By the time I’d more or less broken down the various aspects of basketball, the sky was pitch-black. Though the lights were on, visibility became poor if we strayed away from the court a little.
“I... I can’t go on anymore.” Completely drained, Mei flopped onto a bench.
He really gave it his all for someone who doesn’t normally exercise. “You’re going to be sore tomorrow, huh?”
“Natsuki, how are you still so full of energy?”
“Because I exercise. It’s good for you. Working out enriches the world.”
“What? That sounds scary somehow...”
Now that Mei was down for the count, I practiced on my own. I needed to regain my feel for the ball before the competition. I wasn’t good enough to beat the upperclassmen with my current skill level.
I gently dribbled the ball and then took a shot. My fingers were slightly off; the ball hit the hoop and bounced off.
“A little higher?” I muttered, then sighed and ran after it.
I looked up ahead to see someone else pick up the rolling ball. A girl wearing the same school’s uniform as me stepped out of the darkness—it was Motomiya Miori.
“What are you doing in a place like this?” She dribbled the ball, which appeared to stick to her hand, and then spun it on her finger.
“We’re practicing for the ball game competition,” I said.
“I expected that from you, but Shinohara-kun too?”
“He wants to show Funayama-san his cool side.”
“He kinda resembles you. Your motives for working hard are childish.” Miori giggled.
Quiet, you! Though I agree we resemble each other. “What about you? This park isn’t on your way home.”
“Mmm... I was in the mood for a little stroll. And then I spotted you.”
She pretended to be the same as usual, but I was certain it was just a front. Something had clearly happened. I could tell just by the timbre of her voice. But she didn’t say anything, so I hesitated about whether I should bring it up.
“Hey, Natsuki.” Miori stood in the center of the court and passed the ball to me. “I’ll keep you company while you train,” she said, taking a defensive stance.
I got it. If you won’t say anything, then I won’t ask. “One-on-one, first to three points.”
***
“M’kay, that’s my second win,” I said.
“Th-That wasn’t fair! I didn’t give the starting signal! Redo!” Miori exclaimed.
“Nice, that was perfect. No complaints this time, yeah?”
“Grrr... Rematch! One more game, come on!”
“Fine, guess I have to...”
“Gah! You’ve gotta be kidding me. That was just a fluke!” I exclaimed.
“A win’s a win, even if it was only a fluke. Sucks to suck, you sore loser!” Miori jeered.
“You’ve lost every other game. Why’re you bragging about one win...?”
I bought water from the vending machine and gulped it down. “Phew! I feel alive again,” I said. I was absolutely bushed and couldn’t move another muscle.
We were only supposed to play one first-to-three game, but Miori kept whining when she lost... I’m beat. What time is it? I checked my phone; it was already 10 p.m., way too late. If I took the train now, it’d be past eleven by the time I got home.
For the record, Mei was exhausted and had gone home a long time ago. He’d waited for us at first, but our games had gone on endlessly, and he had become tired of watching. I feel bad for neglecting him.
I carried the drinks I’d bought from the vending machine back to where Miori was. She’d thrown herself down on the grass in the park. Sure, we’re the only ones out here this late at night, but what the heck are you doing?
“You’re going to get your uniform dirty,” I said.
“Too late for that. It’s Friday, anyway. I just need to wash it this weekend,” she said.
“I brought some drinks.”
“What’d you buy?”
“Strawberry orange juice. It’s your favorite, right?”
“I’d like to say, ‘Nice job,’ but I just want to drink water right now.”
“I knew you’d say that, so I also got water.”
“Huh, dang, nice job! You’ve really grown up.” Miori sat up, and I handed her a bottle.
“I drank some of it already, though,” I added.
“Pfft! Hey! Y-You...” It looked like some water had gone down the wrong pipe, because she coughed violently.
“You’re not one to care about that stuff, anyway.” I laughed at the dumb look on her face and sat down beside her.
“That was back when we were kids. It’s different now! Um... There are gender differences and whatever, got it?” Her tone was hesitant as she spoke, and her face was red.
Not a sight I see often. But I guess she’s got a point. Things truly aren’t the same as they used to be. Me, Miori, the people around us—everything is different now.
I gazed up at the cloudless night sky. The stars scattered up there were beautiful. “Hey, do you remember the first time we met?” Even now, that was the only moment I could recall clearly.
“Was it something special? I don’t really remember,” she replied.
“Nothing special to you.”
To Miori, that was probably just one minor scene in her typical day-to-day life. But for me, it was a precious memory.
“Hey, whatcha doing? Come play with us!”
It had happened in the spring of our first year of elementary school. When I hadn’t fit into any friend groups, Miori had taken my hand. And through her, I’d made good friends.
“I wonder what Takuro’s up to now,” I said, recalling an old buddy who’d been in the same friend group as me and Miori.
“That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. He was a funny guy.”
Back when I’d known him, Takuro was a bit chubby and lost his temper easily, but he was a merry boy who was constantly smiling.
“After he moved to Osaka, that was it from him. We didn’t have a way to stay in touch back then,” I said.
“Huh, when was that? Fifth grade? Sixth?” Miori asked.
“Fifth grade. He was already gone by the time of our school trip.”
“Oh yeah. It was just me, you...and Shuto by then.”
“Ah, Shuto. He went to a different middle school from us, and then we stopped talking.”
That was another nostalgic name. No word would’ve been more fitting than “idiot” to describe that guy. Shuto was a boy with boundless cheer, always brimming with energy.
“I figured that’s what happened,” she said. “I used to meet up with him every once in a while. Now we stay connected through Minsta. I see him post from time to time. He’s still playing soccer at Higashi High.”
“Really? I’m glad he’s doing well.”
Back then, Miori, Shuto, Takuro, and I had been a crew of four.
“We’re going to hold a contest to decide who’s the best rock skipper around! Let’s sprint to the river!” Miori had declared.
“Awww yeah! I’m not gonna lose! Raaagh! I’m gonna get there fiiirst!” Shuto exclaimed.
“This is so random, why?” I’d grumbled. “Miori and Shuto are too hyper. I can’t keep up.”
“Ha ha ha! They’re free-spirited as always! C’mon, Natsuki, let’s get going too!”
It didn’t matter that there were three boys in our group, Miori had always been our leader.
I recalled all the things we’d done together. We’d pranked our teacher and received a huge scolding; Miori had been too skilled at hide-and-seek, and we’d searched for her to no avail until nightfall; we’d sneaked into the school after dark. Once, we’d even tried to bike to Tokyo, gotten discouraged around Saitama, and then turned back. All four of us had been out of action the next day due to sore muscles.
We’d been stupid back then—so much so that just remembering it made me feel embarrassed.
“It was fun,” Miori murmured. She was likely reminiscing over the same sort of memories I was.
We were a hopeless bunch back then, but still we’d had a great time.
“I used to think that the four of us would always be together,” she continued.
“Same here. I thought there was no way I’d hang out with anyone besides you guys,” I said.
Nevertheless, the flow of time was cruel—nothing could stay the same forever. Takuro and Shuto were both walking their own paths in life. It was miraculous that Miori and I were still connected right now. After all, in our original history, we’d stopped interacting completely by this point.
And in much the same way, my current group of six would also change with the flow of time. The place I’d once felt oh so comfy in was now a little suffocating.
“I want to return to those days,” Miori said. “Because it was fun, and I was worry-free back then.”
“Are you worried about something? You’re dating Reita now, so wasn’t your wish granted?” I asked.
“I’ve got a bunch on my mind. We’re not adults yet, but we can’t stay kids forever. Life’s not all about simple emotions like being happy or sad.” She looked at me. “Isn’t it the same for you?”
“What makes you think that?”
“You’re finally dating Hikari-chan, but you look so down.”
Nothing gets past Miori. I’d only been running full speed ahead, all so I wouldn’t have any regrets this time around. The “now” that I lived in was one that I’d changed—and that’s why I had no right to complain.
“Do you...regret the path you chose?” she asked.
I shook my head. There were other ways I could’ve handled this. I’m sure I could’ve fulfilled my desires without letting rifts form in my friendships. However, even knowing that, I still chose this path. It was the sincerest option for me, so no matter how this turns out, I won’t regret it.
“I see,” Miori said.
That’s really how it is...right? Is this feeling really not regret? I wasn’t sure, even though I’d supposedly obtained the things I’d wanted.
“But y’know, you don’t need to give up.” She suddenly sat up and pointed at my nose. “I bet you’re thinking something like, ‘I don’t have the right to do anything, since it’s my fault that things are awkward with our friend group.’ Your sincerity is one of your good points, though. I’ll give you that.”
“Well, it is actually my fault. I manipulated them all.”
“Sure, but you’re not gonna reach your ideal youth at this rate, right?”
“Yeah, probably not...”
Miori started drinking my strawberry orange juice without asking—even though she’d also drank the water.
“Hey, pick one,” I said in protest.
“Too bad, both of them are mine!”
Seeing her drink the juice with such relish made my anger fade away.
“I think it’s fine for you to be more selfish like me,” she said. Her words permeated into my chest. “You don’t want to have any regrets, right?”
She’s right. Didn’t I want to redo my high school life because I was full of regrets? I should prioritize achieving my rainbow-colored youth above everything else.
“Welp, it’s weird to hear that from me when I’m full of regrets,” she said.
A hush fell between us for a while. We sat side by side, gazing up at the night sky in silence.
“Can I ask what happened?” I said eventually.
“You’re the only person I won’t tell. But I’ll have you know, it’s your fault.”
“What?!” It’s my fault?! That makes me even more anxious! But Miori doesn’t seem like she’s going to talk. What the heck is bothering her?
“We’d better head home now,” she said.
“Yeah. Any later and we’ll miss the last train.”
“But I’m too tired to stand up.” Despite her words, she rose to her feet. “Huh?”
Her legs were numb, and she staggered all of a sudden. Before she fell over, I managed to catch her in my arms.
“S-Sorry,” she stuttered. “My legs won’t listen to me.”
Well, unlike me, she played a series of one-on-ones on top of her team’s practice regimen. No wonder her legs are at their limit. “I told you we should’ve stopped sooner.”
“No way, I’d hate that. I can’t end on a loss.”
“You’re still the sore loser I remember.” I smiled wryly and let go of her when she’d regained her balance. “Uh, Miori?”
She didn’t move away and continued to cling to me without a word. I couldn’t see her expression because she pressed her forehead against my chest.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, tapping the back of her head.
“Hey, Natsuki,” she began in a meek voice. What came next was outrageous. “What would you do...if I told you I love you?”
It was so unexpected that my mind went blank. What would I do? Wait, Miori...likes me? Then what about Reita? I froze.
Miori peeled away from me and laughed raucously. “Why’re you taking that so seriously? It was obviously a joke!”
“Shut up! Joke or not, what was I supposed to say there?!” And that really didn’t feel like a joke. Stop using your stupidly good acting skills for dumb pranks!
“I’m going home! If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss the last train!” she exclaimed, breaking into a run. She put some distance between us and then beckoned to me.
“Her legs are completely fine,” I muttered. There was nothing else to do but chase after Miori.
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