We Are The Same

My eyes blinked rapidly as I slowly turned my head towards her. Her lowered head, her fingers intertwined, curling tightly together.

"Quit?" My voice trembled.

A low-toned voice spoke up.

"Hmm. Quit."

Her once proud eyes no longer met mine.

Why? The grin she had while we played. The pure enthusiasm she illuminated. Why?

“But why would you quit? I thought you had fun playing."

“I love playing it."

“Is it because of physical strain? Or are you worried about your grades? The exams aren’t for a while; we’ve got plenty of time. You can rest easy for now, can’t you?”

My voice slowly got louder.

Why give up on something you love?

“No—No! It’s not that.”

Her voice faltered.

“Is this something you can’t talk about?”

I murmured slowly.

Letting out a shaky breath, she replied.

“No, it's not that. I don't want to push my burdens upon others."

"She, self-conscious after being so pushy earlier," I muttered under my breath.

Her ears perked up.

“Did you just say something?"

Her fingers balled into tight fists. A faint, mischievous sneer on her lips.

“Wait-wait-wait… I was kidding."

I let out hollow laughter. Her fists unclenched, resting naturally. Her face regained its natural glow.

“Wanna hear it or not?

“Don't force yourself if it's hard for you."

She gave me a solemn nod.

"You're worth my trust."

My chest felt light, infused with a sudden warmth.

"You already know about the regionals. It's two weeks from today. If we win, Nationals it is."

"Isn't that good?"

"That's not the problem..."

"The captain of our team is Satsuki Yui."

"The one with the indifferent attitude?"

"That's Yui, she stays reserved, only opening up to people close to her."

"Yui and I have known each other since middle school."

"She's the reason why I started playing in the first place."

“Afraid to let her down?"

Even she... was scared of failing?

She shook her head.

Though her fidgeting fingers betrayed her composure.

“ Earlier in middle school, I wasn’t really the interactive type.

"I had a hard time communicating with people."

" Most of them saw this as weird and shut me out."

She took a deep breath while kicking air.

" However, I was still a girl at heart."

She kept a hand over her heart. I covered my mouth as a chuckle slipped out. She twisted around. Her gaze landed on me. I sat up straight.

“I liked a guy back then. He was kind, charming, and nice to everyone. I admired him from a distance."

"One day, I gathered courage and asked him out."

"Did he reject you?"

"No, he accepted it right away."

I guess when girls propose, guys never say no. Especially not to someone like her.

“We started dating, holding hands to school, leaving together, texting all night. Everything regular couples do. I wasn't the best girlfriend at the start. But every moment I spent with him felt otherworldly."

“You guys sound like a loving couple."

“ We…sort of were,"

“Sort of?"

“He dumped me."

"Dumped you? Why... weren't you a good girlfriend then, WHY?"

"He liked someone else, but that girl kept refusing his advances."

"He used me to make her jealous."

"That asshole..."

Her voice was steady, yet hesitation still lay beneath.

“ Where does Yui come in all of this?"

“ The girl he liked was Yui; she was always the popular kind, less gloomy as well. She found him annoying and rejected him countless times till he finally gave up."

" That's what Yui thought. On the other hand, he was scheming."

"Yui found out about it. She used her influence and spread rumors about him, and ruined his reputation."

“I was heartbroken. I played my role just for it to end like this." 

"No one deserves to be treated like this. Yui did the right thing; that bastard should never be seen near a girl again."

" Yui didn't stop there. Probably feeling guilty, she wouldn't admit. She comforted me and introduced me to basketball. It was hard in the beginning; I wasn't athletic. Her unwavering support and enthusiasm made me what I am today."

Yui, wish I had someone like her during my middle school days.

“Yui, sounds like someone you're very close to. So what's the problem?"

“Since the start of the semester. She's...acting cold, like I don't even know her."

"Have you tried giving her some space? Maybe she's going through something?"

"Yui shares everything; if she wanted space, she would outright ask for it."

"She's singling me out. I hate it. I want to win regionals with her, then nationals. That will be my way of saying thanks for all she did."

" You should trust Yui, if someone who can feel guilty even when it's not their problem. They must have reasons for acting that way."

She nodded.

“I wanna keep my trust in her."

Mitsuba, you're so strong...

"Sorry for dumping that all on you."

"Aghhh, it's fine. It must have felt like a massive weight off your shoulders."

At least you had the guts to share.

" There's another reason why I want to win.”

“Something else?"

“I have a big sister, I love her more than anyone in this world, just like her, I wanna go abroad after high school."

I nearly choked, caught off-guard.

Her words feel so familiar...

She continued further.

“If I win, I’ll prove to my parents I can handle myself."

That's when I blabbed out...

“ I'll help you fulfill that dream of yours."

WHAT...DID YOU EVEN THINK BEFORE SAYING THAT? YOU CAN'T EVEN HANDLE YOURSELF. HOW WILL YOU HELP HER? YOU HAD TO BLURT IT OUT.

“Help me? You don't have to go that far."

She patted my shoulder reassuringly.

I'll help her, I can't let her dreams die.

"I mean it. I'll really help you. I want to see you play."

"You're really smooth even in serious moments."

"It's getting late, we should head home."

"I'll walk you home."

"Thanks, but I can take it from here."

"Haruki, I had fun today, for a moment I forgot about my worries. Let's play again sometime, K?

"Sure, anytime."

She walked away, dribbling air as if the ball was still there.

I sat back down, getting juice from a vending machine.

The cold can felt good against my palm.

I want to follow my big sister.

I took a long sip.

You have that fire to keep moving. We were never the same. You're something I wish I were.

I picked up my bag.

What a day. Please let tomorrow be better.

It wasn’t.

“Class, I have an announcement. We have a transfer student.”

Miss Yuki’s voice echoed through the classroom.

Seconds later, a familiar figure stepped into view.

My heart sank.

...Of all people, her. Such bad luck.