Chapter 16: 16

After giving a puzzled look at Mizuho’s words, Kiryu turned to me and tilted her head.

“Um…, you were in the National Meet?”

“I wasn’t. Even Mizuho said it. I was “selected” for the National Meet. I’m a former, and more importantly, candidate.”

“Well..”

“Is it next year? Anyway our prefecture is hosting the National Athletic Meet, right? So the executives at the prefectural basketball association were excited and  they made a team by gathering junior high school students.”

Our prefecture has traditionally been weak in basketball. It would have been bad to lose in the first round of the tournament, so a select team was formed.

“So you were chosen?”

“I got lucky.”

With that said, I tossed a karaage into my mouth. Mizuho, who looked dissatisfied with my words, interrupted me. (T/N: Karaage is a Japanese fried chicken.)

“That’s not true!  Hiroyuki-senpai was really cool when he was playing basketball!”

“Are you saying that I don’t look cool when I’m not playing basketball?” 

“He is short, but he uses his height to his advantage, dribbling through opponents’ defenses, making tricky passes behind their backs, and shooting from long range! It is no exaggeration to say that he is the strongest point guard of his generation that I know of!”

“You’re exaggerating.”

What do you mean the best point guard of his generation? I’m not that great.

“That’s high praise. Isn’t it?”

“I wasn’t so great. It just so happened that one of the top guys from the association saw me play in one of the games and asked, ‘Why don’t you join us for practice?””

We were a weak team to begin with, our junior high school. Therefore I guess I stood out a little.

“Isn’t that a great honour?”

“Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t happy.”

But later on, despair replaced it. To begin with, the height difference between myself and the other players isn’t even half of what it should be. .

After showing a slight look of concern, Kiryu raised her right hand.

“Hai.”

“Go ahead, Kiryu-san.”

“Well… I don’t know if this is a good thing to ask.”

“We won’t know until you ask. But I don’t think he’s going to get angry all of a sudden.”

Well, I can pretty much guess what she wants to ask. Ryoko and Tomomi, don’t make your faces so tense.

“Why did you quit basketball?”

Ahh, I knew it.

“I didn’t quit… Didn’t you hear earlier? I’m going to go along with Mizuho’s practice.”

“But you’re in the go-home club, right? With all due respect, having the ability to be chosen as a candidate to represent the prefecture, it would be a shame not to put it to good use, don’t you think?”

“A sermon?”

“I’m sorry if it sounded that way, but I’m just curious. If it were me, I wouldn’t ever stop.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I don’t know much about basketball, but I guess the taller you are, the better off you are, right?”

“I suppose, but that’s not all.”

It is often said that basketball is not about height, because “the difference in height can be overturned by ability,” However generally speaking being taller is better. 

“If that is the case, I am sure that your effort to be selected as a member of the prefectural team must have been tremendous. You must have practiced very hard.If you’ve made that much effort——-”

“If it were me, I surely wouldn’t quit.”, was it?

“Well, maybe, that’s usually the case.”

“Right? Which is why I was genuinely curious. Did you get hurt?”

“Well, I’ve been chronically sore in some areas, but I haven’t had any serious injuries that would be life-threatening for an athlete.”

“Then why?”

“Oh, um!　Kiryu-san?　Around there–“

“Because it’s not fun anymore.”

Ryoko raised her voice to suppress Kiryu’s words. I interrupted her by answering Kiryu’s question.

“Not fun anymore?”

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“That’s right. Basketball is no longer fun. The hard work, the trying to win, everything.”

“…”

“…”

“I see.”

“Huh? You’re not going to give another sermon?”

“Do you expect me to?”

“Well, you said it’s a waste. So I expected something like “Even if it’s not fun, do it!!””

“Could you please not make fun of me? There’s nothing more painful than effort forced upon you by others. You played basketball because it was fun, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

“If you quit because it wasn’t interesting anymore, that’s all right. You don’t have to force yourself to do something you don’t enjoy.”

“You’re not going to say “You have no ambition” and “Stop acting spoiled”?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Not at all.”

“Right? Even I wouldn’t want to do something I’m not interested in. Well, if you were so passionate about basketball, why don’t you go home and do something else that you are passionate about? You’re just going home and lazing around anyway, aren’t you?”

“Rude. I’m busy reading manga and playing games.”

“That’s no different from lazing around.”

Kiryu giggles in a funny way. Mizuho looks at her with admiration and opens her mouth.

“Ho~. Well, well.”

“What is it?”

“No, I was wondering if I might be having an unexpected rival.” 

“Rival?”

“That’s right!  I’m a big fan of Hiroyuki-senpai!”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Otherwise, do you think I’d invite him to play basketball after school? Ne~,Hiroyuki-senpai?　Love!” (T/N- Says love in english, prolly for fun)

“Yeah, yeah. Love, love.”

“Let’s see,  the two of you are going out.”

“Of course not. With this kid?”

To begin with, my preference is a Yamato Nadeshiko.

“Aah!　Hiroyuki-senpai!　How could you say that!　Even though I love senpai so much!”

“Yeah, yeah. Well, this is the kind of relationship we have.”

“I can understand.. But at the same time I can’t…”

Kiryu makes a subtle expression on her face. And then the pre-bell rings

“I’ve been talking all the time, and my chopsticks aren’t moving at all. Sorry, Ryoko.”

“It’s fine. We can have the rest for dinner.” 

“I’m sorry I got you to make it.”

Ryoko waves her hand at me as I bow my head and says, ‘It’s fine, it’s fine.” I’ll buy you a drink next time. Ah, I can buy her the movie ticket instead.

“Ah, I missed Ryoko-senpai’s lunch.This is Hiroyuki-senpai’s fault too! Because of your story.”

“If I remember correctly, wasn’t it you who asked me to talk about it?”

“Those details don’t matter! Anyway, Hiroyuki-senpai! You’re free after school, right? Let’s play basketball together!”

“Well, this is why. You—–”

“I’m sorry, Kawakita-san. Well, he has a few things to do after school.”

“What? Kiryu..”

“Things? Hiroyuki-senpai? What are you–Besides Kiryu-senpai, what does he have to do with you?”

Mizuho tilts her head and smiles beautifully.

“Well–a date, perhaps?　With me.”

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