His Dream, Her Reality

Change gears, brain. fabricate a pretext. Fast.

"Hello, gonna answer me?"

"I.... was sightseeing."

"Sightseeing?"

She cracked up.

"That's the best you could come up with?"

"Tell me, really, why're you here?"

I took a quick breath.

My attention drifted to a faint rustling at the door.

Someone else is here?

The sound stopped instantly. Probably just the wind.

"I heard something, so I came to check up."

A quiet happiness flickered across her face.

"Ahh... you don't have to worry about that. It was nothing—practice just got a little too intense."

"A little intense? You broke a hoop."

"Those hoops were getting rusty. Even the screws were loose. The school was going to replace them before the regionals anyway."

She looked far too satisfied with herself.

She was taller than most girls, her body drenched in sweat. Her jersey clung to her back, completely soaked. Her jet-black hair tied into a bun.

"You sure you're not hurt?

I rubbed the back of my neck as she moved across the court, the ball spinning in her right hand like a performer on stage.

"I'm fine—no need to worry."

"Good to hear."

I wiped my brow, relieved.

I've done my part; staying alone with a girl only brings trouble.

My legs inched towards the door.

Then—

"Aww...you're gonna leave a girl like me all alone?"

She cupped her cheeks, letting out a soft, exaggerated squeal.

"What? No—I thought—"

"Relax. I was kidding."

"I'm Mitsuba—Mitsuba Hanekawa. Nice to meet you." She extended her hand, a faint smile on her lips.

Her smile lightened something in my chest. My shoulders un-hunched.

"Haruki—Haruki Masato. Nice to meet you too."

"Hey, Masato-kun, have you ever played basketball?"

"Should I call you Masato-kun or Haruki-kun?"

"Call me whatever you like."

"I'll stick with Haruki-kun. You can call me Mitsuba."

"Oh kay."

" So, Haruki-kun—have you played?"

"Sort of. I used to play with my big brother. Though honestly, it was more him showing off than us actually playing."

She doubled over laughing.

"Your brother sounds fun to be around."

"Yeah! Whenever he visits, it's always great. He even buys me stuff while managing his own expenses."

Next thing I knew, I had started confidently babbling about him.

I looked up at the ceiling.

Stop talking.

My gaze dropped back to Mitsuba.

My voice faltered. Heat crept up my neck.

She was listening—actually listening.

"Sorry...I'm rambling."

"No, no, keep going. You looked cute."

The compliment hit me off guard. The redness spread to my ears. I looked away.

"What were you doing this late, Mitsuba?"

"Practicing."

"This late?"

"Didn't I say regionals are coming up? I've been working my ass off."

" Even broke a hoop because I got a little too aggressive."

She made a pinching gesture.

"I dunked so hard the hoop came off. Somehow, I maintained my balance mid-air."

She gave a thumbs-up, smirking."

" That's wild."

"Once you get into it, you stop noticing everything else."

There's passion, and then there's her.

" I've been playing since middle school. We even made it to regional."

She tapped her chest proudly.

"Wait...I've got an idea. Let's play a game? Loser buys something from the convenience store

She pointed at me, excited.

"Where? Didn't you break the hoop?"

"There's another court behind the gym. Let's go."

"Looking for any excuse to leech off me, there's no way I can beat someone on the team."

I muttered.

"At least give me a head start."

"Okay! Okay! We'll start at 6-0. Fair?"

" Still low... but I'll manage."

" First to ten wins."

"Just don't break another hoop."

"That's the spirit, Haruki-kun. We'll play to our heart's content."

We moved behind the gym.

I didn't even know this place existed.

An old court, enclosed by chain-link fencing, like a tennis court. An empty pool sat beside it.

Creeaaakk—

The gate gave way.

"Ladies first," she said.

"Very funny."

"Let's just play."

We took our positions.

She tossed the ball up. We both jumped. I got there first.

Dribble past her.

Hard pass.

In the blink, she closed the distance. I tried to pull back, too late.

She knocked the ball loose and scored easily.

"Woohoo. That was easy. Try harder, Haruki-kun."

"Nice one...I'll get the next."

"I'd love to see you try."

My fingers curled into fists.

The play resumed.

Ball in my hands.

Time to give it a shot.

I positioned myself.

Her eyebrows lifted.

"You wouldn't dare—"

Goodbye, dignity.

I spun...and shot.

The ball sailed...straight over the fence. I landed badly. Pain shot through my ankle

Mitsuba turned away, shoulders shaking.

"You don't have to laugh that hard."

She faced me again, regaining composure.

"Sorry, I got carried away."

She stepped closer.

"Need help?"

"I can handle it."

"You sure? We can stop."

"No. Let's finish."

I got back on my feet.

"The bet still stands."

Next round. I dashed forward.

She regained possession.

I stepped in front of her, she brushed past. Her lips near my ear.

"The moment you stopped moving forward, you lost."

Before I could react, she was airborne.

Dunk.

Clean.

"Yay! I won... I won."

She threw her hands up, celebrating like it was the finals

Mitsuba Hanekawa...I remember that name. Scholarship board—the prestigious students.

I applauded her triumph.

There goes my pocket money.

I clapped lightly.

"Don't even think about running, Haruki-kun."

A sly glint in her eyes.

" Go easy on me."

" I'll be gentle."

" The same 'gentleness from earlier'?"

"I was gentle, you're just bad."

"Ouch..."

"Haruki-kun, let's leave before security kicks us out, or a teacher spots us."

She silently closed the door to the court as we tiptoed away.

"Buy me ice cream. Maybe a bento too."

I sighed... and paid.

"Thanks for the food."

She ate happily.

"You want some?"

"I'm good."

" Don't act like that."

"Say 'aaah.' "

Her hand moved toward my mouth. My heart leaped with every inch.

"A deal's a deal."

"Don't be shy. Act like a normal teenage boy."

She had me wrapped around her finger.

Maybe... there really are normal people here.

"Mitsuba.."

"Hummhhh?"

Vanilla cream lingered on her lips.

"Are you really going to keep going until regionals?'

The air shifted.

Her smile melted.

"I was planning to..."

She paused.

"But I might quit soon"