The second game was about to start, and Sora stepped onto the court with a calm yet determined expression. I leaned against the sidelines, feeling a surge of curiosity. What kind of basketball player was he, really? I mean he told me that he's bad at it but somewhere at the back of my mind, I doubted those words.
Truth be told, I know a fair bit about basketball. My best friend, who moved overseas, used to play. She was amazing, recruited by a prestigious college with a scholarship that was practically made for prodigies like her. I never missed a game when she was still here. I miss those times, I miss her.
Sora stood near the center, casually dribbling the ball as the players got into position. I squinted, trying to guess his role. Hmm, maybe a shooting guard? He looks about 5'11, so that makes sense. But is he good?
Well, it doesn't really matter, does it? I just hope he has fun.
"Alright, let's get this started!" Saku clapped his hands together, grinning wide. His energy radiates enthusiasm.
The players on the court were all from the same high school as us. Some had even been part of the school's basketball team back then. And now here they were, ready to relive their glory days or at least break a sweat after being buried in college assignments. Sora was teamed up with Saku, while their opponents boasted a full lineup of former basketball team regulars.
Despite knowing this was just a casual game, I found myself getting anxious for Sora. My hands clenched by my sides as the ball was passed back and forth.
Wait... why was I even nervous? This was just for fun, right?
Or so I kept telling myself.
The game tipped off, and the ball landed right in Sora's hands. He started dribbling up the court, slow and deliberate, eyes scanning the floor. The defense shifted into position on the other side, and Sora's gaze darted around, taking stock of everyone's placement.
Wait... was he assessing the whole court? Does that mean he's the point guard? But isn't he a bit tall for that? At around 5'11", wouldn't he be better suited as a shooting guard or small forward?
Why am I even analyzing this? It's just a casual game. Maybe I should stop overthinking and just enjoy it.
Sora made the first play, passing the ball to Saku, but the defender read it perfectly, intercepting the pass and bolting to the other end for an easy basket.
Oof. That was rough.
I guess he wasn't kidding when he said he wasn't good at basketball. But something seemed off. His movements were stiff, like he was carrying invisible weights on his shoulders.
Was he nervous?
I bit my lip, my gaze locked on him. Come on, Sora. You've got this.
Halftime rolled around, and it wasn't looking great for Sora's team. He had four turnovers and zero points on the board. The opponents held a solid lead at 43-34. Saku, on the other hand, was carrying the team with 11 points, keeping them within striking distance.
But there was something off about Sora. I couldn't shake the feeling that he knew how to play basketball, he just couldn't perform well today. Why was that?
Curiosity got the better of me, so I walked over to their bench.
"What's wrong?" I asked, giving his shoulder a light tap.
He looked up at me, his face radiating the unmistakable energy of someone embarrassed.
"I'm a bit nervous," he admitted with a forced smile, scratching the back of his neck.
"Don't be! Just go and have fun. Your performance here won't define you, okay? Look at the other players."
Sora glanced around the court. The change in his expression was immediate. The stiff tension in his face softened as he saw the other players chatting casually, smiling, and even laughing despite being down in points. They were just enjoying the game.
I smiled. "See? Just have fun, okay?"
"Okay... I guess I was worried for nothing."
"Exactly."
Sora's lips curved into a more genuine smile as he extended his fist toward me. I grinned and bumped my fist against his.
Saku jogged over, his usual carefree grin in place. "Hey, dude! Chill, okay? Don't worry about anything, just have fun!"
Sora stood up, his confidence seemingly restored. "Let's head back to the court," he said, his face lit up with a big smile.
Saku blinked, momentarily surprised by Sora's shift in energy. Then he laughed and clapped him on the back. "Now that's the spirit."
The second half began, and this time Saku let Sora take the lead, bringing the ball down the court. The defender in front of him looked confident, clearly expecting another turnover. But something was different about Sora.
He moved with confidence. With a sudden burst of speed, he shifted his pace, crossing over his defender effortlessly before driving straight to the basket for a clean layup.
The crowd erupted into oohs and ahhs, their voices echoing through the gym. Even I was caught off guard, blinking in disbelief. Was that... really Sora? Just minutes ago, he looked stiff and hesitant. Now he was moving like a completely different player.
Was it a fluke? I couldn't help but wonder.
On the next possession, Sora had the ball again. The atmosphere in the gym was electric, filled with anticipation. Everyone was thinking the same thing: Was that a lucky break, or is this the real Sora?
He dribbled down the court, eyes focused. The defender tensed, ready to cut him off. Sora made a sharp crossover from right to left, but this time the defender was ready, lunging forward for the steal.
Just when I thought Sora was about to lose the ball, he countered with a smooth behind-the-back dribble. The defender lost his footing and fell right onto his butt.
An ankle breaker.
The gym exploded, cheers and gasps bouncing off the walls. His teammates on the bench went wild.
Sora drove straight to the basket, but another defender had already leaped into the air, ready to block him.
I held my breath.
But instead of forcing the shot, Sora smoothly dropped the ball off to Saku, who was perfectly positioned under the hoop. Saku caught it and scored with ease.
The crowd roared, and I couldn't help but smile. It was clear now, Sora didn't just "used" to play basketball. He is good at basketball!
By the end of the third quarter, Sora's team had taken the lead, but there was no time to relax. The score was tight at 57-55. Sora had racked up 15 points in just that quarter alone, his transformation on the court nothing short of incredible.
As the final quarter began, the atmosphere was tense. The defense inside the paint had tightened up, becoming far more impenetrable than before.
"Make the inside heavier so Sora can't break through!" one of the boys from the opposing team shouted, rallying his teammates.
I watched closely, wondering how Sora would adapt. He had been unstoppable driving to the basket, but now the defenders were ready for him.
Without hesitation, Sora made his move, but instead of pushing inside, he pulled up from the three-point line. The ball soared through the air in a perfect arc and swooshed clean through the net.
The crowd erupted. My jaw practically dropped. Is there anything this guy can't do with a basketball? How did someone this good not get a scholarship? He could easily make it onto a great college team, no question about it.
The game carried on, with Sora's team maintaining their lead. They played with heart and focus, and by the final buzzer, they had secured a victory at 73-66.
"Good job, dude!!!" Saku beamed, slapping Sora on the back. "Why would you hide that you're this good at basketball? Seriously, do you want to try out for the college team? I know a friend who could put in a good word for you!"
Sora smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. His humility was almost as surprising as his skills on the court.
"I'll think about it for now, haha," Sora replied with a shy grin.
"Okay, dude! Just let me know!" Saku said with a thumbs up before jogging off.
Sora turned toward me, his expression bright and radiant. His smile was so genuine it was almost contagious.
"Thank you, Yui!" he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
"Thank you? For what?" I asked, tilting my head.
"If it wasn't for you, I don't think I'd have been able to play the right way today."
"You did great! Give yourself some credit for that," I said with a laugh. "But never mind that, you have some explaining to do!"
Sora blinked, clearly confused. "Pardon?"
"How are you that good at basketball but not playing for any university team?" I demanded, folding my arms.
Sora scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh... about that... can we grab a meal first? I'll explain while we eat."
I narrowed my eyes for a moment but shrugged. "Fine, but you're not getting out of this conversation. Go get changed. I'll wait here."
"Got it. Be right back!" he said, jogging toward the locker room, his energy lighter than I'd ever seen.