Chapter 228 - Meeting is Coincidence
(1)
When I wake up in the morning, I change and start jogging.
After that, I do independent training until breakfast.
Masato-san, the captain, joined me.
Masato-san feels like the kind of reliable captain who is trusted by everyone.
In contrast to me, who possesses an element of unpredictability, Masato-san's playstyle consists of passes that always push forward, forward.
If you are given passes like that, you'll naturally acquire a knack for pass-and-cuts.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Masato-san created the current representative team's playstyle.
While practicing with Masato-san, Azuchi Yoshiaki and Kakitani Ryoma arrive.
Both are 3P shooters. Ryoma shoots fast 3Ps in a straight line, and Yoshiaki's shots draw a high arc.
I will also be joining the competition for the SG position between those two.
They aren't the only ones who shoot 3Ps.
Musashi Goro-maru, the center, also shoots 3Ps.
Though that's limited to when SF Aoi Aya and PF Minami Yusuke are stationed under the goal.
The other members also begin their independent practice.
After a while, when it's time for breakfast, we eat.
TKG! TKG!!
Once I finish eating everything in the menu put together by the trainer, I return to independent practice, and then the coach arrives leading the staff.
Without saying a word, Yuichiro blows the whistle, and everyone lines up to begin defense footwork practice.
After that, we do shuttle runs and other basic exercises.
Having strengthened my physicals extensively, I still had energy to spare.
From here, it's practice for the A-team and B-team.
I step outside the court to watch.
Then, I am scolded by the coach.
"Toya, what are you doing! Get on the court!"
Eh? Everyone from the D-team is outside, though?
While I'm bewildered, Masato-san calls out to me.
"You're on the A-team starting today. Here."
Saying so, Masato-san hands me a bib.
"A-team, Masato build the game as usual! B-team, Yoshiaki, you do it!"
I heard the general gist of the offensive formation from Masato-san yesterday.
I also studied by watching DVDs at night.
So, I mostly understood how to move.
Masato-san's passes are fast and make you face forward.
Masato-san relentlessly sends passes against opponents who solidify the interior.
I shoot relentlessly before the defense can get to me.
"B-team, what are you doing! You're just letting Toya keep shooting!"
When the B-team's defense spreads out, next I send a pass to the inside.
Unlike the local university, the inside is strong.
Goro-maru, the center, is solid; he goes for shots himself or spreads the passes outside.
Aggressive basketball to the extreme.
Perhaps judging that the Zone wouldn't work for the B-team, they switch their defense to Man-to-man.
When that happens, the A-team's true value is displayed.
Once a pass reaches the center, the other four begin running freely in all directions.
They aren't running blindly. They maintain a certain distance from the ball holder while setting screens.
They run while shaking off their marks.
A style that changes formation while constantly maintaining a triangular positional relationship.
When the ball holder becomes free, they sink the shot.
We were executing attacks like that.
Since I had heard the general details from Masato-san, I managed to keep up with the movements.
It's more exhausting than I expected.
The positional relationships enter my head somehow, so that's fine, but...
There is no rest in the A-team. We carry out games while switching opponent teams.
After one full rotation, we get a short break.
Just because we get a break doesn't mean we can just space out.
Everyone enters shooting practice.
Shooting practice precisely because it's tough.
While repeating such practice, we confirm the formations.
It might have been a formation confirmation for my sake.
Then, after eating lunch, we enter practice again.
Once I understand the formations, my true value comes out.
I send a pass with the same hand that received the ball.
It's hard for the receiver, but they keep up.
Practice continued until evening.
"The remaining time is left to each of you."
The coach said so and practice ended... as if that were possible.
After that, we continued shooting practice and formation confirmation.
After the coach left, it was Masato-san who gave the instructions.
It became time for dinner, and after eating, I returned to the room.
Yuichiro was doing something on a laptop.
"You're amazing..."
Words that Yuichiro suddenly let slip.
"I knew your ability was high, but I didn't think you'd keep up with our formation so quickly."
"I was studying."
"I understand why everyone expects so much from you. Though it's frustrating."
I never imagined I would receive such words from Yuichiro.
"Don't get conceited, practice hard! You still have room to grow."
"Thank you, I'll do my best."
Saying so, I take my smartphone and leave the room.
"Hello?"
"Ah, Toya-kun. Good work~"
"Is now okay?"
"Yeah, I just finished eating~. You're coming back tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah, I'm coming back."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
"Yeah."
"You don't seem depressed today? Did something good happen~?"
"I managed to get into the A-team."
"That's amazing, it's only been a day since yesterday!"
"The practice is hard, though."
"Do your best."
"Yeah, well then, I'll call you tomorrow after we dismiss."
"Oka~y."
Saying so, I hang up the phone.
Then, I noticed that one other person was on the phone.
Aya.
"Yeah, I'm returning to Tokyo tomorrow."
She mentioned before that she had a girlfriend. I wonder if she's calling her girlfriend?
When Aya finished the call, she seemed to notice me.
"Good work."
I call out to Aya.
"...You're going to practice after this, right?"
Aya suddenly says.
"That's the plan."
"Come with me for a bit..."
Saying so, she returned to her room.
I also leave my smartphone in the room and head to the gymnasium.
I sat at the edge of the court with Aya and began talking.
"Kanna... is Otonashi doing well?"
That topic...
"Now she's changed her surname to Tada."
"Did she get married?"
"Yeah."
"I see, then that's good. I feel like I did bad things to her..."
"Is that so..."
"That was when we were in 5th grade, wasn't it?"
Aya began talking about Kanna's past.
(2)
Shortly after transferring, she was quiet, and her dialect came out. She was a perfect target for bullying.
I couldn't stand watching her just silently enduring the bullying, so I finally took action.
"It's annoying to watch. Can you guys just stop it already?"
When I said that, everyone stopped laying hands on Kanna and dispersed in all directions.
I was probably the only one she could rely on.
She started staying around me.
I never imagined she held feelings for me.
Since we were at an age where just being together as a girl and a boy would make people think we were dating, I introduced her to Yukari.
She became close with Yukari immediately. After that, her clothing changed, and she started wearing side-ponytails in a way that suggested the two of them were a set.
When we entered middle school, Yukari confessed first, and after that, we became lovers.
After a while, around winter, Yukari told me.
"Could you be nice to Kanna?"
"What do you mean?"
"Kanna seems to like you, Aya."
"If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to tell her clearly?"
"But Kanna is transferring schools, you know? I want to give her a good memory at the end."
"I think playing with someone's heart is questionable."
"Please! Let Kanna transfer in a good mood."
I also bear responsibility for not being able to refuse.
But I never thought she would actually confess.
"The things after that... you know, right?"
Aya's story ended.
"I know. I heard it from Kanna."
I told Aya that I reunited with Yukari-san in my second year of high school, and that we reconciled over the phone.
"I heard that from Yukari."
Aya said so and remained silent.
"Before she transferred, she said she'd been rejected by a guy, so I was worried. I worried that she wouldn't be able to meet a good man. Because of that, I blamed myself even more. But knowing she got married makes me relieved. What kind of guy is he? Her marriage partner."
"He's handsome, good at soccer, went to university on a soccer scholarship, and is still active now. He's a kind guy."
"I see, then that's good."
No one could imagine Kanna being rejected.
I also couldn't imagine Makoto and Kanna ending up together.
Whether meeting is a coincidence or a necessity.
You can't know that until after the fact.
"Kanna is happy now, so you don't have to worry about it."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"You two, how long are you going to keep talking!? If you have no intention of practicing, go back to your rooms and rest!"
Yuichiro is angry.
"Well then, when you go back, please tell Kanna congratulations for me."
"Got it."
And so, we returned to practice.
(3)
I accompany Sa-senpai in his practice.
Practice that doesn't use the shoulder.
I accompanied him mainly in practice to train the lower body.
Afterwards, I properly cool the shoulder and wrap the bandage tightly.
"Sorry for involving you in such a tedious thing."
"Please don't worry about it. It's the duty of a manager."
I also take him to the Hospital and accompany him.
"Yes, it's recovering. Just a little more patience."
It seems the nursing was worth it.
"Thank you. It's thanks to you. If you weren't here, I might have pushed myself and caused an irreparable situation."
"It's fine. I'm just glad there's nothing wrong with the bone."
While talking about such things, we were returning from the Hospital to the University.
"The talk about Toya... have you heard?"
"I heard Katagiri-senpai was in the D-team on the first day."
"As I thought, it's strict."
"I heard his lack of motivation was pointed out."
"That's his greatest flaw."
"I heard he's changed now, though."
"I hope that's the case..."
When the two of us are in the car, it's somehow awkward.
It's not like we're doing anything bad.
A manager is simply driving a player.
It's only that, and yet...
"Hey. Sakura, what do you think of Katagiri?"
"Eh?"
"Katagiri has a girlfriend named Tosaka, right? Do you feel jealous or something?"
"I heard Tosaka-san isn't his girlfriend; she's his wife."
I answered while laughing.
"Eh? Toya was married!?"
"They haven't registered the marriage, but she's basically his wife."
"You admired Toya and got dragged into the world of basketball and joined the Basketball Club, right? Is that... not painful?"
"I cannot become Katagiri-senpai's lover. However, there is support that only I can provide. If I can be of help to Katagiri-senpai in that way, that's enough."
"I see..."
"That said, since Katagiri-senpai has already made it into the representative team, my role is almost finished."
"...Don't say you're quitting."
"Eh?"
"...The Basketball Club still needs Sakura's support."
"I'm not quitting. Don't worry, I'll make sure to take thorough care of you, senpai!"
Saying so, I laughed.
"Thank goodness," the senior breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, what's your relationship with the long-haired guy from the Beppu university?"
Why are men so dense? Or is it just that Katagiri-senpai is sharp?
"There is no relationship at all. I dislike flighty people like that."
"I see..."
In reality, Hoaki-senpai had approached me many times, only to be saved by Sa-senpai.
And today, without exception...
"Hey, I've come again, Sakurako-chan."
It's just like this.
"I'll say it many times, but I don't have the leeway for that."
"You say that, but you're always with that blockhead. ...What the hell are you to your girlfriend?"
Hoaki-senpai questioned Sa-senpai like that.
"Sa-senpai is..."
"Just a partner."
Eh?
Sa-senpai pulled me close by the shoulder and said to Hoaki-senpai.
"An important manager of the Basketball Club. That's all."
"Who normally puts their arm around just a manager!"
"If you understand that much, isn't there no need for an explanation?"
"Ugh..."
"Let's go, Sakura, you're giving me a ride home, right?"
"Yes..."
Leaving Hoaki-senpai standing there dazed, Sa-senpai took me toward the parking lot.
"Was that okay?"
"It helped. Thank you very much."
"Don't worry about it. It's the usual."
"By the way, Sa-senpai, what does it mean that I'm a partner?"
"I told you. That you're an important manager of the Basketball Club."
"Is that all?"
"Is another reason necessary?"
"No..."
For now, I'll consider that enough.
"By the way, Sa-senpai."
"What?"
"I haven't told Katagiri-senpai either. About my elementary school stories."
"Is that so."
"Yes."
"What about it?"
"When will you call me Sakurako instead of Sakura? While you let yourself be called Sa (T/N: speaks without honorific, signaling intimacy)."
"...If you call me Sa without honorifics, I'll think about it."
"Then, Sa..."
"...Sakurako."
Creating time for the two of us in the car.
The car had stopped in front of Sa's house.
"As expected, it's uncool if I, as a man, don't say it first."
Saying so, he scratches his head.
"Will you date me? Sakurako."
"Yes, I look forward to it."
"...Want to stop by my place?"
"If you come visit my house next time."
"Yeah, I'll visit."
"Then where should I park the car?"
Sa guides me to the parking lot.
And for the first time, I went up to a man's house and talked.
(4)
"Niina-san, prepare the materials in the first conference room!"
"Yes!"
Niina-san is working hard as Shiina-san's assistant.
"Manabe-kun, why are you spacing out!? I told you there's a meeting with a client first thing in the afternoon!? Prepare the samples and the car."
"Yes."
When told by Harada-san, I make the preparations and bring the car around to the building entrance.
I take Harada-san and head to the client's location.
When it's just the two of us in the car, Harada-san hardly says anything.
Is it because of that incident after all?
The feeling of "I messed up" is strong.
The meeting with the client continued for a long time, and by the time we were returning, the sun had set.
Harada-san is on the phone.
"Yes, I'm going straight home today. I'll leave the rest to you."
Saying so, she hangs up the phone.
"Manabe-kun, good work."
"Good work. I'll drive you home."
"Before that, there's a place I want to stop by, is that alright?"
I'll go anywhere.
"Then, please head toward Saganoseki."
After passing the Saganoseki roadside station and parking the car at the port, Harada-san got out of the car.
I also get out.
The lights of the refinery were very beautiful.
"Could I go to one more place?"
"Yes."
Driving further south and entering Tsukumi, the lights of the cement factory were very beautiful.
We have dinner at a family restaurant in Tsukumi.
"I came here once with my husband. It was very beautiful, so I was curious about how it is now and wanted to come."
"..."
"It hasn't changed even now, has it."
Saying so, Harada-san wears a smile that seems like it might vanish.
After that, I drive Harada-san home.
"Sorry for making you accompany me today."
Harada-san says so and tries to enter her room.
I unconsciously hugged Harada-san from behind.
"Just forget it already! The person who makes you cry! Forget them! I'm with you."
"...Will Manabe-kun make me forget?"
Harada-san's voice had become a crying voice.
"I'll make you forget. Even if I have to be stubborn, even if it takes several years, I'll make you forget."
That night, I stayed at Harada-san's house.
And in the morning...
"Manabe-kun, it's morning."
Being told so, I wake up to find Harada-san making breakfast.
"S-sorry."
"Want to take a shower first? You didn't take one yesterday."
"Then, I'll do that."
Saying so, I take a shower, have breakfast, get ready, and leave the house.
At that moment, I noticed that the ring was gone from the ring finger of Harada-san's left hand.
My gaze unconsciously goes there.
Noticing that gaze, Harada-san smiles and says.
"You're the one who'll make me forget, right? Keep your promise."
The smile at that moment was the most beautiful one I had seen so far.
(5)
Since coming to the Katagiri house, I was spending a holiday alone for the first time in a while.
I had time to slowly read the books I had bought in advance.
Actually, I thought about doing some housework, but I also have a promise with Maya-san.
I'll take her up on her offer and relax.
That said, there was no difference in the boredom of the time.
After finishing one book, I was fiddling with my smartphone.
In the girls' gathering group, I tried typing "What is everyone doing?"
"I'm free~" several people replied.
When I typed "Shall we have a tea party?", "Sounds good" came back.
And so, I headed to Blue Bird.
The ones who came were Ai, Emi, Akira, and Kana, four people.
After each of us ordered drinks, we began talking.
"How is Katagiri-kun's condition?"
The first topic was Toya-kun.
"Yeah, as expected, being a starter from the beginning seems tough."
"Well, that's only natural... as expected," Emi says.
"But it seems he's not inferior technically, just that he can't coordinate yet."
In fact, it seems he stirred up the A-group all by himself again.
"I see, as expected if you say as expected," says Shimizu-san.
"More than that, I want to know about Emi and the others' lives."
When I say so, the three begin talking.
"Nothing particularly changed, you know? Nozomi is still working part-time as usual."
"Zen-kun is the same, he's working there."
"Club activities during the day, part-time work at night, he doesn't pay attention to me at all," Kana complains.
It seems all three of them really haven't changed that much.
"But if you keep living like that, won't you hit a rut?"
Ai asks.
"That's true, we're starting to feel a sense of monotony too," Ichinose-san adds to the conversation.
"Since Katagiri-kun started club activities, the sales here have plummeted," Ichinose-san laughs.
It was Emi who answered Ai's question.
"We have proper communication at night. Like what happened today... or watching TV together."
"We're the same. We drink together at night," Akira also says.
"For me, I think I make time to see them off properly in the morning? Even just a single 'have a good day' makes a difference," Kana says.
"How about you, Ai-chan? You've already finished the marriage registration, right?"
When Emi asks, Ai answers.
"Yeah, Eita seems to have found a part-time job too. We intend to move next month."
"Near the Private University, as expected?"
"Yeah, there are plenty of cheap properties for students."
It seems she's already found a room.
I'm envious of everyone.
It seems we'll be the very last.
But I also have a "promise" with Toya-kun. I'll wait patiently.
The thing Toya-kun swore that night, if possible, I want to make it a reality for him.
I'll do anything for that.
Toya-kun said it's a secret from everyone.
But I thought it might be better to tell Sakura-san.
However, I'll respect Toya-kun's will.
"With this many people married, I wonder who will have a child first in the Watanabe group," Ichinose-san says.
"She says that, but I wonder about Zen-kun," Akira was saying.
Sakai-kun is coughing.
After a certain amount of time passed, everyone dispersed.
"Sorry, it seems it became full of complaints about my husband," Emi says apologetically.
"It's fine, that kind of thing is helpful as a reference," I say, and Emi says "Thank you."
"Let's have another girls' gathering next time," Ai says, and everyone agreed.
Then, returning home, I eat dinner, take a bath, and while watching TV, a call comes from Toya-kun.
It seems he got into the A-team. I'm glad for him!
It seems he's coming back tomorrow night.
I can't wait for tomorrow night.
When he returns, I'll give him a massage.
I'll let him relax.
But... I want him to let me be spoiled a little.
I'll go let Maya-san and the others know.
While looking forward to Toya-kun's stories, I fell asleep early today.