Akari Anzai

**

Koji could currently be seen in daze, as his mind ran wild with questions and his feet were stuck-in-mud.

The perpetrator for this was standing in front of him, being the esteemed Akari Anzai. Otherwise known as one of the most popular kids in his school.

Actually, scratch that-

One of the most popular people in his town.

In that way, she was similar to Tensai.

The fact that she was about a basketball court’s length away from him wasn’t what surprised Koji.

It was the fact that she was at a basketball court in the first place. He never recalled hearing about her playing any sports, let alone basketball.

Don’t get it twisted though- he was never close to her. Being as popular as she was, he knew a decent amount about her is all.

Koji’s gaze drew gloomy for a second…

‘That’s kind of pitiful…’

That’s the thought that flashed across his mind when he had factored in the idea that he knew of her, yet she probably had no clue of who he was.

While he was thinking this out, he realized that Akari was getting closer and closer to him, without a change in pace at that.

Still standing blankly, he observed her more- watching as her slim hips swayed slightly, and her short hair barely shuttered.

He knew that she was revered for being smart and capable, but he was inclined to think now that her beauty had something to do with her social status as well.

Again, Koji was caught in a daze. And so he again realized she was getting eerily close to him- him who stood at about half court. Or more precisely to the left of half court by a little bench.

Standing about 10 feet away from each other now (both 5 feet away from center court), they made eye contact. Or more so Akari looked into Koji’s eyes, which were staring at her during her little strut to half.

Before she would’ve reached the halfway line, she took a 90 degree turn to her left and placed a sporting water-bottle and her phone on the concrete.

She slammed her basketball- which Koji hadn’t even noticed before -and started tying her shoes. Again, Koji was really only paying attention to her body…

‘Don’t describe it like that…’

…so he hadn’t realized she also sported a headband underneath her hair and running shoes on her feet.

‘Is she really here to play basketball?’

Koji couldn’t help but wonder. I mean all his previous knowledge about her would be put to the test.

‘Again- that makes me sound like a stalker..!’

But still…

…It was true.

He had previously heard that she was both smart and extremely talented in art. In fact, he remembered something about her winning a pretty big art contest when they were younger. But of course, contrary to his own insecure beliefs, he is not a stalker- and so he doesn’t know how much of that is true.

The only thing he does know, is that she had gotten in a pretty bad accident a while back. The contents of which; well he didn’t exactly know…

…But that made it all the more interesting to him.

While thinking about that, Tensai popped into his mind. He had subconsciously thought before that they were similar in the manner that they were both stars of the town- but now he thought on it some more.

Maybe they had more in common than first perceived…

Just then, Koji was strangely angered. Strangely due to the fact that he himself didn’t know why he was annoyed. Just the thought of his older brother had angered him.

And due to that revelation, Koji didn’t exactly know if he should feel guilty or not.

The one thing that he did know- was that he was more ready than ever to start playing basketball. More so to start doing something again.

This brought him back to reality- but an embarrassing one.

He had been staring into the empty sky for a while now- as if some monologuing main character.

His face flushed slight as he glanced at Akari, who was not paying him any mind.

‘Thank god…’

**

It had been about 20 minutes now since the two of them arrived at the courts. For their own respective reasons of course, and not at all in accordance.

Koji had started with a common warmup, and quickly came to a profound conclusion which perhaps a rocket-scientist couldn’t even fathom.

That conclusion of course being that Koji had sucked at basketball.

Well, it was less of him sucking and more of him being extremely rusty.

After all, the last time he had played basketball was when he was 12- and he was damn near turning 17 soon.

Anyway, due to that quick and painful realization, Koji had spent his 20 minutes practicing form shots- which simply consisted of him shooting shots from a few feet away.

As for Akari and how she had spent her last twenty minutes…

…Koji had no idea.

While yes, he was engrossed in getting his jump shot back- he was also concerned about looking weird in front of Akari.

‘It seems that’s just the mere presence a popular person emits…’

It’s ironic because Ren is just as popular.

Regardless, he didn’t want to get caught watching her.

‘Buuuuuut…’

Curiosity was starting to get the best of Koji- akin to a brain eating parasite which could numb a person's social anxiety.

And when it came to Koji, that would be no simple feat.

With that, Koji had started to turn around.

But before he could…

*dribble dribble dribble

With each one, the sound of a bouncing basketball became more and more faint- but it also started to get closer and closer.

‘huh.’

As the dribbling stopped, a basketball collided with Koji’s ankle- causing him to whip his neck towards his foot.

‘This could only mean one thing!..’

No Koji, it could mean multiple, but let’s see what you seem to have deduced the situation to.

‘She must have hit the back iron, and the ball got propelled over here!..’

Oh, well that actually seems quite reasonable.

“Uh… Hello?’

Suddenly a feminine voice reached Koji’s ears.

Quickly, Koji realized he had been caught staring off again, so he quickly picked up the ball and passed it to her.

“Oh. Here.”

Like always, Koji responded calmly- contrary to his jumbled thought process.

He turned away and went back to shooting- acting as if nothing had just happened.

“N-No… I was asking you a question…”

The basketball which Koji had shot just a moment ago hit him in the head. He was not expecting a follow up.

Akari looked at him, now in confusion.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah…”

Again, he was blunt…

But that’s not what he had to worry about now! What had she meant by “asking you a question…”? Koji’s mind was flustered, and he began to pick up the ball which had just left a bump on his head.

“So what’s up? You had a question?”

How does he always manage to respond so calmly?

“Oh… Yeah. It’s more of a favor actually. Do you mind teaching me how to shoot this thing?”

As she finished the latter part of her sentence, she held out the basketball with two hands.

‘So she doesn’t play basketball?’

I mean I guess Koji really doesn’t either…

…But still.

‘Wait, was she trying to get my attention with the ball before?’

Some things were starting to click for Koji’s slow, little, brain.

No Koji, she doesn’t play basketball. Yes Koji, she was trying to get your attention before.

“Uhh… Yeah, sure, no problem.”

‘Yes problem... Very much so a problem actually!’

While he had replied in indifference, he was not feeling confident about this.

He still really, reallllly, sucked at shooting. And what if she asks for help in some other aspect? I mean- he hasn’t even dabbled in the other basic concepts of basketball yet.

His skills could be akin to Eldritch Horrors for all he knew.

And he hasn’t even thought of the fact that he has to somehow make conversation with her…

‘Conversation…’

Well now he has!

His face quickly dimmed, depriving itself of any life. Most boys his age would blush, but Koji was outright terrified. No conflicting feelings here!

The two had been standing in silence for about 5, maybe 10, seconds now.

Unbeknowingly, Akari was just waiting for Koji to calm himself. I mean, he won’t calm himself- but he can try.

Koji regained his consciousness and looked at Akari, who hosted a very innocent and blank face, waiting for him to initiate something. Anything!

“So, what are you having trouble with exactly?”

He had to start somewhere…

She put on a bright smile and said in earnest:

“Oh! I don’t know how to shoot!”

The pure innocence in her voice enraged Koji. What had she been doing for the past 20 minutes???

“Well you basically just put the ball in your hand…”

Koji matched his words with equivalent actions as he proceeded.

“…Then you will want to flick your wrist back, and then forward-“

“No can do.”

Kojis face sank.

‘What’s wrong with this girl???’ “No can do.” WHAT DO YOU MEAN???’

“Uhh- what exactly do you mean: “No can do”.”

“I can’t flick my wrists like that. I tried already.”

‘THEN WHY ASK ME???’

“Oh, well I mean that’s really the only way-”

“How about a granny shot?”

“…”

Koji stared in disbelief.

‘Is she mentally sane?’

He stared more.

‘Why would you even-‘

“So? Can you show me how to do a granny shot?”

“I mean… I guess? You basically just…”

He loaded his shot while he grabbed the basketball with two hands- one on each side.

*swish

“…”

All-net. Koji had struggled to shoot all day, and yet his granny shot was a perfect swish.

This may seem impressive to Akari, but to Koji this was just demoralizing.

“Seems you should’ve been shooting like a granny this entire time…”

It seems it was not impressive to Akari.

Koji’s face flushed as he stood in the remnants of a granny shot; legs spread out wide and head down to shield embarrassment.

“Ha-Ha-Ha.”

Akari laughed, taking Koji a bit off guard. He had never expected her to be so laid back since she was said to be more reserved and independent at school. He had assumed people flocked to her as opposed to the opposite, but right now…

“Why don’t you try then.” Koji said with a hint of spite and malice.

And so Koji got ready to rebound underneath the hoop, readying himself as she loaded her granny shot. The way she stood screamed ‘Seasoned Veteran’- in terms of the granny shots, of course.

*fwoosh

Oh, but how far that is from the truth…

Akaris ball soared through the skys, reaching maybe a whopping peak of 9 feet. Keep in mind- the rim is 10…

Koji was so shocked by this, he just stood there.

*bop

And so the ball hit Koji directly on his head. Presumably the same sport as before.

Koji though remained unaffected. He stood still like a statue.

Both of them stared at each other as their faces were equally as blank.

After a few seconds, the situation dawned on Akari and she started to feel some guilt. She put one hand out as she started to walk towards Koji, readying herself to ask if he’s alright…

“AH-HAHA-”

Akari froze.

“-HA-HA-HA!”

Koji was laughing. A genuine hysteric laugh. This was the last thing she expected.

“HA! You SUCK! HAHAHA!”

Who knows why Koji was laughing. He had a slow little brain after all.

But Akari was really perplexed. Koji didn’t strike her as the laid back type. Let alone the type to nonchalantly make fun of a girl. Based on her impression so far- he was the type who didn’t really care about much.

Unknown to Akari, she was blushing. From embarrassment of course- but a blush is a blush.

Among all the chaos, Koji had somehow wound up on the ground in hysterics.

“Hey! Stop laughing!..”

Of course Akari’s voice was devoid of any malicious or oppressive intent. Instead it was filled with an embarrassed blush, as she pouted.

“OH… oh- I’m sorry. Oh god…”

Honestly, who knows why it made Koji laugh so much. Guess comedic irony is stronger for some than others…

The combination of the peculiar “tense” situation, her poking fun at him for making the shot, and then her just completely missing and hitting him on the head. Then of course the cherry on top was both of them computing the situation for a few seconds- in the end sending Koji over the top.

“Maybe you should work on your normal jumpshot…”

“Pfft. Oh, I- I’m sorry…”

His continuous teasing just made Akari pout more. Eventually Koji stood up, still teary eyed, and handed Akari the ball.

She was shocked by this sudden development, and kind of froze.

“What? You gonna give up after one shot?”

Akari stopped with her pout now, and looked at Koji with new, wide eyes.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong- I wouldn’t blame you. It was a crazy pitiful shot…”

Andddddd Akari was back to her pouty face.

“HA! Oh, I’m sorry…”

Koji wiped a tear off his face, as Akari looked away in spite.

Still though, she wasn’t actually mad…

**

After about 30 more minutes went by, Akari finally sent herself home. After all, it was starting to get late.

The setting sun disappeared behind her as she closed the door to her house. She walked upon some stairs and entered her room- wiping her face off with a little hand towel as she did.

She took off her headband- which proved useless -and sat at her desk which was faced towards a wall.

Laying her water bottle down, she grabbed a pen, and opened her notebook which lay close. As she flipped through the pages, one could see multiple words crossed out, each written with various pens, pencils, and markers. A single word per line, with a single mark crossing through each.

She finally reached the most recent page, which was filled out in the same manner as it’s predecessors. Except at the bottom, where three words stood unmarked.

The first was [Chess].

She thought back to earlier today when she played a few games against a classmate during lunch.

‘Nope.’

She crossed out [Chess].

The next word was [Calligraphy].

She thought back to earlier today in school, where she had tried her hand at it. It started off well at first, but her hands started to shake shortly after- resulting in messy strokes.

‘What was I even thinking?’

And so she crossed out [Calligraphy].

And lastly was [Basketball].

She thought back to just 10 minutes ago.

Mental images of her playing with Koji filled her head. About 50 minutes of fun flashed through her head as fast as light.

Then she thought about when he laughed at her, initiating a cute scowl.

She thought for a moment again, and then turned around. She walked to the opposite side of her room, where her bed and window were located.

Outside the window, Koji could be seen. It was hard to make him out, but she knew it was him.

She even managed to make out him doing a granny shot?

“Pfft.”

She closed the blinds of the window, and walked back to her desk. Simultaneously, she set her pen down and closed her notebook.

With that she shut off her light and hopped into bed, pulling the covers over herself- making herself resemble a sick child as only half her face could be seen.

She pulled out her phone as the bright light illuminated her face.

One more time, she turned her head and glanced at her window- wondering more about Koji…

**

The Next Day…

Koji walked into the hospital with his parents. Over the past few days they had become regulars, and so were quickly on their way from the main lobby to a private room. A private room which housed Tensai.

While his parents talked with his doctor, Koji made his way into a chair seated next to his brother.

Tensai had his eyes wide open, as he listened to his little brother whom he hadn't seen so composed in such a long time…

**

End Chapter 3:

Akari Anzai