami-san.
Yes, the one who had just hurled insults at Arae-san was not Umi, but Amami-san, her face red with anger.
For a split second, I thought it was Umi who had said it.
Just before the match, or during it, if Arae-san were to pick on Amami-san again, Umi would become the villain like before. During the match, she would become a "common enemy" for Amami-san and Arae-san, to create an opportunity for them to unite even a little.
Just before we left, Umi had told me and Nitta-san about it.
And, thinking that Umi shouldn't be alone, I, and depending on the situation, Nitta-san, were planning to join in.
So, at this point, this development was more or less as Umi had imagined. Although we didn't know what kind of conversation it would be, there would inevitably be a conflict, big or small, and Umi was supposed to step in at that point.
It was the same composition as when we had a dispute at the arcade before.
I know that Amami-san will get angry.
However, I never expected her to express her emotions so loudly.
"Well, I'm here as you wished, so won't you say it again?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll say it to your face as many times as you want until you're satisfied."
With tears in her eyes, Amami-san continued in a torrent.
"Lame, you're so lame, Arae-san. It's been like this ever since we became classmates. It's embarrassing, it's selfish. It's truly pathetic. Saying things to purposely trouble me in front of everyone. Making fun of my important friends without a care.
And that's not all, it's the same with basketball. At first, you were so cocky, saying you could handle these guys by yourself, but when you were about to lose because they had a strategy against you, you ran away with teary eyes saying you weren't feeling well. And to top it all off, you say things like 'this is just for fun' and 'why are you so serious.' Arae-san, do you even realize how pathetic you sound? Oh, sorry, you're saying this because you don't realize it, right? You have a really disappointing mindset, Arae-san."
"…Nn, Amami…!"
Perhaps it was all true, as Arae-san, her face flushed just like Amami-san's, reflexively grabbed Amami-san by the collar. In the process, a button on her blouse flew off.
This is bad, I thought, and immediately grabbed Arae-san's arm.
"! What the hell, Maehara, don't touch me so casually."
"What are you doing, Arae-san, violence is going too far…"
"Maki-kun, wait."
However, just as I was about to separate them, Amami-san gently touched my hand.
"Maki-kun, please, don't stop me. And you too, Umi. Just wait a little longer."
"Amami-san, but—"
"Yeah, what are you saying, Yuu. If we leave her like that, we don't know what she'll really do, you know?"
"It's fine, really."
But Amami-san was adamant.
"Even if she hits me, a punch from a spoiled brat like this won't hurt a bit."
"Amami… you, you don't even know how I feel…"
"That's why, if you don't tell me, how am I supposed to know? Why do we have to guess and be considerate of a past we know nothing about? That's why your old teammates got fed up with you, isn't it?"
"!! Yeah, so what…!"
"Nku…!"
Ignoring me and Umi's restraint, Arae-san tightened her grip on Amami-san's collar and pushed her against the hallway wall.
I wonder if she kept training even after retiring from the club, as Arae-san's arms were surprisingly toned. It might be due to anger, but it took both me and Umi to barely hold her back.
"Yo~ I had some free time so I came to check… what are you guys doing!? Th-that's really not good."
"Sorry, Nitta-san, help us!"
"Can't be helped… not that I have time to say that!"
With the help of Nitta-san, who arrived at a good time, we managed to separate Arae-san and Amami-san.
I left Amami-san to Umi for a moment, and Nitta-san and I somehow managed to hold Arae-san back, but her glaring gaze didn't move an inch from Amami-san.
The time was almost nine o'clock. It was about time for the students who don't have a match first thing in the morning to return to their classrooms—but, that doesn't mean we can just let go of the two of them who are all fired up.
If only there was a place, even for a short time, where we wouldn't be disturbed—
"—Hmm, I thought it was a bit noisy outside… what's all this commotion?"
"! Nakamura-san."
And here, from the classroom of Class 11, Nakamura-san, who was in sports mode today without her glasses (according to her), peeked her head out from the gap in the door.
She seemed to have grasped the situation immediately after a quick glance at Amami-san and Umi, and then at me, Arae-san, and Nitta-san.
"Hmm… Hmm. I can't quite grasp the situation, but you seem to be in trouble, right?"
"Y-yeah… Nakamura-san, how many people are in your classroom right now?"
"The boys have their first match in the morning, so they're already on the field. As for the girls, it's just us from Class 11's A team waiting for Asanagi-chan to come, and a few others… Would you like to use it?"
"! Thank you, Nakamura-san."
"Don't mention it. But you owe me one… Miku, Kaede, Ryouko, I need a favor."
Thanks to Shichino-san, Kaga-san, and Hayakawa-san, who responded to Nakamura-san's call, Class 11 was temporarily empty in no time.
Now that Amami-san and Arae-san are in this state, we have to settle this to some extent here, so I'm grateful that they created a situation where we won't be disturbed, even for a little while.
I don't know if this is the right thing to do, but I think it's better for Amami-san's feelings, and for mine and Umi's, to get everything off our chests before the match.
And when it's all over, I have to apologize to everyone who helped us.
"Arae-san, everyone went to the trouble of setting this up for us, so let's you and I have a proper talk. Surely, you're not going to chicken out over something like this, right?"
"…Bring it on."
Arae-san, who took Amami-san's bait, followed her into the classroom of Class 11.
Naturally, me, Umi, and Nitta-san followed.
"I'll keep watch. I'll call you if it gets bad, so try to settle things by then."
"Thank you, Nakamura-san. For putting up with… our selfishness."
"Don't worry about it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime high school experience. This kind of thing adds to the story."
"…Well, maybe so."
But, I'd rather not have this happen all the time.
I entered Class 11 as Nakamura-san left, and closed the door.
For the sake of the upcoming match, and for the sake of being able to smile with everyone, and with Umi, without any worries afterward, I have to do my best too.