As the bus pulled away from Hachioji Academy, Haruko drew in a slow breath and let it out quietly.
Her hands stayed still on her lap, fingers laced together with a faint tremor.
Outside, thin trails of rain slid down the glass. The droplets gathered, merged, and slipped away as the city blurred past.
Haruko turned her head slightly, her reflection faint in the window, eyes tracing the movement of the water.
The low hum of the engine filled the silence around her.
A faint breeze brushed against Haruko's ear, snapping her out of her thoughts. She flinched and brought a hand up to cover it.
"Ah!"
Her voice slipped out softly as she turned around.
Kotone leaned over the seat, chin resting on her arm, a familiar teasing grin tugging at her lips.
"Ko… Kotone, why are you—"
Before Haruko could finish, Kotone tilted her head, her tone light but steady.
"Why are you acting like this is your first game? There's no need to be nervous, Captain."
Her grin widened slightly as she straightened up, elbow resting on the seatback.
"She has every right to feel that way. We're up against Misono Girls' Junior and Senior High—the team that ranked fourth last year," Sayaka murmured, turning slightly in her seat.
Her eyes met Haruko's for a moment, a calm smile softening her expression before she faced forward again.
"That's true. But don't forget—she got her training from that hottie from Toshigawa. With that kind of coaching, we're winning this for sure."
Kotone folded her arms with a confident tilt of her head. Her tone carried an easy brightness, drawing a few quiet laughs from the first years and loosening the air inside the bus.
Haruko's face warmed instantly; she turned slightly toward the window, trying to hide the color rising in her cheeks.
"I swear… I can't with her," she muttered under her breath, barely loud enough for anyone to hear.
"As long as we play the same way we do in practice and follow Coach Maeda's instructions, we'll be fine."
Suzume's tone was flat, her face unreadable. She tightened her wristbands with calm, deliberate movements, eyes steady on the gray blur of rain outside the window.
"You're right. We'll be alright for this match."
Sayaka's voice came out soft but certain. She let out a slow breath, her shoulders easing as the tension in the air thinned just a little.
"Aren't you supposed to be our captain? Show a little backbone, will you?"
Kazue's voice carried a sharp edge as she cast Haruko a sidelong glance. Her lips pressed into a thin line before she exhaled through her nose, turning toward the aisle with a small flick of her hair.
Haruko's stomach tightened, but no words came out. She turned back to the window.
The rain had begun to fade, the clouds thinning as faint sunlight slipped through. It flickered between the trees, catching the droplets that clung to the glass and scattering them in brief flashes of light along the bus window.
I wish you were here to see this, Tetsuo… but that's probably impossible.
So I'll just have to win—and tell you about it later.
The thought settled quietly in Haruko's mind as she kept her gaze on the window, the faint light tracing across her reflection.
"Alright, ladies, get ready. We've arrived."
Coach Maeda's calm voice carried through the bus as it slowed to a smooth stop. The faint hiss of the brakes followed, and the steady rumble of the engine began to fade.
Here goes nothing. Just remember what Tetsuo taught you… you'll be fine.
Haruko took a careful step down from the bus, the soles of her shoes tapping lightly against the pavement.
She rolled her shoulders once, steadying her breath. The faint scent of varnished wood and rubber drifted from the gym ahead, familiar and grounding.
Inside, the air carried a light chill and dryness that clung to the skin. The polished court shone under the bright lights above, every movement catching in its reflection.
From somewhere deeper in the gym, the steady rhythm of bouncing balls echoed faintly, overlapping with the soft squeak of sneakers on the floor.
As the girls from Hachioji Academy began their stretches, the seniors exchanged quiet glances.
The younger players' tension was easy to see—their movements stiff, breaths shallow, eyes flicking between the court doors and the rows of empty bleachers.
"Other than us and Kazue, everyone looks nervous. The match hasn't even started yet."
Sayaka adjusted her ponytail carefully, her voice quiet but clear as her gaze moved over the team.
"Well, that's expected. Most of our bench is first- and second-years."
Suzume's tone stayed flat, calm. Sitting on the court, she rotated her ankle in slow, steady circles. A faint draft moved through the gym, stirring her short, neatly kept hair.
"To be honest, worrying about the game won't help. We just have to lead by example."
Kotone bent forward into a stretch, her breath leaving her in a slow, steady exhale. The faint squeak of sneakers and the low hum of voices filled the quiet space around them.
A new voice broke through the low murmur of conversation.
"Maeda-senpai, it's been a while."
A woman in her mid-twenties stepped into view, her steps light and steady against the court floor. The navy tracksuit she wore bore the Misono emblem, the fabric rustling softly as she moved.
"Yamaoka, right? I haven't seen you since graduation. I didn't know you became a coach too."
Maeda's brows lifted slightly, her tone carrying quiet surprise as she faced her former classmate.
"Yes, I just started recently. The head coach wanted to focus on the high school team, so he asked for support. I am the assistant coach for the senior team and the coach for the junior team."
Coach Yamaoka's tone was calm, measured.
Maeda gave a small nod. "I see."
"I see you haven't changed at all. Your face is just the same."
Yamaoka's eyes flicked downward for a brief second before she spoke again, her voice carrying a trace of envy.
"Well… at least some part of you has."
"I can still play with my girls, so I'm at least as good as I was in high school," Yamaoka added, her tone turning a little boastful.
Maeda folded her arms loosely. "You're right—you haven't grown at all. Must be easier on your shoulders."
A faint twitch pulled at Yamaoka's eyebrow, her expression tightening for just a moment.
"I hope your girls came prepared. If not, they won't stand a chance. Our team is quite strong."
Yamaoka's grin widened slightly, confidence showing in the steady lift of her chin and the calm gleam in her eyes.
"We will see about that."
Maeda's tone stayed calm, but the firmness in her voice left no room for doubt. She met Yamaoka's gaze evenly, her expression composed.
"Alright, everyone, let's warm up."
Haruko clapped her hands once, the sound quick and firm.
A few of the girls answered right away—
"Yeah!"
—but their voices carried unevenly, some bright, others hesitant.
A few glanced at one another before moving toward the court, their steps small and careful.
As the girls lined up, Haruko passed the ball to Suzume.
The sound of steady dribbles echoed across the court before Suzume stepped in and finished with a clean layup.
Sayaka caught the rebound smoothly and passed to Kotone, who drove in with quick, confident strides, her sneakers squeaking lightly before the ball dropped through the net.
A first-year took the next turn, passing to Kazue.
Without hesitation, Kazue cut in, her movements sharp and composed, finishing her layup with precision.
The ball bounced back toward center court, the echo softening as it rolled into Kotone's waiting hands.
"They're here—Misono Junior High."
Sayaka's eyes followed the group of girls as they entered, their navy and white uniforms crisp and perfectly matched.
The steady rhythm of their steps and the faint rustle of their warm-up jackets drew the attention of nearly everyone on the court.
"That's Chizuru, their best player—the one with the blonde hair."
Suzume's voice came out low and even, her expression unreadable as her gaze stayed fixed on the girl across the court.
The calm tone carried a quiet weight, enough for the others to understand she meant it seriously.
"Yeah, definitely. I heard she's good enough to play on the high school team. She even trains with them."
Sayaka's tone held a note of respect as she spoke, her gaze following Chizuru's movements. She exhaled softly through her nose, the sound barely audible over the squeak of sneakers on the polished floor.
"Can you all stop talking already?"
Kazue's voice came out sharp, irritation slipping through despite her effort to keep it down.
The others fell silent, glancing her way.
"Kazue's right. Don't mind them. Let's just focus on our warm-ups."
Haruko steadied her voice, clapping her hands twice.
The crisp sound echoed through the gym, drawing everyone's focus back to the drills.
"So, Chizuru, what do you think of Hachioji Academy?"
One of the girls from Misono glanced toward the other side of the court, where Hachioji's players were still warming up.
Her tone was light, but curiosity lingered behind it.
"Well, Tatsuki, I checked a little about them. They lost in the second round last season, so I don't think we have much to worry about."
Chizuru's tone was cool, almost indifferent, her eyes moving lazily over the Hachioji players.
"This match should be ours."
Tatsuki smirked faintly, spinning the ball on her fingertip before catching it again.
"Heh, then I'll make sure they don't even get the chance to breathe easy."
Her tone carried a lightness, but there was something sharp beneath it.
Chizuru gave a small sigh, brushing her bangs aside.
"Just play fair, alright?"
Tatsuki shrugged, grin widening.
"Of course. As fair as I need to."
"Toudou's definitely going to do something deliberate."
One of the Misono girls spoke under her breath, eyes flicking toward Tatsuki.
The others nearby exchanged knowing looks, a faint tension slipping into their smiles as Tatsuki bounced the ball once, the sound sharp against the floor.