**

Koji stood on the wing closest to Akari, Yuki and Lucas, still oblivious to the former of the three. He looked through the chain mesh fence as the sun set, casting a subliminal orange tint to the courts.

He set grimy hands to his knees, as he bent over to catch a breath. The game of 5 vs. 5 was almost over, as he barely contributed aside from his first shot.

As Ren took the ball up on game point, Koji looked over his shoulder. To his surprise, he saw Yuki and Lucas behind him. He didn’t know much about Yuki, aside from the fact that she was Akari’s good friend, but besides that- he found it odd that she was suddenly there… seemingly fawning over Lucas at that.

Koji had certainly misconstrued their conversation a bit… But before he could realize that, his eyes caught whiff of Akari, who was sat next to Yuki- knees tucked into her chest.

As they met eyes, Akari waved- wearing a cute smile.

‘A-Akari?’

As he waved back with an awkward smile, his confusion regarding Yuki’s presence clicked.

“Hey! Koji!”

“Hm?”

Before Koji knew it, the ball was already plastered onto his face. Ren- who was previously trying to warn his friend of a bad pass -was now fumbling around, trying to receive the ball from Koji’s face.

“AHH!”

Koji screamed in surprise, as he settled his waving hand. Finally, Ren had picked up the ball, and chucked up a heat check.

Koji, along with the three on the sideline, watched as it soared through the air before going in.

“Wo-Woah… Nice shot Ren..!”

Koji was in a bit of shock, partially because of Ren’s impressive shot for game, and partially because of the minor concussion he must’ve sustained just now…

**

After the shot, the opposing team seemed to leave the courts, as Ren and Koji’s teammates started playing with just the three of them.

As Koji watched his five opponents walk off, Ren came up to Koji to congratulate him for the good pass at the end.

‘Pass my ass…’

Ren gave him a pat on the back, then walked over to Lucas, who was still talking with Yuki- both their backs pressed against the chain fence.

Koji watched Lucas and Yuki, until he realized Akari was missing from her previous spot.

“Hey, Koji..!”

Behind him, a very upbeat and positive voice spoke.

“O-Oh, hey Akari…”

Koji turned around to see Akari standing there, her radiant hair gleaming under the orange tint of the sun. Her arms were crossed behind her back, as she stood all preppy like.

“So, from what I saw…”

Without any second greeting or ice breaker, Akari got right in to Koji’s faults. After observing for a full game, she started to grasp what the others did that Koji did not.

Of course, this didn’t apply to anything skill based. She didn’t know enough about basketball to understand those sorts of things, but she was able to use common sense to list off a few different aspects;

[Was lost on both defense and offense, didn’t move without the ball, couldn’t keep up with anyone, and accepted his role of spotting up.]

These were the main things Akari named. It was kind of surprising that she was able to comprehend his faults based on his contrasting actions to the others- while simultaneously trying to learn the game.

But then again, it was Akari Anzai.

While Koji made sure to listen to her constructive(?) criticism, he was more preoccupied with some other questions.

“Hey, not that I don’t appreciate it or anything… but why are you here?..”

As Koji said that, he scratched his sweat tipped hair with his grimy hands. His face was that of puzzled pity, as he felt bad for asking a question which he himself deemed a bit rude.

But without any falter, nor aggravation, Akari answered:

“Oh, I just saw you guys playing, so I wanted to watch.”

She smiled brightly as she said that, which relieved Koji of his short-lived guilt.

‘I suppose that is a very Akari-esk thing to do…’

Over time, Koji had slowly realized that Akari was a bit selfish. Not in a bad way per say, but the trait was there for sure.

He thought back to when she invaded his house and shivered…

‘Definitely an Akari thing to do…’

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Taking his mind off things, Koji looked over his shoulder to see Yuki and Lucas still talking. Previously, it had seemed that she was fawning over him, but now he started to realize he might of been a bit wrong…

“Hey, what’s with those two?”

Koji pointed, as he asked a question which could insinuate many things…

“Hm..?” Akari looked over Koji’s shoulder.

“Oh, I don’t know… Pretty sure they were arguing about each other's dreams or something…”

Immediately, Koji thought that Lucas must have lost that argument- considering he doesn’t even work towards his ideals.

But it seemed that she was more so listening to him than arguing with him.

Ren observed the two from close, as they seemed to be in a world of their own.

Lucas tilted the phone screen, which was filled with script, as he looked at Yuki- Yuki matching his gaze.

“You know, you’re really willing to take advice for someone so pretentious.”

Yuki ignored the backhanded praise and responded:

“Well, at first I thought you were just insulting me out of spite, but the more you pointed out my faults as a writer, the more it made sense to me. As if everything I was concerned with previously was put into words by you.”

“I told you, Rom-Coms help the soul…”

“Shut up. Just keep reading…”

And so Lucas kept reading.

‘They have an odd dynamic…’ Ren thought.

Garnering both their attention, Ren spoke.

“Hey, how come you guys are here?”

His voice was soft, as he tilted his head from above- looking down at both Lucas and Yuki.

‘Ah! It’s Ren!’ Yuki thought, as she started frolicking through fields of flowers in her mind.

“O-Oh, R-Ren… I just followed Akari here… She came over when she saw you guys playing… I think.”

Lucas gave Yuki a devious smirk, noticing her situation immediately.

He really liked Rom-Coms after all…

Ren looked back towards Akari, to see her and Koji still talking.

He opened his mouth, and pointed at the two, resulting in both Lucas and Yuki’s attention to re-develop.

“So, what’s with those two..?”

This was a question on his mind since yesterdayl. He knew of Akari, due to her popularity and such, but he didn’t know much about her. But even given his little background knowledge, never would he have expected that her and Koji…

“Pfft! What? That Koji kid and Akari? He wishes, Ha-Ha-Ha…”-Yuki, of course.

Well that answered Ren’s question- even if a bit sardonically... Ren wasn’t worried about that though- he knew Lucas would handle it.

“Huh? Koji wishes??? Do you often mix up words? Actually… that would explain your awful script… Dyslexia, maybe..?”

Ren walked away, numbing his mind so he wouldn’t have to hear the two go back and forth.

‘Definitely an odd dynamic…’

**

“Hello?”

A girl within the comforts of her own dorm room held a phone up to her ear, as it gave voice to an older woman with an inquisitive tone.

“Hey Mom!”

She puffed her curly, dyed, brown hair up, as she responded whilst holding a soft smile. Her lipstick smothered mouth parted, as she continued to talk.

“I’m gonna be coming down soon for an Art competition… Can I stay at home for a bit..?”

“What..? Of course, honey!”

“Thanks Mom… I’ll keep you updated, but I have to go now, Love You!”

“Love you too, honey! Good luck on the completion!”

*beep

After hanging up the call, the girl pushed her phone down her tight pockets and began walking to the door- grabbing a purse on her way out.

*creek

*SLAM

The door shut very quickly, due to its naturally heavy frame. The girl walked down the dormitory's hallway, who knows for what. On the door which she closed, however, were various art pieces- along with a singular name tag -to decorate it’s whole.

**

Koji sat against the chain linked fence which enveloped the city’s court. He was on his phone, letting his mom know of the situation.

[I’ll be leaving soon]

[Ok. Love you]

It was a short lived conversation…

But it was fine. After all- Koji needed to use this time to practice!

It had been about 30 minutes since all of Yuki, Lucas, Ren, and Akari had left. Koji had stayed back, because he wanted to get more shots up, but of course he didn’t say that. He knew that Ren and Lucas would stay if he did- and maybe even Akari too.

‘No, no, definitely Akari…’

It’s not that he had hated their presence, in fact it actually made him feel much better about himself. But he just wanted to play basketball with himself, and his own thoughts for a bit. Which he succeeded in doing, hence the reason for “leaving soon”.

He stood back up, looking at the three that played on the other side of the court, as he made his way to his side.

It was his teammates from before. The buff dude, the more slim guy, and the really tall fellow. They seemed to be playing 1 on 1s. Thankfully for Koji, who didn’t have a ball- they did. They lent him a spare while they played.

This reminded him of about half an hour prior, right before everyone else left:

“Ok… but I have a surprise for you this weekend! So keep that in mind…”

Yes, Akari had said this. After intensive questioning, she wouldn’t speak on what this “surprise” was. And now he had to wait a whole week to find out!

Although, he was fine waiting for the universe to die out, in all honesty.

This surprise of her’s could mean a few things… Of course, Koji wouldn’t let himself be blinded by desire- but it still made him uneasy to think about.

‘She couldn’t possibly have known what that insinuates, right???’

But unbeknownst to Koji, Akari had very well known. She was still a bit salty after her “loss” the previous day.

As Koji kept thinking to himself in knots…

“Hey, kid!”

“Hm?”

Koji whipped his head around to the very masculine voice.

Behind him, was his three teammates. The one who spoke out to him, to no surprise, was the very muscular one. He was a bit short, but nonetheless intimidating.

“Oh… Yeah..?”

Koji was a bit nervous, but started to calm down. They were teammates after all!

‘Yup… nothing to worry about at all…’

As he thought that, the muscular dude got up to his face, grabbing it with his hand which pulsed with muscle.

Ok, maybe there was something to worry about…

“Yup! Definitely Tensai’s brother…”

‘Oh thank god…’

He let go of Koji’s face, as he took a step back.

“You are Tensai’s brother… right?”

“Uhm… yes. I am his brother.”

The tall guy in the back pumped his fist, exclaiming his happiness.

“Yes! I was right..!”

They were much different than when they were playing before…

“I’m sorry, but uhm… how exactly do you know Tenz..?”

This time, the slim guy spoke out;

“You don’t know? He used to dominate these courts! Him and that Noah kid…”

The tall guy took back the reins of the conversation.

“Yeah! They hustled all of us… really whooped us good… Ha-Ha-Ha…”

That chuckle was a bit devoid of any happiness, but still- it was genuine.

“The two of them are pretty much legends down here when it comes to basketball. They’ve never lost!..”

Upon hearing all this, Koji became a bit sad, his face growing a bit dim.

The muscular man started talking again;

“Anyway… How are those two now..?”

**

End Chapter 9:

Broken Nostalgia