Chereads / THE PERFECT SHOT: A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER / Chapter 3 - I REFUSE TO JOIN THE BASKETBALL TEAM; USAGI'S PERSUASION

Chapter 3 - I REFUSE TO JOIN THE BASKETBALL TEAM; USAGI'S PERSUASION

Hayami-sensei: alright,I will be starting the lesson shortly but, before we begin the student council president would like to have a word with all of you

Hitomi: good morning everyone, I am here today not only to talk about the welfare of the students of Toshigawa academy but also to Inform you of the positions that are open in the student council. The former student council president, along with the vice president and also our secretary graduated, so now we have these vacant spots in the council. My reason for being here is to inspect each first years to see if they qualify to join the student council. For those who are interested please, write your name here

???: A chance to become a student council member I'll definitely sign up

Naomi: Sachiko why don't you sign up to become a student council member, you definitely have the brain and dedication for it. Sachi?

Sachiko: oh I'm sorry, I zoned out for a bit, what were you saying?

Naomi: are you alright? Ever since we starting attending this school you are always dozing off and that only happens when you have a crush

Sachiko: no I don't

Naomi: are you sure? You have been looking at Kawaguchi for a while now, actually ever since we started school yesterday

Naomi: to be honest, he is cute and he is also intelligent and let's not forget about his talent for basketball

Naomi: I mean even my heart skipped a beat for a second when he was playing

Sachiko: cut it out Naomi (blushes), it's not like that

Naomi: you're actually blushing, you're so cute

Sachiko: Naomi!!

Naomi: I'm just messing with you, calm down

Naomi: so then, are you going to sign up to become a student council member?

Sachiko: it's not like I'm in a club or do sports like you so why not

(Sachiko walks up to the front of the class to write her name)

Yoshida: your name is Takahashi Sachiko right? The girl who ranked second in the entrance exam

Sachiko: yes

Yoshida: I would like to speak with you after school today, meet me in the student council room

Sachiko: okay

Yoshida: thank you all for your time, goodbye

Hayami-sensei: okay, let's get back to the lesson

(School bell rings)

(Wind blows)

(Tetsuo): the breeze up here is quite nice

(Tetsuo): it's been a year since I've played basketball, yet still I was able to score three pointers

(Tetsuo): playing basketball wasn't as fun back then as it was today. It was the only thing that kept me sane through all that darkness , other than my sister

???: Well done assassin number nine , you definitely have potential, I look forward to our dealings with you in the future

(Tetsuo Gasps)

(Tetsuo sees blood on his hands)

(Tetsuo): that's right, I don't deserve this type of life or this freedom, not after what I've done

Nanaho: I see that someone has already found my spot on the roof

Tetsuo: huh?

Nanaho: why are you so surprised? The roof belongs to everyone doesn't it?

Tetsuo: I guess

Nanaho: you're a first year, Tetsuo Kawaguchi am I right?

Tetsuo: yes

Nanaho: to be honest I was really impressed by how you played in that match earlier this morning, you really can play basketball well. You're a talented three point shooter-

Tetsuo: get to the point

Nanaho: (clears throat) , I'm humbly asking you to please join the basketball team, the team needs a player of your caliber to make it to the inter high

Nanaho: it has been the Captain's dream to get there

Tetsuo: sorry but I can't , I have a lot of responsibilities at home

Nanaho: oh I see

Nanaho: how rude of me I didn't introduced myself did i?

Nanaho: my name is Nanaho Fukazawa, I am the coach and manager of the Toshigawa academy's basketball team.

Nanaho: here lets exchange numbers , if you ever change your mind , please contact me

Tetsuo: okay

Nanaho: thank you, see you later

(Tetsuo) : (sighs) well that was awkward

(School bell rings)

(Tetsuo): well it's time for class

Tetsuo: huh?

Yukio: hello, your name is Tetsuo Kawaguchi right? Can I talk to you for a bit

Tetsuo: what do you want?

Yukio: I would like for you to…

Tetsuo: join the basketball team? Your coach and manager came to me like two minutes ago and I already told her that I can't play because I have responsibilities. So could you move out of the way I have a class to get to.

Yukio: wait, before you go I want to ask you something

Tetsuo: and what might that be?

Yukio: which junior high school did you play for?

Tetsuo: I didn't play basketball in junior high

Yukio: oh, I see

Tetsuo: if that's all please excuse me

(Yukio): this guy is quite mysterious, how intriguing

Hamada-sensei: good afternoon class, my name is Shunpei Hamada and I'll be teaching everyone mathematics for the rest of your first years

Hamada-sensei: since it's the second day and I'm a generous teacher, I will not be teaching today

???: let's go!!!

Hamada-sensei: however, I would like to be acquainted with all of you but since you all have introduced yourselves yesterday already you can just stand and tell me your names, so that I can match them with your faces. I would prefer if we started here.

Makoto: My name is Makoto Kurai

Naomi: Naomi Nakamura

Shino: Shino Katsuragi

Noboru: the name is Noboru Takemoto nice to meet you sir

Kiyoe: My name is Kiyoe Ikegami

Rie: Ri..Rie Morioka , it's a pleasure to be acquainted

Ayumi: my name is Ayumi Nishioka , I hope that we can have a spectacular semester this year

Sachiko: My name is Sachiko Takahashi

Tetsuo: Tetsuo Kawaguchi

Asato: Asato Kajiwara

Aoki: Naohiro Aoki

Miyu: my name is Miu Sugiyama

Hamada-sensei: okay that's everyone, I hope that we have a productive semester this time around. Now anyone have any suggestions on what we should do for this session?

Sachiko: we could discuss how you would teach the syllabus and arrange it in an appropriate manner for us to learn efficiently and quickly.

Hamada-sensei: okay, shall we begin the arrangements

Everyone: yes sensei

(School bell rings)

(Makoto): (sigh) he hasn't even started teaching and I was so bored

Shino: hey Makoto

(Makoto): and here comes the other pain

Shino: um, Makoto

Makoto: what do you want this time?

Shino: well, you see, I was wondering if you wanted to join the basketball team with me. I mean you're really talented you would definitely add to the team's strength

Makoto: no thanks, I don't think you have heard from your upperclassmen but I quitted basketball for over a year now and I'm not going to play again, I swore an oath to myself.

Shino: b..but you played with us today and you seemed happy while playing

Makoto: I only played today as a favor to you, not for myself

Shino: couldn't you please reconsider

Makoto: no, I'm leaving now

(Shino): I don't know what to do to get him to join , what will it take?

???: Thanks again , we hope that you come shopping here again soon

Tetsuo: that's everything on the list , it's time to go home

Tetsuo: I'm home

Usagi: welcome home big brother

Usagi: I prepared a bath for you and I'm currently making our dinner, you can go ahead and take a bath

Tetsuo: thank you, Usagi

(Tetsuo): well then I think it's about time I got out

Usagi: oh you're done, please sit down

Tetsuo: yes

Usagi: so how was school today?

Tetsuo: it went well

Usagi: big brother, couldn't you give me more details

Tetsuo: well, I met a lot of my peers who were enthusiastic about attending Toshigawa academy for sports and club activities

Tetsuo: and I also played basketball in gym session today

Usagi: that's great ,wait on that topic, did you signed up for the basketball team

Tetsuo: I was asked to join by my seniors, but I turned them down

Usagi: why?

Tetsuo: I have a lot of responsibilities and you are my top priority. So as long as you're happy , I don't need basketball

Usagi: you don't understand do you, my happiness came from the smile you use to display when we were kids, you use to love playing basketball with our father and I would stand there and watch you laugh, smile and sometimes cry when you played with him. So you see , it's the same for me, your happiness is my happiness, so please join the basketball team for your own sake.

Tetsuo: but-

Usagi: didn't we came here to change, we are not here to dwell on the past, we are here to become better versions of ourselves. I want you to be happy like back then, so please just join

Tetsuo: I understand, I'll give it some thought

Usagi: good

Tetsuo: so how was your day? Did everything went well

Usagi: well technically yes, I made three friends today , however a girl in my class seem to have a problem with me and it's only the second day

Tetsuo: oh, I see , the best course of action is for you to avoid her so things don't escalate between both of you

Usagi: yes

Tetsuo: thanks for the meal

Tetsuo: I'm going to clean up now

Usagi: no, leave it to me , go ahead and rest Tetsuo

Tetsuo: okay

(Sachiko knocks)

Hitomi: come in

Hitomi: oh Takahashi, I'm glad to see that you came, so you are interested in becoming a student council member right?

Sachiko: yes

Hitomi: I ran some background checks on all the first years and I figured that you are the most suitable candidate to become the next vice president.

Sachiko: huh!

Hitomi: you come from a wealthy background, you were the student council president at your junior high school, you're beautiful, you're intelligent, people will actually listen to you and you're a critical thinker. There is no one else more suitable for this position.

Sachiko: I see

Hitomi: however, it comes with a lot of responsibilities so if you're willing to put in the hard work and time that would be ideal. So then will you become the vice president

Sachiko: yes

Hitomi: good

Hitomi: now then , there is a matter I would like for you to handle for me, think of it as your first task as the vice president

Sachiko: what do you want me to do?

Hitomi: out of all the students in their first year of high school there is this one guy that stands out, Tetsuo Kawaguchi, there is no background information on him but as we know he got a perfect score on the entrance exams. Since both of you are in the same class I want you to find out more about him and also to convince him to join the student council. His input would definitely help this school correct any issues that may arise. So will you take up this task

(Sachiko): how am I going to convince him to join the student council when I can't even hold a simple conversation with him . But, I have to do this .

Sachiko: I will do my best to convince him to join the student council

Hitomi: okay, I'm counting on you

Sachiko: yes