Chapter 245 - A New Morning Beckons
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun."
As usual, I wake up to Airi's bouncy voice.
"Ugh... haven't you been slacking off a bit since coming back from South Korea?"
"Can't you let me rest just a little?"
"No! There's an intensive training camp at the end of the month! You have to stay in tune."
"I get it. I'll get ready right away."
Hurried along by Airi, I change my clothes and head outside.
I do some light stretching and start jogging.
My jogging shoes are getting worn out. Maybe I should buy new ones?
Ah, the sponsors provide them.
It's nice being able to take it easy.
After running for about an hour, I return home, take a shower, and eat.
Once I'm finished eating, I get ready and wait in my room.
I look at my PC while the TV is on.
A long list of trivial stories, like celebrity scandals, were lined up.
As for politics, although the ruling party's approval rating is stagnating, they seem secure.
After a quick look, I shut down the PC and watch TV until Airi arrives carrying a mug.
Once she finishes her coffee, Airi stands up abruptly.
Seeing that, I turn off the TV and stand up as well.
University was still on break, but practice had already begun.
Speaking of the Basketball Club, I heard the men's team coach is changing starting this year.
Apparently, he's a very capable coach.
I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of coach arrives.
I leave the house with Airi.
Upon arriving at the gym, I change in the locker room and participate in practice.
Practice is the same as always.
However, there is a heavily built man standing by the men's court.
He's an old man with white hair. If he were a bit slimmer, he'd look like that white-bearded old man from a certain fried chicken chain.
When the old man notices me, he asks, "And you are?"
Sakura-san answers in my stead.
"This is Katagiri Toya-senshu. Katagiri-senpai, this is the new coach, Coach Higashiyama."
"So you're the rumored Katagiri-kun. I look forward to working with you."
Coach Higashiyama reached out for a handshake. I shake his hand.
"For now, I want to see everyone's ability. Could you do a 5-on-5?"
With those words, practice began in a game format between the regulars and the semi-regulars.
After the first ten minutes passed, the coach moved.
"Katagiri-kun, leave the court. Sa-kun, you enter the regulars. Fill the semi-regulars with second-years."
I was removed from the starting lineup and watched the game from outside the court.
After that, the starters were removed one after another, and second-years took their place.
"Hmm, hmm... I see. Thank you."
The coach is thinking about something.
"Next, regulars return to the court. Let's do a 5-on-5 on a half-court. Defense will be man-to-man press. Anyway, put pressure on the PG."
The semi-regulars put a double-team defense on Sota.
Sota struggles to attack while dribbling.
The coach blew his whistle.
"24 seconds have passed,"
the coach announced.
Offense and defense switched.
The defense for the regulars wasn't specified. We set up the Zone as usual.
I take the top.
The opposing PG can neither pass nor shoot due to my defense.
Again, the coach's whistle sounds.
"The offense has to move more. You have to give the PG options for passing."
Before offense and defense switched again...
"Mizushima-kun, switch with Katagiri-kun. Katagiri-kun, enter as PG."
Sa's defense has no openings.
Since he's making me play PG, I guess I have to pass?
There's one teammate open. I quickly pass to them.
However, the teammate couldn't react to the sudden pass, and the ball went out of bounds.
"The press is weak. You mustn't give Katagiri-kun a passing lane. The offense also needs to be prepared to take Katagiri-kun's pass at any time."
"Coach! It's impossible to shut down Toya's passing lanes. Besides, only the regulars can receive Toya's passes!"
Sota protests.
"If that's the case, you'll lose,"
the coach said in a single sentence, and everyone fell silent.
"I-it's almost time for the lunch break,"
Sakura-san interjected.
"Well then, again from the afternoon..."
"Coach... from the afternoon, there's a joint practice with the women's team."
"I understand."
With that, the coach left the gym.
A meeting took place while eating lunch in the waiting room.
"Fujima-senpai might be removed from the starters,"
Sakura-san said.
"The coach is likely devising a countermeasure for Katagiri-senpai. Once the ball reaches Katagiri-senpai, there's no stopping it. Therefore, he should try to stop the Point Guard. The coach has seen through the fact that the Point Guard is the weakness. I think he's considering that it would be better to place Katagiri-senpai at Point Guard."
"So, am I the Shooting Guard?"
When Sa asked, Sakura-san nodded.
"Fujima-senpai, at this rate, you'll be removed from the starters. Please have that sense of crisis."
"But our game development is based on fast breaks, right? It won't become a set play like earlier, will it?"
"Your movement was completely sealed when two people were on you. It was the same during the Japan National Team, but countermeasures against Katagiri-senpai always start by absolutely crushing the Point Guard."
"In that case, putting Katagiri at Point Guard... huh,"
Sa muttered.
"Of course, it's not just Fujima-senpai's problem. Everyone needs to move and provide passing lanes for Fujima-senpai. Katagiri-senpai has carried that role until now. But if we do that, the burden falls only on senpai."
"So the challenge is... giving the Point Guard options?"
When Akai-kun spoke, Sakura-san nodded.
"What the coach is aiming for is not a team led by Katagiri-senpai, but raising the level of the entire team."
When Sakura-san said that, everyone fell silent.
"It's almost time,"
Sakura-san said, and everyone stood up.
"For now, let's try doing what Sakura said. Sota, you understand, right?"
"Roger that."
"Well, shall we go?"
When Shinji spoke, everyone headed to the court.
On the court, the women's team coach and Coach Higashiyama were talking.
The women's team coach was simply listening to Coach Higashiyama.
When Coach Higashiyama noticed us, he instructed us to continue individual practice.
Coach Higashiyama was lecturing the women's team on various things.
It seemed to be a confirmation of defense.
What is he plotting?
"Katagiri-senpai, concentrate on practice!"
Warned by Sakura-san, I concentrated on practice.
"Everyone, you will do a 5-on-5 with the women's team,"
Coach Higashiyama suddenly announced.
I thought it would be the usual practice.
Two defenders being on me was also usual.
The jump ball was thrown, Kyota passed, and the free Shinji took it. At that moment—
"Defense!!"
the women's team coach shouted.
Is it just my imagination? I feel something strange about the women's team's defense.
One person is marking Shinji. The rest is a normal Zone?
But the positioning is bizarre.
Shinji is also bewildered.
He attempts a breakthrough with a dribble.
They quickly apply a double-team press.
Shinji's feet stopped.
Since I was free, I went to receive the ball from Shinji.
However, a defender cut in between Shinji and me, and the pass couldn't be made.
24 seconds passed.
In basketball, if you don't shoot within 24 seconds, it's a violation and automatically switches to the opponent's attack.
The defense goes with the usual Zone.
The women's team moves freely within the half-court.
While passing and setting screens.
I know this attack.
Because it's the same formation as the Japan National Team.
Murakawa-san, who became free, hits a 3P. We're beaten.
It becomes our attack again.
As soon as we cross the half-line, a mysterious defense suddenly begins.
Even when trying to pass, the female defenders cut into the passing lines.
Sota attempts a breakthrough with a dribble, but instead, he's driven to the end line.
While that was happening, 24 seconds pressed us again.
Peep!
The ten minutes ended.
In the end, the men's team didn't succeed in a single attack.
Far from it, we weren't even allowed to take a single shot.
The women are exhausted after ten minutes.
They probably wore themselves out with the first-time defense and offense.
It can't be helped if they move that much.
"How was it? That defense just now,"
Coach Higashiyama approached.
"What the hell was that!? That defense. It was strangely difficult to play against,"
Sota said.
"Well, there probably aren't many teams in the country that can do that defense for 40 minutes,"
the coach said.
"However, it was exposed just now, wasn't it? How fragile our PG is. And how all of you rely on the PG and don't try to go receive the pass yourselves."
"Did you use it to crush Katagiri?"
Kyota asked.
"No, I set it up to crush the entire team. To make you taste how insufficient your amount of movement is."
"How are we supposed to overcome it?"
"If it's Katagiri-kun, the answer should be visible, shouldn't it?"
the coach said.
I vaguely understood the answer.
Because the women's team was using that answer too.
"If you could do that defense for 40 minutes, you could probably become number one in university basketball in Japan. That's how much stamina it consumes. To overcome it, an amount of movement exceeding that is necessary. I think it will be a good experience for Katagiri-kun too. Because there are definitely countries that use that defense. For example, America."
Opponents I must absolutely defeat for the sake of my goal...
"Katagiri-kun, please answer. The means to counter that defense. An attacking method that requires an amount of movement exceeding that defense."
"...The attacking method the women were using?"
"That's right. If they block the passing lanes, the only way is to create passing lanes with an amount of movement that exceeds them. It might be possible for Katagiri-kun to break through with individual skill, but... if the Point Guard is suppressed, it's out of the question."
However, it's no good if we play relying on the Point Guard. We must go receive the pass ourselves. That kind of play is required. Is that what the coach wants to say?
"Could you teach us the theory of that defense?"
Shinji asked the coach.
"It's nothing difficult. Instead of defending against a player like man-to-man, you mark the ball holder, but the remaining members position themselves between the ball holder and their own mark, constantly blocking the vision of the pass while also erasing the passing lanes. After that, it's about driving them into the corner so they can never pass to the top."
Hearing the theory, it sounds simple, but actually performing the defense must be tough.
"I'm not telling you to memorize it, but there are universities that actually use that defense. If you aim for number one in Japan, you need to overcome it. If you can incorporate it into your own defense, you'll have no enemies."
Number one in Japan, huh.
"Now, the women's break should be ending soon. Will you challenge it again?"
We stood up.
"Well then, shall we begin?"
(2)
"That white-bearded old man. His way of speaking is gentle, but what he's saying is brutal,"
Sota said in the locker room.
"But what the coach is saying makes sense. It's no good just relying on the PG. We have to move ourselves,"
Kyota said.
"Furthermore, we need to strengthen our physical stamina,"
Shinji let out a sigh.
"If we learn that defense, we can aim for number one in Japan, right?"
Yuki said.
"I suppose so."
"How about leaving the attack to Toya and mastering that defense?"
Yuki suggested.
"If we leave the attack to Toya, what do we do when Toya isn't there?"
When Shinji spoke, Yuki said, "That's true."
As expected, overcoming that defense must be the key. Strengthening the Point Guard and raising the overall amount of movement.
The PG alone isn't enough; it will likely become a tactic of passing through the C first. Strengthening the C as well...
"What do you think, Toya?"
Shinji asked.
"I think I'm thinking the same thing as everyone else."
"Meaning?"
"Strengthening our basic tactic, Run and Gun. Specializing in an attacking power that exceeds the points we give up. I think we can't win if we're stopped by the defense."
"You say some harsh things."
"To say something even harsher, the tactic for when the fast break is stopped. I think it's the acquisition of the formation the women were using earlier."
"What's the theory behind that?"
"The theory is simple. Three people, including the ball holder, create a triangle, and the remaining two create another triangle. Pass to the open side. Once the pass is made, move quickly to create the next triangle. Maintain the space between players at a certain position. Pass as quickly as possible... something like that."
"The logic is certainly simple. Though it seems hard to do."
"It means that unless we move that much, we can't break that defense. Conversely, if we can break through that defense, our attack will absolutely be unstoppable."
"A tactic for when the fast break is stopped... certainly, if we have that, we can become stronger. It seems it'll be a battle of stamina after all,"
Shinji laughed.
"I think everyone still has room to grow. I think today's practice made us reconfirm that,"
I said, and everyone nodded.
"Well, shall we take another bath and head home?"
Sa said as I was leaving the locker room.
"The coach seems to want you as PG, but..."
I shook my head.
"I don't think I'll take a risk that drops our attacking power. I think it was just to change everyone's awareness."
"I thought if you entered as PG, I could enter as SG,"
Sa laughed, saying that.
"I think there's also the option of Sa as PG."
"Depends on the coach's whim, I guess."
"That's right."
"It seems the new coach isn't just a figurehead."
Sa was laughing.
Will the local university become strong again?
I'm starting to look forward to the spring tournament.
(3)
"Kazu-san, it's morning."
"Yeah, I'm waking up."
While Kana is making breakfast, I get ready and change.
After eating breakfast, I put on a suit and take my bag.
"Kazu-san, your tie is crooked."
Kana fixed it for me.
"Well then, good luck on your first day of work."
Kana said that and saw me off.
It's not that far to the company.
I park the car in the company parking lot and enter the venue.
There were many new employees.
Then, the entrance ceremony began.
After receiving gracious words from the higher-ups, we were made to sing the company song that had been handed out in advance.
The first three months for new employees are a training period.
After that, they are assigned to various departments.
We were taught about the company's organizational structure, management philosophy, company rules, and so on.
The first day ended with that.
I was asked by the group I was with to go for a light drink since it was the first day, but I declined, saying "I have a wife," and went home.
"Welcome home~"
Was she preparing dinner? It smells good.
"Would you like to take a bath first?"
"I think I will."
After taking a bath and heading to the dining room, dinner and a canned beer were placed there.
"How was the first day?"
"Since it's still the training period, I haven't been allowed to do any actual work."
"That sounds tough."
Once the meal was finished, Kana began cleaning up.
I tried to help, but...
"This is my job,"
I was declined.
Kana quit her part-time job.
Or rather, it would be more correct to say I made her quit.
Since I was becoming a full-time employee, I thought there was no need for Kana to work.
In exchange, Kana devoted herself to the housework.
"Ah, this Friday I'll be late because of the cherry blossom viewing."
"The Watanabe group's cherry blossom viewing is Saturday, isn't it? Is that okay?"
"It's fine, no problem."
"If you say so."
Once the cleaning was finished, Kana took a bath while doing the laundry.
After finishing the laundry, she watched TV while ironing.
I watched TV while drinking beer.
Once Kana's ironing was finished, the two of us watched TV together.
Kana occasionally looked at her smartphone while watching TV.
Then, before the date changed, we headed to the bedroom.
"Thank you for your hard work today."
"Thank you."
"Well then, good night."
Kana said that and fell asleep.
I spent a week like that.
(4)
"Did everyone get a drink~?"
Watanabe-kun said.
"Well then, let's do our best for the first semester. Cheers!"
We had a drink while enjoying the night sakura.
The snacks were bento boxes made by the women.
It seemed we were divided into several groups.
My group consisted of Keisuke, Katagiri-kun, Tosaka-san, the Tada couple, the Watanabe couple, Sakura-san, Hiyama-kun, and Shiratori-san.
Shiratori-san came to my side with orange juice in her hand.
"Can I sit here?"
"I don't mind."
Shiratori-san sat next to me.
"Is it okay? Leaving your husband candidate alone."
Saying that, I looked at Hiyama-kun.
Hiyama-kun was sitting next to Sakura-san, having a pleasant conversation with everyone.
"Yes, because I was rejected,"
Shiratori-san answered curtly.
"Rejected? But it's an arranged marriage decided by parents, right? You can't separate easily, can you?"
"It's a simple matter of saying that I refused."
There was something I was curious about.
"Was your arrangement decided from the time you were born?"
"No, he was a partner found haphazardly when I turned 18."
Haphazardly...
"They probably wanted to maintain appearances. They probably wanted a partner with a certain status."
"And that led to Hiyama-kun?"
"It seems so."
Shiratori-san spoke flatly. She spoke as if it were someone else's business. That girl spoke to me.
"Miyuki-san... was it? Miyuki-san, how did you feel?"
"Eh?"
"I know the story. That you had an arrangement with the husband next to me from the time you were born."
"That's right. If you know that much, I don't think there's anything to talk about."
I told Shiratori-san about the process that led to my marriage with Keisuke.
She listened while nodding.
"I see... the long years allowed emotions to grow."
"Before I noticed, I had those emotions."
Did she become interested in romantic feelings?
The answer was no.
"It's impossible for me. There's too little time."
"That's not true, you know?"
The one who said that was Tosaka-san, who was next to Shiratori-san.
"There are times when people fall in love even in a short period. It's sudden, and no one knows. Miyuki-san just took time to notice."
"Are you saying I might fall in love with Hiyama-san? I heard Tosaka-san is smart, but maybe you're not actually that smart? Are you telling me to fall in love with Hiyama-san?"
"U-ugh..."
"I thought Shiratori-san's insight was amazing, but your perspective is surprisingly narrow. Airi hasn't said a single word to Hiyama-san, you know?"
Katagiri-kun, who was next to Tosaka-san, said that.
"Are you trying to tell me to like someone else?"
"I'm not telling you to. That's Shiratori-san's will. No one can force it."
"Are you saying I might come to like someone?"
"I won't deny the possibility."
"Unfortunately, the possibility is zero. You understand, don't you? The inside of my heart."
"Can't be said for sure, can it?"
"Why?"
"I'll intentionally not say. You yourself don't want to admit it, right?"
Katagiri-kun seemed confident.
Does he have some basis for this conviction?
"The basis is Miyuki-san over there. Miyuki-san was the same as you at first. But once the switch was flipped, she rolled right along in an instant."
He's using me as an example.
I gave a bitter smile.
"It's okay, Shiratori-san. We'll take responsibility for finding a partner for Shiratori-san. Shiratori-san's happiness is..."
"Why can you say that falling in love is happiness? There are plenty of things that are better left unknown, aren't there?"
When Watanabe-kun said that, Shiratori-san denied it.
"Are you that afraid of knowing?"
Katagiri-kun said with the corners of his mouth raised.
"Rather, I want to know. If such happiness is waiting. But I..."
"Aren't you currently holding something you thought you could never obtain?"
When Katagiri-kun said that, Shiratori-san fell silent.
She seemed to be thinking about something.
"If you say you'll teach me, I shall humbly accept. Will you really teach me?"
"We aren't gods. Forcing emotions on others is just ego."
"Then, what will you do for me?"
"We'll just create the trigger. The rest is up to Shiratori-san, isn't it?"
"I suppose so."
Was Katagiri-kun satisfied with Shiratori-san's answer? He turned the topic to me.
"By the way, Miyuki-san is apparently amazing. I heard that even though only a week has passed, you've already been allowed to perform surgery?"
"It's not that big a deal. It was just an appendectomy. Any resident would be allowed to do that."
"Still, doing it in a week is amazing,"
Keisuke said.
"My father was happy too. That an excellent surgeon has joined."
"You're amazing, Miyuki-san."
"Thank you, Shiratori-san."
Shiratori-san's face was expressionless.
To make this girl have romantic feelings. Is such a thing possible?
In my case, they had already sprouted.
For this girl, she's at the level of being happy that she finally made a friend. It's even doubtful if she's happy.
However, just as he made me realize it, Katagiri-kun and the others will probably pull it off, right?
I'll decide to watch over it without interfering.
I'll pray that in this season of dancing cherry blossoms, she can experience a love that she can remember.
(5)
On the way back, I returned with Hiyama-san.
"How was it? Do you think you can get along with the Watanabe group?"
"It doesn't seem like it'll be boring."
It seems there are events all year round.
"Next, at the end of the month, we're doing a send-off party for Toya and a new member welcome party,"
Watanabe-san had said.
I don't know if that will be fun or not.
Today, I tried talking with Miyuki-san.
Because I thought our circumstances were similar.
I wondered how she felt, so I tried talking to her.
She's a completely different person from me.
Miyuki-san said that by the time she noticed, she was in love.
Parents decided. He's nothing more than a matchmaking partner.
That matchmaking partner also seems to have someone he likes.
The current Sakura-san he's dating.
There's no particular problem with that.
I proposed to do him a favor and make it seem as if I had refused.
But he stopped me.
And I was introduced to the Watanabe group.
The Watanabe group is a mysterious group.
They say love always comes true.
A mysterious group said to have the blessing of matchmaking.
Such a group says they will introduce a man to me.
Will it go that easily?
I've never once been interested in something called love.
I barely had any interaction with others.
In the midst of that, Katagiri-san appeared.
The thing I wanted but couldn't obtain.
He hit it spot on, and said it was right here.
Companions.
What is that?
Is it really such a good thing?
He says
that noticing it is up to me.
What I'm interested in is something called happiness.
What is happiness?
Is it really such a good thing?
Exhausted from wandering in pursuit, I now look at the stars.
"Your smartphone is ringing."
It's probably from her.
He operates the smartphone.
I'm not jealous or anything.
In the first place, I have no affection for him.
I was just interested.
In the thing that makes him obsessed.
"Sorry."
"Don't worry about it."
"The story about the friend I mentioned before..."
"?"
Hiyama-san suddenly started talking.
"Was that your first love?"
"No."
I denied it instantly.
"I see..."
He said that and fell silent.
Then we arrived at his house.
"Thanks for today. Well, see you next time."
"Yes, see you."
With that, I returned home.
There's no one at home.
Only the caretaker comes at a fixed time.
I'm not bored. Because my smartphone keeps ringing.
I was interested in people who get excited over trivial conversations. Interested?
The first thing I've ever been interested in since I was born.
I read them somehow.
I take a shower and get into bed.
The more beautiful the dream, the more the sky upon waking is a rusted blue.
I finish breakfast with the tea and bread I bought.
I hadn't noticed.
That the pendulum of fate had begun to shake me.
That someday, a person who finds a single ray of light for me will appear.
Sunday.
Today, the smartphone rings again.
(6)
"Hey, Toya-kun?"
"What's up?"
We are returning, sitting in the back seat of a taxi.
Today, Airi only drank a bit for the sake of socializing.
"Is Shiratori-san going to be okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ugh..."
I understood the meaning Airi wanted to convey.
"She'll absolutely be fine. I told you I found a clue to the solution, right? It might take time, though."
I've also put in an order with Watanabe-kun. A partner for Shiratori-san.
"I don't understand what that 'clue to the solution' is!"
"Shiratori-san is shut inside walls that have been built in multiple layers."
"Yeah."
"I'll just smash those walls down."
"How?"
"Getting her to come out on her own would be the orthodox way, but this time I'll resort to strong-arm measures. Unlike Miyuki-san's case, she's stubborn."
"Strong-arm measures?"
"Literally. I'll smash the walls with a hammer."
"Ugh... I don't understand."
I whisper softly in Airi's ear.
"If you do that, won't the walls just get thicker?"
"I think Shiratori-san definitely won't come out unless I take such strong-arm measures."
Even if the thick walls are repaired, it's fine, as long as a single ray of light through the crack reaches her.
"I always think this, but Toya-kun, why are you so sensitive to other people's love, yet my feelings don't reach you?"
"I've noticed. For example..."
I whisper in Airi's ear.
"...Toya-kun, you lewd!"
Bonk
Finally, the first semester begins.