**

Currently, Koji found himself trailing at the back of a 3 man line- stretching from baseline to just behind the hoop. At the top of the three point line, the tall man- who used to be his teammate -stood.

Somehow, Koji had found himself playing a game of King Of The Court. Essentially, a game of 1 on 1 where the offensive player gets a singular shot, and if they miss- they go to the back of the line while the defender takes over. If they make, they stay on, and the defender goes to the back of the line.

Koji found himself in this situation due to the muscular man’s slight incompetence…

After his “rude” question, he felt bad and profusely offered Koji to play with them.

And here he was…

Being at the back of the line, he could observe his opponents as they played.

For the first possession, the tall man- who introduced himself as Kan -had the ball. Defending him was the muscular man, Jones. Then in front of Koji in line was Slim.

Yes, the slim man identified himself as “Slim”.

**

It had been about 10 minutes since Koji started playing. The sun was coming eerily close to setting, and so the night started to turn dark. Thankfully, there were artificial lights which illuminated the courts.

Although, Koji would love for nothing more than to be given an excuse to escape this purgatory.

After about 10 minutes, he had done nothing but defend. And not well at that.

He helplessly watched, as Kan took everybody in the post, Jones bodied everyone who tried to guard him, and Slim blew by anyone too close.

Let’s reiterate that.

Koji has not gotten a singular stop.

But… he did realize something.

Each of the three had their own play style, and their own demeanor.

When they played, they did so to their strength- taking advantage of what others lacked.

This was a missing piece from Koji’s game. Looking back on it, he had no decisive factor.

During the game of 5 v 5, he had done nothing but spot up. When playing with Akari, he treated every aspect of basketball equally- not trying to perfectly hone anything in specific.

While yes, everything helped at his level, if he could develop his own game…

…Koji could refine it to perfection, and get himself a step above the rest.

After all, he was already 10 steps behind.

So, when he got the ball for the first time, Koji found himself being guarded by Jones.

Looking at Jones, who sat at a very small stature, he tried to use his height against him,

‘Nope…’

Immediately after trying to post him up, he was plucked.

Finally, Koji got the ball again. Guarding him was Kan.

‘Speed?’

After trying to blow by Kan and use his immense height against him- he was blocked underneath the rim…

Finally, he got the ball again. This time, it was Slim.

Slim was very… slim.

‘Maybe weight?’

He tried to back him down with pure power, but as he went up for a shot- Slim timed it perfectly and tipped it, sending Koji to the backside of the line yet again.

It seemed there was nothing he could do…

**

It was well past dark now, meaning his text to Mrs. Thompson before had definitely expired validity.

But Koji was enraged. He was mad at himself. Sweating, heavy breaths- he had tried everything.

‘This is my last chance…’ He thought.

Yes, Koji had finally gotten the ball for a fourth time.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

But what was he to do?..

“…”

He stared at his defender, Jones, as he pondered for various solutions which would finally allow himself to get a win.

He went over a chronological timeline of his history with basketball, trying to figure out what he excelled at.

What did he excel at..?

‘!!!’

Without warning, Koji initiated play, taking a quick jab with his left foot- causing Jones to step back in response. Following the jab, Koji took one hard dribble to the right, and started looking downhill.

But suddenly, he stopped. After just one dribble, he rose from his squatted position into a shot from the elbow.

Since Jones was out of position from the previous jab step, he was forced to jump back even more, trying to cut Koji off from his drive.

But reading that, Koji took a quick stop and rose into a mid-range pull up.

All net.

Koji nonchalantly walked back to the peak of the three point line, as he knew he had more work to do.

Jones picked up the ball in shock, and handed it to Kan- Koji’s next defender.

Kan checked the ball to Koji, and so the play began. He had no intention of underestimating Koji after what he just saw, so he got into a low position, ready to defend.

‘He’s gonna try to blow by me because of my height!’

…

‘That’s what he’s thinking, huh?’

After a quick jab step into a crossover, he planted his foot- ready to shoot.

While Kan hadn’t expected back-to-back jumpshots, he could make up for it with his immense length.

And so, he jumped at Koji, who was just about to rise for his shot.

That was, until…

*fwish

Koji flicked his left foot back, exploding off it for an easy layup. By the time he scored, Kan was still in the air jumping for joy.

“!!!” Kan was utterly shocked.

This was not something he was expecting from someone who had previously played like a lost puppy…

Finally, Slim was up.

Koji took a quick pump fake into a jab step, which he followed up with another jumpshot at the elbow- this time the opposite one.

*clank

‘Dammit..!’

He had missed.

But regardless, he was open…

Sadly though, that’s not how Koji saw it. As he wore a disappointed frown on his face, he walked to the line’s back.

**

About 30 minutes after Koji’s enlightenment, the group of 3 started to pack up.

“Are you guys leaving?” Koji asked, in a bit of shock from the sudden development.

Jones turned around, simultaneously slinging a little pouch over his broad shoulder,

“Yeah. We’re too old to stay any longer, Ha-Ha-Ha…”

He let out a disappointed chuckle.

Disappointed, Koji then turned to get his stuff and head out. As he did however…

“Hey, keep working on those fakes of yours.”

Slim, the quick fellow, spoke out- surprising Koji.

As Koji turned his head to slim, Kan spoke out.

“Yeah, those moves were hard to guard. You’re very quick on your feet…”

“Oh, uhm… Thanks..!”

Koji didn’t take compliments very well.

But, he now knew what the next step was for himself.

He would have to now refine his isolation…

**

The sky was now well beyond dark, illuminated only by little dots of gas in the sky which were long ago named as; Stars.

Koji found himself in a deep daze set upon said stars, reflecting on his day.

The more so he did, the more the weight on his shoulder(s) reliviated themselves.

“Ahhhh~”

He now found himself rubbing grimy hands into tense muscles, which rolled around his fingers as his shoulder laxed.

The more Koji walked, the closer the train station came into sight. Realizing this, Koji pulled out his phone, as it brightened the faint smile on his face with it’s artificial light.

[10:12]

‘Damn… Mom’s gonna be mad…’

{Now Departing}

That was the sound of the intercom, indicating the train’s very soon departure.

“Shit..!”

Hurriedly, Koji did a awkward in between of a run and walk- attempting his best to get on the train while also avoiding people.

Thankfully, he made it just in time, as behind him the doors closed with a puff of steam.

‘Close…’

Grasping the support bar now, Koji looked around to keep himself entertained before sitting on his phone for the rest of the ride.

To his right was an elderly couple, to his left a lone man- presumably in his thirties.

In front of him however, was a young couple- a man and woman -no older than highschool graduates.

The girl was leaning on the boy's shoulder, as he leaned on her head.

They were both leaning on each other…

**

That same night, Akari found herself walking the streets around her house out of anger.

Or, more so despair.

No, no, maybe regret?

How about all three.

“sniffle… sniffle…”

She was quietly crying, simultaneously trying to hold back tears.

Soon enough, she found herself at the basketball courts where she and Koji would play often. The lights shone bright as it sensed her presence.

She didn’t find herself here on purpose though, as she currently just wanted a way to console herself in private. After all, no one would be at these courts at whatever time it currently was.

“Whatever time”, because she didn’t currently have her phone.

She sat on the bench, hands on her face- thinking of how nice it would be to lay down right now. But, she had chosen this herself.

She had chosen to cry alone.

But this thought just made her cry more.

She just couldn’t stop thinking back to her past… The same one which was destroyed within a moment's notice.

The same one that still held her father, and along with that- her aspirations.

Taking her right hand off a flushed face now, she looked down.

Down at her wrist.

Quickly enough, it started to shake- just as it normally would during moments such as these.

Moments aside from this, too.

Momentarily after, her gaze was followed with more flowing tears- and so her shaking wrist began to soak in salty waterworks.

Due to her stationary posture, the lights which illuminated the courts previously had shut off. They were based on physical sensory and timers, after all.

And so now, Akari was sitting within the dark, chilled, night. The only light left was the stars which sprinkled across the endless void.

This…

…This didn’t help the feeling of lonesome which she had already felt.

More than anything right now, Akari just wanted her Dad back. Or even just her dreams.

Or at the very least, some light.

“…”

Just then, the lamp posts surrounding the courts lit up, shining brightly on both Akari and the one who had initiated the sensors.

“Akari..?”

It was Koji.

**

End Chapter 10:

Extinguishing Gasses