The Younger Sister and The Former Teammate's Challenge

Our positions mirrored each other when we leaned in to kiss each other. I felt the same warmth that flowed from my lips to my chest when I kissed someone I liked, but it still didn't feel complete somehow. I didn't feel the same overwhelming shock that ran through my system. Maybe it's to be expected for us.

After all, in this moment of spontaneity, we were kissing each other to make a point.

She already opened her eyes by the time I opened mine. She cautiously observed me, waiting until I spoke to fully assess the romantic moment shared between us.

I must've stayed silent a bit too long, because she began making a whining noise that sounded like the whirring of old internet dial-up.

"Did that feel like anything you imagined it would," I asked.

"Well I didn't feel anything in the moment, but when I think back to what just happened less than a minute ago, I feel like retreating into my writing," Fumiko said.

"That cringeworthy, huh?"

She covered her face, the pinkness in her cheeks returning with a vengeance.

"No, it's not that. It's just that I don't get to do this too often. So the memory really sticks in my mind when I actually do it."

"You mean you haven't kissed your dates too many times?"

"No. I think only one date in particular really warranted it."

I didn't want to appear desperate by asking who, but I also didn't want the idea of another kiss eating away at me until my insecurity blew up out of proportion.

"Who was it?"

"Take a guess. Your first prediction is probably correct."

"Uh, Shun? He seems like someone who'd fall in love pretty easily."

"You'd be right, but no. It's Ryuuji."

"Ryuuji, huh. Eh, I suppose I can see his appeal."

"I can already guess just by looking at your face. You're imagining him as Kaito aren't you?"

"Is that not the reason?"

"... part of it. Let's never have this conversation again."

"Fine with me."

This fangirl side of her was surprisingly cute. Her romantic ideals for a partner were so innocent that they bordered on childish. But having any sort of purity after everything that's happened to her was admirable.

This train of thought unwillingly created a grin on my face, which Fumiko noticed right away.

"What is it, Kenta," Fumiko asked, frowning indignantly.

"Nothing, Fumiko-san. It's just that I've noticed you've begun to resemble Iori more lately."

"You know I can't keep a straight face when you say things like this to me," Fumiko said, turning away from my gaze and clutching one of her violet pillows to her face.

References to her favorite fandom always work. Every single time.

After she had the opportunity to collect herself, Fumiko decided to spend the next several minutes at her desk writing in what was presumably the notebook reserved for me. In that short span of time she managed to put away at least six small pages worth of writing. She didn't lift her gaze once to look at me.

When I look at her like this, I can't help but respect her determination.

I thought back to Hayato's last proposal. I told him that I needed to get comfortable to play basketball again. With no dates scheduled for tomorrow, it was now the opportunity to prove the hot-blooded psycho that came out when I stepped on a court was still within me.

"Hey, Fumiko. Since you already look like you're in the zone, I think I'll be going now."

"Okay, take care," she said, briefly addressing me before returning her gel pen to her journal.

I slipped myself through her bedroom's doorway, gently pulling the door closed behind me. I gathered my backpack and took the newly gifted Yuta Hachimura card from the living room coffee table and inserted it into a plastic pocket of one of my school binders with the precision and delicacy it deserved.

I wrapped my fingers around the golden doorknob to the door leading to the hall , but I stopped myself short from turning it and letting myself out.

I tried to continue playing my particular type of basketball on the court and tried to tune out the life around me after the end of my last relationship. But the desire to be unapologetically myself, after what felt like an internal battle the whole time I was dating Eri, resulted in me not fully locking in to the opposition in front of me. I ignored my teammates, secretly wishing I wasn’t on the court.

Because I figured that the consequence of feverishly giving it your all would only result in me eventually breaking down.

Even though she was no longer with me, Eri’s distant, sunken eyes lingered at the back of my mind. I questioned what would happen if I intentionally lost myself in what I loved to do.

I put myself first when I ended my relationship, but then I put myself first before the team and paid the price for it.

I decisively turned the doorknob and stepped out into the hall leading back to the elevator.

I eagerly awaited hitting the court tomorrow.

Once I felt a basketball in my hands once again, I would regain the lessons I learned on the court that I forgot in the past several months.

***

The events of this morning blurred together today, the meeting in the gymnasium later today taking precedence over everything else. My body ran on auto-pilot until I met Fumiko near the main gate leading to school.

Fumiko waved at me with a smile before I joined up with her. The two of us walked side-by-side, filling the air with talk from the events of yesterday.

"Kyoko really pulled one over on both of us last Saturday, huh," I said.

"Yeah, I asked Shun for a practice date that I could use for the Experience Journal, but both of them went a bit overboard. They really are the perfect storm of chaos when put together," Fumiko said, giggling while scratching at her chin.

I slowed down my pace to eavesdrop on a conversation being whispered by a pair of girls to the side of us.

"Is that Fumiko with another boy?"

"I think he's one of those boys who quit the basketball team last year. I feel sorry for him. She must've taken advantage of him while he was in a bad place."

I latched my fingers over Fumiko's hand and tugged her along with me until I stopped at a point when both girls could see us.

The two girls must've taken the cue, because the two of them now stared us down.

"What are you doing, Kenta," Fumiko whispered.

"Just trust me. I have an idea."

"Fine."

"Oh, wow, Fumiko! I didn't realize how happy I could be in a relationship with you," I said, swinging our interlocked arms together.

I had to repress the urge to gag. I wasn't used to being this public with my affection.

"And not only that, but you've given me such good advice. I don't know why I let my past relationship get in the way of pursuing my happiness."

"You don't have to do this. What if they start talking about you too," Fumiko asked.

"Then let them talk. My reputation can't possibly tank any further anyway," I said, smiling.

The girls looked like they were prepared to move on from their gossip and continued walking in the same direction as us towards the school grounds. But another rowdy voice joined my obnoxious overacting.

"Hey! Is that who I think it is?"

And there the girls went, spooked like a common flight of pigeons. Only two people in the school were capable of scaring groups of students with just the mere projection of their voice. I don't even think she was shouting. That was just her normal speaking voice.

I turned around to find a taller girl with a brown ponytail running up to me. With how she positioned her hands, it looked like she was tempted to hug me, but decided against the idea, instead opting to nervously grip the nape of her neck instead.

"Hey, Kenta. What's up," the taller long-haired brunette said.

"Oh hey, Karin. How are you?"

"Oh, I'm doing alright. After playing basketball with the girl's team, I think I've finally learned to play enough like a girl for them. I probably scared some of my teammates when I first practiced with them," she said.

"Oh, so they saw how you played, then. Well, I don't blame them too much. I couldn't defend you without getting fouled. I still don't know how you're so strong."

"Oh, come on! Knock it off. It wasn't that bad, haha."

Her hand slammed against my shoulder with the force of a speeding bullet train. I adjusted my breathing to compensate for any groan that tried to escape my throat.

"So how's your brother doing, Karin? I'm sure he gets plenty of playing time now that I'm gone," I said, rubbing my hand against the tender spot on my shoulder.

"Actually, he seems pretty bored. Coach tells me that he occasionally checks out when they're running offensive sets. Hey, Kenta-".

"Hmm, what is it?"

"Is it true that you're going to play again?"

"Perhaps. I have to get into playing shape first," I said, tapping my bicep.

She clasped her fingers together with an open-mouthed smile and shrieked with delight.

"I can't wait until I tell Mamoru about this," Minamoto said.

"Wait, why? What does he have to do with this?"

"He says he's wanted to play against you ever since you quit."