With Wu Yufei's recommendation and introduction, Naito Junko's application to join the basketball team as its manager naturally went through without a hitch.
For one thing, Coach Harada genuinely needed an assistant to help him handle miscellaneous tasks.
For another, Coach Harada had vaguely noticed that something was off with Wu Yufei.
He had long regarded Wu Yufei as the key figure in the rise of his coaching career, so he readily agreed to a few simple requests from this little goldmine.
If this girl joining the team could make even Wu Yufei alone work harder in practice and games—not to mention the entire team—then it was a guaranteed profit for Coach Harada. What reason did he have to refuse?
And so, over the next two days, Junko officially took part in the basketball team's daily training as the team manager, actively interacting with the players.
Junko was also very smart. She quickly became familiar with everything a team manager needed to do and handled it all remarkably well.
As Junko's older brother, Naito Tetsuya watched the whole process. Apart from admiring Wu Yufei's series of moves in his heart, he also fulfilled his earlier promise to Wu Yufei: he would not openly support him, but he would not stand in his way either.
Wu Yufei also kept his head on straight. It was true that he had feelings for Junko, but none of his actions would interfere with the team's normal training or his own.
At most, he tried to find time to chat with Junko, create chances for the two of them to practice together, and teach her basketball hand in hand outside of group training.
He would not affect the team's training, nor would he do anything inappropriate. What could anyone else say?
Two days passed quickly, and Saturday morning arrived.
All the Miuradai students were enjoying their weekend, but every member of the basketball team had gathered at the school gates early in the morning before boarding a bus bound for Takezono High School.
The bus had been provided by the school. Miuradai was, after all, a somewhat renowned private school, and it could afford this much.
Apart from the basketball team's fifteen players, Coach Harada, and team manager Junko—a total of seventeen people—there were also two members of Miuradai High School's News Department on board, there to conduct interviews with the team.
It was Miuradai High School's first game of the new school year. Although it was merely an insignificant friendly, the News Department still attached importance to it, specifically sending people to cover the team and write an article for next week's school paper.
"Hello, Yufei. May I interview you?"
Takei Yumi, the vice president of the News Department and a second-year student, came over to Wu Yufei with her notebook in hand. She glanced at the empty seat beside him and asked with a smile.
As the team's acknowledged ace and cornerstone, Wu Yufei enjoyed the privilege of a seat to himself, just like Murasame Kengo.
"Of course. Please have a seat, Takei."
Wu Yufei replied with a smile as he picked up his luggage from the neighboring seat and placed it by his feet.
"Thank you."
Takei Yumi sat down, took out her fountain pen, and officially began the interview.
"Regarding Takezono High School, which we'll soon be visiting, do you know anything about them, Yufei?"
Takei Yumi asked her first question.
Wu Yufei raised his head and thought for a moment before answering, "I know a little. For example, they're an established top-eight team in the prefecture and have reached the final four before. But with all their third-years having retired this year, Takezono's strength has definitely taken a major hit. Still, I heard their new first-year, Oda Ryusei, is a pretty capable player. I'm looking forward to playing against him."
"It seems you did quite a bit of homework beforehand, Yufei. To have such an attitude toward even a friendly is truly admirable."
Takei Yumi had not expected Wu Yufei to know this much about Takezono. She was slightly surprised, but quickly recovered and praised him before continuing the interview.
"Then for this friendly, what do you think our team's chances of winning are?"
Wu Yufei smiled. "I wouldn't dare say one hundred percent. That would be a little too arrogant. Let's be modest and say ninety-nine percent."
"Uh..."
Wu Yufei's sudden joke left Takei Yumi unsure how to respond. In the end, she could only laugh and say, "Yufei, you really are funny. You're that confident?"
"Of course. Our goal this year is to defeat Kainan and wash away last year's humiliation. If we can't even deal with a mere Takezono, wouldn't that be too embarrassing?"
"Well said!"
Murasame Kengo, the team captain seated in front, could not help responding when he heard Wu Yufei's spirited words.
"That was certainly an inspiring statement. It seems we can look forward to a wonderful, decisive victory today. Next..."
After that, Takei Yumi asked several more questions about Wu Yufei personally, such as when he had started playing basketball, why he liked the sport, why he was so good at it, and why he had come to Miuradai rather than Kainan or Shoyo.
Wu Yufei considered each question briefly before giving a gentle and appropriate answer.
After all, Wu Yufei dreamed of playing in the NBA someday. When that time came, he would surely have to deal with all kinds of media, so he did not dislike Takei Yumi's interview. On the contrary, he regarded it as important experience.
Takei Yumi likely knew Wu Yufei's standing within the team, so she had prepared quite a few questions for this interview. In any case, there was still some time before they reached Takezono High School.
A few minutes later, after apparently finishing all her prepared questions, Takei Yumi raised her head in satisfaction.
"Then please allow me to ask one final question. It is also the question many girls at our school care about most: Yufei, do you have a girlfriend?"
Huh?!
The instant Takei Yumi finished asking that question, a gaze shot directly toward Wu Yufei.
"Uh... will the answer to this question be printed in the school paper too?"
Wu Yufei scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed.
"As for that, if you personally do not want it published, I won't publish it. And if you want to keep it confidential, you don't have to answer."
Takei Yumi smiled.
"It's not really something that needs to be kept secret. I don't have a girlfriend right now."
Wu Yufei ultimately gave his answer.
At that response, a flash of light flickered beneath Takei Yumi's gold-rimmed glasses.
"Is that so? That really is good news for many girls at our school. After all, that means everyone has a fair chance to compete."
"Does that include you too, Takei?"
Wu Yufei could not resist teasing her again.
Swish, swish, swish!!
This time, it was not just one gaze. More than a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward the two of them at once. After all, that was some seriously explosive gossip.
As the vice president of the News Department and one of the school's acknowledged campus beauties, Takei Yumi was the dream goddess of many boys at Miuradai High School. Naturally, that included members of the basketball team.
"Oh? Are you hoping I'll join the ranks of girls pursuing you, Yufei?"
A meaningful smile appeared on Takei Yumi's face.
"Come on, come on, I was just kidding. Just kidding."
Although this was only their first conversation, Wu Yufei could tell that Takei Yumi was absolutely the strong, capable career-woman type. She was as beautiful and captivating as a rose, but she also had thorns just as sharp.
Simply put, her looks were certainly attractive, and her figure was incredibly alluring, but she was not Wu Yufei's type.
"I see. What a pity."
Takei Yumi deliberately put on a lonely expression.
In an instant, Wu Yufei felt several murderous glares bore into him.
These guys really did not bother hiding what they were thinking.
"Takei, I hope you still won't publish the answer to that last question in the school paper."
Wu Yufei spoke up.
"Why not?"
Takei Yumi asked in return.
"First, I don't want something like this to affect the basketball team's normal training. Besides, there's already someone I like, so..."
Before he could finish, Wu Yufei realized he seemed to have said too much and hurriedly stopped himself.
But Takei Yumi had heard every word of what he had said.
He already had someone he liked?
"That's truly terrible news for all the girls at school who are secretly in love with you right now."
Takei Yumi teased, and Wu Yufei could only respond with an awkward smile.
"Can you tell me which girl is so fortunate? To be liked by our school's big star."
"Sorry, I can't say that. For now, these are only my feelings, and I don't want to trouble her because of them."
"Yufei, you really are considerate."
Takei Yumi put away her pen and closed her notebook.
"Then, in respect of your wishes, let's treat that final topic as nothing more than gossip from me as both a girl and a member of the News Department. I won't print it in the school paper, so please rest assured."
"Thank you very much."
After finishing her interview with Wu Yufei, Takei Yumi went over to Murasame Kengo to continue interviewing him.
Wu Yufei wiped the faint sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath.
As for Naito Junko, seated on the other side, she began to overthink again.
Yufei said he has someone he likes? Who is it? Could it... be me?
"From my experience, the way Yufei looks at you definitely isn't how he looks at an ordinary classmate!"
Her mother's teasing words replayed over and over in the girl's mind.
It can't be me... can it?
Quietly, Junko glanced in Wu Yufei's direction again.
"!!"
At that moment, Junko discovered that Wu Yufei was looking at her too, and he even smiled and waved at her.
That immediately made Junko withdraw her gaze. She did not dare meet Wu Yufei's eyes again, instead turning to look out the window in an attempt to calm her racing heart.
A few minutes later, Takei Yumi finished interviewing Murasame Kengo. As she walked past Naito Junko and looked at Junko's face, a sly gleam suddenly flashed across her lenses.
I see. The basketball team really is an interesting place.
"Excuse me, may I sit here?"
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