The classroom, empty save for the five of us, was dead silent. A heavy, tense atmosphere hung in the air, a stark contrast to the usual morning rush.
At the center of it all were Amami-san and Arae-san, locked in a silent, confrontational stare.
Amami-san's gaze was uncharacteristically serious, while Arae-san didn't bother to hide her displeasure, glaring daggers at her.
"──By the way, Amami."
It was Arae-san who broke the silence.
"What was that 'teammate' crap from earlier? You said it like you saw it yourself, so how the hell would you know anything about it?"
"I'm not telling you," Amami-san retorted. "Why should I be honest with someone who won't even listen to what I have to say?"
"Tch, you little…"
"Yuu, I get how you feel, but we're not gonna get anywhere like that," Umi interjected, then turned to me. "Maki, if you would."
"Yeah," I nodded. "Amami-san, I'll explain. That's okay with you, right?"
"…Sorry, Maki-kun."
With Amami-san's reluctant approval, I gave a brief summary of what I'd learned from Nitori-san and Houjou-san.
During practice the other day, their notes had given us insight into the results and details of the matches Arae-san's junior high team had played.
That, of course, included the game against Tachibana Girls'.
According to the records, Arae-san's team had suffered a crushing defeat.
I don't recall the exact point difference, but it was around three times their score. In basketball, where a single point can decide a game, losing by a double—let alone triple—their score indicated a massive gap in team strength.
I'd seen some footage, and even to my untrained eye, it was a completely one-sided match. The only player who kept fighting tooth and nail until the very end was Arae-san.
It was a disastrous scene for a prefectural tournament semifinal, where a heated, close game was expected. Arae-san must have been devastated. In fact, by the end of the game, every member of her team except her was looking down, their fighting spirit completely extinguished.
"…Come to think of it, Amami's from that school, isn't she?" Arae-san scoffed. "Even if it's on record, you guys are seriously annoying, snooping into people's pasts like that."
"If you find it so annoying, then maybe you should've just stayed holed up in your past," Amami-san shot back. "You're the one who dragged this out into the open, so you've only got yourself to blame."
"Tch, this bitch, seriously…!"
"Whoa, whoa, hold on, you two!" Nitta-san stepped between them just as they looked ready to lunge at each other. "It's fine to get heated, but no getting physical, okay? If you start a brawl in someone else's classroom, you could both get suspended."
According to her, she'd had similar experiences and was somewhat used to handling these situations. I felt bad for whatever trouble she'd been through, but right now, her intervention was a huge help.
I don't particularly aspire to be like Nitta-san, but there's certainly a lot I can learn from her.
"…Well, if you've dug up that much about me, you get it now, right?" Arae-san said, her voice laced with self-deprecation. "I worked my ass off like an idiot, dreaming like some manga protagonist that if I just tried hard enough, I could do anything. While other kids were messing around with games, I kept practicing, but in the end… this is what I got. I'm just a super pathetic loser, aren't I? So just get the hint already. Please. I'm so over all this hot-blooded nonsense. Especially for something like a class tournament, which is basically just an extension of PE."
Just a class tournament—Arae-san probably wasn't the only one who felt that way. In fact, until last year, I had felt the same way.
It's not like teaming up for an event changes anything. Sure, you have some perfunctory interactions because you're on a team, but once it's over, you just go back to your usual relationships. Nothing really changes. It's a waste of energy to take it seriously—or so I used to think.
That was me until last year's class tournament. That's how I saw everyone around me.
Amami-san, Nitta-san, and of course, Umi, too.
But after becoming friends with Umi, and then getting to know Amami-san and Nitta-san better, my perspective gradually began to shift.
And even more so after Umi became my girlfriend.
I can understand where Arae-san is coming from. But that doesn't mean we, or Amami-san, will just roll over and say, "Oh, okay." That's a different story entirely.
"…Don't be ridiculous."
Amami-san's response to Arae-san's plea was firm.
"Then why didn't you just say so from the start? If you have bad memories of basketball, why didn't you just choose volleyball? If you had just told me, even quietly, we could have changed the roster."
"Tch… That was just because our homeroom teacher decided it without asking me…"
"Liar," Amami-san said flatly. "You don't actually hate basketball, do you, Arae-san? If you hated playing, you wouldn't have been so stubborn, dribbling on your own and demanding the ball like that, would you?"
"Th-That was just because that Asanagi girl provoked me! I had no choice but to play along—"
"You're lying again. Hey, Arae-san, why do you keep lying like that? What is it you really came to hate? Was it yourself for working so hard for nothing? Or was it your teammates who made fun of you for it?"
"!? …Amami, you, how could you…"
"Yeah," Amami-san's voice softened slightly. "…Sorry, Arae-san. We already know everything."
"That's… huh…"
At that critical statement, Arae-san finally faltered, her composure cracking for the first time.
There's actually a little more to her past.
According to Nitori-san and Houjou-san, there was an incident—something not found in any notes or videos, but clearly etched in their memories.
Seeing her panic now, it was clear they weren't mistaken.
"Anyway, if you're not going to talk to me properly, I'm not going to listen to a word you say," Amami-san declared. "No matter how many times you pass to me, I'll just pass it right back. …We might end up looking like complete fools, but I don't care."
"! Amami, you bitch…"
"Sorry, everyone. I have to go," Amami-san said, turning on her heel. "Arae-san, you should hurry and get to the gym too, okay?"
With that, she dashed out of Class 11. I probably should have chased after her, but Nakamura-san, who had just arrived, made an 'X' with her arms, signaling that time was up.
"…I'll go after Yuu," Umi said. "Maki and Nina, you two head back to class. Nakamura-san, sorry for the trouble, but let's go too."
"You got it," Nakamura-san replied, then glanced at Arae-san. "Alright everyone, things are a bit messy, but don't slack off on your preparations… oh, and that includes you, the tan gyaru standing over there. You're our opponent, after all."
"…I know. And what's with the 'tan gyaru' thing?" Arae-san grumbled.
"Haha, don't glare at me like that. You'll ruin that cute face of yours, you know?"
And so, the Class 11 team and Arae-san followed Umi, leaving just me and Nitta-san behind.
"…Hey, Class Rep."
"What is it, Nitta-san?"
"With an atmosphere like that, what's gonna happen with their match?"
"Well," I sighed, "for now, I guess all we can do is pray for the best…"
Swept up in the frantic rush before homeroom, I headed back to class, my mind replaying the story Nitori-san and Houjou-san had told me.
※※※
Prefectural Tournament Semifinals, first match.
The Tachibana Girls' Academy basketball team, which I, Nitori Sanae, am a part of, had secured our victory and advanced to the finals. This year, we were determined to win the prefectural championship that our upperclassmen had narrowly missed last year. From the moment the new team was formed, our captain had us fired up, so I was relieved to have at least made it to the final stage.
The final match is at two in the afternoon, after a lunch break. I just need to stay focused a little longer.
"Sanae, good work~"
"Manaka, you too. What did the captain say we're doing?"
"The second match starts in twenty minutes, so we're free until then. After we watch it, the regulars will have a meeting over lunch."
"Mm. Then, shall we get some fresh air?"
"Okay~"
Since the prefectural champion would be decided today, the venue was packed with team affiliates, scouts from other districts, and students and parents here to cheer. The stands were buzzing with palpable excitement. The air conditioning was on, but the air still felt stuffy and humid from the crowd.
It was summer, so it was hot outside too, but I wanted to fill my lungs with fresh air. After getting permission from the captain via text, I left the gym's changing room with one of my best friends, Houjou Manaka.
"Hey, Manaka."
"Hm? What is it~?"
"That last match was pretty intense, wasn't it?"
"…Yeah. When they took the lead in the first quarter, I was secretly thinking, This might be bad~"
"Right? I can always tell when you're nervous because your eyelids open wider."
I played the full game in that match. The final score was a landslide victory for us, but until our opponents completely lost their will to fight in the fourth quarter, I couldn't let my guard down for a second.
The real threat was their captain, the one with the number 4 jersey. I think her name was Arae Nagisa. She was the central figure of a team that had never made it past the preliminaries, leading them not only into the main tournament but, with that momentum, all the way to the final four.
Honestly, teams that ride a wave of momentum like that are a pain to deal with. We'd been cautious ever since we knew we'd be facing them, but seeing her on the court reminded me of just how troublesome a player she was.
First of all, every single one of her plays was skillful. She had probably studied the movements of pro players from books and videos and practiced relentlessly. Her unique dribbling rhythm and feints were hard to stop, and she could sink a shot from anywhere. She also had tricky assists; in terms of individual skill alone, she was probably on par with or even better than our captain.
At one point, Manaka and I managed to shut her down with a double team, but she still got the better of us more than half the time.
In the end, it was the combined strength of our starting members that allowed us to crush them in the third and fourth quarters. But if they had just one more player at her level…
That's how close the semifinals felt.
The look on Arae-san's face when she slipped past our double-team defense and scored a brilliant shot—a look that screamed, "I'm having the time of my life playing basketball"—is still burned into my memory.
I like basketball, but both Manaka and I only joined because our parents told us to. So, seeing someone so purely dedicated to something they love made me a little envious.
Arae-san was the second girl I'd seen with that kind of expression.
I just wanted to talk to her.
"Manaka."
"What is it~?"
"Do you think the other team is still here?"
"I wonder~? Well, they probably have a meeting and have to change, so I bet Arae-san is still around… You wanna go see her together?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"You're welcome~"
I'm grateful that Manaka always gets what I'm trying to say. We've known each other since kindergarten, so we can usually tell what the other is thinking just from the atmosphere.
We decided it would be better to have something to drink, so after buying sports drinks from a vending machine, we crossed the central court and headed to the locker room where we thought Arae-san and her team would be.
The lights in the room were on, and we could hear voices from inside. It seemed like they were still there.
"Are they in a meeting?… Then let's wait here for a bit."
"Sounds good."
We leaned against the wall, waiting for their meeting to end so we could greet them as they came out.
What should I talk to her about? I hadn't decided yet, but I wanted to tell her that her performance was incredibly impressive and that she was just plain cool.
Would it be weird for the winner to say something like that to the loser right after a match? She might get upset, but if that happened, I'd just have to apologize.
The voices from behind the closed door died down. Just as I thought Arae-san was about to come out, the next moment—
──Thud!
"Eh…!?"
With a loud bang, two girls in jerseys burst out of the room.
Of course, I recognized them both. We had just played against them. One was a starter, and the other was the person I was waiting for—Arae-san.
Both of them were glaring at each other, their faces contorted with rage.
"…What? What did you just say? Say… say that again!" Arae-san snarled, grabbing the other girl by the collar.
"I said, I'm so relieved I don't have to put up with your selfishness anymore—that's what I said!!" the girl screamed back.
Small items like deodorant and lip balm scattered across the floor from the girl's bag, likely spilled when they burst out.
Are they fighting? I've heard that some teams get rough after a big loss, but this was the first time I'd seen it firsthand.
"Honestly, I—no, we—never planned on trying that hard," the girl continued. "We're not some powerhouse school. We were fine with just practicing moderately and using our time off to go shopping or play games… That would've been perfectly fine."
"Then why did you follow my lead until now?!" Arae-san demanded. "Weren't we all working towards the same goal? Didn't we all work hard together, from early morning to late night, without any days off, saying we'd definitely win the prefectural tournament? Was that all against your will?"
"Yeah, it was," the girl spat. "Things got weird after we beat a top-eight school in our first practice match. After you, Nagisa, basically won that game single-handedly, that damn advisor got carried away and started throwing in all sorts of crazy practice drills. You really stirred things up for no reason."
"But that's what we needed to do to win! Didn't you guys feel that way even a little?"
It seemed like they were arguing about their practice regimen. It must have been tough, but a certain amount of effort is necessary to achieve decent results.
Personally, I agreed with Arae-san… but of course, not everyone feels the same.
"…Well, yeah, it's not like we had zero motivation. But that was just for a 'decent' level, you know? Get it? Decent. We just didn't want to look pathetic by losing in the first round. We were fine, as long as it wasn't that. We didn't need a grand goal like winning the whole tournament. But if we said that out loud, who knows what the advisor would say, and we figured it'd be bad if you, his favorite, found out…"
"…So you're saying you just went along with it to not rock the boat?" Arae-san's voice was dangerously quiet.
"Pretty much. Thanks to the practice, I got a bit better, and people telling me how great I was gave me an ego boost for a while… But I never thought we'd look this pathetic in the end. It's so bad, I'm starting to think it would've been better if we had just barely lost in the top eight."
The end. She meant our match.
At the beginning of the game, their team was fired up, but as the point gap widened to ten, twenty, and eventually forty points, the spectators started looking at them with pity.
"──This is a final four team? It's a massacre."
"──Their opponents have already subbed out their ace and are in total coasting mode, they have three times their score… Oh, Tachibana Girls just broke 100."
"──Is that captain the only one trying? She's got no support, poor thing~"
Even though they were our substitutes, there wasn't a huge skill gap, and we were playing at full strength. But that's apparently how it looked to outsiders.
Towards the end, I could hear whispers like that from the stands.
"…Are you serious right now?" Arae-san asked, her gaze sweeping over her teammates. "Are the rest of you the same?"
They all looked down at once.
Their silence was the answer.
"Well, everyone has their own opinions, but most of them feel the same way I do," the girl said with a shrug. "I guess a rare, old-fashioned sports nut like you wouldn't understand how we feel, Nagisa."
"…I see. Then, that's fine," Arae-san said, her voice hollow. "I was hoping we could be on the same team in high school, but… if you're all just going to be dead weight, then I don't need any of you. You're useless. Just go play games or do whatever you want."
With that, Arae-san, still disheveled, ran out of the gym.
"Ah…"
Maybe I should have chased after her then. Maybe I should have called out to her, told her that her performance wasn't uncool at all, that it was amazing.
But even with that thought, Manaka and I stood there, frozen, unable to take a single step.
We didn't know how to approach a girl we didn't even know, who had just run away with red, swollen eyes, as if escaping from everything.
"…Sanae, the captain texted. It's time, we have to go back."
"U-uh huh…"
In the end, I never saw Arae-san again after that. We continued playing basketball in high school, but of course, we never met again on the court.
…That was one of the few regrets I, Nitori Sanae, have.
※※※
That was everything we heard from Nitori-san and Houjou-san about 'Arae Nagisa.'
Of course, I can't definitively say that's why Arae-san quit competitive basketball. From what I heard, she had intended to continue in high school. I also don't know how that translates to her hating Amami-san, but I have no doubt that it was the event that changed her entire mindset.
Those words from her teammates, who she had fought alongside, could only be taken as a betrayal. It would have been more than enough to shatter her motivation.
Right now, our homeroom teacher, Yagisawa-sensei, is making announcements about the class tournament, but honestly, I can't hear a word she's saying.
I was just worried about Umi and Amami-san.
As soon as homeroom ended, I rushed to the gym. Class 10's boys' volleyball was also starting early, but since most teams were prioritizing last-minute practice, there weren't many spectators.
Amami-san and Arae-san were two of the most prominent girls in our class, but seeing their hostile standoff from afar, people were probably hesitant to cheer. The only ones who headed to the gym with me were a few guys who seemed to be Amami-san's fans and a few girls from her close friend group.
It felt a bit lonely with so few supporters, but with fewer people around, I could cheer for Umi and Amami-san without feeling as self-conscious. I decided to use my voice as much as I could, even if it was quiet.
I found a spot where I wouldn't be in the way but could still overhear their conversations, and waited for the jump ball. Nitta-san happened to be nearby with some kids from Class 7.
With a sharp whistle from the basketball club member acting as referee, the two jump-ball players entered the center circle.
From Class 10, it was Amami-san. From Class 11, Nakamura-san. Same as the practice match.
"Good luck, Amami-chan," Nakamura-san said with a grin. "It's a short game, but let's both do our best."
"Yeah. You too."
After a light handshake, the first girls' basketball match began.
As expected, Amami-san won the jump ball.
"Tch… seriously, she can jump as high as ever…!" Nakamura-san muttered.
"….Hmph!"
Nakamura-san was the first to touch the ball, but Amami-san's fingers, reaching it a fraction of a second later, forcefully snatched it away with her impressive athleticism.
──Whoa, seriously?
──Wasn't that girl's hang time insane?
I could hear comments from the students waiting to use the court next, but having watched her practice up close, I wasn't surprised.
The first person to receive the ball that Amami-san had fought for was, as expected, Arae-san.
During the practice match, she had driven to the basket from here and scored.
"…Pass."
But this time, Arae-san immediately threw the ball back to Amami-san, just as she'd declared she would.
The ball, thrown with absolutely no enthusiasm, bounced feebly at Amami-san's feet.
If Umi hadn't already fallen back to set up the defense, it would have been stolen in an instant—a completely listless play.
"…There. I'm leaving the offense to you, so hurry up and score."
"Tch…"
Following Arae-san's unyielding instructions, Amami-san slowly started dribbling into the opponent's territory.
The first to mark her was Umi, her best friend, but because of what had just happened, a look of confusion still lingered on her face.
"Yuu, I'm just letting you know, I'm not going easy on you."
"Yeah. It wouldn't be fair to everyone else if you did."
"Alright, let's do this."
"Yeah."
Despite the circumstances, they couldn't afford to cause trouble for their teammates, so for the time being, Amami-san took the lead on offense.
Arae-san was barely involved, wandering around near the half-court line, making it a four-on-five situation. Still, they managed to force a mistake in Class 11's coordination, and then…
"! Ah, Asanagi-chan, my bad…"
"Sorry, my fault too—"
Taking advantage of a gap in the handover while marking the less agile Nakamura-san, Amami-san simultaneously broke free from Umi's mark and received a pass from a teammate, wide open.
Class 10 had the ball, and the 24-second shot clock was about to run out.
It was a now-or-never shooting opportunity, but Amami-san turned away from the basket.
"Ngh…!"
She threw the ball with all her might towards Arae-san.
"Wh-…!?"
Arae-san reacted instantly and put her hands out, but the ball was thrown with such force that it flew past her.
A moment later, the whistle blew, signaling a shot clock violation.
──Eh? What was that?
──It was a chance to shoot, why would she suddenly do that…?
Confused voices rose from the few spectators, but for those of us who knew the situation, it was more of an, I knew it.
"Amami, you…!" Arae-san seethed.
"I told you, didn't I?" Amami-san replied coolly. "I'm not backing down. Arae-san, let's be embarrassed together, okay?"
It seemed Amami-san was dead set on this path.
Even if their final score was zero.
"…Yuu, you're serious about this," Umi murmured from the other side.
"Umi… Yeah. Just like in practice, I'll stick with playing support for Arae-san."
Umi on the opposing team, and Nitta-san in the stands, both wore expressions that said, I knew it.
And, of course, me too.
It was a play that hurt the team as a whole, but the other teammates who had practiced with Amami-san seemed to understand. They didn't blame her; instead, they stared intently at Arae-san.
Their faces seemed to say, If you, Arae Nagisa, don't step up, we're going to lose badly, now and in the next game.
"Alright everyone, don't just stand there, it's our ball!" Umi called out, snapping her team back to reality. "We've got to show them what we've practiced!"
"Right, you're right. With our opponents fighting amongst themselves, this is our chance."
The court had fallen silent, but Umi's voice, as she received the inbound pass, brought the Class 11 team back to their senses.
They had also practiced hard, and there was no way the divided Class 10 team could stop them.
"Ryouko-san, you can do it!"
"Yeah, leave it to me."
Hayakawa-san, receiving a pass from Umi, neatly scored a layup, taking the first points.
It was a fast break that took less than ten seconds.
"Here, ball."
"Tch, all of you…"
Arae-san, receiving the ball from a teammate, glared at Amami-san, who was already running into the opponent's court.
Amami-san had declared she would return any ball she received, but other than that, she was playing properly. She wasn't just standing there; she was actively trying to shake her mark and get open to make the next play easier.
All so that when Arae-san finally decided to participate in the offense as the team's ace, she could properly support her.
And the other girls were doing the same.
"Arae-san, here. I'm passing it back."
"We're all marked, so think before you pass. Besides, you're open, so you should shoot."
Unable to pass to Amami-san, Arae-san tried to pass to another girl in desperation, but just like before, the ball was immediately returned to her.
This continued until the 24-second clock ran out again.
──Hey, what are they doing?
──Are they fighting? They just keep passing it back and forth.
──You'll never win if you don't attack~!
──What is this? It's so boring.
With the tedious game showing no signs of life, such comments started reaching my ears from the few remaining spectators.
But even so, Amami-san paid them no mind. No matter how much the score gap widened, she continued to pass back to Arae-san, just as she'd declared.
She kept her eyes fixed on Arae-san, who was now glancing nervously over at the spectators.
In that state, she couldn't focus on the opponent in front of her at all.
"──Mine!"
"Ah…!?"
The moment Arae-san's gaze drifted towards a group of guys outside the court—perhaps after hearing an insult—Shichino-san seized the opportunity, using her small stature to slip in and steal the ball.
"Shichino-san, over here!" Umi yelled.
"You got it!"
As soon as she stole the ball, Umi was already dashing towards the goal. She received the pass and drove to the undefended basket, scoring a brilliant layup.
It was about halfway through the first half, but the score difference was steadily growing.
──This game's already decided.
──Yeah. Let's go somewhere else.
The state of the game was clearly driving people away. The spectators were already heading to other events, and before I knew it, the only ones watching were Class 11's supporters and a very small number of us, including myself and Nitta-san.
Even though they had prepared for it, this had to be a tough situation for Amami-san and the others.
And even then, Class 11's team didn't let up.
"Asanagi-chan, go for it!"
"Yeah!"
Umi, freed up by Nakamura-san's post play, took a shot from the three-point line.
"…Yes, it's in."
Perhaps confident in the shot, Umi lightly clenched her fist as she whispered. The ball drew a beautiful arc and passed silently through the net.
The score was turning into a complete blowout.
"Nice shot, Asanagi-chan!"
"So cool! So cute!"
"That's our idol!"
"St-stop it, you guys…!"
In response to the cheers from her classmates, Umi's face turned slightly red as she gave a small wave.
She's cute, and seeing her so lively makes me happy, but as a member of Class 10, I had mixed feelings.
"…"
"…"
As for Class 10, they remained silent. Normally, even if they were behind, the ever-energetic Amami-san would brighten the mood, but today, she was the one who had caused this situation, so her expression was dark.
"Here, Arae-san. Pass."
"…"
Amami-san, picking up the ball under the basket, passed it to Arae-san, but this time, Arae-san completely ignored it.
The ball went out of bounds. It was Class 11's ball again. Even the opposing team sighed.
"…Hey, tan gyaru, that's going too far, don't you think?" Nakamura-san chided.
"Shut up. You're just tall, that's all."
"Hmph. Well then, who's the one getting completely crushed and humiliated right now?"
"Tch… say whatever you want."
And with that, Class 11 scored again.
I hate to say it, but this was a situation that truly deserved to be called a one-sided game.
Or rather, it wasn't even a game at all.
"Hey, Yuu-chan. Any more of this is…" a teammate started.
"Yeah. At this rate, it'll be bad for the Class 11 girls too. We should start trying from here at least…" another added.
Unable to bear it any longer, such voices rose from the teammates who had been cooperating with Amami-san until now.
They wanted to respect Amami-san's wishes, but continuing this listless performance would leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth.
But still, the two at the center of it remained silent.
No matter how much of a 'game' this class tournament was, a loss like this would be incredibly embarrassing. Even with few people watching, it would surely be talked about in a negative light for a while.
Both of them knew there was no point in this stubborn standoff, that it would only make things worse.
Arae-san, growing tired of it all, was on the verge of giving up.
And Amami-san, who just couldn't let that happen.
Neither of them had been able to back down since the game started.
"…What should I do?" I muttered to myself, seeing the pained expressions on both their faces.
If the two of them could just meet in the middle and promise to work together, even if a comeback was difficult, the situation would surely change.
Arae-san, who had captivated everyone with her outstanding individual skills in junior high, and Amami-san, who caught opponents off guard with her unpredictable movements and raw physical ability.
The unity of Umi's Class 11 team was formidable, and the score difference was huge, but still… if those two aces worked together, they might just be able to do something.
For Umi's sake, that would make the fight more worthwhile. Looking at her, although she wasn't holding back, she still seemed to be glancing over at Amami-san from time to time.
"If they can't create an opportunity to talk on the court… then the only other way is…"
Suddenly, I looked at Umi. Even though she's on the opposing team, it doesn't change the fact that I'm cheering for her the most.
I want to see my cute Umi beat her best friend and rival, Amami-san, and then flash me a triumphant peace sign with a "How'd you like that?" look on her face. I want to burn that image into my memory, tell her she was cool, and hug her tight.
And for that to happen, those two need to work together.
Umi, Amami-san, and Arae-san.
I want them all to fight with everything they've got and settle things properly.
I think that's much more like the three of them.
Not just Umi and Amami-san, but Arae-san too. The vibrant expression she had in junior high would be so much better than the scowl she's wearing now.
No joke, Arae-san's old footage looked like she was shining.
…Just like Amami-san does when she's out on the court.
"…C-come on."
My voice came out smaller than I expected. I took another deep breath and shouted as I exhaled.
"Come on… Come on, Class 10!"
"! Maki-kun…?"
Amami-san, hearing my cheer, looked up at me. It was the first proper cheer for the previously silent Class 10 side, and Umi, Nitta-san, and the others from Class 11 all looked over in surprise.
It's embarrassing to stand out like this, but I guess I'll have to endure being teased a little later.
"The first half isn't over yet! You can still make a comeback! So, come on, everyone!"
Just a cheer, but a meaningful one. Instead of just complaining, giving them a push from behind when they're stuck is a part of what it means to be a spectator, I think.
My voice echoed through the somber court, and the people around me stared at me, shocked.
It's normal to cheer for your own class, but for a quiet guy who had been silent this whole time to suddenly shout… well, I guess it's surprising.
But I couldn't worry about that right now.
"Amami-san, remember what you learned from Nitori-san and Houjou-san during practice!" I yelled. "They said, 'Even if you're losing, it's important to keep your head up until time's up.' They said that's the most important thing!"
"…!"
It was the crucial advice the two ad-hoc coaches had given to their best friends, Umi and Amami-san.
Even they, who were constantly training their skills and stamina, had stressed that the most important thing was 'mentality'.
You can't see the goal if you look down, and you can't see the teammates who are supposed to be right there with you either. That's like setting yourself up to lose, they said.
In her stubbornness, Amami-san was starting to forget that.
In a situation like this, the only ones who could get through to her were me and Nitta-san. Umi, being on the enemy team, couldn't exactly throw a bone to her opponent, and Nitta-san wasn't directly involved.
That's why it had to be me.
"Go for it, Yuu-chin! The first half isn't over yet, and there's still the second half. If you sink ten three-pointers in a row, you can totally catch up!"
"…! Nina-chi…"
Following my lead, Nitta-san, who had quickly read the room, cheered for Amami-san in her usual high-spirited tone.
She glanced over at me, holding up her index finger with a smile that was a mix of exasperation and amusement. I owe you one, it seemed to say.
What's more, perhaps spurred on by Nitta-san's voice, the girls from Class 7 (her team), who were waiting for their own match, began to cheer as well.
"Go, Class 10, you can still do it~!"
"Make sure you warm up the court for us!"
"Don't play such a lame game forever~!"
Though it started small, the chorus of support grew, one voice after another.
"Maki-kun, Nina-chi, everyone…"
With those cheers as her fuel, the energy gradually returned to Amami-san's drooping face.
"Aah, geez! I'm so stupid… I was being stubborn and lost sight of what's most important…!"
It seemed Amami-san had finally regained her composure.
She picked up the ball that had rolled to the corner of the court and approached Arae-san once more.
"Arae-san, um…"
"…What."
"…I'm sorry!"
With that, Amami-san bowed her head deeply.
"I've been stubborn this whole time. I said I wouldn't bring personal feelings into it, but I caused trouble for my team, the other team, and everyone watching just because I couldn't forgive you… I'm such an idiot, aren't I?"
"…"
Arae-san's reaction was faint. However, she didn't ignore or turn away from her as she had before. Instead, she stared intently at Amami-san, her silence heavy.
"I tried my best to get along with you, but I'm sorry. I still really hate you, Arae-san. You hate me for no reason, you said horrible things to my best friend… and even now, you've just been playing without any motivation."
But then, Amami-san pressed on.
The bewilderment and anger had vanished from her expression, replaced by something else entirely.
"But even so, there was one thing about you I thought was amazing. Back in middle school, you were incredible, Arae-san. You led the team, and even in the match we lost, you fought desperately until the very end… Honestly, I hate to admit it, but I thought you were cool. Just for a little bit, though, since I hate you."
"…Hmph. What a coincidence. I hate you too, Amami."
"Yeah. And I think that's fine. It's only natural for people to have someone they don't get along with… But."
Amami-san held the ball out to Arae-san with both hands, her grip firm.
"Just for now, I want you to work with me. To turn this game around, I absolutely need your strength, Arae-san… So, please. I'm asking you one more time. Please, lend me your strength. I need you."
Her gaze was unwavering, her words direct.
"Even if it's just for fun, I don't want to lose."
"…!"
Arae-san's expression faltered. With the mood in the gym shifting to support Class 10, she couldn't just walk away from the match as she had before. She had no choice but to respond.
"…You really think you can win? It's our fault it's come to this, but our class still has zero points, you know? The first half is almost over, and there are only ten minutes left in the second. You still think you can win?"
"Well, I admit it's a long shot. The other team is strong, too. But the possibility isn't zero, right? If we stop them from scoring and we keep scoring, we can do it."
"…You're an idiot, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am. My best friend tells me that all the time."
"Tch… I really can't stand girls like you."
Clicking her tongue, Arae-san started walking slowly towards the opponent's side of the court, leaving the ball in Amami-san's hands.
Just when I thought it was hopeless, even after all that… she got into a stance to receive a pass.
"…Amami, what are you doing? We're on offense… Pass it here."
"…! Arae-san…!"
"If you're going to talk that big, then prove it. Talk is cheap."
"…! Yeah, leave it to me! Everyone, I'm sorry for being so selfish! Let's go on a full-out attack!"
Looking at the scoreboard, a comeback seemed incredibly difficult. But now, they had an earnest Amami-san and a serious Arae-san.
From here on, it was going to be a real match.
"Man, I thought they were just gonna self-destruct, but it looks like she's finally getting serious."
"All thanks to someone's unnecessary meddling… right, Asanagi-chan?"
"Muu…"
For Umi's team, it would have been better if their opponents had kept fighting amongst themselves. They must be thinking I've caused them a world of trouble.
Sorry, I mouthed silently, putting my hands together in a small prayer towards Umi.
"…Bleh."
Our eyes met, and she stuck her tongue out at me.
There was no doubt I was rooting for Umi's victory, but what I did was tantamount to aiding the enemy. Her reaction was only natural. I was sure I'd get an earful later, and I had no choice but to be ready to apologize.
"…Alright, everyone, the real match starts now. They're all fired up from some pity cheers, so let's crush their momentum and make 'em cry uncle, shall we?"
"""""Yeah!"""""
As she gave instructions to her team, Umi's face was lit up with a more joyful smile than I had ever seen before.
It's been about half a year since I became friends with her last fall.
I guess I've been pretty poisoned by this whole 'youth' thing.
…Not that it was a bad feeling in the slightest.
Thanks to my meddling, Amami-san's team, which had finally started to come together just before the end of the first half, began their counterattack.
"Arae-san, please!"
"I know… Geez."
Receiving the ball from Amami-san, Arae-san dribbled it up the court with purpose for the first time.
"Let's just get one back for now."
There was little time left, but she calmly observed the five players of the opposing team.
Without a moment's delay, Umi stood in her way.
"Well, hello there."
"Tch, you're so persistent."
"I don't think I've repaid my debt to you yet. Sorry to spoil your fun, but I'm not gonna let you do as you please."
"Oh, is that so…!"
After a brief exchange, the battle between them began. In their last practice match, Umi had been overwhelmed by Arae-san's individual skill, but thanks to the defensive practice with Nitori-san and Houjou-san, she was now able to keep up with her one-on-one.
The other four players stuck to their marks, vigilant to cut off any pass to Amami-san, the other player to watch out for. It was a formation that seemed to say, if you think you can score, then go ahead and try.
With five seconds left, Arae-san made her move.
"Amami, don't just stand there, get open!"
"Yeah!"
"…! That feint is a little too much for me…!"
With a sharp squeak of her shoes, Amami-san instantly shook off Nakamura-san's mark.
"…So you have been practicing."
"Because I want to win against Umi!"
"Then, try and make it."
Now free, a perfect shooting opportunity opened up for Amami-san. There was no time to aim carefully, but with no one in front of her, she would probably make the shot.
Amami Yuu was the kind of girl who could pull something like that off.
Arae-san's gaze turned towards her, and just as everyone thought she would pass, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Or so I thought, but I changed my mind."
"Eh…!?"
Faking the pass, she held onto the ball and shot it herself.
She was just outside the three-point line. Caught by surprise, the defense was a step too slow, and the ball, released from a nearly open position, drew a beautiful arc and swished through the net.
Immediately after, the whistle signaling the end of the first half blew.
"Whoa, nice one, Class 10!"
"That was a great shot!"
"There's still a point difference, but keep it up~!"
Although a small crowd, they were excited about the first score for the Class 10 team.
As Arae-san, the main-scorer, slowly returned to her side of the court, Amami-san was the first to congratulate her.
"Nice shot, Arae-san! That was as clean as ever. Honestly, even I was a little captivated."
"Well, it's been a while, so this is about right. It's no big deal."
"Fufu, you're right. But, was that okay? Me not taking the shot? You just told me to 'try and make it' when I got open."
"Huh? Did I say that? I'm not that smart, so I've already forgotten everything I just said."
"…! Arae-san…!"
A complete change from the start of the game, Arae-san's expression had softened as if she were a different person. Or rather, from the videos I'd seen of her in middle school, this was probably her true self.
"But don't get the wrong idea. I'm only cooperating because your best friend pisses me off. I still hate you."
"…Arae-san, are you a tsundere by any chance?"
"No, I'm not. Why would I have to be 'dere' for you? Seriously, no way."
…No, I think anyone can see she's a tsundere.
The other members seemed to agree, watching the exchange with lukewarm gazes.
"Besides, I was the one who scored. You better do your job in the second half. I'm gonna work you and everyone else to the bone."
"…! Yeah! I'm counting on you, Nagisa-chan!"
"Nagi—… Hey, don't just start calling me by my first name so casually. That's what's so annoying about you, get it?"
"I wonder? I'm not that smart either, so I might have already forgotten what you just said."
"…This girl is seriously annoying…"
Arae-san cursed under her breath, but once you let your guard down around Amami-san, it's over. She closes the distance in an instant, and before you know it, you've become 'friends.'
According to Umi, this was Amami-san's usual pattern for making friends. Even if her first impression wasn't good, while doing things together during school events or class activities, people would let their guard down and become her friend before they knew it.
That's just the kind of girl Amami Yuu is.
"Nice shot, Arae-san. And nice run, Amami-san."
"Yeah, thanks for the support, Maki-kun! Come on, Nagisa-chan, you have to reply properly."
"Huh? Why should I… Besides, I was planning on making a move soon, even if he hadn't said anything."
"…Tsundere."
"Huh!? Did you say something!?"
"No, nothing…"
Arae-san shot me a glare and her usual click of the tongue at my muttered comment.
"Hey, Maehara."
"…What is it?"
"…Just so you know, I haven't forgiven you either."
With that, she returned to her team's huddle.
This didn't solve everything, but for now, it should be enough to get through the class tournament., I'll just quietly cheer for everyone from here on.
During the water break before the second half, I discreetly made my way over to Umi's Class 11 team. I had intended to watch from a distance, but all five of them, Umi included, beckoned me over.
…Well, I can't exactly run away.
"Yo yo, Maehara-shi, you've really done it now~"
"You traitor~"
"Cheering for another girl right in front of Asanagi-san is pretty bold."
"This definitely calls for some punishment, doesn't it, Asanagi-chan?"
"…Idiot. Idiot Maki. You useless boyfriend. Cheater. Harem-building piece of crap."
"Th-that's going a bit too far… ah, no, I'm sorry. You're right."
As soon as they surrounded me, I was hit with a barrage of criticism. The glares from the other four were one thing, but the one from Umi was genuinely painful. No matter how boring the first half was, an easy win is always better. For Umi's sake, for Amami-san's sake—while I might say that, in the end, it was all just my own selfish decision.
"Well, what's done is done… Asanagi-chan, what's the plan for the second half? It's going to be pretty troublesome with those two teaming up."
"For now, we'll put two marks on each of them and try to manage somehow. That means two of their players will be open, but we'll just have to pray they miss."
"In that case, I guess I'll have to do my best with the rebounds," Nakamura-san said.
"Yeah. It's a huge responsibility, but I'm leaving it to you, Nakamura-san."
It was a strategy that accepted they'd give up some points, but considering the skill of those two, it was probably their best option. They would use their lead from the first half to hold on and defend. A solid, Umi-like strategy.
"Well then, now that the plan is decided, all that's left is… Miku, Kaede, Ryouko."
"""Got it."""
There was only a little time left before the break ended. I saw the five of them off and was about to leave their circle to finally concentrate on watching, but at Nakamura-san's signal, the trio of Shichino-san, Kaga-san, and Hayakawa-san grabbed my shoulders and held me back.
I thought I'd been scolded enough, but it seemed there was still something they wanted from me.
"U-um… what is it?"
"What is it, you ask? That's obvious, isn't it? Right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, yeah."
"???"
I couldn't quite grasp the situation, but the three of them were grinning mischievously at me.
"Nakamura, how's Asanagi-chan?"
"Yep. She's good to go, too."
"Um, Nakamura-san, what—"
"Alright. And so, party of two, right this way~"
"Eh? W-wait a second…"
The next moment, I realized Umi was also being held by Nakamura-san. The four of them pushed us from behind, and we were thrown into the gym storage room next to the court.
There happened to be a large gymnastics mat right at our feet, and with the force of the push, Umi and I tumbled onto it.
"Nakamura-san, what is this? What's going on?"
"—I'll give you two some alone time, so fire him up, Asanagi-chan. Whether we win or not depends on you."
I could hear Nakamura-san's voice from the other side of the firmly shut door.
"Nakamura-san? Nakamura-san, wait a minute!"
Umi immediately started knocking on the door, but it seemed the four of them were holding it shut, as it wouldn't budge an inch.
"Hey Maki, this is…"
"…Yeah."
…It seems they won't let us out until I inject some energy into Umi.
"Geez, everyone is always meddling."
"Haha… well, it is kind of unfair that I only cheered for Amami-san."
"…That's right. You said you'd cheer for me. You idiot, Maki."
"Ugh… about that, I'm really sorry."
Even though Umi was just as worried about Amami-san as I was, her feelings must have been complicated watching me cheer for her rival.
"Maki, I'm only saying this because we're alone."
"…Yeah."
"When Yuu's face lit up from your cheering, I got incredibly jealous. You were probably too focused on shouting to see, but everyone told me I had a really bitter look on my face."
"I see… Umi, I'm really sorry."
"No, it's fine. I'm the one who should be sorry for saying something like this. It was honestly my job to snap Yuu out of it, whether it was a slap or a forehead flick, whatever it took."
"No, if you did that during a match, it would be more than just a foul…"
Even though she says that, I could tell from her play in the first half that Umi was trying to fire Amami-san up through her actions. She brought her strong-willed team together, sometimes scoring herself to inspire and lead them.
Just like Amami-san wanted to do.
"It's okay. I know you're doing your best, Umi. Of course, Amami-san, Nitta-san, Nakamura-san, and everyone else, too."
"…Yeah."
"You're doing great."
"Yeah. Thanks, Maki."
As I gently stroked her head, praising her for her hard work, Umi buried her face in my chest as if seeking comfort. Perhaps because she had been sprinting just a moment ago, the faint, sweet scent of her shampoo was mixed with the smell of sweat. Of course, it wasn't an unpleasant smell, so I just hugged her tightly.
"Hey, Maki. Can I ask you for one thing?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Cheer me on too… no, that's not it. Fire me up even more than you did for Yuu."
"Does that mean… more than just cheering for you a lot from now on?"
"Of course. You think something like that is going to get me in top form? You know full well what a jealous girl I can be."
"Well, that's true, but…"
That said, I'd do anything to make Umi feel better, but right now, we didn't have much time. How long had it been since we were pushed in here? It was getting a little noisy outside, so we couldn't stay in here together forever.
I had a few ways to cheer her up, but… I felt like if I overused them, they'd lose their effect.
"Umi, we don't have time, so I'll make this quick."
"Okay, what is it?"
"Lend me your ear."
"…Mhm."
I hugged Umi even tighter, and then I whispered some embarrassing words into her ear.
I don't think I'm the type of person to say things like this often, but I'd already proven that it made Umi incredibly happy.
"…Maki, one more time."
"Eh…"
"Again. I didn't hear you properly."
"…Alright."
At her request, I repeated the same words.
"Hey, Maki."
"Yeah."
"Do you love me?"
"…I love you."
"Only me?"
"Of course… You're the only person I love, Umi."
I'll tell my selfish Umi as many times as it takes for her to be satisfied. That not Amami-san or Nitta-san, but only she is my one and only.
"…Umi, are you in a better mood now?"
"Nope. Not even halfway there. I won't forgive you unless you let me be even more spoiled."
"I get it. Then, after the class tournament is over, I'll do whatever you say… that's within my power."
"…That's halfway."
I thought I'd put in a lot of effort, but it seemed Umi was only about halfway satisfied. It was actually rare for her to be this selfish. She was fine with Nitta-san or Nakamura-san, but as soon as Amami-san got involved, she became incredibly troublesome.
Well, I do find that part of her cute, though.
"Umm… th-then, how about we extend it until the end of Golden Week? Not just today, but I'll accept all your selfish requests during the long weekend."
"…Muu."
"I have work shifts during the break, so it'll be hard to change those… But other than that, you can be as spoiled as you want."
"Can I be selfish and say 'I want to see you' at night?"
"You can. I'll go to your house. It might bother Sora-san and the others… but well, I'll apologize for that."
"What about a date, just the two of us?"
"…We'll do it. It's gotten warmer lately, so we can go to karaoke, a movie, shopping… I'll go with you wherever you want. I want to go, too."
"Hmm~…"
After thinking for a moment, Umi pouted but finally nodded in agreement.
"…Yeah, if that's the case, it can't be helped. I'll compromise."
"…Thank you very much."
My long weekend has just been completely booked. Knowing Umi, I didn't think she'd ask for anything too unreasonable, but it might be a good idea to be mentally prepared. It seemed our lovey-dovey couple act would be even more intense during Golden Week.
"Alright, now that I have your word, we should really get out of here. Maki, come on."
"Yeah."
Taking Umi's outstretched hand, I stood up from the mat.
"Nakamura-san, we're good now. You can open up."
"…! Oh, looks like you're all cheered up."
"Yep. All better now."
"That's excellent. Then, I shall release you."
Fooling around in the gym storage before the second half was probably unprecedented, but let's hope Nakamura-san and the others came up with a good excuse. I was just glad that Umi seemed to have completely recovered her spirits.
And then, one more thing.
"Ah, that's right. Hey Maki, can I have a second?"
"…What is it? If you want one last—"
—Smooch.
Just before leaving the storage room, Umi, as if remembering something, turned around and suddenly kissed me on the lips.
"U-Umi… um…"
"Ehehe. We did it, even during an important match," she said bashfully, and after opening the door, she went back to her friends.
"Welcome back, Asanagi-chan. So, what exactly did your boyfriend do for you?"
"It's a secret."
"Ehh, what's with that? Now I'm curious."
Despite saying that, Nakamura-san and the others were grinning as they saw us blushing, so they probably had a good idea of what happened.
…Aah, geez, even though neither of us mean for it to happen, we end up showing everyone what a lovey-dovey couple we are.
Not that it mattered. If Umi asks, I'll do anything.
"Umi, sorry. I'm going to stay here a little longer, so go on ahead."
"…Okay. But come out as soon as you can. You have to cheer for us properly this time."
"Don't worry, I'll cheer loud and clear."
"Very well… Well then, I'm off."
"Yeah. See you."
After sending Umi off as she headed into the second half with her team, I lay back down on the mat. Our lips had only touched for a brief moment, but the soft, moist sensation lingered.
"Honestly… that Umi, she's so sly."
Tracing my lips, which still held the afterglow of the kiss, I waited for the heat in my cheeks to subside.
About two or three minutes into the second half, I managed to calm myself down and decided to cheer from Class 11's side. Normally, people would probably wonder why I'd suddenly start cheering for the opposing team in the second half, but since my presence is as thin as ever, it's quite helpful that nobody notices when I act on my own in these situations.
Although, Amami-san and Nitta-san noticed me right away. When they both glanced over, they had their usual exasperated expressions.
Anyway, while I was dealing with my own matters in the gym storage, the score had changed, and Amami-san's team had scored more points. Umi's team seemed to be trying their best, but the point gap was gradually closing.
"Umi, you can do it!"
As I cheered for her just as she was about to take the ball on offense, Umi shifted her gaze slightly towards me and mouthed a few words.
—Watch me.
After that silent declaration, she slowly dribbled down the exact center of the court. When she's in the zone, Umi's plays can rival even Amami-san's.
Without a moment's delay, Amami-san stood in front of her.
"Umi, let's continue our shooting contest from the other day."
"Alright. I was thinking it was about time we settled this, too."
With no interference from Arae-san this time, the serious showdown between the two best friends began. Umi tried to get past Amami-san with feints and changes in pace, while Amami-san showed a defense that stuck to her like glue, determined not to let her pass.
The other players were fluid, and a pass would have been fine, but both Umi and Amami-san seemed fixated on a one-on-one at this moment.
"Fufu. Come on, Umi, if you don't shoot soon, the shot clock will run out!"
"Hah, trying to psych me out, Yuu? You're ten years too early for that."
The profiles of the two as they battled it out were so full of life. For these two who had fought together for so long, this was their first public match against each other. It seemed like they were having fun, which made me happy.
"…I'm shooting…right now."
"…! Ah, there!"
Seeing the brief moment Umi looked away to check the remaining time, Amami-san went to steal the ball. At the same time, Arae-san also shook her mark and took her first step.
If they could steal the ball here, Amami-san's team's momentum would be unstoppable, but—
"—You got impatient, Yuu."
"Eh?"
However, Amami-san's hand, extended at the perfect moment, grasped nothing but air.
Umi switched the ball from her right to her left hand behind her back, deftly slipping past Amami-san and driving under the basket. I'd seen that move before—Arae-san had used it on her during their practice match. Just like that, a textbook-perfect, clean layup sank into the net.
"Whoa, nice shot, Asanagi-chan!"
"Nice one. Boyfriend power really has you in top form, huh?"
"C-Come on… stop teasing me, everyone."
Seeing Umi's face turn red reminded me of that surprise attack from before, making my own cheeks flush. But setting that aside, the score difference was back to where it started.
"Amami, that was a little too careless."
"Ahaha… I thought I could get it, but my timing was a bit off."
"…So you get it. Then stop her next time."
"Yeah! Leave it to me, Nagisa-chan!"
"Don't call me by my first name… Ugh, whatever, do what you want."
"Ehehe, I will, then."
Arae-san and Amami-san exchanged words as if their previous bickering had never happened. It seemed that with Amami-san around, Arae-san had no choice but to take a step back. Though their looks, speech, and personalities were completely different, the way she passed the ball to her teammates from a playmaker position somehow reminded me of Umi.
After that, the game became a fierce contest between Class 10, who went on the offensive to close the point gap, and Class 11, who maintained a defensive formation while steadily scoring off their opponent's mistakes. As the match finally grew interesting, the student spectators who had drifted away earlier gradually began to return.
And so, the game entered its final two minutes.
Arae-san's shot went in, and the double-digit point difference finally shrank to single digits.
"Yes! Arae-san, three consecutive three-pointers will tie the game, and then we'll have a chance to turn it around!"
"What an optimistic idiot. You think it'll be that easy when they're on guard?"
"That's true. But you can do it, right, Arae-san?"
"…I never said I wouldn't."
With a comeback now a realistic possibility, Class 10's momentum surged.
Whoa, are they seriously gonna turn this around?
You can do it, Class 10! Show those advanced class guys what you've got!
The cheers from the crowd, mostly students from outside Class 11, seemed to be hoping for a dramatic comeback. Just a little while ago, they had been talking so horribly during the first half… well, I guess that's just how spectators are.
I just had to focus on what I needed to do.
"Umi, calm down! We're still winning, so don't rush."
"Mhm."
Umi nodded at my encouragement, took a deep breath to calm her racing heart, and slowly advanced, taking her time.
"Everyone, I know you're tired from moving so much, but let's just hang in there a little longer!" Umi called out, trying to rally her teammates, but they couldn't seem to break through the opponent's defense.
One of the reasons was probably stamina. Class 10 had conserved energy due to their listless play in the first half, while Class 11 had been going all out from the start. Thanks to her special training, Umi still seemed to have some energy left, but the same couldn't be said for some of the other members.
"—And that's a steal."
"Wha—?! Tanned gyaru, when did you…?"
"I was in your line of sight the whole time. Well, probably on the edge of it."
Arae-san, having read the pass from Nakamura-san to Umi, quickly intercepted the ball and headed for the unguarded basket. She sank it effortlessly, closing the gap even further as the cheers from the crowd grew louder.
"Sorry, Asanagi-chan. I spaced out for a second."
"Don't worry. A one-point lead, or even a tie, is okay. Let's take it slow."
However, it was difficult to overturn the atmosphere, and the expressions of the four members other than Umi remained grim. I was trying my best to cheer them on, but my voice was being drowned out by the increasingly noisy surroundings, making it hard for my support to reach them. The feeling of frustration was immense.
Was this also one of Amami-san's natural gifts? She was drawing more and more of the crowd to their side, and finally…
"—Amami, go!"
"…Mhm!"
Arae-san skillfully broke through Umi's team's defense, faked a shot, and sent a final pass to Amami-san. The ball, released from just outside the three-point line, sailed toward the basket as if drawn in by a magnet.
"—Yes!"
The moment Amami-san raised her clenched fist high, the excitement in the gym reached its peak. Just before the end of the second half, Class 10 had finally tied the game.
"Kuh, not bad, Yuu…"
"Sorry, Asanagi-chan, they got me."
"No. I'm the one who couldn't back you up… We're completely on the defensive, but let's attack. Let's not settle for a tie, let's win this."
"…Yeah, you're right."
"Miku-chan, Kaede-chan, Ryouko-san, too."
"""Of course."""
Fired up by Umi's words, Class 11 entrusted the ball to her and ran with their last ounce of stamina. It was the last play, but the same held true for the other team.
"Umi, this is the final moment."
"Just give me the ball already."
"…Ah, geez, so it comes to this."
Ignoring everyone else, Arae-san and Amami-san double-teamed Umi. The outcome of the match hinged on whether she could break through their net. Umi skillfully handled the ball, trying to keep it from being stolen by the two of them.
—Eight, seven.
—Six, five.
The crowd's countdown echoed through the court. Would they remain deadlocked, or would one side seize the moment and sink a shot?
The one who made a move was Umi.
"Wha—?!"
"?! Ah… shoot."
Thanks to Umi's persistent ball-keeping, Amami-san and Arae-san got too close. In the instant they hesitated, Umi dribbled with her left hand, the opposite of her dominant right. The ball went through Amami-san's legs, and she forced her way between the two of them—it was borderline a foul, but there was no whistle.
"Like I'd let you!"
Just when I thought she was through, Arae-san's arm shot out, successfully knocking the ball from Umi's hand. The ball bounced toward the sideline, right in my direction. There was barely any time left. If the ball went out of bounds, they'd be able to reset their formation, so this was their only chance.
Umi threw her body forward to get the ball.
"Umi!"
"Ngh…"
"! Watch out!"
She caught the ball just inches from the line with one hand and immediately passed it toward her waiting teammates, including Nakamura-san.
"Please, everyone!"
With that, Umi went flying toward the scoreboard—or rather, she ended up crashing right into my body, as I'd managed to get there just in time. A small "oof" escaped my lips, but nothing really hurt. Even if she hit me a bit hard, I'd trained enough to be able to catch Umi's weight.
"That was a close one."
"…Thanks, Maki. I knew you'd be there for me."
"You're welcome. But try to avoid dangerous plays like that from now on."
"Okay, I will… hehe."
Saying that, Umi rubbed her face against my chest like a spoiled child. We were still technically in the middle of a game, but the final whistle was about to blow, and she wouldn't be able to get back on the court in time anyway, so it was probably fine to let her be. Besides, everyone's attention was on the ball right now, so if we acted like a lovey-dovey couple out in the open, no one would notice… probably.
"Good work, Umi. You did great."
"Yeah… I can't move another step. I just want to be held by you and sleep."
"You still have the post-game greetings… so let's do that later."
"Fufu, it's a promise… By the way, what about the game?"
"Ah, yeah. The game is—"
In the end, both teams gave it their all, and time was up. Umi's final pass reached a teammate, but the shot unfortunately bounced off the rim. The result was a draw, with both teams sharing a single point.
The class tournament ended and with it, the school day. As promised with Amami-san, we had come to a karaoke place in the nearest downtown area for a "Class tournament After-Party." It was the same place I'd visited on a date with Umi before, but since I hadn't been back since, I was still a little nervous.
"Everyone, have all your drinks arrived? Then, let's toast."
After confirming that everyone in the room had their glasses, the party's organizer, Amami-san, stood up energetically. Despite having pushed her body to its limits in the class tournament, she was as hyper as ever. As for me, I was completely drained. The softball game I played in ended in a quick defeat, but maybe because I'd strained my voice cheering for Umi and the others, I felt more tired than usual.
By the way, Umi and Amami-san's teams, which had fought a fierce battle from the very first match, also didn't make it to the final tournament. They had given it their all at the beginning, so their performance in the subsequent matches was lackluster. They ended up being eliminated in the preliminaries, but both of them looked refreshed after moving their bodies to the fullest, so I was glad about that.
"—Hmm, so this is what a karaoke place is like. It's my first time being invited to one. It's dim, the rooms are small, and it's soundproof so you can't tell what's going on from the outside… Boys and girls often get close by taking advantage of that… It has a kind of erotic feel to it, doesn't it?"
"What are you talking about, Nakamura? You've been reading too many lewd manga."
"They have security cameras now, so if you do something like that, you'll get kicked out immediately."
"Mio, you should experience things like this sometimes, not just studying and reading. For the sake of social studies."
And, on the other side of the table, sat Nakamura-san and the other members of Class 11. The original plan was for just me, Umi, Amami-san, and Nitta-san, but at Amami-san's suggestion, they were suddenly invited to join.
By the way, just as I had feared, all the girls here had come to cheer me on. Of course, with the expected high-pitched cheers, every time I went up to bat, I was subjected to various emotions like jealousy from the infield and outfield (mainly from the guys).
…And so, right now, I'm incredibly sleepy.
"Maki, are you okay? You can sleep if you feel like it. Here, you can lean on me."
"Thanks, Umi. But I think I'll save that for later."
"Really? But you don't have to push yourself."
As expected, Umi was next to me. Next to her was Nitta-san, and beyond her was Amami-san. So far, no problems, just the usual four of us. I was a little surprised that the people from Class 11 came, but I'd caused them a lot of trouble today, so I'd be happy if they could have even a little fun.
So, if there was a problem, it would be this.
"…Are you her mom and she's your kid, or what?"
"Huh?"
From my point of view, Arae-san, who was beyond Amami-san, looked at me and Umi with an exasperated expression. It seems that this is the general impression people get when they first see us, but since this is normal for me and Umi, I usually don't care what people say.
The game is over, but there are still a few unsettled issues.
"What a couple does is their own business. Besides, first it was Yuu, and now it's us? Are you going to die if you don't talk behind someone's back?"
"It's not talking behind your back. It's a perfectly valid point that if you're going to be all over each other, do it where no one can see you."
"…The loser sure barks a lot."
"What?!"
Both of them put down their glasses, stood up, and glared at each other.
"I didn't lose, it was a draw. Don't just call me a loser."
"The match was a draw, but we're higher in the preliminary rankings. We're second, and you're third."
"That's just because of the overall point difference. In terms of individual performance, I'm overwhelmingly—"
"Hey! Both of you, cut it out!"
Ignoring the two people between them, the two closed the distance, and Amami-san shouted to break them up.
"Nagisa-chan, I totally get what you want to say, but keep it to yourself! Don't just blurt it out! And you too, Umi! Even if you hate Nagisa-chan, getting into a fight with her will just cause trouble for everyone!"
"But Yuu, she started it…"
"Quiet! Just sit down already!"
"Y-Yes…"
"…She's getting told off."
"You too, Nagisa-chan! Idiot! You came here to apologize to everyone, so why are you acting like this?!"
"..."
The two, who were on the verge of heating up, flinched at Amami-san's unexpectedly powerful scolding. I mean, I was surprised that that Arae-san was reluctantly obeying Amami-san.
After our turn was over, Umi and I were together the whole time, so I don't know what happened between Amami-san and Arae-san when they were apart. Did Arae-san apologize for what she'd done, and did they settle things?
But when Umi and Nitta-san tried to ask about it, Amami-san would only say, "Sorry. I can't really say anything about that."
But even if it was a bit forceful, the fact that Arae-san was here meant that there had been some kind of change in their relationship. So, I'd like to resolve the relationship between Umi and Arae-san eventually… but well, I can think about that slowly later.
"I'm going home after all."
"Ah, Nagisa-chan, wait—"
"…After the toast is over, though."
"And?"
"…I just have to apologize, right?"
"Yeah. That's right."
Amami-san must have had a hard time being in a different class from Umi and Nitta-san, who she had been close with, and not being able to rely on anyone. But from now on, it should be fine. If Amami-san is okay with it, then neither I nor Umi intend to interfere.
"Arae-san, um, I have something I want to say, is that okay?"
"Why should I listen to someone like you… is what I'd like to say, but the idiot next to you is noisy, so I'll hear you out for now. So, what is it?"
"Thanks… Though it's just a message."
"A message? From who?"
"From the two people on the team that crushed yours back in middle school. You know, the ones who were at the arcade."
"…And?"
It seems she's telling me to get on with it.
"'We practice on our own at the citizen's park every Wednesday at 7 p.m., so if you're feeling rusty, come on by. We'll whip you back into shape,' they said."
"…Hmph."
The moment I relayed the message from Nitori-san and Houjou-san, I thought I saw Arae-san smile just a little.
"I don't know anything about that. I quit basketball a long time ago."
"Then why don't you tell them that? I'm not taking any messages back."
"Oh, really. I don't like you, so I wouldn't ask you to deliver a message anyway."
And with that, Arae-san turned away from me with a huff. Her attitude is the same as ever, but I'll leave the rest to Nitori-san and Houjou-san. Come to think of it, I forgot to tell her they also said, "We'll show you our true strength then," but I conveyed the gist of it, so it should be fine.
"Well then, now that the two troublemakers have settled down… everyone, good work today! We have tomorrow off, so let's party! Cheers!"
—Cheers!
The small room echoed with a chorus of bright voices. Umi, Amami-san, and I guess me too. We all really did a great job.
The class tournament ended, and peace finally returned to Class 10. It had been quiet when Arae-san and Amami-san's relationship was strained, but the air was incredibly heavy. Now that that's gone, it feels very comfortable. Thanks to the two of them, who started spending a lot of time together after the class tournament.
"Morning, Nagisa-chan. Nice weather today."
"I told you not to be so friendly. We're not even friends."
"There's no rule that says you can't talk to someone if you're not friends, and hating someone isn't a reason to avoid them."
"Then do whatever you want."
"Okay, I will."
Saying that, Amami-san brought a chair next to Arae-san. Once it gets to this point, it's hard to move Amami-san. It's Arae-san's loss for letting her guard down even a little.
Since the class tournament, Amami-san and Arae-san have been pretty much like that. Even if they say they "hate" each other, they end up together, so no one in the class takes it seriously anymore. There's still a bit of awkwardness due to what happened before, but that will probably disappear with time. There are still more than ten months left in this class. There's no need to rush.
"By the way, Nagisa-chan, want to have lunch together today? I know a good place."
"…Why are you asking me? You have her, don't you?"
"Are you talking about Umi? That's true, but I wanted to be with you today, Nagisa-chan. Um, is that not okay?"
"…No."
"No? So, it's not not okay?"
"It's pretty much the same thing… optimistic are you?"
Arae-san is exasperated, but her answering "No" instead of "Yeah" or "It's not okay" is also kind of strange.
It's not not okay, but no. What a difficult person. Even if it's not a complete reconciliation, now that they've made up, I don't think she needs to worry about what other people think.
"If you want to eat next to me, feel free. But I'll have to pass for today. I have something I need to do."
"Okay, I get it. But what is it?"
"…Nothing. Just going to settle something."
As she said that, Arae-san's gaze turned toward me. Her expression was softer than before, but her glare was naturally sharp, so it was still scary.
Ignoring my feelings, Arae-san strode right up to me.
"Got a minute?"
"…W-What is it?"
"Don't look so scared… I told Amami the same thing earlier, I just want to talk. To you, and also… it's annoying, but to your girlfriend too."
"Talk… to me and Umi?"
"Yeah. When lunch break starts, I need a word with you. Behind the gym."
The way she invited me was somehow unsettling, but I wonder what she wants to talk about.
"…Okay. I'll let Umi know."
"Thanks."
And with that, Arae-san quickly returned to her seat, once again dealing with Amami-san with a listless expression. I don't think Arae-san would do anything strange at this point, but… I should probably contact Umi for now.
And so, after the morning classes ended, it was lunch break. Umi and I were behind the gym, as instructed by Arae-san.
"Why here… I heard it was just to talk, but I wonder if she's going to attack us the moment we arrive."
"I think we'll be fine… but well, it's probably something she doesn't want other people to know about."
The space behind the gym served as a garbage disposal area, and there were hardly any people there during the day. It was one of the many loner spots in this school, but it was too damp and overgrown with weeds for me to ever come here.
"—Yo, you came."
Noticing us, Arae-san stood up. I thought Amami-san might come with her, but she was alone for now. It seems she intends to talk calmly this time.
"So, what did you want to talk about? We're not exactly on friendly terms, so let's get straight to the point."
"I agree. I have no intention of making small talk with you guys either."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"…Let's both calm down for now. Or I'll call Amami-san."
""...""
I was secretly worried about what would happen since they're like cats and dogs, but when I mentioned Amami-san's name, they both backed down.
…It's incredibly effective.
Anyway, back to the main topic. Arae-san bowed her head to both of us, before she said anything.
"…I know I was in the wrong for a lot of things this time." Her eyes were averted, and her apology was a bit blunt, but I was surprised that she would apologize on her own initiative.
"I apologized during karaoke the other day because Amami told me to… but I feel like I didn't do it properly… Sorry for calling you out for something like this."
"I get that, but… hey, Arae Nagisa. You said 'a lot of things' just now, but what exactly are you referring to?"
"That's… well, everything. A lot has happened. You know what I'm talking about."
"A lot has happened, and I know. But don't try to lump everything together with a word like that. Arae Nagisa, what exactly do you feel 'wrong' about? If you think you were in the wrong, I want you to tell me everything properly."
Umi's words were a little harsh, but I mostly agreed with her, so I didn't say anything. From the start of the new school year until the end of the class tournament, Amami-san, who was directly involved, and those around her—including me, Umi, and Nitta-san—were greatly messed with by the girl in front of us. The phrase "a lot of things" is certainly convenient, but it's not very convincing. Arae-san may have suffered because of her past, but it would be troublesome if she expected us to overlook it or understand without her explaining.
"…I get it." Arae-san seemed to understand that, and although she mumbled, she began to speak again.
"—From the very beginning, it was all just me taking out my frustrations. In the end. I think you guys heard about it too, but ever since that summer in my third year of middle school, something's been off with me. The things I believed in crumbled, and no matter how hard I tried to rebuild them, it just didn't work… I started to hate the things I used to love smore and more… Then I entered this high school, and…"
"…You got pissed off looking at Yuu?"
"Tch… Yeah, that's right. I heard rumors about her from Nitta and the others, and from that point on, I thought she was an annoying person. Then, when we were actually in the same class, she was just as I had imagined… Well, in the end, it was just my judgment that was rotten."
"Did you hate it because it was like looking at your old self?"
"…Yeah. I probably hated her because she reminded me of myself. I had a time like that not too long ago, too. Being fawned over by everyone, living every day without a care in the world."
She's often seen as the class idol who has lived without any worries, but behind Amami-san's smile lie numerous hardships and a hidden past. Even if she seems carefree, she works hard where it counts, and like this time, she worried about her situation with Arae-san and even had sleepless nights.
"Even I thought it was stupid somewhere in my heart. But when I made fun of Amami or troubled her, I felt a little bit better. …Seriously, it's hopeless, but a little while ago, I couldn't stop myself. And well… I've always been stubborn, so I couldn't back down. That time at the arcade, when we ran into each other. Including that time… um, I was wrong."
Unlike before, Arae-san hung her head meekly and bowed again. I think she's able to analyze herself with surprising calmness, but considering her middle school days, it's not strange at all. Arae-san is someone who can think about things properly. One of the reasons Amami-san said she couldn't say anything herself might have been because of this. Amami-san had probably heard this story first, but she thought it wouldn't mean anything unless Arae-san told us herself. If we had heard it from Amami-san, we probably wouldn't have been able to blame Arae-san properly either.
"Tch, I keep calling people lame, but in the end, I'm the lamest one. I know that. It's just like Amami and you guys said. 'Lame' is a word my old self would have been the first to deny, but before I knew it, I was saying the same thing as my old teammates… I feel terrible."
Arae-san let out a big sigh, perhaps out of self-loathing. Even though it's something you hate being done to you, you find yourself doing the same thing to someone else—Umi and I have been through that path too, so I can understand that feeling a little. In fact, our opponent at that time was also Amami-san. She forgave us and made up with Arae-san properly.
…Maybe Amami-san really is an angel.
"Anyway, I was in the wrong this time. I'm not going to ask you to forgive me… but well, I'm hoping we can go our separate ways from now on."
"I understand. I'm fine with that. What about you, Umi?"
"Me too. Well, I'm in a different class… but it seems it won't be that simple for Yuu."
"As for Amami… well, I'll let her do as she pleases. She doesn't listen to anyone anyway… she's so annoying."
Having said that, I feel like Arae-san also has a pretty pleased expression when Amami-san is being affectionate with her.
"Anyway, that's all I have to say—"
"Ah, Arae Nagisa, wait a minute." Just as Arae-san was about to return to the classroom, Umi, remembering something, called out to stop her.
"? What, is there something else?"
"Yeah. There's something I forgot to say… I'm only going to say it once, so listen carefully." And with that, Umi continued.
"You were frustratingly strong and skilled during the class tournament. The game ended in a draw, but I was completely defeated individually. If we ever play another game, I'd be happy if you went all out again… I'm also sorry for intentionally provoking you."
Just like Arae-san, Umi also bowed her head.
"…I see. Then, while I'm at it, I'll say this too. That move where you got past me and Amami's defense at the end, and that dive near the line. I'll praise you for that. That was some nice guts. Well, the part where you were all over your boyfriend right after is a demerit, though."
"W-What…! Y-You saw that? It should have only been for a few seconds."
"A captain has to keep an eye on everything, you know… Well, you can do whatever you want with that, right? I'm not going to say anything else about it. It's a pain. Well, I'm going to go see Nitta. I caused her trouble too, after all."
And with that, Arae-san, back to her usual listless self, slowly disappeared into the school building. She still says a lot of unnecessary things, but… well, this time it's a fact, so it can't be helped.
"Hey, Maki."
"Hm?"
"I don't think I can ever really like her."
"…I know."
But people like her do exist. I don't like her, but just knowing that she's not entirely evil is a plus. From today onwards, at least for now, I think I'll be able to sleep soundly.
"…By the way, Maki. I didn't ask because it wasn't directly concern us, but."
"Yeah. What is it?"
"I get the thing with Yuu, but what about the incident at the beginning of the school year? I think you said she was rude to Yagisawa-sensei."
"! Oh, that."
That's right. Arae-san, who was relatively serious in her first year and has now completely calmed down, why did she cause trouble for the teacher and everyone else on the first and second days of the new school year?
"Eh… you mean there's a proper reason for that too?"
"Yeah. I was just eavesdropping from a distance, so I don't know the details, but—"
Actually, there's one more hidden fact to this story. It was true that Arae-san was absent on the first day because she was sick. So, what about the rest?
This morning, when Arae-san was persistently asked about it by Amami-san, the exchange when she confessed with an embarrassed blush went something like this.
"—I was separated from the friends I was close with during our first year… so, I was unhappy about that. I mean, it's weird, right? There are five of us, and the other four are all in the same class, so why am I the only one in a different one? Our scores were almost the same… What is it, Amami, what are you grinning about?"
"Ehh? Nothing~? Just thinking that Nagisa-chan has a cute side too~ Don't worry, Nagisa-chan, you won't be lonely from now on because I'm here, okay? Let's be together forever, okay?"
"…Can I punch you after all?"
I feel like there was a similar story in our group, but I guess students at this age are just like this. We're all still more childish than we think.