CH 13

After parting with Sawa chan, I went to look at the basketball club. Kou also seemed to want to join the basketball club and came to the trial.

We played a practice game among the first-year students who wanted to join, but I wasn’t motivated at all. It’s partly because those around me aren’t very good, but fundamentally I’m a person who can’t work hard unless I have a goal.

A second year senior who was watching our game spoke to the person next to him in a very loud voice.

“Oh, here comes women’s basketball. A relationship between man and woman in basketball is the best. Seriously, there are a lot of pretty girls.”

“Seriously.”

I heard voices like that.  

I started playing basketball maybe because Sawa chan was playing it too. She’s wearing her hair tied up. She’s too cute…….

When I was thinking about that, my eyes met with Sawa chan’s. I felt my heart skip a beat. It’s wonderful….

Sawa chan looked around as if she was wary of something, smiled and then waved her hand.

……Watch me, Sawa chan.

“Pass, give it to me !”

I shouted. My friends unconsciously pass the ball under my pressure. The ball hits the ground in rhythm. I took a long breath and then speed up.

He starts dribbling to slip past the enemy. A dribble that gives Sho no time to catch his breath.

And soon he reaches the bottom of the ring and lays it up. The ball went into the ring as if it was sucked in.

“H-he’s…..good. Maybe he’ll be the man to carry our number seven in the future.”

“……I bet, he’ll be in the starting lineup.”

The seniors were saying such things, but it didn’t matter. I’m worried about whether or not Sawa chan was watching me.

When I looked at the women’s basketball, Sawa chan turned to me and made a fist bump pose. She smiled cutely.

I tried to smile at Sawa chan refreshingly, but I had to move to defense as soon as the ball came.

“Don’t interrupt my happy time !”

The ball then went around me, then Kou and my team dominated and won. When I came to my senses, the women’s basketball practice had started, and unfortunately I couldn’t talk to her.

I was about to leave in a daze when a third-year senior started talking to me. He was taller than me and a good-looking senior. His number is 4. Probably the captain.

“What club are you thinking of joining? Are you thinking of joining the basketball team?”

“I would be lying if I said I had no intention of joining. But I’m going to do my best and apply for the position of manager for the women’s basketball team.”

When I gave a very serious answer, the handsome senior laughed out loud.

“Ahahaha ! I like you ! I’m Kariya Sousuke. I’ll be waiting for you anytime.”

“I see. Got it.”

“Yup ! I’m looking forward to it…”

Then he slapped me on the back. I didn’t want him to get his hopes up. So I left the basketball club as if to escape.

I wonder if I should wait for Sawa chan to leave with her teammates, but I didn’t want to bother her if she was going home with them.

As I walked towards the school gate, I saw a blonde girl, Nakao san, walking alone while reading a book.

“Nakao san !”

“Oh, Natsume kun. Have you finished your club activities? Shall we go home together?”

Saying so, Nakao san puts her book away in her bag. In the evening when the sun was about to set, Sho was having an experience of youth while going home with a girl.