The final school bell chimed through Toshigawa Academy, and the corridors thinned as students drifted out.
The soft thud of sneakers and the faint rustle of backpacks lingered in the air.
Tetsuo, Noboru, Shino, and Makoto moved toward the indoor basketball court, their steps slowing as the weight of the day settled into their legs.
Noboru let out a low breath, his shoulders dropping.
"I'm so sore. I shouldn't have pushed myself so much during PE yesterday… and on top of that, Nanaho made us train hard too."
His fingers pressed into the tight muscle along his shoulder, and a brief wince pulled across his face.
Shino shifted his weight, his feet sliding lightly along the hallway floor.
"Yeah… my legs feel so heavy that I can hardly move. I even fell asleep during fourth period today."
His steps dragged with each movement, his eyelids lowering as if the drowsiness still clung to him.
Makoto let out a long yawn, his hand rubbing slowly at the back of his neck while his half-lidded eyes drifted toward the ceiling.
"Come on… stop complaining. The training you do is only to help you develop."
His shoulders slumped a little, giving off the quiet, tired air of someone who would rather be anywhere else.
Noboru turned his head sharply, his eyes narrowing at Makoto.
"You are one to talk. You skipped training yesterday just to get more sleep. And… you look even more worn out than us, you lazy punk."
His glare held steady, his jaw tightening as he spoke.
Makoto tilted his head slightly, a slow, tired smirk forming at the corner of his mouth.
"Hey… do not put me in the same category as you."
His eyelids lowered in a relaxed way, as if even arguing took too much effort.
They stepped out onto the narrow path behind the gym, the grass brushing lightly against their shoes as the evening air cooled around them.
Noboru exhaled through his nose, his eyebrows lifting.
"All I know is… Nanaho will make you make up for the day you missed. And trust me, it is really harsh. She is… honestly a little crazy when it comes to basketball. She is like an obsessed creep."
His shoulders shifted as he spoke, a faint shiver running through him at the memory of her drills.
A light, sweet voice drifted toward them from behind, carrying a sharp edge beneath it.
"Oh? Is that so? I am a crazy, obsessed creep… hm?"
Noboru froze, every muscle locking up as a cold tremor shot straight down his spine.
Slowly—very slowly—he turned his head.
Nanaho was right behind him, smiling with that dark, terrifying grin only she could pull off.
"Oh… shit. I'm so dead," he muttered—
right before her palm cracked against the back of his head with a sharp THWACK.
Shino stiffened beside him—eyes blown wide, both hands shooting up defensively as he let out a tiny, panicked squeal.
Hugging his bag as if it might shield him from whatever came next.
"You better be ready for training today. You're going to wish you never said those words."
Nanaho's voice dripped with a sweetness that did not match the danger behind it.
She turned her gaze toward Tetsuo and Makoto.
"And that goes for both of you as well."
Her smile widened—too bright, too calm.
"Especially you, Kurai. You'll find out exactly what happens to slackers today."
Makoto's eyelid twitched, his lazy expression momentarily cracking.
Tetsuo face was unreadable as always, but even he shifted his weight ever so slightly.
With a cheerful little hum, Nanaho spun on her heel and skipped ahead of them down the path as if she hadn't just threatened their lives.
Shino drew in a slow breath, his shoulders rising as he tried to calm the jump in his chest.
"T-thank goodness…" he whispered, the air leaving him in a shaky sigh as he lowered his hands from where they'd been frozen mid-panic.
Noboru rubbed the back of his head with a wince.
Makoto lifted a hand to his temple, pressing lightly as if trying to ease the dull tension gathering there.
A long breath slipped out of him, low and tired.
"That girl definitely has some problems," he murmured, his eyelids half-lowered in that usual fed-up way of his.
After changing into their training gear, the boys stepped into the gym.
A warm wave of air met them immediately.
The scent of varnished hardwood mixed with the faint trace of sweat and old rubber settled into their noses with each breath.
The overhead lights hummed softly, spreading an even glow across the space.
Their reflections stretched across the polished floor in thin, pale shapes, shifting with every step they took.
Yes… time to focus.
Shino repeated the thought in his head, trying to steady his breathing as they moved across the court.
His steps slowed as his eyes landed on Tetsuo's shirt.
"Um… Tetsuo… your shirt…"
His voice lifted slightly, surprise tightening his grip on the hem of his shorts.
Noboru leaned forward a little, his eyes narrowing as he took in the design on Tetsuo's shirt.
A grin spread across his face, his shoulders shaking with barely contained amusement.
"Wow, Tetsuo. Did your little sister give you that shirt?"
His voice carried a teasing lift, the grin widening as he elbowed him lightly in the arm.
"Yes. She did."
Tetsuo's voice stayed flat, his expression unchanged as he looked down at the front of his shirt.
The messy handwriting stood out clearly against the fabric:
Do your best with basketball, big brother.
He brushed one thumb lightly over the letters, his eyes steady and unreadable.
"It looks nice, really manly."
Noboru's voice wavered as he tried to hold back the laughter building in his chest.
His shoulders trembled, and he pressed his lips together, the grin threatening to break loose at any moment.
"Don't listen to him, Tetsuo. He's just making fun of you."
Shino stepped a little closer, his voice softer than before.
A small smile formed on his lips, and a faint blush crept across his cheeks.
"But that's really a nice thing she did for you… it's really cute."
He rubbed the edge of his sleeve between his fingers.
Makoto tightened the last loop of his laces, fingers pulling the knot firm.
He straightened up with a small nod.
"You know what? Shino is right. You have a nice sister, and with this jersey, it's almost like she's right here watching you and cheering you on."
His voice came out calm and steady, his half-lidded eyes lifting just enough to look at Tetsuo before drifting away again in that usual tired way of his.
Tetsuo blinked once, his expression barely shifting.
His fingertips moved across the fabric, tracing the slight grooves left by the marker.
"You're right… it really does feel like she's here with me."
The words left him quietly, almost flat as always, yet a small warmth settled low in his chest—steady, unfamiliar, and calm.
Noboru let out a low groan, his shoulders dropping as he slumped forward a little.
"Damn you, Makoto… ruining all the fun."
A frustrated puff of air escaped him as he shot Makoto a sideways look.
As they stepped fully into the gym, the faint squeak of their sneakers blended with the soft thump of basketballs hitting the floor.
A few players were already spread across the court, warming up.
The steady bounce of balls, the light tap of footsteps, and the quiet murmur of conversations filled the space.
"Ah, nice! Everyone is here already."
Liam lifted his head with a bright smile, his expression softening as Hayato pressed a steady hand between his shoulder blades, helping ease him forward into a stretch.
Liam exhaled, his arms reaching toward the floor as Hayato pushed just a little deeper.
"I see you finally found your way to training, Kurai. Welcome."
Yukio's steps came to a gentle stop in front of them, the faint rustle of his practice jersey settling as he offered a small smile.
Makoto lifted one shoulder in a loose shrug, his posture barely shifting.
A quiet breath slipped out of him as his gaze drifted away.
"Yeah, yeah… I'm here to train or whatever…"
His voice carried that usual tired drawl, the words leaving him with almost no energy behind them.
Hayato shifted his stance, releasing Liam from the stretch before turning toward Tetsuo.
His brows tightened slightly as he looked him over.
"Tetsuo, where were you yesterday? It's not like you to miss training. What happened?"
His voice came out steady and direct.
"I was locked in the storage room after PE yesterday by accident while moving some hurdles."
Tetsuo stated it plainly, his voice even and quiet.
He adjusted his grip on the hem of his jersey, his expression unchanged as he looked at Hayato.
"So you're telling me you were locked in there the whole day? How did you get out?"
Takahiro's eyebrow lifted, his posture straightening as he stared at Tetsuo.
"I was locked in all night. The track coach was the one who helped me."
"And I was thinking you had become a bad apple, you know. I am sorry to hear that happened to you. But you missed training, so you still must make up for it, okay?"
Nanaho stepped closer with her usual bright smile, the kind that looked harmless at first glance.
Her hands rested on her hips, and the gentle sway of her ponytail contrasted sharply with the clear threat hiding beneath her cheerful tone.
Noboru's eyes narrowed a little as he watched her smiling so sweetly right in front of them.
A small breath escaped through his teeth, his shoulders tensing.
She's acting all nice… but she's a monster.
The sting on the back of his head pulsed faintly where she'd smacked him earlier, making the thought even sharper.
Nanaho's gaze shifted to Tetsuo's shirt, her eyes lingering on the handwriting across the front.
"Um… Tetsuo, that is an interesting choice for a jersey."
Her voice carried a gentle lift, polite on the surface but edged with curiosity as she looked back up at him.
Yukio shifted his stance, the faint sound of his shoe brushing lightly against the floor.
His eyes stayed steady on Tetsuo.
"Yeah, I am just noticing it now. Who gave it to you? Your little sister, right?"
A small breath left him through his nose, calm and even.
Tetsuo lowered his chin slightly, his fingers brushing once along the front of the jersey.
"Yes, she bought it and wrote these words on it as a gift for our second year of moving here."
Liam stepped in closer, his face brightening as his fingers wrapped lightly around Tetsuo's hand.
His grip had a quick, eager bounce to it.
"That's really cute. You have a little sister. Is she beautiful?"
His eyes stayed wide and expectant, the warm pressure on Tetsuo's hand showing he was waiting for an answer.
Hayato lifted a hand and set it firmly on Liam's shoulder, the contact stopping him in place.
His eyes moved upward, meeting Liam's bright expression with a flat, steady look.
"That is weird on so many levels, dude."
His voice came out low and even, the air between them settling into a brief pause.
Nanaho stepped a little closer, her hands resting lightly behind her back as she leaned in.
Her smile softened this time, the corners of her eyes relaxing as she looked at the words on Tetsuo's shirt.
"You have a nice sister, Tetsuo. Just by reading those words, I can tell she really cares about you. Why don't you bring her to practice one day so I can meet her?"
Her voice carried a calm, steady warmth, the sound clear in the open gym.
"Ok."
Takahiro crossed his arms loosely, a short laugh slipping out as he shifted his weight to one leg.
His eyes lifted slightly as he mentioned his family.
"She's right. I have a little brother, and that little shrimp always acts like he doesn't care. But he is always interested in how my day was and in basketball."
He let out another small breath through his nose, the sound light but genuine.
"He's in his second year of junior high. If he takes up the sport, maybe he will be playing alongside you guys."
A faint smile tugged at the edge of his mouth as he looked around the group.
Noboru crossed his arms, his fingertips pressing lightly into his sleeves as his shoulders tightened.
Why are they making such a big deal out of it? It's just a stupid shirt.
Makoto glanced at him from the corner of his eye, catching the tight set of Noboru's shoulders.
Something tells me Noboru's going to make training a pain today, he thought, feeling a small sigh push against his chest.
Nanaho clapped her hands, the sound snapping through the gym.
"Alright! Before we start today's session, I want you guys to warm up, shoot around, and get some layups in. Today's going to be a good one."
Balls bounced across the court as the players spread into warmups.
Noboru caught a pass, pivoted in the paint, and rose into a sharp jump shot.
His shoes scraped the floor with a short slide—swish.
Shino cut inside and floated up for a soft layup, his fingertips brushing the net as the ball rolled in.
Takahiro followed with a solid mid-range jumper off the glass.
Yukio's movements stayed tight and precise as he burst forward and knocked down a clean two-pointer.
The gym echoed with rhythmic dribbles and the sharp squeal of sneakers as Liam powered forward.
His muscles tensed, and with a low growl of effort, he launched himself upward and hammered the ball through the hoop, the rim rattling from the impact.
At the top of the arc, Tetsuo settled into his rhythm.
His breathing leveled out, eyes fixed on the basket, arms steady as he released another shot—swish.
Hayato mirrored him at the right wing, finding his own shooting rhythm with steady breaths and controlled footwork.
Makoto, meanwhile, stretched his arms over his head, cracked his neck once, then sat down at half-court with a long, unhurried yawn.
Nanaho blew her whistle.
"Okay, guys, that's enough. You can relax now," she called out.
She stepped to the center of the court and lowered herself with one hand on her knee.
Makoto looked up—just in time for her finger to flick his forehead.
He blinked once, rubbing the spot as she straightened.
"The reason I had you warm up your shots is because you'll be playing against each other in a four-on-four setting," Nanaho announced.
"Now that we have the right number of members, training will be even more effective for the upcoming season."
Takahiro drew the back of his hand across his forehead, clearing the sweat.
"Will the four-on-four be for forty minutes?"
His voice carried a steady breath.
Nanaho straightened her posture, her whistle resting against her palm.
"No. Instead of the usual forty minutes with ten-minute quarters, I will cut it down to fifteen minutes per half, so it becomes thirty minutes."
Her tone stayed even as she explained.
Noboru's shoulders lifted with a bit of energy, his voice carrying a faint edge of anticipation.
"Will it be seniors versus freshmen?"
Nanaho rested her hands on her hips, her expression steady.
"I was thinking about that, but I doubt the four of you would stand a chance against Liam, Yukio, Takahiro, and Hayato."
Noboru looked away with a short click of his tongue, his jaw tightening.
Nanaho straightened, lifting one hand with her index finger raised.
Her wrist turned lightly as she addressed the group.
"So instead, I have chosen the teams for this friendly game. On Team A, Makoto will be the leader. On Team B, Hayato will make the plan."
Nanaho shifted her weight and tapped her clipboard with the side of her finger.
"On Makoto's team, we have Shino, Yukio, and Tetsuo."
She raised her head toward the opposite side of the court, her ponytail swaying slightly with the movement.
"On Hayato's team, we have Noboru, Liam, and Takahiro."
Makoto pushed himself upright, his palms pressing against his knees before he straightened and cracked his knuckles one by one.
"Alright… with this lineup, we can manage,"
Yukio's voice came out steady as he lightly adjusted the hem of his practice jersey.
Across from him, Hayato tightened his headband with both hands, the fabric stretching slightly under his fingers.
His lips pulled into a faint smirk.
"Then, let's see if you can keep up with me and Liam."
Nanaho stepped forward, her shoes making a small tap against the polished floor.
Her eyes moved between the two teams as she lifted her chin.
"Okay then. When you are ready, please tell me. We will start the match."
Liam bounced on the balls of his feet, the sound of quick taps echoing against the court.
His eyes widened as his breath pushed out in an excited huff.
"I cannot wait for this challenge. This is going to be fun."
The court filled with steady movement.
Players rolled their shoulders, the joints giving soft clicks.
Sneakers pressed into the floor with small rebounds as everyone bounced lightly in place.
Their eyes shifted from teammate to teammate, the air tightening with shared focus.