In the evening, the steady rhythm of a basketball bouncing echoed through the empty gym.
Shino slid the gym door open.
The gym lights buzzed faintly overhead.
As he stepped inside, his eyes widened.
No way... he's still here?
Yukio was drenched in sweat, his shirt clinging to his body.
With a flick of his wrist, he launched the basketball from just inside the arc. The ball spun through the air.
Swish!
The net snapped before settling back into place.
Yukio staggered slightly and rested his hands on his knees. He lifted the bottom of his shirt and wiped the sweat from his face, revealing the sheen of perspiration across his torso.
He looked up and noticed Shino standing by the entrance.
"There you are," Yukio said. "Go get changed."
Shino paused.
"I will, right away!" he said.
His shoes slapped lightly against the wooden floor as he headed for the locker room.
A few minutes later, he stepped back onto the court in his practice gear. He crouched to tighten his laces, his fingers trembling slightly.
I'm so excited, he thought, smiling to himself.
Yukio caught the basketball and casually tossed it from one hand to the other.
"Let me ask you something," he said. "Have you ever played basketball before?"
"Um..." Shino voice grew quieter. "I've never actually played in a real game before."
He scratched the back of his head.
"I played a little back in junior high, but I never got the chance to play in an actual match."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"I didn't even get a jersey."
"Huh," Yukio said. "So you've got no experience? Not even the basics?"
"Well... no," Shino said. "I'm practically a beginner."
Yukio crossed his arms and said nothing.
The silence between them stretched.
A faint buzzing settled in Shino's ears.
The gym around him slowly faded.
In the next moment, he was back in his junior high gym, sitting on the hard wooden bench.
He stared down at his sneakers, threading and retying the laces over and over.
Basketballs pounded against the floor.
A whistle shrilled.
Laughter echoed through the gym.
"Hey, beansprout!" someone called.
Shino slowly lifted his head.
The boy's face was a blur.
"Go grab us some drinks from the vending machine."
"But... practice is still going," Shino said, barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, and?" the boy said. "You're not in the lineup anyway. Might as well make yourself useful."
A few others laughed.
"Even the water boy gets a jersey."
A short pause followed.
"You don't even have that."
Shino lowered his head.
The gym doors swung shut behind him with a dull thud.
They're right...
His fingers tightened around the coins in his hand.
I'm useless.
A moment later, he drew in a slow breath.
No... that's not it.
They only remember me when they want something.
The memory shifted.
Players rushed up and down the court during a scrimmage. Shoes squeaked across the hardwood, and the ball echoed through the gym.
"Katsuragi."
Shino's heart skipped a beat.
He looked toward the coach.
"Go grab the clipboard from my office," the coach said without looking up.
Shino's hands slowly fell to his sides.
Back in the present, the gym fell silent once again.
Yukio rested a hand against his chin.
The tournament's in a few months.
Can I get him to at least an average level by then?
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Then again... it's not like I have much of a choice.
Takahiro and I are the only members.
"I know what you're thinking," Shino said.
Yukio opened his eyes.
"You think I'll just hold the team back."
Shino lifted his head just enough to meet his gaze.
"I love basketball....I'll work as hard as I can to live up to your expectations."
His lips quivered.
He lowered his head again.
"I know I'm not talented but... please."
His fingers curled against the fabric of his shorts.
"Just let me play."
Moisture gathered in his eyes before a tear slipped down his cheek.
This kid...
Yukio walked over and gently rested a hand on Shino's head.
"Don't worry," he said. "That's exactly what I plan to do."
Shino slowly looked up.
"So quit crying, okay?"
Shino sniffled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Yes, upperclassman!"
"I want you to learn defensive slides first," Yukio said. "Watch carefully."
He lowered himself into a defensive stance.
"The key to good defense is staying low. Bend your knees like you're doing a squat. Keep your back straight and your chest up. That gives you a solid center of gravity and lets you move without losing your balance."
He shifted his feet.
"Stay on the balls of your feet. Never stand flat-footed."
His shoes shuffled softly across the hardwood.
"And when you move side to side, don't cross your feet. Push off with your back foot and slide with short, controlled steps."
He demonstrated again, gliding across the floor.
"Like this."
Shino nodded and lowered himself into the same stance.
His thighs trembled almost immediately.
He slid to one side, then the other.
"Good," Yukio said. "You catch on fast."
Shino let out a quiet breath.
"Now, your hands are just as important as your feet."
Yukio raised one hand while lowering the other.
"Keep one hand high and the other low. The low hand is for steals and deflections. The high hand is for contesting shots and getting in the way of passes."
His fingers spread wide.
"It'll feel awkward at first," he said. "But once you get used to it, it'll become second nature."
Shino copied the position.
His shoulders were already beginning to ache, but he kept both arms up.
"One more thing," Yukio said. "Always watch your opponent's torso, not the ball."
Shino blinked.
"The ball can fool you. Their arms can fool you. But their chest and hips tell you where they're really going."
Shino's eyes widened slightly.
"I... never knew that."
Yukio nodded.
"Another important skill is anticipation. Defense isn't just about reacting. It's about predicting what your opponent is going to do."
He bounced the ball once.
"Watch their habits. Pay attention to how they move. The more you notice, the easier it'll be to stay one step ahead."
Shino nodded as sweat beaded along his temples.
"I think I've got it now," he said. "Stay low... slide without crossing my feet... keep one hand high and one low... watch their torso... and anticipate what they're going to do."
A small smile appeared on Yukio's face.
"Exactly."
"You really are a fast learner."
"No," Shino said, shaking his head. "It's just..."
He looked down at the floor.
"You're the first person who's ever taken the time to teach me."
Yukio was quiet for a moment.
"Oh... that's a shame. With the right coaching, I think you'd make a great player."
Shino looked up.
"You really think so?"
"Of course," Yukio said. "You won't stay a beginner forever. Keep putting in the work, and you'll get there."
A smile spread across Shino's face.
"I will!"
Yukio picked up the basketball and spun it lightly in his hands.
"All right, now that you've got the basics down, I want you to guard me."
Shino froze.
"Huh?! B-but I just started!"
"It's fine, just remember what I showed you."
He bounced the ball once.
"You don't have to stop me. I just want to see how you move."
Shino drew in a deep breath.
"Okay...I'll give it a try."
He stepped into a defensive stance, bending his knees.
His heartbeat quickened.
I can do this...
Just remember everything he taught me.
Yukio lowered his stance.
"Ready?"
Shino nodded.
"Then here I come."
The basketball echoed through the gym as he began dribbling toward him.
The basketball pounded against the hardwood as Yukio closed the distance.
Without warning, he crossed the ball between his legs and burst forward.
Right...?
Or left...?
Shino's eyes darted to the ball.
I can't tell...
Then Yukio's words flashed through his mind.
Watch the torso.
Shino's gaze shifted to Yukio's chest and hips.
Left!
He pushed off his right foot and slid across the floor, cutting off Yukio's path.
The soles of their shoes squeaked against the hardwood.
Yukio's eyebrows lifted.
Not bad.
The corner of his mouth twitched upward.
Without breaking stride, he gathered the ball and raised it above his head.
Shino reacted immediately.
He's shooting!
He sprang off the floor with both hands raised.
The instant his feet left the ground, his eyes widened.
A fake...!
Yukio lowered the ball, slipped past him, and took a quick steps toward the basket.
The ball hit the backboard.
Swish.
The net rippled before settling.
Shino landed and turned around, letting out a slow breath.
Yukio caught the ball as it bounced back toward him.
"Not bad...that was your first time playing, and you still managed to read where I was going."
He tucked the ball under his arm.
"But you've still got plenty to work on."
A small smile crossed his face.
"Then again, it's only your first day."
Yukio rolled the basketball into one hand.
"Let's call it a day."
Shino blinked.
"Huh? That was only ten minutes,"
Yukio let out a tired laugh.
"Well... I've been training since this morning."
He shifted his weight.
His knees wobbled slightly.
"My body's about ready to give out."
Shino's eyes widened.
Oh, right...
He's been on the court all day.
Yukio walked over to the sideline and picked up his towel and water bottle.
He draped the towel around his neck before unscrewing the cap.
"I want you to read up on basketball when you get home,"
He took a long drink.
A few drops of water ran down his chin before he wiped them away with the back of his hand.
"Training is important," he continued, "but understanding the game is just as important."
He tightened the cap on the bottle.
"Learn the basic rules. It'll make everything I teach you a lot easier to understand."
Shino nodded without hesitation.
"Got it."
Yukio gave him a small nod.
"Good."
The apartment was still.
Three soft knocks broke the silence.
From the other side of the door, Usagi's voice reached him.
"Big brother... are you awake?"
Tetsuo lifted his head from the papers scattered across his desk.
The dim glow of the desk lamp barely reached the far side of the room.
"Yeah," he said.
"I'm coming in."
The door slid open with a low creak.
A strip of light from the hallway spilled across the floor before disappearing as she quietly closed the door behind her.
She stood there for a moment, holding a pillow against her chest.
"If you don't mind..." she said softly. "Can I sleep in here tonight?"
The chair scraped lightly across the floor as Tetsuo turned toward her. His eyes rested on her for a brief moment before drifting back to the papers on his desk.
"I still have some work to finish for tomorrow. You can go to sleep first."
Usagi nodded.
She walked over to the bed and set her pillow near the edge.
The mattress creaked quietly as she climbed in.
"There was a time you used to tell me stories whenever I couldn't sleep," she said. "It feels like forever ago."
Tetsuo gave a faint nod.
"Yeah," he said. "Feels like it was only yesterday."
A small smile appeared on Usagi's face.
"You've always protected me."
"Even now... after everything that's happened."
Her voice grew quieter.
"You'd still do anything to keep me safe."
She looked at him through half-lidded eyes.
"That's what I love about you, Tetsuo."
A sleepy smile lingered on her face.
"So..."
She let out a quiet yawn.
"...don't ever leave me, okay?"
Only a few moments later, her breathing settled into a slow, steady rhythm.
Tetsuo quietly watched the gentle rise and fall of her shoulders.
Without a word, he stood and walked over to the bed.
He carefully pulled the blanket up to her chin before brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face.
His expression never changed.
You're the only reason I can still keep going.
Nothing else matters.
He returned to his desk and flipped open his notebook.
"Gym class first thing tomorrow," he said quietly. "Guess I should prepare."
As he reached for his school bag, his elbow brushed against the picture frame beside the lamp.
Clink.
The frame slipped from the desk and landed on the floor.
Tetsuo crouched and carefully picked it up.
Inside the frame was a photograph of four people.
A man.
A woman.
A little boy.
And a little girl.
The edges of the photo were worn, the corners slightly bent from age.
His gaze lingered on it.
The faint smell of antiseptic filled his nose.
White walls stretched endlessly around him.
A boy, ran barefoot down a hospital corridor. The hem of his hospital gown fluttered behind him with every step.
His small hand held tightly onto that of a little girl dressed in ordinary clothes. The ribbon in her hair had come loose, strands swaying as she struggled to keep up.
"Big brother..." she said between breaths. "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe," the boy said without slowing down. "Somewhere no one can take you away."
She looked up at him.
Her pace faltered for a moment.
"Do... do you want me to stay with you?"
The boy turned his head just enough to meet her eyes.
"Do you want to stay with me?"
She nodded without hesitation.
"Yes."
She tightened her grip on his hand.
"Forever."
He gave a small nod.
The two of them ran on.
The emergency doors swung open with a heavy thud.
Cool rain hit their faces the moment they stepped outside.
Their bare feet splashed across the wet pavement as they disappeared into the dimly lit streets, never letting go of each other's hands.
The sound of the rain slowly faded.
Tetsuo blinked.
The quiet apartment came back into focus.
He placed the photograph back on the desk and gently wiped a thin layer of dust from the glass with his thumb.
"I hope you're doing well..." he said quietly.
Behind him, Usagi shifted beneath the blanket before settling again.
Tetsuo looked over his shoulder.
I'll protect her.
No matter what happens.
That's one promise I'll never break.
He reached over and switched off the desk lamp.
The room fell into darkness.