Sora arrived at exactly 7:30, his heart pounding so hard he was certain it was visible through his shirt. He'd spent the walk from the gym trying to calm down, trying to prepare himself, trying to figure out what to say.
Just act normal. It's just tutoring. We're just going to study math and—
The door was already open. Alisa sat at their usual table, her silver hair catching the fluorescent light, her posture perfect as always. She looked up when he entered, and for a moment, their eyes met.
A slow, knowing smile spread across her face.
"Kurumatani-kun," she said, her voice carrying a teasing edge. "You're on time. Good boy."
Sora's face immediately flushed. That tone—he recognized it from the morning after the storm.
"Of course I'm on time," he managed, sitting across from her. "I promised."
"You made a lot of promises that night," Alisa said, her blue eyes glinting with mischief. "Or should I say, declarations?"
"I... we should study," Sora said weakly, pulling out his textbook.
"Oh, we will." Alisa stood up gracefully and walked around the table, sitting in the chair right next to him instead of across from him. "But first, I want to discuss something."
She leaned in close, close enough that Sora could smell that cherry blossom scent.
"That night," she continued, her voice soft but playful, "you said some very interesting things while holding me."
"Kujou-san—"
"You called me a goddess, remember?" Her hand reached out, fingers sliding under his chin, tilting his face up to meet her eyes. "So tell me, Kurumatani-kun..."
She leaned even closer, her face inches from his.
"Am I not your goddess?"
Sora's brain completely short-circuited. Her fingers on his chin were warm, firm, holding him in place. Her eyes were locked on his, sapphire blue and full of teasing affection.
"I— you— that was—" he stammered.
"You said I was warm," Alisa continued, her thumb brushing along his jawline. "Soft. That I smelled good. That you didn't want me to leave."
"I was half-asleep! I didn't know what I was saying!"
"Oh? So you didn't mean it?" Her expression shifted to mock hurt, though her eyes were still dancing with amusement.
"No! I mean yes! I mean—" Sora groaned, his face burning. "You're being mean."
Alisa laughed—actually laughed, a genuine sound of delight. She released his chin, but only to pinch his nose gently between her fingers.
"And you," she said, her voice dropping to that purr again, "are you not my devoted follower? My faithful worshipper?"
She gave his nose a little squeeze, then a playful wiggle.
"Aren't you, Kurumatani-kun?"
"Kujou-san!" Sora's entire face was crimson now. "This is— you're teasing me!"
"I am," she admitted, releasing his nose. "Because your reactions are absolutely adorable."
In Russian, quietly amused: "Он так мил, когда смущается. Я могла бы дразнить его вечно..." (He's so cute when he's flustered. I could tease him forever...)
"You're doing the Russian thing again," Sora managed.
"I know." Alisa smiled, softer now. "You make me feel... playful. It's unusual for me."
She settled back into her chair, though she stayed close enough that their arms were almost touching.
"Now, shall we actually study? Or would you like to continue discussing that night?"
"Study! Definitely study!" Sora grabbed his textbook like a lifeline.
They tried to focus on mathematics. They really did.
But every time Alisa leaned in to check his work, her hair would brush against his shoulder. Every time she pointed out an error, her fingers would linger on the page near his hand. Every time she explained a concept, her voice would drop to that soft, intimate tone that made his heart race.
"You're not concentrating," Alisa observed after Sora got the same problem wrong for the third time.
"Sorry. I'm distracted."
"By what?"
"You."
The honesty in his voice made Alisa's breath catch. "Oh."
"You're sitting really close," Sora continued, his usual filter completely gone. "And you smell really good. And your hair keeps touching me. And I keep thinking about waking up with you and—"
Alisa's hand covered his mouth, her face burning. "Kurumatani-kun!"
In Russian: "Он слишком честен. Мое сердце не может справиться с этим..." (He's too honest. My heart can't handle this...)
When she removed her hand, Sora was smiling slightly. "You do that when you're flustered. The Russian thing."
"I know."
"It's cute."
Now it was Alisa's turn to be speechless. She stared at him, then made a decision that surprised even herself.
She hooked her arm through his, linking them together.
The motion pressed her against his side, and Sora's entire body went rigid.
Because with her arm linked through his, her chest was pressed against his arm. He could feel the soft pressure, the warmth, and his brain completely short-circuited.
His face went from pink to red to crimson in record time.
Alisa found it endearing at first, delighted by his reaction. "You really are adorable when you—"
Then she followed his gaze downward and saw the very obvious physical reaction he was having.
The growing tent in his pants was impossible to miss.
Both of them froze.
"I—" Sora started, absolutely mortified. "That's not— I didn't mean— I'm sorry—"
"I need to go!" Alisa practically shrieked, scrambling to gather her books with shaking hands. "Homework! You should practice this homework! I'll see you tomorrow in class!"
She bolted for the door, her face the color of a tomato.
"Kujou-san, wait!" Sora called after her, but she was already gone, the door slamming behind her.
Sora sat alone in the classroom, his face in his hands, wanting the earth to swallow him whole.
I can never face her again. I should transfer schools. Maybe move to another country. Maybe another planet.
------
Ten Minutes Later - Sora's Room at Training Camp
Sora lay on his futon, staring at the ceiling, replaying the disaster over and over in his mind.
She'll never talk to me again. She probably thinks I'm a pervert. This is the worst thing that's ever happened.
His phone buzzed.
He almost ignored it, but curiosity made him check.
Kujou Alisa:I apologize for running away. That was immature of me.
Sora's heart leaped. She was texting him?
Sora:No, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable!
Kujou Alisa:You didn't make me uncomfortable. What happened was... a natural physical response. It's actually quite flattering.
Sora:Flattering?!
Kujou Alisa:It means you find me attractive. Which is... nice to know.
Sora's hands were shaking as he typed.
Sora:Of course I find you attractive! You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen!
He sent it before he could think better of it.
Then panicked.
Too much! That was too much! She's going to—
Kujou Alisa:...Really?
Sora:Really. You're beautiful and smart and interesting and I really like talking to you and being around you and I can't stop thinking about you and—
His thumbs were moving faster than his brain.
Kujou Alisa:Kurumatani-kun... are you asking me something?
Sora took a deep breath. This was it. Now or never.
Sora:Would you like to come to dinner at my house? My grandmother really wants to see you again. Like... like a date. If you want it to be a date. It doesn't have to be! It could just be dinner! As friends! Or—
Kujou Alisa:Breathe, Kurumatani-kun. I can feel your panic through the text.
Sora:Sorry.
Kujou Alisa:I'd love to come to dinner. As a date.
Sora stared at his phone, certain he was hallucinating.
Sora:Really?! You would?!
Kujou Alisa:Really. When?
Sora:After the training camp ends? In two days?
Kujou Alisa:It's a date then. ♥
She'd sent a heart. An actual heart emoji. Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou, ice princess of Kuzuryu High, had sent him a heart emoji.
Sora let out a whoop of joy so loud that it echoed through the gym.
"SORA?!" Momoharu's voice called from across the gym. "You okay?!"
"I'M GREAT! EVERYTHING'S GREAT! LIFE IS AMAZING!"
He fell back onto his futon, grinning so wide his face hurt.
She said yes. She actually said yes. This is real. This is actually happening.
Another text came through.
Kujou Alisa:Goodnight, my devotee. Dream of your goddess.
Sora's face went red again, but he was smiling.
Sora:Goodnight, Kujou-san.
Kujou Alisa:Alisa. When we're alone, you can call me Alisa.
Sora:Goodnight, Alisa.
Kujou Alisa:Goodnight, Sora. ♥
He saved that text thread immediately.
-----
Training Camp Gymnasium - Day Six,
"Screening drills!" Nao announced. "This is essential for our offense to function. Let's run through the basics!"
The team spread out. Nabe set a screen for Chucky, but he moved too late and the defender slipped around it easily.
"NABE!" Nao blew her whistle. "That's an illegal screen! You moved your feet while the defender was going around you. That's an offensive foul!"
"Can you explain it properly?" Nabe asked. "I don't really understand screening."
Nao pulled out her clipboard. "A screen is a legal block placed on the side of or behind a defender by an attacking player to allow a teammate to take a shot or receive a pass. The key is that you must be stationary when contact occurs. If you're still moving, it's a foul."
She demonstrated, setting her feet wide and staying completely still. "See? Plant your feet, keep your hands close to your body, and don't lean or move. The offensive player uses your screen to create separation from their defender."
"Why do we need to learn this?" Chucky asked. "We're not scorers."
"Exactly why you need to learn it," Nao said. "Our team lacks players who can score consistently. Sora and Kenji are our primary options. You three—Yasuhara, Nabe, Chucky—your role is to create opportunities for them through screens, good passes, and solid defense."
"So we focus on defense, passing, and screening?" Nabe confirmed.
"Yes. Master those fundamentals, and you'll be valuable players even without scoring."
As they continued drilling, Yasuhara worked on his ball handling with Sora defending him.
Yasuhara used a crossover Kenji had taught him, getting enough separation to drive past Sora to the basket.
"Nice!" Kenji called out. "Your handles have improved significantly!"
"Wait," Momoharu said, walking over to Sora. "Stand up straight for a second."
"What? Why?"
"Just do it."
Sora stood at attention. Momoharu held his hand level with Sora's head, then looked at where it had been weeks ago.
"You've grown," Momoharu said definitively.
"What?!" Sora's eyes widened.
"You're taller. Definitely taller." Momoharu called out: "Nao! Do we have a measuring tape?"
Nao produced one from her seemingly infinite supply of equipment.
They measured Sora against the wall.
"153 centimeters," Nao read. "Kurumatani-kun, when did you last measure yourself?"
"At the start of the school year. I was 149."
"You've grown 4 centimeters!" Yasuhara said excitedly.
"The Koganei integration," Sora thought, remembering the system notification about growth potential unlocking. The proper nutrition from the training camp, the intensive training, the rest—it was all contributing to his growth.
I'm actually getting taller. I might really reach 170cm someday.
"This is great news," Nao said, making notes. "Better height means better defense, better rebounding, better finishing at the rim. Keep eating well and training hard, Kurumatani-kun."
"I will!" Sora was grinning. Mom's going to be so happy when I tell her.
-----
"Alright everyone," Nao addressed the team. "For the Kitasumi match, our strategy is clear: Sora and Kenji are the heart of our offense. Everyone else focuses on defense and creating opportunities through screens and passes."
"How many points do you think we can score?" Momoharu asked.
Kenji considered, his analytical mind running calculations. "At our current level? Realistically, Sora and I could each score around 40 points if we're playing at our best. The others..." he looked at Yasuhara, Nabe, and Chucky, "maybe 20 combined on a good day."
"So we're looking at a maximum of 100 points?" Yasuhara said, sounding hopeful.
"If everything goes perfectly," Kenji clarified. "But basketball doesn't work that way. Fatigue, defensive pressure, foul trouble—all of that reduces scoring. More realistically, we'd be looking at 80-90 points total if we play well."
"That's still not bad," Momoharu said.
"The bigger problem is defense," Nao interjected seriously. "Sora's height is still a significant disadvantage on that end, even with his growth. But we can't sub him out because he's our primary point-getter."
She looked at Sora. "Which means you need to become an elite defender despite your height. We're focusing on your footwork and post defense for the next two days. You need to be able to stay in front of anyone."
Sora nodded seriously. "I understand. I'll work as hard as I need to."
-----
Sora spent the entire day working on defensive slides, close-outs, and positioning. His enhanced lateral quickness from the Miyagi integration made it easy and suprised Nao, but Nao pushed him to be even faster, even more precise.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team drilled screening until they could set perfect picks in their sleep.
Late in the evening, Sora was at the hand wash station, splashing cold water on his exhausted face, when Nao approached.
"Kurumatani-kun," she said gently. "I'm sorry for not letting you work on your shooting today. I know that's your strength."
"It's okay," Sora said, though his shooting hand was itching for practice. "I understand. It's for the sake of victory."
"You really want to win this match, don't you?"
"More than anything." Sora's expression was intense. "Not just for me. For everyone. For you, for the team, for everyone who's believed in us. I want to show that we're real. That we're not just delinquents playing around."
Nao smiled. "Then let's win together."
----
Final Day of Training Camp
The morning air was electric with anticipation.
At Kitasumi High, Tarou Kabachi addressed his team with a confident grin.
"Alright guys, today we play Kuzuryu High. From what I saw, they've got some interesting players. Especially that short first-year—he's got legitimate skill. Don't underestimate them."
His teammates nodded, some skeptical, some intrigued.
"Let's show them what real basketball looks like," Tarou continued. "But also, let's have fun. This is a practice match—enjoy it!"
The Kitasumi team piled into their bus, heading toward Kuzuryu High.
At Kuzuryu High, Sora stood in the empty gym before his teammates arrived, bouncing a basketball, his mind focused.
This is it. Our first real test since Nao joined. Our first chance to show what we've become.
I won't let anyone down.
I'll show them all—we're going to Inter-High.
His phone buzzed.
Alisa:Good luck today. Show them what my devotee is capable of. ♥
Sora grinned, his determination solidifying into steel.
Sora:I will. For you. For everyone.
The gym doors opened. His teammates filed in, each wearing the same determined expression.
"Ready?" Momoharu asked.
"Ready," Sora confirmed.