Chapter XX

* POV: Sugahara -

Ring ring…. Ring ring….

“Ughh,” I groaned as my alarm blared, jolting me awake way too early for summer vacation.

The sweltering heat hit me like a brick wall as soon as I stepped outside. Beads of sweat were already forming on my forehead just from the short walk to the train station. By the time I arrived at the gym, I felt like a sweaty, disheveled mess.

Kojima greeted me with a weak wave, his normally fluffy hair completely deflated and matted to his forehead. Yikes, the heat was really doing a number on all of us. The rest of the team trickled in, everyone dragging their feet and looking just as miserable as Kojima and I felt.

"Alright ladies, let's get started!" Miyamura's booming voice echoed through the gym. I winced at his enthusiasm.

We sluggishly started our stretches and warm up drills. Every movement felt ten times more exhausting with the oppressive heat weighing us down. Sweat was already pouring off my body in rivers. At one point, Nakamura straight up laid down on the court, prompting Miyamura to yell at him to keep going.

By the time we moved to actual practice drills, it felt like we were all on the verge of heat stroke. Passes were getting sloppier, shots were clanking off the rim, and our defensive effort was laughable at best. Kojima nearly hurled after a few suicide sprints.

"What is this garbage effort?!" Miyamura roared, his face beet red with anger. "You guys look like a bunch of senior citizens out there! Where's the hustle? Where's the drive?!"

"That's easy for you to say coach Miyamura, you have a fan in your hand!" Asari pointed out.

I peeled myself off the hardwood floor, my sweat-drenched jersey clinging uncomfortably to my skin. Practice had been an absolute nightmare in this sweltering summer heat.

"You guys looked like a bunch of beached whales out there," Miyamura grumbled, though even he seemed to have lost some of his usual intensity after that brutal session.

Kojima let out a pitiful whimper beside me, not even having the energy to sit up.

Glancing around the gym, the rest of the team wasn't faring much better. Nakamura was splayed out like a starfish, chest heaving with each ragged breath. Asari somehow still had the wherewithal to fan himself weakly with his jersey. Even the normally stoic Reo looked completely spent.

With a grunt of effort, I finally pulled myself into a seated position. The air was so thick and heavy, it felt like I was trying to breathe underwater. Sweat trickled down my face and back, making my clothes feel ten pounds heavier.

"Alright, hit the showers," Miyamura barked, finally taking pity on us.

The showers offered a blissful reprieve from the sweltering heat. I stood under the cascade of blessedly cool water, letting it wash away the layers of grime and fatigue. Gradually, I could feel my strength returning as the cramps in my muscles began to subside.

One by one, the guys trickled out, looking slightly more human.

When I went back home, I was just sprawled out on the couch, absentmindedly flipping through channels on the TV.

Suddenly my phone buzzed with a new message. A glance at the screen showed it was from Kinoshita.

"Hey Sugahara! I need your help with something," her text read. "Kaori's birthday is next week and I wanted to get her a really nice gift. Can you come with me to the mall later today and help me pick something out?"

Come to think of it, when was the last time I went to the mall?

Years ago maybe, wow my life was really on pause up until a few months ago.

I got up to get ready to go.

A couple hours later, I found myself strolling through the crowded mall with Kinoshita practically bouncing at my side.

"So what did you have in mind for Haruno?" I asked as we wandered past storefront after storefront.

Kinoshita furrowed in thought. "Well, she's been really into baking lately, so maybe we could get her some nice kitchen supplies or bakeware?"

I nodded slowly. "Could work," I replied.

We poked our heads into a kitchenware store, scanning the aisles of gleaming pots, pans, and utensils. An expensive stand mixer caught Kinoshita's eye.

"Ooh, what about this?" She pointed it out excitedly. "Haruno could use this for all her baking projects!"

"Yeah, we should keep that in mind," I replied.

"We should probably keep looking around though, in case we find something better," I explained.

We continued exploring the mall, and suddenly, her eyes lit up as we passed by a bookstore.

"Ooo! I've got it!" She grabbed my arm, practically dragging me inside. "Kaori's been wanting to read this new novel that everyone's been talking about. We can get her that!"

"A novel huh?" I thought to myself.

As Kinoshita tugged me into the bookstore, I was hit with a wave of that unmistakable book smell - a blend of paper, ink, and accumulated knowledge. The place was packed, with people milling about the aisles and clustered around display tables.

"It should be over in the new releases section," Kinoshita said eagerly, weaving her way through the crowd with me in tow.

We squeezed past a group of teenagers camped out on the floor, flipping through manga volumes. A little kid darted between my legs, nearly tripping me up. Man, this place was a madhouse.

The new releases table was swarmed with browsers, all clamoring for the hottest book of the moment - the novel Kinoshita wanted to get Haruno. She scanned the stacks hopefully, but her face soon fell.

"Oh no..." she murmured, shoulders slumping. "They're all out."

I surveyed the near-empty shelves, but nothing was left. This must have been one wildly popular book.

After striking out at the bookstore, Kinoshita let out a disappointed sigh. "Well, I guess we'll have to think of something else for Kaori's gift."

My stomach chose that moment to rumble loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since a rushed breakfast earlier. Kinoshita heard it too and laughed.

"Sounds like someone's hungry! Why don't we grab a bite to eat and regroup?"

Food did sound pretty good right about now. "Lead the way," I replied.

Kinoshita grabbed my arm again, steering me through the bustling mall towards the food court. The scent of greasy fries and sizzling meat wafted through the air, making my mouth water. I hadn't realized how ravenous I was until now.

"What are you feeling?" Kinoshita asked as we surveyed the vast dining area packed with options. "I could go for a burger myself."

"Burger sounds perfect," I agreed readily. A juicy burger with all the fixings really hit the spot.

We joined the line at a burger joint, watching as the cooks slung patties onto the sizzling grill. The mouthwatering aroma of cooking beef filled the air, my stomach growling impatiently.

Finally, it was our turn to order. I went with a classic bacon cheeseburger while Kinoshita built herself a lettuce burger piled high with veggies.

"Wow, thats a pretty healthy option," I told her.

"Yeah, i've been on a diet these past few months," she replied.

I guess that explains her slim frame.

Kinoshita was not only slim, but also pretty tall for a girl.

She's about the same height as Kojima and I'm about 3 inches taller than him.

While we stood waiting for our order, a group of kids were kicking a soccer ball around the food court area. I shook my head disapprovingly - the mall was no place for that kind of rowdy behavior.

One of the boys wound up and blasted the ball with all his might. My eyes widened as the projectile came hurtling straight towards us. It was heading straight for my face as I saw it out the corner of my eye, but I couldn't react in time. Suddenly, Kinoshita's hand shot out and snatched the ball clean out of the air just before it could slam into my face.

"Whoa..." I breathed, staring at her in amazement. Her reflexes were insane.

Kinoshita calmly approached the kids, ball tucked under her arm. "You guys know better than to be playing soccer indoors like this," she chided gently. "Someone could get seriously hurt."

The kids hung their heads guiltily as she handed the ball back to them. "Why don't you take this game outside where there's more space?"

"Yes, ma'am," the leader of the little pack mumbled contritely.

"Those were some crazy good hand-eye coordination skills back there. You ever play any sports?" I said with praise.

Kinoshita laughed and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I actually used to play soccer back in junior high. I was pretty good at it too."

I tried, picturing a Kinoshita tearing it up on the soccer pitch. "What position did you play?" I asked her.

A wistful look crossed her face. "I was a forward. Always loved being on the attack and trying to score goals." She chuckled softly. "My teammates used to joke that I was a ball hog who never passed."

I let out a little laugh. "That sounds like me when it comes to basketball," I replied.

"What? You pass all the time, I watch the games yanno," she replied.

"Yeah, I guess what I meant to say was, that's how I used to be," I replied.

We snagged one of the few remaining tables, dropping our trays with a clatter. I didn't waste any time before tearing into my burger, the first bite of hot, savory deliciousness melting in my mouth.

"Mmm, so good," I mumbled through my stuffed cheeks.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Kinoshita took a bite as well with a delectable look on her face.

"By the way, how'd you get so good at basketball, did you just start playing at a young age?" she asked me.

I looked up at the ceiling, recalling my basketball career.

"Nah, I actually kinda started a little late, maybe 7 or 8?" I replied

"What? That's still pretty young if you ask me," she replied.

"Really? I've met a lot of people that started playing sports when they were like four or something," I explained.

"But yeah, I initially didn't like basketball because my big brother was like this big star. I felt that if I played basketball I would just be in his shadow," I said.

"Still though, things change, and I eventually kinda fell in love with it for a while," I continued.

"Anyways, why didn't you keep playing soccer?" I asked her.

Kinoshita's smile faded a little. "Well, I ended up having to stop playing after an injury my third year. Stupid accident during practice - went up for a header and collided with another player. Ended up tearing my ACL."

I winced sympathetically. Knee injuries were the worst, especially for athletes. "Oof, that's rough. I'm guessing it was a pretty serious one if you had to hang up the cleats?"

She nodded solemnly. "Yeah, I was on crutches for months and had to go through intensive physical therapy. My doctor said if I kept playing competitive soccer, I risked permanently damaging my knee."

I felt a pang of empathy as Kinoshita described her devastating knee injury and how it ended her soccer career. As an athlete myself, I could only imagine how crushing that must have been for her.

"That's really tough, I'm so sorry you had to go through that," I said sincerely. "Injuries like that can be absolutely heartbreaking when they threaten to take away the sport you love."

Kinoshita gave me a reassuring smile, her expression saying she had long since come to terms with it. "It was hard at first, not going to lie. Soccer had been such a huge part of my life for so many years. But you know, life goes on. As much as I loved the game, it's not the be-all and end-all."

I nodded slowly, taking another bite of my burger as I mulled over her words. She was right - as passionate as we were about our respective sports, they didn't define us entirely. There was so much more to life.

I felt a rush of respect for Kinoshita's mature perspective. She had been through something so devastating for any athlete, and yet she emerged with such a grounded, level-headed outlook. Honestly, she's pretty cool, like really cool.

* * *

* POV: Kinoshita -

After the lunch break, we headed back to the mall to continue our search for the perfect gift for Kaori. Sugahara and I strolled through the various shops, occasionally stopping to check out potential items.

We eventually circled back to the first shop we entered as I decided to get Kaori the mixer we were eyeing at.

Satisfied with my choice, I clutched it to my chest as I went to go pay for it.

Just as we were about to leave the mall, something caught my eye across the hall. "Oh! The bookstore just got a new shipment!"

We hurried inside and immediately made a beeline for the fiction section. Sugahara scanned the shelves intently until his gaze landed on a familiar book spine.

"There it is!" he exclaimed, reaching up to grab the novel Kaori had been hoping.

I watched as Sugahara plucked the book from the shelf, turning it over in his hands with a contemplative look.

"You know, maybe I should get this for Haruno," he said, glancing over at me. "It might help strengthen our friendship a bit."

I raised an eyebrow, recalling how frosty Haruno had been towards Sugahara lately. "You think a book is going to warm her up to you?"

"Eh, why not?" he replied.

I had to admit he had a point there, Kaori is pretty mean towards Sugahara, maybe less than before, but perhaps it would be a good chance to deepen their friendship or something.

After successfully getting the book, we left the mall through the front entrance.

I clutched the gift bag tightly as Sugahara and I made our way towards the train station. A slight frown tugged at my lips as I realized our little shopping adventure was coming to an end.

"Well, I guess this is where we part ways," Sugahara said giving me an easy smile. "Thanks for letting me tag along today. It was fun hanging out."

I nodded, plastering on a cheerful expression. "Of course! I'm glad you joined me, sorry for dragging you out and all on summer break," I said apologetically.

"What? I'm glad you did, I actually don't like being at home much," he explained.

I tilted my head curiously at Sugahara's admission about not liking being at home. "Oh? Why's that?"

He let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. "It's my uncle. He's kind of a prick, to be honest."

"Being home just feels like pain," he added.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said softly. "That must be really difficult to deal with."

Sugahara simply shrugged, though a flicker of something indecipherable passed through his gaze. "It is what it is. I just try to spend as little time there as possible."

An uncomfortable silence settled between us for a beat as I nibbled on my lower lip.

"Well, if you ever want to hang out more to avoid going home, you're always welcome to hang out with me!," I offered shyly, giving him a warm smile.

Sugahara's eyes widened momentarily before his expression melted into one of pleasant surprise. "Yeah? You mean that?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! I mean, we had fun today right? We can totally keep having fun like this," I explained.

"You can always come to my… uh…" I trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

I got a little carried away in the moment and almost blurted out an invitation for Sugahara to come over to my house. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I abruptly stopped mid-sentence, realizing how presumptuous and embarrassing that would be.

Sugahara confused, clearly picking up on my awkward pause. "I can always what?" he asked for clarification.

Flustered, I quickly tried to change the subject. "Actually, you know what? We should keep hanging out today! There's a batting cage nearby, we could go swing some pitches for fun."

"A batting cage? Yeah, that actually sounds pretty fun," Sugahara replied.

"Great! There's one just a few blocks from here."

The two of us set off down the sidewalk. Sugahara hummed a jaunty tune under his breath as we walked, hands tucked casually in his pockets.

I snuck a glance at him from the corner of my eye, taking in his relaxed demeanor.

Soon enough, the batting cages came into view up ahead. I picked up the pace a bit, feeling a flutter of excitement course through me. As we approached the entrance, Sugahara held the door open for me with a playful bow.

We paid the attendant before grabbing our bats and helmets. I adjusted the helmet over my head, giving it a little tap to ensure it was secure.

I stepped up to the batting cage, bat gripped tightly in my hands as I settled into my stance. Taking a deep breath, I eyed the pitching machine with determination.

The first ball came whizzing towards me and I swung, connecting with a satisfying crack, seeing the ball sail through the netting.

"Nice hit!" Sugahara called out from behind me.

I glanced back over my shoulder, offering him a bright smile before refocusing on the next pitch. I squared up and crushed it, sending it flying with impressive power.

"You've got quite the swing, Kinoshita." he told me.

My cheeks flushed a bit at the praise. "Thanks!, i've always been pretty good at this," I replied.

"You seem to be good at a lot of things Kinoshita, and you have a fat ass!" Sugahara said to me.

The bat slipped from my hands and clattered loudly to the ground. My jaw dropped open in utter shock as Sugahara's words hit me like a truck.

Did he really just...comment on my...?

Heat flooded my cheeks as I whipped around to face him, eyes wide. "Wh-What did you just say?" I sputtered, certain I must have misheard him.

Sugahara tilted his head, seeming genuinely confused by my reaction. "Huh? I just said you seem good at a lot of things, are you're like a total bad ass," he explained.

I let out a small sigh of relief as Sugahara clarified what he had actually said. For a moment there, I thought he had made an inappropriate comment about...well, never mind.

Shaking my head, I gave a nervous chuckle. "Oh, right! That's what you said. Sorry, I must have misheard you there."

Sugahara just shrugged the confused look off.

I handed the bat and helmet over to Sugahara, gesturing for him to take his turn at the plate. He stepped up, gripping the bat with a determined look on his face.

The pitching machine whirred to life, firing the first ball towards him. Sugahara swung with all his might, but the bat connected with nothing but air, eliciting a loud whooshing sound.

Sugahara looked frustrated, resetting his stance as the next pitch came barreling in. He swung again, this time making contact, but the ball merely dribbled off the end of the bat pathetically.

"Sorry, I've actually never played baseball," Sugahara admitted, eyeing me with a mortified look.

I couldn't help but giggle softly at his adorable display of inexperience. "Don't be embarrassed! Here, let me show you how to swing properly."

I stepped up behind Sugahara, reaching around to adjust his grip on the bat handle. My chest brushed against his back momentarily as I positioned his hands correctly.

"You want to choke up a little bit on the grip like this," I explained, my voice just above a whisper.

Sugahara gave a small nod, the back of his head nearly grazing my cheek. I could feel the warmth radiating from his body against mine.

Clearing my throat, I gently nudged his elbows to fix his batting stance. "Keep your elbow up and stance wide like this," I murmured, demonstrating the proper form.

The next pitch came zipping towards him and he swung with the proper form I had just shown him. This time, the bat connected with a loud crack, sending the ball soaring through the netting.

"Whoa, nice shot!" I exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically.

Sugahara turned to face me, a happy look stretching across his face. Before I could react, he closed the distance between us and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Thanks Kinoshita!" he said happily, giving me an affectionate squeeze.

My eyes widened in surprise at the sudden embrace, but I quickly relaxed into it, returning the hug. A warm, fuzzy feeling blossomed in my chest at his words and the physical contact.

"You really are such a bad ass!" he added.

That warmth was quickly replaced by a rush of heat to my face as my mind flashed back to the earlier misunderstanding. Had he actually said I had a "fat ass" before?

We broke apart from the hug and I averted my gaze, feeling my cheeks burning. Sugahara must have noticed my flustered state.

"Hey, are you okay? Your face is all red...do you have a fever or something?" he asked.

I rapidly shook my head, waving my hands. "N-No, I'm fine! Totally fine," I insisted, plastering on a reassuring smile despite the warmth still lingering in my cheeks.

After our time at the batting cages, Sugahara and I made our way to the nearby subway station. As we approached the entrance, I fiddled nervously with the strap of my purse, my mind still replaying the hug from earlier.

Was I reading too much into it? Sugahara was just being friendly and appreciative, right? Maybe I was the one making it weird by overanalyzing everything.

"You doing okay there, Kinoshita?" Sugahara asked, jolting me from my thoughts. "You seem a little out of it."

I blinked rapidly, giving him what I hoped was a convincing smile. "Oh! Yeah, I'm good! Just...thinking about stuff."

Sugahara eyed me curiously but didn't pry further as we descended the stairs into the station. The sound of our footsteps echoed off the tiled floors as we approached the turnstiles.

After swiping our transit cards, we made our way over to the platform just as the next train was pulling in. The doors slid open with a hiss and we stepped aboard, claiming a couple of vacant seats near the middle of the car.

As the train lurched into motion, I settled back in my seat, letting out a contented sigh. Sugahara mirrored my relaxed posture, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

"So, what stop do you get off at," he asked me.

"Just the 3rd stop after this one," I replied.

Sugahara nodded "Cool, I'll walk you home when we get off then."

My eyes widened a fraction at his nonchalant offer. "Oh? You don't have to do that!" I insisted.

He simply waved a dismissive hand. "Nah, it's no problem. I don't mind at all."

"Well...if you're sure, then i'd appreciate it," I replied.

Train announcer's voice crackled over the speakers, announcing our stop was next. Sugahara and I stood in unison, gripping the overhead rails as the train slowed to a halt.

As the doors parted, we stepped out onto the platform and began ascending the stairs back up to street level. The evening air was pleasantly cool, providing some relief from the day's heat.

As we approached my house, I slowed my steps, realizing our time together was coming to an end.

"Well, this is me," I announced, gesturing towards the modest home before us. I turned to face Sugahara, "Thanks again for hanging out with me today. I had a lot of fun."

"No need to thank me, I had a great time too." Sugahara replied.

I took a step back, getting ready to head inside. "Okay then, see ya Sugie," I said with a little wave.

The words had tumbled out before I could stop them. My eyes widened as I realized what I had just called him. Sugahara's eyebrows shot up in surprise as well.

"Sugie?" he repeated slowly, sounding equal parts amused and confused. "Have you...always called me that?" he asked.

A rush of heat flooded my cheeks as panic seized me. I had accidently let that name out.

Waving my hands frantically, I scrambled to recover. "What? No, no I didn't call you that! You must have misheard me," I insisted, trying to backpedal.

Sugahara looked even more perplexed now. "Are you sure? Because it definitely sounded like you called me Sugie just now."

"Pffft, noooo," I replied, letting out an exaggerated laugh in an attempt to play it off casually. "I just said 'see ya' normally! Maybe you're getting a bit of a hearing problem there, old man," I teased, poking his arm playfully.

He swatted my hand away with a chuckle. "Old man? he said.

Sugahara feigned looking offended for a moment before cracking the tension. "Well, okay then, it doesn't matter anyway," he explained.

I got a sense of relief, hopefully this will be a moment with me that he forgets.

Or maybe he shouldn't….

"Okay then, well see ya," he said lastly as he headed off.

As I reached for the doorknob, I banged my head against the door.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I repeated.

I wish that he…