June 25th, Shohoku Basketball Gymnasium.
"What?! Kawamoto- nii is going to the upperclassmen's team? That's despicable!"
Hanamichi Sakuragi's loud voice almost lifted the roof off the gymnasium.
He pointed at Kawamoto Kazuki, who was being dragged towards the senior students' group by Ryota Miyagi, and protested loudly with his face red and neck thick.
"That's right!"
Koichiro Nango in, jumping up and down, eager to fight alongside Kawamoto: " Kawamoto is clearly a first-year student! Why is he on Akagi's side? He should be here with us! Miyagi -senpai, you're too cunning!"
With one hand around Kawamoto and the other picking at his ear, Ryota Miyagi gave him a look that said, "What nonsense are you spouting? Huh? Didn't you two always brag about being Kanagawa's best center and rebounding geniuses? What, are you scared now?"
"Who, who's afraid!"
Sakuragi pointed at Kaede Rukawa: "Even that stinky fox isn't afraid, so why would I, a genius, be afraid? I'm worried that you upperclassmen won't be able to touch the ball and will feel bad."
Kaede Rukawa, holding the ball, stood to the side and gave Sakuragi a cold glance. "Idiot."
I don't know who they're talking about.
Hisashi Mitsui walked over, grinning, and put his arm around Miyagi's shoulder, saying to Sakuragi and Nango, "That's right, young people should dare to take on challenges. Besides, you lower-graders have Kaede Rukawa, a scoring machine, Sakuragi, a rebounding monster, and Nango, this energetic kid. Your lineup is quite balanced."
"As for us upperclassmen, Kogure and Kakuta really need support."
He winked at Kogure and Kakuta, who could only manage a wry smile.
Takenori Akagi coughed, making the final decision. "Alright, stop arguing. Kawamoto isn't playing today."
He looked at Kawamoto, his tone unusually tinged with helplessness. "Your skill level is indeed... not quite right for intra-team matches."
Kawamoto Kazuki remained silent throughout, only nodding calmly.
He walked to the sidelines, picked up a basketball, and began to practice dribbling in silence.
He was ostracized, and the reasons were so compelling that they were irrefutable.
The game was over the moment he stepped onto the field.
Therefore, the team roster for the intra-team competition was finalized:
Senior Team: Takenori Akagi, Hisashi Mitsui, Ryota Miyagi, Kiminobu Kogure, Satoru Kakuta.
Lower Grades Team: Hanamichi Sakuragi, Kaede Rukawa, Koichiro Nango, Yasuharu Yasuda, Tetsushi Shiozaki.
The match is about to begin, and on the sidelines, Ayako and Haruko are helping to take notes.
Ayako glanced at Kawamoto, who was dribbling the ball alone on the sidelines, nudged Haruko beside her, and whispered, "Hey, Haruko, this is a rare opportunity, go ask him."
"What... what is it, Ayako- senpai?"
Haruko's face flushed slightly, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the red figure.
What else can I ask?
Ayako smiled slyly and lowered her voice, "Those girls in my class are driving me crazy. They keep asking me every day if Kawamoto has a girlfriend, what kind of girl he likes, and what his contact information is—I'm practically a matchmaker as his manager!"
"Go and find out for me quickly."
Haruko's face flushed even more, her fingers twisting together. "I... a lot of girls in my class have asked me to find out... and... and asking directly about this isn't really appropriate..."
"What's wrong with that! Fine, I can't do anything with you, I'll go ask myself."
Ayako pulled Haruko up, and the two walked over to Kawamoto's side.
" Kawamoto- kun, you're practicing very diligently."
Ayako greeted him with a smile.
Kawamoto stopped dribbling, looked at them, and nodded. " Ayako- senpai, Haruko- kun."
"That----"
Ayako cleared her throat and decided to get straight to the point. " Kawamoto- kun, do you have a girlfriend?"
Kawamoto was visibly taken aback, seemingly not expecting to be asked that question, and then shook his head. "No."
I don't want to think about these things right now.
Ayako and Haruko exchanged a glance, and a look of "I knew it" flashed in Ayako's eyes.
Haruko inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt embarrassed by it.
Ayako then asked, her tone becoming more serious. "So—what is Kawamoto's dream? Is it to become the best high school basketball player in Japan? Like Kaede Rukawa?"
Kawamoto shook his head again almost without hesitation, his gaze falling on his teammates who had already begun running on the court, his eyes filled with pure joy. "No. I never thought about becoming number one. As long as I can keep playing, I'm very happy."
This simple yet sincere answer startled Ayako slightly, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
In this competitive world where everyone chases after being number one and the strongest, it's rare to find someone who so purely enjoys the joy of basketball itself.
Remembering her own dream, she said earnestly, " Kawamoto- kun, your idea is really great."
"My dream is to become a professional basketball agent! You're such a great player, if you ever become a professional basketball player, you absolutely have to hire me as your agent! It's a deal!"
Kawamoto looked into Ayako's sparkling eyes, nodded, and said with a promise, "Yes, definitely."
The atmosphere was just right. Ayako gave Haruko a look that it was her turn, and then pretended to go get her notebook, taking a few steps away.
Haruko mustered her courage, looked up at Kawamoto, her face still flushed.
" Haruko -san."
Kawamoto spoke first, he hesitated for a moment as if choosing his words, and looked at Haruko with clear eyes, asking, "Excuse me, do you have feelings for Rukawa -kun?"
Haruko was surprised that he would ask this so suddenly, and so directly!
Instantly, her face turned even redder, like a ripe Apple.
My heart started pounding wildly, almost leaping out of my throat.
Why did you suddenly ask that, Kawamoto- Kawamoto?
Could it be that he—he has feelings for me?
This thought, like a fawn, raced wildly through her mind.
Kaede Rukawa is really great, he's both handsome and amazing!
But Kawamoto is even more amazing, and----
And he seems more reliable, even though he doesn't talk much.
Oh my god, what should I do if he confesses his feelings now?
Will you agree?
Isn't that too fast?
But----
Seeing Haruko suddenly turn red to her ears, her eyes filled with panic and confusion.
Kawamoto seemed to misunderstand her reaction, thinking that he had asked too abruptly and embarrassed the girl.
He rarely showed a hint of trouble, he sighed softly, and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Haruko- san, I was too direct. I just—don't know how to say it."
He sighed!
He said he didn't know how to say it!
Haruko's heart was pounding in her chest, and her mind was already uncontrollably playing out various shoujo manga scenarios.
Is the next thing he's going to say, "Please go out with me"?
Oh my god, I'm going to faint!
However, Kawamoto's next words were like a sudden bolt of lightning, instantly shattering all of Haruko's rosy fantasies.
It struck a chord deep within her, a place that had never been so clearly illuminated before.
"I just simply feel..."
Kawamoto's voice was calm and clear as he looked at the red-haired boy on the court who was Akagi battling Akagi for position and shouting loudly, "In Rukawa -kun's eyes, there is only basketball. Basketball is everything to him, his goal, and his entire world. That's pure, and that's good."
Haruko froze, then subconsciously followed Kawamoto's gaze to Kaede Rukawa.
Kaede Rukawa had just completed a beautiful layup, landing expressionlessly with sharp eyes searching for the next opportunity.
Indeed, it seems that his world consists only of basketball and his opponents.
"But Sakuragi is different," Kawamoto continued.
Sakuragi?
Haruko was even more confused.
Why bring up Sakuragi- kun all of a sudden?
Kawamoto paused, seemingly searching for the most accurate expression.
His tone remained calm, yet carried a penetrating insight. "I can sense that Sakuragi certainly loves basketball, and his passion and effort for it are perhaps purer and more intense than anyone else's. But—"
He turned his head and looked at Haruko again, his eyes clear and bright. "If one day, I had to choose between basketball and you, I believe Sakuragi would choose you without hesitation."