Chapter 223 - To the Person Who Gently Pinches You
(1)
The gym was open.
Sakura-san must have arrived first.
I headed to the locker room.
There were signs that someone had already changed.
Did someone get here before me?
I put my things down and headed to the court.
Mizushima-kun was practicing his shots.
"Yo."
I tried greeting him.
"Ah, good morning, Katagiri-senpai."
At the sound of Sakura-san's voice, Mizushima-kun's movements came to a dead stop.
"...Hey."
Mizushima-kun said that while looking at me, then began his shot practice again.
Mizushima-kun's shots entered the goal with a satisfying swish.
Mizushima-kun is taller than I am, and his form—using the spring of his entire body to jump—is worth referencing.
As I began stretching while watching Mizushima-kun's shots, Sakura-san helped me.
"I was surprised when I got a message from you, senpai, saying 'Keep the gym open starting now.' I thought maybe a massive blizzard was coming or something."
"It must be tough being a manager forced to go along with a genius's whims, Sakura."
"Mizushima-senpai, you're here too after receiving the message, aren't you?"
When Sakura-san replied, Mizushima-kun said nothing.
"I can't exactly hand over my starting spot, after all."
When I said that, he replied, "Tch, is that sarcasm?"
Once I finished stretching, I took the defensive position against Mizushima-kun.
"What are you doing?"
"Isn't it more meaningful to have a defender than for Mizushima-kun to just do 3Ps alone?"
"You just said you can't hand over your starting spot, yet here you are helping your rival?"
"Tasuku, keep going. It's more effective to actually have a defender than to just imagine one, right? Toya, don't hold back either, okay?"
The one who had arrived saying this was the captain, Kira-kun.
As Kira-kun spoke, Mizushima-kun took his shooting stance.
I also took a defensive posture.
Mizushima-kun took a shot.
The ball entered the goal as if it were being sucked in.
"Why aren't you jumping?"
"If I block it, it's not good practice, right?"
I answered as if it were obvious.
"That's wrong, Toya! I told you to be serious. You have to hit 3Ps that can overcome Toya's defense. It's just right when practice is even tougher than the actual game."
Since Kira-kun said that, I decided to jump from the next one on.
I blocked every single one.
Is Mizushima-kun going to snap again?
However, Mizushima-kun took another shot... or so it seemed. It was a fake. I fell for the trap perfectly.
Mizushima-kun jumped and shot toward me as I was descending.
We collided, but the shot went in.
"If that were a game, that's 4 points lost. Toya, you're too careless."
I was cautioned by Kira-kun.
"Toya. I'm ready too, so you start your own shot practice. I'll take the defense for Tasuku. Sota, you do your shot practice too."
I called out to Toma-kun, who had arrived without me noticing.
"A PG with scoring power is effective. Whether passing or driving, you first have to make them conscious of the shot. Kimoto-senpai used to do it too, right?"
When Kira-kun said that, Toma-kun also began 3P practice.
The other members arrived one after another.
While taking breaks, we mainly did individual practice to warm up for the session with the coach in the afternoon.
During that time, Kira-kun and Sakura-san gave advice.
"Shall we make it lunchtime soon?"
When Sakura-san spoke, the members who were about to leave the court stopped in their tracks.
Because Airi and Kana-san were standing in the hallway.
"I have bento for everyone~"
When Airi said that, a cheer went up.
We had a meeting while eating our bento in the waiting room.
"I think the future challenge is definitely play in the inside. Including Kira-senpai, we have three 3P threats. Considering that, I think the shooters can shoot more relaxedly if we can secure rebounds stably."
"The 3P success rate directly links to our scoring power, after all."
"Yes, and our opponents will undoubtedly use man-to-man or expand their zone to be wary of 3Ps."
In that case, strengthening the inside is absolutely necessary.
When Sakura-san and Kira-san said that, everyone nodded.
"I see. In that case, the PG needs strengthening too."
"That's true. Toma-senpai needs to broaden his vision more..."
When Sakura-san said that, Toma-kun nodded.
Then Sakura-san spoke to Mizushima-kun.
"You're the one for when Katagiri-senpai isn't there, Mizushima-senpai. I'm counting on you."
"You make it sound like I'm just a replacement for Katagiri. You should consider the possibility that Katagiri and I might swap positions."
"Please work hard with that spirit, Mizushima-senpai. We can't let Katagiri-senpai have it easy. If there isn't someone constantly applying pressure, he'll immediately run toward the easy path."
"...It's about time. Shall we return to the court?"
When Kira-san said that, everyone returned to the court.
As I was about to leave the waiting room, Airi whispered.
"Don't let it get to you. Being always at your own pace is both Toya-kun's weakness and his strength."
I know.
I whispered back to Airi.
"I'm counting on you for a massage tonight."
Airi followed behind us with a smile and watched the practice.
(2)
When I woke up in the morning, Kazu-san was changing and preparing to go out.
"Kazu-san. Where are you going?"
"Ah, Kana. I'm going to practice for a bit."
"Wasn't practice starting from noon?"
The clock currently said 10:00.
"It seems Katagiri-kun has become motivated, and they're apparently doing morning practice together."
"Kazu-san, you've already retired, so isn't it okay if you don't go?"
"The time I can play with Katagiri-kun is also dwindling. I want to stand on the same court as him even for a little while."
"If that's the case, it can't be helped."
Actually, I wanted to relax together for the morning.
"Sorry, I'll be back by evening."
Today was the day of the Watanabe group's New Year's party.
"I'll bring bento later too."
"Thanks, see you."
After seeing him off to the entrance, I set about preparing the bento.
I heard the Basketball Club is increasing its members, so maybe I'll make extra.
As I was thinking that, a message came from Airi.
"The Basketball Club has practice today, right? Want to go cheer them on together?"
"That's the plan. I'm preparing the bento right now."
"Ah, I'll get ready too."
And then we bumped into each other at the university parking lot.
Until we reached the gym, the two of us talked about various things.
That Katagiri-kun had shown motivation. That he had been running since morning. That he had started morning practice voluntarily.
That Kazu-san was happy that Katagiri-kun had become motivated.
That he said he would participate in practice even for a little bit because there was no more time to stand on the same court, and so on.
By the time we arrived at the gym, it had become noon.
Everyone was coming out of the court.
"I brought bento~"
When Airi said that, everyone got excited.
While eating bento, everyone listened seriously to what Kira-san and Sakura were saying.
Airi seemed to understand, but I didn't.
After that, they practiced on the court under the coach's instructions.
The coach was there, huh...
"How's the newlywed life with Kimoto-senpai?"
Airi asked. Even if she calls it newlywed life, it's only the second day, and besides...
"He's obsessed with basketball right now..."
It seems he doesn't have time to pay attention to me.
"Hmm, I guess it's like that even for couples."
Does nothing particularly change just because the surnames become the same?
"Sorry, could you move over a bit?"
Turning around, members of the women's club were lined up.
"Sorry, we were in the way."
Airi apologized.
"If you're just some fan watching Katagiri-kun, why don't you watch from the second floor?"
The woman from the women's club said, glaring.
"Yes, I'll do that... let's go, Kana."
We sat in the spectator seats on the second floor and watched the practice.
For a while, they practiced separately on two courts, but the women's club coach was saying something to the men's club coach.
When the men's club coach nodded, the women's club coach gave a signal while returning to the women's side, and probably the five starters put on bibs and entered the men's club court.
On the men's side, the five starters also lined up at the center line.
Apparently, they were going to practice jointly.
The women's club was apparently a powerhouse that had entered the first division.
The game-style practice began.
...Somehow, Katagiri-kun's behavior is strange.
His defense is different from usual. It's different enough that even a beginner like me can tell.
He doesn't have that usual posture of "I'm going for a steal at any moment."
For now, he's shutting down the pass lanes and shot lanes, but when the opponent starts dribbling, far from interfering, he opens the path.
What happened?
It's the same when he's on offense.
The accuracy of his 3Ps hasn't changed, but the distance is different.
He's shooting from further away than usual.
Is he being forced to? In any case, Katagiri-kun keeps his distance from the opponent's defense.
It seems it's true that Katagiri-kun can shoot from anywhere once he crosses the half-line.
The opponent, noticing something, closes the distance to Katagiri-kun.
Where he would usually break through with a dribble, Katagiri-kun passes.
Airi, who seemed to have sensed the reason, shouted.
"Toya-kun, stop thinking about boring things and do it seriously!!"
The opponent, perhaps intending to block the pass lanes as well, blocked the path with three people.
When Katagiri-kun, who tried to keep his distance, dribbled, the whistle blew.
"Backcourt violation."
"Katagiri-senpai, practice seriously! Stop thinking about unnecessary things!"
Sakura was also shouting.
After that, Katagiri-kun continued to lack his usual aggressiveness.
What happened?
A shot taken by the men's club missed.
They chased the loose ball.
Katagiri-kun and a female club member.
The two of them chased the ball and dove for it, falling over.
Then, the two fell as if embracing, and Katagiri-kun's face was buried in the female member's chest.
Katagiri-kun hurriedly pulled away and apologized.
The whistle blew.
"Toya! Swap with Tasuku!"
Katagiri-kun was told of the member change without being able to show his good side.
Airi stood up abruptly.
"Airi, I don't think that was on purpose."
I stopped Airi.
"That's not it. I'm going down for a bit."
Having been furiously scolded by the coach, Airi approached Toya-kun, who was watching from the outside.
Sakura tried to stop her. But Airi did not back down.
And then she...
Smack
...hit Toya-kun.
It was just a contact accident.
Why is she so angry?
It seemed mysterious to me.
Even without Katagiri-kun, the men's club's strength had certainly improved, and they won overwhelmingly.
His height might be on the lower side for the male average, but still, the men seemed to have the advantage.
(3)
Smack
I was hit by Airi.
"You know why I'm angry, right?"
"That was an accident!"
I tried to explain, but the enemy wasn't just one person.
"You don't understand, do you! That was play that insulted a woman!"
Sakura-san was also furious.
"Katagiri, sit there in seiza and listen to these two lecture you."
Even the coach seemed to be an enemy.
I sat in seiza.
"Toya-kun, you were blatantly avoiding contact with the girls, weren't you!? I could tell immediately even watching from above!"
Anyone would want to avoid it. I mean... if I touch various places, I'm just not used to it...
I've had plenty of contact with Airi, right? I wonder if it's right to compare a wife with a stranger?
"I'm saying that way of thinking is what mocks women! The women's club entered this practice game because they wanted to experience Katagiri-senpai's play! And yet, not even doing a single proper dribble is mocking them!"
"Experience the play"... isn't there something misleading about that phrasing?
"Look, look at the other people's play."
Told by Sakura-san, I looked at the court.
A female member was defending closely, sticking to Akai-kun while he held the ball.
Akai-kun then pivoted, turning his body to take a shot.
In doing so, his elbow hit the chest of the girl who blocked him.
But Akai-kun didn't care.
"That's proof that Toya-kun is thinking about strange things!"
Airi pointed out.
After the game continued for 10 minutes, they took a break.
"Tasuku, swap with Toya."
"Yes."
"Toya, you've been told plenty, so I think you understand, but..."
The coach spoke. I understand, but actually doing it is impossible.
"Toya-kun, it's a penalty game!"
Airi said.
"For the remaining time, 3Ps and useless passes are forbidden!"
"...Now that's interesting."
This is no time to find it interesting, Coach.
"I agree. Senpai, no outside shots, attack the inside thoroughly! The other four, please respond to that!"
The four said they understood, sounding amused.
"If you take even one 3P, I won't let you go home until you make 100 3Ps in a row! No New Year's party either!"
"Doesn't forbidding 3Ps count as an act of insulting the opponent?"
"Please take it as strengthening practice for the inside. Anyway, you'll get used to contact play!"
Did you forget that you told me not to do things that waste my stamina?
"Enemies will appear who target senpai for contact play! This is also part of the practice."
While that was happening, the break time ended.
A pass flew relentlessly from Kimoto-senpai.
See, the opponent must have heard too, because the inside is rock solid... Is it okay as long as it's not a 3P?
When I entered the 3P area, I took the shot without hesitation.
"Offense! Target the opponent's SG thoroughly!"
The opposing coach also seemed to be finding this amusing.
The ball was passed to the opponent's PG. I defended with my usual spacing.
I didn't let them pass.
This player doesn't have long-range shots. Then I just have to aim for the moment they dribble.
I focused my nerves and concentration right then and there.
The moment the ball left the opponent player's right hand, I executed a Steal.
I dove for the loose ball. The opponent also came to pick it up.
I was the one who caught it first, but the opponent landed on top of me.
A soft sensation remained on my back. ...Larger than Airi. I wonder if it gets in the way?
"I told you not to think about unnecessary things!!"
Airi's shout flew over.
The game returned to our attack.
A pass flew normally.
When I received it...
"Man-to-man half-court press!!"
The opposing coach is finding this amusing, right? He's definitely finding this amusing, right?
Since it's called a press, the contact is strong.
Reluctantly, I pushed the defender away with my left arm while dribbling with my right.
Various things rushed toward my eyes.
At that moment, a single word from Airi.
"Toya-kun, just look at me!!"
It was that instant.
I entered a mysterious space.
The opponent's defense looked like stick figures.
The only things clearly visible were myself, the ball, and the goal.
I was moving before I even perceived it.
I cut in with a dribble, weaving between two defenders.
There was contact, but no charging was called.
The defender in the paint area immediately entered a press. The center provided cover.
I leaped.
The two defenders in front jumped to block.
I switched the ball to the left to evade the block.
Next, the center jumped.
I switched the ball again to evade the block. Twisting my body, I brought the ball back and shot.
The ball entered the goal.
"Nice shot."
Akai-san said.
"See, you can do it if you try, senpai!"
It's thanks to Airi.
"It really exists, the Triple Clutch. First time I've seen it."
"Amazing. I might actually be moved."
Such voices came from the women's club too.
"The game isn't over yet! Get back to attacking!"
The opposing coach said.
And so the game ended.
"That helped. It seems Katagiri was able to overcome his weakness too."
Was there a reason to overcome it in the first place, Coach?
"No, no, it seems it was a good stimulus for us to see such an amazing play."
The opposing coach said.
"Katagiri-kun, do you have someone you're dating now?"
"No way, the girl who just told him to look only at her is probably the one."
"I see, too bad."
"You're on the Japan national team, right? Give me an autograph."
I'm telling you, my autograph has no value, okay?
Besides, if women gather around me like this...
Ouch... see.
Airi pinched my cheek.
"I told you to look only at me, right?"
"...Yes."
Sakura-san approached.
"I'm glad you overcame it before going to the training camp. Katagiri-senpai's weakness was 'not being able to concentrate unless he's in the Zone'."
"You mean I should be in it constantly?"
"If you could do that, you'd be the best."
Sakura-san said, laughing.
After that, each team began practicing with separate menus again.
And when the time came, it ended.
"Toya-kun, you're taking a shower, right? If you don't hurry, you'll be late."
"Got it. What's the bus time?"
"There's one that's barely in time, so it's fine."
Airi said while checking her smartphone.
"Well then, Sakura-san, I'll see you at the restaurant."
"Yes."
"We're going too."
Kimoto-senpai and Kana-san said.
(4)
"Hahaha, I see. If it's Toya, it's very Toya-like."
When Airi talked about today's practice, Watanabe-kun laughed it off.
"Must be nice~ having joint practices for men and women in the Basketball Club," Makoto said.
Nothing about it was nice, Makoto.
"This isn't a laughing matter, Tada-senpai. It's obvious that a player who can't handle contact play can't play in the inside! Even today, he couldn't do anything when the press was applied."
Sakura-san said.
"But he overcame it, right?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"Toya-kun just worries too much. Women don't think anything of contact in sports."
Airi said.
Is that how it is?
As the one doing it, I'm very conscious of it...
"But that one play was amazing. I thought he suddenly drove in, and then he decided the shot with a Triple Clutch."
"At that time, Airi's words entered, and I entered a world of my own. I could only see the ball and the goal, and everyone else looked like stick figures."
"Airi's words?"
Sashihara-san asked.
"To look only at me."
"Toya, entering the Zone because of a trigger like that is scary."
Watanabe-kun was surprised.
"Airi, weren't you bothered? Me being in close contact with other women."
Airi gently pinched me.
"Contact play in sports is inevitable, right? My heart isn't that narrow!"
Is that how it is?
"So, how's the newlywed life, Kanna?"
I tried changing the subject.
"Ah, it was normal. I mean, it's only the second day."
"That's true. We're still nervous with each other, or rather, awkward."
Emi-san said.
We were normal.
Maybe because Airi often came to stay over?
As I thought, is it really just a matter of the surname changing?
"Eventually, your true selves will come out. That's when the real thing starts."
Watanabe-kun said.
Is that how it is?
"I mean, even if your parents are around, wouldn't you two, who've been living together in the same house, understand better?"
Kanna asked.
"Actually, I've never really been conscious of it. It might be because staying over was officially permitted since high school."
"Same here. I don't really think about it. I stopped thinking about it, so we registered the marriage. That's all it is."
Kanna said, drinking up her beer.
"Another one."
"Kanna, keep it in moderation..."
Makoto said.
"I know."
Kanna laughed.
"Tomorrow's a holiday, so let's drink thoroughly!"
"Yeah!!"
When Mika-san said that, everyone raised their glasses.
The long night still continued.
(5)
That day, we drank thoroughly.
The second party was at an izakaya.
The third party was at karaoke.
We drank until morning.
I went home by bus on the first train of the morning.
Sakura-san went home halfway through, though.
Returning in the morning, I slept until noon.
From noon, it was practice.
Airi also came to watch.
As expected, the day after drinking is tough.
Perhaps due to the lack of sleep, I couldn't move very satisfactorily.
Naturally, I was swapped out halfway through.
I was scolded by Sakura-san.
Kimoto-senpai seemed fine.
During the break, Airi gave me a sports drink and a nutritional supplement.
I recovered a bit.
After that, I could move a little.
There was a joint practice that day too.
There was no tension like yesterday.
I evaded those who aggressively attempted to press.
When the opponent switched to a Zone Defense, I could shoot as much as I wanted from the outside.
If the zone expanded, I passed to the two in the inside.
Because play under the goal by the two in the inside had also become a challenge.
When they started solidifying the inside, I went back to the outside.
Halfway through, I swapped with Mizushima-kun.
Mizushima-kun also practiced his 3Ps again.
The other members also swapped to check their movements.
After practice, the men and women had a meal together at a family restaurant.
After that, we went to the public bath to wash off the sweat.
And then we disbanded.
"Toya-kun, you were perfect today!"
I was praised by Airi. Though I was no good at first.
"It's thanks to Airi's supplies."
"I'm glad~ I was worried because you were so hyped up yesterday."
"I might have overdone it a bit."
"You have to be careful."
Returning home, I changed into pajamas and relaxed in the room.
Airi brought a chu-hi.
"Didn't you just say I have to be careful?"
"That's why it's only one can tonight."
Airi said, laughing.
We were watching a drama on TV.
A drama that had just started in January.
A slightly mystery-like one.
By the time we finished watching it, the date was almost changing.
"We have to go to sleep early today. Classes start tomorrow."
"I know."
Saying that, we dimmed the lights and slept together.
Perhaps because I was tired, I slept soundly.
Daily life begins again tomorrow.