"What happened to Kei, Chihaya?"
In the back of the basketball court, Azusa was asking what had happened to Kei for him to become like this. After all, when they were in middle school, she had known Kei to be outspoken and friendly to everyone in whatever he did. She had noticed Kei talk less than he used to but it was just because she thought he was unfamiliar with his new school surroundings.
"I… honestly don't know…"
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I don't know what to say... He was already like this when we started high school."
In truth, Chihaya knew as much about Kei's change in attitude and behaviour as Azusa did. Since she wasn't there to know what had actually happened to cause Kei's attitude to change, and Kei wouldn't tell her, she could only guess and speculate. She had however, hoped that Kei would one day tell her.
"I don't know what happened to him nor do I want to force him to tell me..."
"…"
***
When the training session was over, Kei remained in the court alone as he usually did after every training and game that they had. This was usually the time when he would bask in the silence of his surroundings and have some time for himself to think. Lately, he had found these moments of calm and quiet rather scarce ever since Mai came into his life.
"Haah… Was there another way I could've settled that problem… What would you do if you were in my situation… Tasuke-senpai…?"
As he was thinking out loud, footsteps approached him from behind.
"Nope, I think you did well today."
"Yanagi-sensei?"
"I see you're here as usual."
"Sensei… what do you mean I did well today? I essentially just ruined an entire year for those three upperclassmen…"
By reducing the three of them to water-boys, he had basically put the three upperclassmen's basketball reputations to ruin for the year.
"If they missed a year, what about those at the club who didn't make the cut at all? They're still training hard in hopes that they can be called up to the team too. What you did today was shocking in their eyes, but all I saw was a capable captain putting his disobeying troops in line."
"But wouldn't that make them lose all confidence?"
"Although you are often cold on the outside, I can still see that you are a nice boy deep down. Well, if they break down and lose all confidence from a small matter like that, then they shouldn't be part of this club in the first place. They came to this school knowing they would be competing with other capable players for the first-team places. If I am to guess, those three will work even harder to gain your approval, just you see."
"I see… Thank you sensei. It feels like I've just gotten a huge chunk of guilt and burden off my shoulders. It is time for me to return. Thank you for your advice, sensei." Kei said as he flashed a slightly relieved smile to Yanagi-sensei on impulse.
With a bow, Kei walked away from Yanagi-sensei and left the basketball court. As Yanagi-sensei watched Kei walking away, he couldn't help but think out loud as well.
"Well, he is a nice boy deep down… Just a little lost."
When he exited the basketball court using the back entrance, he could hear the commotion on the other side of the building where a few students were arguing with a security guard.
"I don't get why we can't enter the court to watch the practices?!"
"Look, it was a direct order from Yanagi-sensei that I do not let anyone other than basketball members enter the basketball court."
"Why not?! We just want to support the players!"
"Look, orders are orders. I'm just doing my job…"
As all of this was happening, Kei noticed some of the voices were his classmates. He then remembered what Chihaya had said the day before and he thanked Chihaya in his heart.
'I think I have to buy Chihaya an ice cream or something…'
When the students stubbornly refused to budge from the training ground, Yanagi-sensei appeared from the front door with his intimidating aura and looked at all the students in front of him.
"What's with all this commotion? You all should be going home this late. Go on home."
The students all fled in horror when Yanagi-sensei appeared. In truth, Yanagi-sensei actually knew what the students were here for, Kei telling him not to let anyone in was already a big hint.
'Honestly, what a troublesome boy. If he embraced his popularity a little bit, this wouldn't be such a problem.'
***
When Kei walked towards the school's front gate, as he had expected, a familiar figure was standing beside the gate waiting for him. Mai had earlier sent a text to him telling him that she would be waiting for him after his practice so she could walk home with him. He wanted to tell her to not wait for him but knew she wouldn't listen.
As his training session ended slightly earlier than usual, he stayed in the training grounds for slightly longer until the actual time for the end of training arrived. This time however, Mai was holding a small towel for Kei.
"Thank you for your hard work." Mai said as she handed Kei the towel.
"Mmm… thanks…"
Kei took the towel and wiped his face and head with it. As he was in a slightly happier mood than usual thanks to Yanagi-sensei's talk earlier, he unknowingly showed it to Mai as well. He took Mai's bag off her shoulder as usual to put it over his own before starting to walk in the direction of their apartment. This time however, he stopped before turning around to look at Mai.
"Are you coming, Mai?"
"Yes!"
'He's unusually nicer to me today. Heheh~'
Mai skipped up to Kei who was waiting before proceeding to walk home side by side with him, before bringing up topics of conversations as excuses to talk to him.
"Hmm~ So he does show some expression to someone."
Chihaya stood at a distance as she watched the two of them walk home together.