Yoshino, a second-year student with shoulder-length black hair, sat on the examination bed while the nurse checked her pupils with a small flashlight. Her teammates hovered nearby, worried expressions on their faces.
Momoharu stood by the door, his hands clenched into fists, the bandage on his forehead from yesterday's headbutt still visible.
"Well?" one of the girls asked anxiously.
The nurse set down her flashlight and smiled reassuringly. "It's a mild traumatic brain injury—what we'd call a light concussion. Some bruising on her face and a small bump on her head, but nothing serious. She'll need to rest for a few days and avoid strenuous activity, but she'll be fine."
Momoharu's shoulders sagged with relief. "Thank god..."
He stepped forward, bowing deeply to Yoshino and her teammates. "I'm so sorry. On behalf of the basketball team, I apologize for what happened. There's no excuse for—"
"It wasn't your fault, Hanazono-senpai," Yoshino said quietly, wincing as she touched the bruise on her cheek. "That freshman... he wasn't even looking where he was going."
"That's still our responsibility. He was on our court, and we should have—"
"You did try to stop him," Madoka interrupted, entering the nurse's office. "Sora tried to get him to leave. But Natsume wouldn't listen to anyone."
Her expression was a mixture of anger and worry. "Is Yoshino really okay?"
"I'll be fine," Yoshino assured her. "Just a headache and some soreness."
But the damage was done. The incident would have consequences—for everyone.
----
Sora sat on the bench, his hands shaking—not from fear, but from pure rage.
"I can't believe him," Yasuhara said, pacing back and forth. "He could have seriously hurt her!"
"He did seriously hurt her!" Nabe added. "She has a concussion!"
Chucky sat quietly, his usual jovial demeanor completely gone.
Sora finally spoke, his voice low and controlled but filled with anger. "I hate people like him."
Everyone turned to look at him.
"People who don't listen to others' opinions. Who think they're above everyone else. Who get into unnecessary fights and cause problems for everyone around them." Sora's fists clenched. "If Natsume joined our team, our discipline would be destroyed. We're already walking on thin ice—one more incident and we're done."
"Agreed," Momoharu said, entering the locker room. "He's too much of a risk. No matter how talented he is, he's not worth destroying everything we've built."
Yasuhara noticed something on the floor near one of the lockers. He picked it up—a basketball, but one that had seen better days. The leather was worn down, cracked in places, the texture rough and uneven.
"What's this?" he asked.
"That's Natsume's," Nabe said. "He was using it when he was showing off earlier. Must have left it behind."
"Throw it away," Nabe suggested. "I don't even want to look at it. It just reminds me of that jerk."
Sora took the ball from Yasuhara, examining it. Despite being worn down, it was clear this ball had been used thousands of times. The wear patterns suggested countless hours of practice.
"No," Sora said quietly. "I'll return it to him."
"Why?" Yasuhara demanded. "After what he did?"
"Because it's his basketball. And no matter what kind of person he is, a basketball is important."
-----
The sun had set, leaving only the dim glow of the court lights. Kenji "Tobi" Natsume was searching the ground, clearly looking for something.
"Damn it," he muttered. "Where did I—"
"Looking for this?"
Kenji turned to see Sora standing there, holding the worn basketball.
"You..." Kenji's expression was unreadable. "Give it back."
Sora walked forward, but instead of handing it over immediately, he examined the ball more closely. "The leather's completely worn out. You must have used this ball for years."
"So what?"
"So it means you love basketball. You practice constantly. You've put in the work." Sora held out the ball. "That's why I want you to join our team."
Kenji stared at him for a long moment. Then his fist shot out, connecting solidly with Sora's face.
SMACK!
Sora's head snapped to the side, but he didn't fall. He didn't even drop the basketball.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Kenji shouted. "I put one of your precious girls' team members in the nurse's office, and you want me to join your team?!"
Sora straightened, touching his cheek where Kenji had hit him. "That didn't hurt. And I don't mind if you hit me several more times."
"You're insane—"
"But I need you to do two things," Sora continued calmly. "First, apologize to Yasuhara for attacking him. Second, apologize to the girls' basketball team, especially Yoshino, for injuring her."
Kenji's expression twisted with anger and something else—pain, maybe. "I don't apologize to anyone."
"Why not?"
"Because I hate being around people!" Kenji grabbed his basketball from Sora's hands. "I don't need teammates. I don't need friends. All I need is me, this ball, and a basket. That's it. That's all basketball requires."
"That's not basketball," Sora said quietly. "That's just shooting around by yourself."
"It's better than dealing with idiots who slow me down!"
Kenji turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness.
Sora stood there for a long moment, his cheek throbbing where he'd been hit.
There's more to his story, he thought. Something happened to make him like this.
-----
Next Day - Boys' Basketball Team Locker Room
"If you had been stricter with Natsume from the beginning," Nabe said to Momoharu, "yesterday's incident wouldn't have happened."
"Maybe," Momoharu admitted. "But—"
"I don't think it's that simple," Sora interrupted. "Natsume has talent—real talent. The kind that could make our team significantly better. I think he's a good person underneath all that hostility."
"A good person who put Yoshino in the nurse's office?" Yasuhara said incredulously.
"I didn't say he was perfect. I said I think there's good in him. And if we can reach that—"
The locker room door burst open. Two girls from the basketball team stood there, looking panicked.
"It's Natsume!" one of them shouted. "He got into another fight in the gym!"
"WHAT?!" The entire team jumped to their feet.
They raced to the gymnasium, and the sight that greeted them made their blood run cold.
Three senior students were on the floor, groaning in pain. Blood dripped from one's nose. Another was holding his ribs. The third was unconscious.
And standing over them, fists still clenched, was Kenji Natsume.
"NATSUME!" Sora's shout echoed through the gym. He ran forward, his earlier sympathy completely gone. "WHY DO YOU KEEP GETTING INTO FIGHTS?!"
Kenji turned, his expression cold. "They started it."
"I DON'T CARE WHO STARTED IT!" Sora was in his face now, angrier than anyone had ever seen him. "Do you have any idea what this means?! One more incident and the basketball team gets disbanded! The Inter-High tournament, everything we've worked for—GONE!"
"So what?" Kenji said flatly. "I'm not an official member of your team. Your club status has nothing to do with me."
The words hung in the air like a slap.
SMACK!
Madoka's hand connected with Kenji's face with tremendous force. The sound echoed through the gymnasium.
"How DARE you!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Do you have any idea how hard these boys have worked?! How much they've sacrificed?! And you just waltz in here and destroy everything without a care?!"
Kenji's cheek was bright red from the slap, but his expression didn't change.
"I never asked to be part of your team," he said coldly.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
A new voice cut through the tension. Everyone turned to see a tall, stern-looking man in a suit entering the gymnasium. His expression was thunderous.
Momoharu's face went pale. "Satsuki-sensei..."
"Satsuki?" Sora whispered to Madoka. "Who's that?"
"The strictest teacher in the entire school," she whispered back. "If he's been assigned as our new advisor..."
Satsuki surveyed the scene—the injured students, the angry basketball team members, Kenji standing in the middle of it all.
"I am Satsuki, your new club advisor," he announced, his voice cold and authoritative. "And after witnessing this horrible display of violence, I am hereby disbanding the boys' basketball team effective immediately."
"NO!" The protest came from multiple voices at once.
"Wait!" Chucky stepped forward. "Natsume isn't a member of our team! We had nothing to do with this!"
Satsuki's eyes narrowed. He looked at Momoharu. "Is this true? This student is not a member of your team?"
Momoharu opened his mouth, then closed it. His eyes flicked to Kenji, then back to Satsuki.
He said nothing.
"HANAZONO!" Nabe shouted. "Tell him! Tell him Natsume isn't on the team!"
Still, Momoharu remained silent.
Before anyone could say anything else, Kenji's phone rang.
The sound was jarring in the tense atmosphere.
Kenji reached for his phone—
Sora's hand shot out, grabbing the phone and throwing it to the ground.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Sora roared. "You're going to answer a phone call RIGHT NOW?! When everyone's futures are on the line?!"
"That's my phone!" Kenji shouted back. "Pick it up!"
"No!"
"PICK. IT. UP."
"Make me!"
They squared off, fists raised, ready to fight—
"ENOUGH!" Satsuki's voice cracked like a whip. "Both of you, stand down immediately!"
He turned his attention to Kenji. "I know who you are, Natsume. I reviewed your file. You have a history of suspensions from your previous schools. Constant fighting, disrupting classes, attacking other students."
Kenji's expression flickered—just for a moment—with something that might have been shame.
"I will be reporting this incident at tomorrow's staff meeting," Satsuki continued. "And my decision to disband the basketball club stands."
"Wait," Kenji said quietly.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"I'm not an official member of the team," he stated clearly. "I came to the gym on my own. I got into the fight on my own. The basketball team had nothing to do with this."
Satsuki studied him for a long moment. "Is that true?"
"Yes. So punish me. Suspend me. Expel me if you want. But don't punish them for something I did."
The advisor's expression softened slightly—just barely, but it was there.
"Very well," he said finally. "Since you are not officially part of the team, I will reconsider my decision regarding the basketball club."
He looked at Momoharu. "You and your teammates are fortunate to escape disbandment this time. But understand—there will be no more chances. One more incident, and I won't be so lenient."
Satsuki turned and left, his footsteps echoing in the silent gymnasium.
-----
The team sat in stunned silence, processing what had just happened.
"We almost lost everything," Yasuhara said quietly. "If Natsume hadn't spoken up..."
"Yeah," Nabe agreed. "I can't believe he took the fall for us."
Momoharu stood up suddenly, his fist slamming into one of the metal lockers with tremendous force.
BANG!
The sound made everyone jump. There was a visible dent in the locker door.
Without saying a word, Momoharu walked out.
"Captain..." Sora started, but he was already gone.
"What was that about?" Chucky asked.
Sora understood. "He's worried about Natsume. About what's going to happen to him."
"Who were those seniors anyway?" Yasuhara asked Chucky. "The ones who got beaten up?"
"I'm pretty sure they're friends of Nishiwaka," Chucky answered, his expression dark. "You know, that infamous senior who controls half the delinquents in the school. If they were messing with Natsume..."
The implication hung in the air. Natsume hadn't just gotten into a random fight—he'd taken on some of the most dangerous students in the school.
----
Sora found Madoka leaning against the wall, her eyes red from crying.
"Madoka-senpai."
She looked up. "Sora... I confirmed it. Natsume is going to be expelled. The staff meeting is tomorrow, but the outcome is already decided."
Sora's fists clenched. "Because of today's fight?"
"That, and his history from his previous schools. Three suspensions, multiple incidents of violence. The school board won't tolerate another problem student."
"But he protected us—"
"I know. Which makes it even worse."
Sora leaned against the wall beside her, both of them sitting in defeated silence.
This isn't right, Sora thought. There has to be something we can do.
------
Sora was walking home when he heard a familiar ringtone—the same one from earlier in the gym.
He looked around and spotted Kenji sitting on a park bench, his phone to his ear.
Sora's first instinct was anger. He approached quietly from behind, his fist raised—
Then Kenji spoke, and Sora froze.
"Juri, I told you not to call me from phone booths," Kenji said, his voice completely different—soft, gentle, caring. "You should spend that money on something else. Buy yourself some candy."
A high-pitched voice came through the phone, too quiet for Sora to hear the words.
"Don't worry about money," Kenji continued. "You said you get plenty of allowance, right? Just... make sure you're eating properly."
More words from the other end.
"Mom? She's doing well?" Kenji's voice tightened slightly. "And... he's treating you both okay?"
The response made Kenji's hands clench around the phone.
"Don't call him my father," he said through gritted teeth. "He's YOUR father. Not mine."
"Kenjiii!" The little girl's voice was loud enough for Sora to hear now. "Don't break your phone again! You promised!"
Kenji took a deep breath, visibly calming himself. "Sorry, Juri. You're right. I promised."
"When will I see you again, Kenji?"
"At the Inter-High Tournament," Kenji said, forcing cheerfulness into his voice. "I'll be playing, and you'll come watch. We'll go out for ice cream after, just like old times. How does that sound?"
"Really?! Promise?!"
"I promise."
After a few more words, the call ended. Kenji sat there, staring at his phone, his expression completely lost.
Sora could see the memories playing across Kenji's face—fights with his stepfather, being forced to leave his home, his little sister crying as he left.
"Why did you lie to her?"
Kenji spun around, his defensive walls slamming back into place. "How long have you been there?!"
"Long enough," Sora said, walking around the bench to face him. "You told your sister you'd play in Inter-High. But you're getting expelled. So why lie to her?"
"To keep her happy," Kenji said coldly. "She doesn't need to know that her brother is a screw-up who can't stay in one school for more than a few months."
"Then don't be a screw-up," Sora said simply. "Stop fighting. Stop causing problems. Join our team properly and help us reach Inter-High."
"Your team?" Kenji laughed bitterly. "You and Hanazono are good. Maybe even great. But the others? They're beginners who can barely dribble. There's no way Kuzuryu High qualifies for Inter-High with that roster."
"I disagree," Sora said firmly. "I believe in our current members. We will make it to Inter-High."
"You're delusional—"
"And you're scared," Sora interrupted. "You're scared of getting close to people because everyone you've gotten close to has hurt you or left you. Your stepfather, your old teammates, everyone. So you push people away before they can reject you first."
Kenji stood up, his fists clenched. "You don't know anything about me."
"I know you made a promise to your sister. And I know what promises to family mean." Sora's eyes were intense. "I promised my mother I'd reach Inter-High too. She's in the hospital, sick, and I haven't seen her in over a year because I told her I'd only visit when I achieved something worth showing her."
Kenji's anger faltered slightly.
"So I understand," Sora continued. "I understand why you lied to Juri. But the difference is, I'm actually going to keep my promise. And you could too, if you'd stop sabotaging yourself."
"Even if I wanted to," Kenji said bitterly, "I'm getting expelled tomorrow. It's over."
"Then we'll fight it. We'll find a way—"
"There is no way. I've been down this road before. The decision is already made."
Kenji picked up his worn basketball and started to walk away.
"Natsume," Sora called out. "If there was a way to stop the expulsion... would you join us? Would you help us reach Inter-High?"
Kenji stopped but didn't turn around.
"If you can make that miracle happen," he said quietly, "then maybe I'll believe your other miracles are possible too."