The alarm buzzed sharply.
Tetsuo groaned, reached out, and silenced it.
"Three o'clock," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Still drowsy, he staggered into the kitchen. The faint hum of the refrigerator filled the quiet apartment. He poured himself a glass of cold water and drank it down before brushing his teeth.
He pulled on his joggers and a dark hoodie.
Now, where's that basketball…? he thought as he tied his shoelaces.
He rummaged through the hallway closet, pushing aside an old umbrella and a few crumpled bags. Eventually, his fingers brushed against the ball tucked into a dusty corner.
He pulled it free.
The rubber felt dry and slightly cracked beneath his fingers.
Tetsuo tossed it into the air twice, catching it each time.
He stopped and held it against his palm.
Then he released a slow breath.
Before heading out, Tetsuo peeked into his younger sister's room. The door creaked faintly as he opened it.
Usagi was curled up beneath her blanket, one arm dangling over the side of the bed.
Still asleep.
Tetsuo paused for a moment, then quietly pulled the door back until it was nearly closed.
In the kitchen, he scribbled a quick note and stuck it to the fridge.
Went out for a jog. Be back before school. — Tetsuo
He checked the note once, then headed for the door.
After locking the apartment behind him, Tetsuo stepped outside into the cool, quiet morning.
The sky was still dark. Tetsuo's breath formed faint clouds in front of him as he stretched beside the sidewalk.
After a few minutes of warming up, he started jogging.
The streets were nearly empty, aside from the distant hum of a delivery truck and the occasional flicker of a streetlight.
He rounded a familiar corner and spotted the court.
He remembered the older men who usually played there.
Tetsuo took another step, then slowed to a stop.
Someone was already there.
A girl stood near the free-throw line, slowly bouncing a basketball.
She took a shot from mid-range.
Clank.
The ball struck the rim and bounced away, skidding across the pavement.
The girl bent forward, both hands braced against her knees. Her breathing came out in rough bursts as sweat ran down her face.
The ball rolled toward Tetsuo and stopped at his feet.
He looked down at it.
She lifted her head.
"Um…"
Tetsuo picked up the ball.
He gently passed it back to her.
"Thanks," she said, brushing a few damp strands of hair behind her ears.
Tetsuo tilted his head. "How long have you been out here?"
"Since one." She gave a small, nervous laugh. "I couldn't sleep. I was too anxious, I guess. Thought coming here might help clear my head before school."
She stepped closer.
"Wait. If you're here this early, that means you play basketball, right?"
"A little."
She took another step toward him.
"Then you can shoot?"
"Yeah…"
Her fingers tightened around the ball.
"Then… could you show me how to shoot properly?"
She looked him in the eyes.
Tetsuo hesitated.
Then he held out his hand.
She placed the basketball in his palm.
Tetsuo stepped back to the three-point line and bounced the ball a couple of times.
Then he rose into the air and flicked his wrist.
The ball arced high, spinning as it sailed toward the basket.
Swish!
It dropped cleanly through the net.
Her eyes widened as a gentle breeze brushed through her hair.
"No way…" she whispered. "You made that look so effortless."
"Nice shot!" she said, clapping her hands. A faint tint of pink touched her cheeks.
She looked at the basket, then back at him.
"So… can you watch me and tell me what I'm doing wrong?"
Tetsuo nodded and passed the basketball back to her.
She took a deep breath and stepped up to the free-throw line.
She bent her knees, jumped, and flicked her wrist.
The ball hit the backboard with a dull thunk before dropping to the ground.
"Ehh?!"
Her shoulders slumped.
"I just don't get it," she said. "What am I doing wrong? The ball just won't go in!"
"You're relying too much on your arms," Tetsuo said, stepping beside her.
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Your legs are where the power comes from. Your arms just guide the ball."
He shifted his stance and showed her the motion with his hands.
"When you shoot, bend your knees a little first. Then, as you jump, push off with your legs. That energy travels up through your body."
He raised his shooting hand.
"And keep your shooting hand straight, lined up with the rim. Don't twist your wrist, and don't push with your guide hand."
"Okay…"
"And one more thing. Don't stare at the whole hoop. Pick one spot and focus on it. The front of the rim, or the center of the net. Once you're ready to shoot, keep your eyes there."
"Um… you explained it really well, but…" She glanced down at the ball. "I still feel a little lost."
Tetsuo took the ball from her.
He squared up to the basket, bent his knees, and rose into a smooth jump.
His wrist snapped forward.
Swish.
"The motion should feel like one flow," he said.
He shifted his weight slightly and bounced the ball once.
"Alright… here goes."
She looked at the hoop, then down at her feet, and finally at Tetsuo.
He's not saying anything…
She turned back toward the basket and squared up again.
Her knees bent. She pushed off the ground and lifted into her jump, her arms trembling slightly.
Then she released the ball.
Tetsuo watched it spin through the air.
This seems familiar somehow… he thought.
The ball struck the rim and bounced twice.
Then it dropped through the net.
Thud.
The ball hit the ground and rolled a short distance.
Her mouth fell open slightly.
"It… went in?"
"That's… that's the first shot I've made all morning!"
She jumped into the air.
Before she could think about it, she lunged forward and hugged him, her arms wrapping tightly around his torso.
Tetsuo froze.
His shoulders stiffened, and his hands dropped to his sides.
I'm so happy right now.
"I didn't really do much," he said. "So… could you let go now?"
"Oh! Sorry—sorry!"
She quickly jumped back, her cheeks burning as she waved her hands.
"I didn't mean to! It's just… some of the girls on my team do that when they make a shot, and I guess I picked up the habit."
Tetsuo blinked.
"Alright."
She laughed awkwardly.
"I'm Haruko Takahashi. I probably should've started with that."
She rubbed the back of her neck.
"Could you tell me your name?"
"Tetsuo Kawaguchi."
Haruko smiled. "You're really good at this. Do you play for your school?"
"No."
She blinked. "You don't?"
"No. Just a hobby."
"I play for Hachioji Academy," she said. "I'm a power forward. Though… I'm not exactly cut out for the position. Still, I'm the best defender we have."
She sat down on the court, stretching her legs across the cool pavement. Her hands rested behind her, supporting her weight.
"The only problem is…" She paused. "I can't score. Not a layup, not a free throw. Nothing."
She drew her knees slightly toward her chest.
"For the past two years, we've lost in the early rounds. And I know I'm part of the reason why."
Her shoulders tightened.
"My teammates say they're fine with it, but…"
She lowered her eyes.
"I hear the whispers."
"This is my last year in junior high. I want to change that. I want to prove I'm not just dead weight. Not just to my team, but to myself. And my parents, too."
She lowered her gaze.
"They don't really see the point in all this."
Tetsuo sat down beside her.
"I don't know why I'm telling you all this," she muttered. "Sorry. That was a lot."
"It's fine," he said. "I don't mind listening."
Haruko glanced up at him. Her expression softened.
"Thanks… really. For everything."
Tetsuo stood.
"Keep practicing," he said. "Use what I showed you."
Haruko picked up the ball again.
"Right!"
She took a breath and squared up to the basket.
This time, she bent her knees, pushed off the ground, and flicked her wrist.
A smile crossed her face as the ball left her fingertips.