Haruko sat on the ground with her knees drawn to her chest, her back against the hoop pole. Her fingers curled around her knees as she stared at the court.
Why won't they understand?
She lowered her head.
I can't be like Sachiko...
Her grip tightened around her knees.
Then... what am I supposed to do? Are my dreams not enough?
Haruko's mind returned to an earlier moment that day.
"Haruko."
She turned toward Maeda.
"Yes, Coach Maeda?"
"I'd like to have a word with you. Come with me."
Maeda turned and walked away. Haruko followed, her sneakers squeaking against the floor.
They arrived at a small office. Maeda stepped inside and sat down in her chair while Haruko closed the door behind them.
"Now then..."
Maeda folded her arms.
"Tell me, Haruko. Do you know why I made you captain?"
"Um..."
Haruko touched her chin and glanced aside.
"I'm not sure."
"I gave you that position because Aika and I saw something in you that we didn't see in anyone else on the team."
"Captain Aika..."
Haruko's mouth fell slightly open.
"You're hardworking. You don't give up until you've accomplished what you set out to do."
Maeda stood and rested a hand on Haruko's shoulder.
"Today's game was a great example of that. You scored more points than anyone expected, myself included. You even made a three-pointer."
Haruko's eyes widened.
"What? Really? I... made a three-pointer?"
Maeda nodded.
"Yes. And I want you to work on that every day at practice. I have a feeling it'll take us a long way."
She smiled.
"You were amazing out there today, Haruko."
Haruko stood still. Her fingers curled against her palms before she straightened her back and bowed.
"Thank you so much, Coach. I'll keep working hard!"
Later that night, Haruko turned off the shower and stepped out of the stall, a towel wrapped around her head.
After drying off, she changed into her pajamas and headed to the dining room.
Her father and mother sat across from her, with Sachiko seated nearby.
Haruko picked up her chopsticks and looked at her parents.
"Mom, Dad."
She smiled.
Her father glanced up from his plate, his expression unchanged.
"What is it, dear?" her mother asked.
"My coach said I'm doing really well!"
Haruko leaned forward, resting her arms on the table.
"I'm starting to score more points now, too. So, I was wondering if—"
"There you go again."
Her father set down his chopsticks. He clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them.
"Listen, Haruko."
He drew a slow breath.
"I think it's time for you to quit basketball."
"Huh...?"
Haruko's fingers tightened around her chopsticks.
"...What?"
Her voice wavered.
"But I've shown you results! I've gotten so much better..."
She lowered her head, staring at the food on her plate.
"So why? Why would you even say that?"
Her mother reached across the table and lightly touched her arm.
"Sweetheart, please lower your voice. There's no need to shout at the table."
Haruko swallowed. Her hands trembled beneath the table as she pulled back from her mother's touch.
Her father exhaled and rubbed his temples.
"A young woman born into a wealthy family with our status shouldn't be doing something as physically demanding as basketball."
He looked directly at her.
"It's completely unacceptable."
Haruko's chopsticks stopped moving.
"You keep playing, but all you're doing is embarrassing yourself and bringing shame to our family name."
"So that's it..."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"You only care about your business."
She curled her fingers into fists beneath the table.
"This is the last time I'll say this. I'm telling you for your own good."
Her father picked up his chopsticks again.
"Quit basketball and focus on something useful. Join the student council like your sister. Take up proper hobbies, like cooking or art. Find something respectable to do with your time."
"I'm not like Sachiko!"
Haruko slammed her hands against the table, her eyes squeezing shut.
Sachiko's mouth fell open.
"I love basketball! I've been playing since I was a kid! I'm finally getting better, and I'm not going to give it up for anything!"
Haruko opened her eyes and stared at her father.
"Not even for you!"
Her father didn't move.
"It's time for you to grow up," he said.
"Dear, that was too far," her mother said.
Haruko's gaze shifted toward Sachiko. Her eyes glistened.
Sachiko's lips parted, but she lowered her gaze to her plate.
Haruko's breath caught in her throat.
She shoved her chair back. Its legs scraped loudly against the floor before she rushed out of the dining room.
Her footsteps pounded down the hallway.
She reached her bedroom, slammed the door shut, and turned the lock. Then she stumbled toward her bed and dropped onto the mattress, pressing her face into the pillow.
Her fingers dug into the fabric.
Her shoulders shook as she tried to keep her sobs quiet.
Why?
She squeezed her eyes shut.
I hate this...
Half an hour passed.
Haruko lifted her face from the pillow. Her cheeks were damp, her eyelids swollen, and her throat hurt whenever she swallowed.
She wiped her face with the back of her hand and looked toward the basketball resting in the corner of her room.
Her gaze lingered on it before shifting to the phone beside her.
The memory faded.
Haruko rubbed her red eyes as the cool night air brushed against her damp cheeks.
Why... why do they want to take away the one thing that makes me happy?
"Takahashi."
A voice called out from nearby.
Haruko's shoulders stiffened. She lifted her head and looked toward the sound.
Tetsuo approached with his hands tucked into his hoodie pockets. He stopped in front of her, glancing down at her before looking toward the basketball court.
"You actually came."
"Yeah," Tetsuo said.
He pulled one hand out of his pocket and scratched his cheek.
"But I forgot to bring my ball, so... we'll have to share."
Tetsuo looked down at her face.
Haruko quickly turned away and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"Then why are you crying?"
Tetsuo's voice lowered.
Haruko hesitated before burying her face in her knees.
"Say... have you ever loved something? Something that's really important to you? But no matter how much you love it, everyone around you just wants to take it away..."
Tetsuo remained silent for a moment. His gaze stayed on her before he shook his head slightly.
"No."
"But I get it. When something or someone really matters to you, you want to protect them."
A gust of wind swept across the court, ruffling Tetsuo's hair.
Haruko slowly lifted her head. Her eyes widened as she looked at him.
The corners of Haruko's lips lifted slightly.
"I see. Thanks. That actually makes me feel... a little better."
She nudged a loose pebble across the court with the toe of her sneaker.
After a moment, she stood and brushed the dust off her shorts.
"Now that that's out of the way..."
She stretched her arms above her head, then turned toward Tetsuo. A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
"Can you... teach me how to do a layup? If you don't mind?"
Tetsuo tilted his head. His fingers twitched.
"That's so cool! Can you teach me, Tetsu-kun?"
A girl's voice echoed in his mind.
A small girl stood before him, her hands clasped behind her back. She leaned forward with a wide smile.
Tetsuo's fingers curled slightly.
What was that...?
He looked down at his hand, slowly opening and closing it.
"Kawaguchi?"
Tetsuo looked up.
Haruko held the basketball out toward him.
He raised his hands, and she passed him the ball.
Tetsuo walked toward the hoop and tossed the ball off the backboard. It dropped through the net with a swish.
He caught it as it fell.
"To make a layup, you get two steps after picking up your dribble. Take any more, and it's traveling."
He pointed toward the backboard.
"When you're close to the rim, aim for the rectangle. It'll help you get the ball in."
Tetsuo passed her the ball.
Haruko took a deep breath and adjusted her grip.
"All right. Looks simple enough."
She dribbled toward the basket, her sneakers squeaking against the court.
One... two.
She took her final step, jumped, and flicked the ball toward the backboard.
The ball struck the rectangle and dropped through the net.
Swish!
Haruko landed on both feet and watched the ball bounce across the court.
"Whoa! That was a whole lot easier than shooting!"
She turned toward Tetsuo with a broad smile.
"Thank you."
"Our matches are coming up fast, so I want to be prepared."
Tetsuo nodded.