“Then I’ll be in your care.” Were the last words Manami said to me before leaving with her mother.

I didn’t have a lot of time to process the situation before having to return to my shift. On my way home, however, I found myself unable to stop smiling and I let out a few cries of victory.

Now, waking up the next morning, the weight of my bold promise is crushing my chest. Toro could speak for days about the times I’ve made big claims only to realize my limitations. Unlike the other times, however, this is a promise I can’t break.

After double checking my shirt while dressing, I head down for breakfast.

The house is quiet which means my mom is still asleep. I don’t like waking her up since her job keeps her late sometimes. On mornings like this I toss a bunch of fruits into my bag and call it lunch.

After giving myself a pep talk in the hall mirror, I headed out for the station.

Toro gave me a quick scan as I arrived. “Something good happen yesterday?”

“Woah, how could you tell?” I asked in astonishment about his deductive skills.

“You’re walking with your head up and a big smile on your face.”

Which is to say I may have overexaggerated his ability, but I won’t admit that to him. “Well, you’re right. Something great happened yesterday.”

Toro pulls out a granola bar, scans the barcode of it into some health app he uses, and begins munching on it. I commend his discipline as I’ve never counted calories or done anything of the sort.

“So, what happened?”

“Hmph, you’ll have to see for yourself. And when you do, I want you to shower me in praise, for I have-”

“Excuse me.” A short girl no taller than 160 cm, with a bob haircut and thick eyebrows interrupts me.

Her name is Hana, Catalina’s friend. Of the three girls Catalina hangs out with Hana is the one I pinned as the number one suspect in the rekindling of rumors case.

“You went home with Catalina yesterday, right?” She continues as I move behind Toro.

“I did.”

“Do me a favor, stay away from her.”

“Huh?!” Apart from feeling insulted that she asked, it’s difficult to believe she’s doing this out of goodwill. “Why should I?”

“You’ve heard the rumors about her. I don’t need new ones spreading about her dating some delinquent.”

“You tiny-”

“Hiroto said you’re happy this morning, right?” Hana interrupts. “I’m guessing something happened between you two.”

“Myo wouldn’t do something like that unless he’s dating them. Catalina wouldn’t either.” Toro intervenes. Which is surprising coming from the gentle giant who still has a few bites left on his granola bar.

But Toro shows his reliability at the most surprising times.

“Hmph. Just stay away from her.”

“Me? You’re the one who…”

“I’m the one who what?” She glares at me, confirming my suspicion. It wouldn’t do for me to anger Hana anymore, so I turn away and ignore her.

After the train arrives, Toro and I find some seats far away from Hana.

Toro leans in and whispers, “Myo, did something happen between you and Catalina yesterday.”

Since Toro knew me best, he also understood my weaknesses. “Toro.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “If Catalina asked, I wouldn’t think it over once. But we both know she isn’t like that. We just happened to head home at the same time yesterday.”

“Oh.”

“Well, would you?” I ask.

“Would I what?”

“Think it over?”

Toro looks around to make sure no one is listening. “Absolutely not.”

“Exactly.”

“But how am I supposed to figure out what happened then?” Toro asked as we arrived at the last turn for the school.

“You’ll see when-” As Toro and I reach the school gates, we see Manami walking to school from the road opposite us.

Manami and I make eye contact, but she turns her head and walks through the gate. Leaving Toro behind confused, I rush after Manami.

“Manami!” She stops and looks at the ground as I reach her side. “Good morning.”

“Um, good morning, Myo. Can I help you?”

I lower my head to make eye contact, but she turns away from me. “Want to walk to class together?”

“I… were you serious yesterday? I thought you were just being nice since… since you’re a volunteer and all.” she muttered.

It’s frustrating to know she believed I was just doing a service. Because if she thought that way, then she saw my words as pity. Which is never and will never be my intention.

“Manami, I meant every word I said.” Toro walks up to us. “Toro! As of yesterday, Manami and I are in a relationship!” I speak much louder than Toro needed me to be. I don’t want Manami to believe this is something I want to keep a secret.

No. If I’m to change her way of thinking, I need to show her my commitment.

“Congrats big bro! You’ve had a crush on her for so long.” Toro replies with stars in his eyes.

“Exactly! I’ll take your praises later.” I extend my hand to Manami. “Manami, let’s walk to class together.”

Manami looks around at everyone staring at us. People murmur about the new couple at school and what an odd combination we are. The delinquent with the quietest girl in school. Some even thought I threatened her to accept.

“O-ok.” Manami grabs my hand.

After she picks her head up, I notice hair is out instead of tied into her usual ponytail. She has a pretty pin on the left side, and she wore a sweater I’ve never seen her in. It’s oversized, but it helps emphasize her cuteness.

“You look different today.” I blurted out after coming back to my senses.

“Is different... bad?”

I shook my head. “Somehow you look even prettier than usual.” She didn’t respond, but Manami had a big smile during our walk to class.

“Come eat lunch with us.”

Manami eats at her desk most days. She always brings a nice bento box that’s filled to the brim with food. Although, I’ve never seen her finish more than half of what’s inside.

“Ok.” Manami hesitated to respond but her smile conveyed her excitement about the invitation.

As usual, we sit at our reserved table. Our honored guest sat across from me, and Toro sat in the seat next to her as he liked the ability to prepare himself whenever a fan enters the lunchroom and heads his way.

He did offer me the seat, but I couldn’t let him have the seat with the best view.

“I like your bento, Manami.” Toro had never talked with Manami before, and he did his best to break the ice. Watching two socially awkward students try to talk is quite the scene and makes this seat worth even more.

“Thank you, Toro, I like your lunch box.” Manami responded as Toro filled the table with his lunch. Afterwards, she looks my way, perhaps hoping to compliment whatever I brought in.

As she stares at me, I rummage through my bag and pull out the fruits I grabbed earlier in the morning. Some grapes that were squashed, an orange, and a banana.

“Actually brought food today?”

“Mhmm, don’t get too jealous Toro.” I replied, though I would consider a trade for my bundle of flattened grapes.

“Is that all you brought?” Manami asked.

“Yea, I woke up late this morning.” I reply as Toro slides a granola bar my way. I did offer my grapes in exchange, but he politely declined. His loss.

“Myo never brings much for lunch.”

“There’s no need, I just eat whatever Toro doesn’t. Though recently your appetite has exploded.”

A growing boy needs good nutrition, but Toro is more animal than human given his eating regimen. It’s more akin to a bear preparing for hibernation than a human eating one of his daily meals.

I never complain about my lack of food. I could always pack leftovers from the day before but I’m too lazy in the morning to get it done in time. Money’s tight as well so I rely on Toro’s generosity most days.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“Would… would you-” Manami begins to talk but is cut off,

“Excuse me, Hiroto.” One of Toro’s fans, Margaret, a foreign girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, arrives with an entourage behind her.

I knew what was coming next, though my two young, socially inept students across from me had no idea.

“Hiroto… are you and Manami dating?!” Margaret yelled loud enough for the entire room to hear as it was filled with Toro’s fans who all had the same question.

Toro blushes and can’t find his voice to respond.

That wasn’t surprising, what did surprise me was Manami clearing her throat before responding. “Excuse me.” Margaret and the girls behind her divert their attention to Manami. “I’m… I’m Myo’s girlfriend.”

My heart nearly burst through my chest. Given how quiet Manami is, I expected her to never reveal our relationship. But I’ve never been happier to be wrong.

“Oh.” Margaret replies in a disgusted tone. I choose to ignore that hint of disapproval as I wanted to revel in the moment for a while longer. “Then here you go.” Margaret and her entourage give Toro the usual offerings and leave for their rooms.

“Manami, that made me really happy!”

Manami’s red cheeks and faint smile are the only reply I get as she picks food with her chopsticks. “Here.” After picking the right piece, she holds it next to my mouth. “Do you not want it?”

I did. But I found myself unable to move for the moment. It felt wrong to be this happy when I promised to do just that for her. What actions could I do to have this wonderful effect on her? Are there any?

“Myo?”

“Oh! Sorry.” I bit into the piece of hamburger meat she gave me. It tasted great and held together well. “It’s tasty.”

“My mom and I made it.”

“Eating your girlfriend’s home cooked food, I’m so happy for your big bro.” Toro wipes away some tears as he watches me living out my dream.

I’m still unsure if I’ll be able to succeed. But I refuse to give up on the girl who can make me float with elation with just a look my way. Whatever it is, whatever I need to do, I’ll make sure to fulfill my promise.

At the end of the day, Manami waits for me before leaving. Her mom picks her up most days, so I planned to walk her to the lot.

“Myo, could you just walk me near the school entrance?”

“Hmm, I don’t mind going all the way.”

Manami shook her head. “I’m not ready to tell my mom yet.”

“Oh, that’s fine.” I didn’t mind her request; some parents can be strict after all. My mom has never asked about my relationships, but she has been reminding me to use protection ever since I turned 13.

Our walk to the school entrance was quiet. Manami squeezed my hand more than she did earlier, she may have thought I was angry about her request.

“Manami I-”

“I’m sorry.” she muttered.

“I’m not mad, honest.”

Manami shook her head. “I like you. But I thought everything you said at the hospital was just you trying to make me feel better. I shouldn’t have thought you were like that.”

Her voice shook as she spoke. She’s torn about having judged me.

I understood her frustration, I’m not a fan of how others perceive me. In truth, I was a bit hurt that she judged me so, but I understand given her circumstances.

“Don’t worry about it, you made me the happiest guy alive today by feeding me.”

Manami stops right at the front entrance of the school. “You made me happy too.”

“I did, how?!” I asked. What was it that I did? I needed to know. I racked my brain the entire day with scenarios that may help without realizing I had already done so today.

“I… dressed differently because I really like you. You’ve always been the person who tried to talk to me, and I hoped you might look my way again if I dressed this way. So, when you said I looked pretty it made me really happy.”

Oh. I had been overthinking the entire day. But the realization came with a great sense of relief.

“Manami.” I picked her head up as she hadn’t made eye contact since we stopped walking. “You look beautiful every day. See you tomorrow.”

Manami nods and runs out to find her ride home.

My walk to the gym was fantastic. The sky is clear, the warmth of the sun wraps around my body, and the smell of the sea travels just far enough to find me.

It’s unfortunate that the walk from the school entrance to the gym only takes a little more than a minute.

When the gym doors came into my sight, I saw one of the older players drag out a teammate who was flailing his arms and trying to free himself. I couldn’t make out his yells, but another student ran after the two until he got tackled by another.

“Another fight huh.”

Despite the talent on the team, or because of it, their teamwork is nonexistent as each student tries their best to stand out. Each attempt to showboat leads to unforced errors and more cracks in team chemistry.

That they couldn’t pin on Toro, one of the few unselfish players on the team.

The coach did his best to control the egos, but that also led to parents complaining about play time and favoritism. Which is silly in my opinion. If one player is better than he’s going to receive more play time. It’s not favoritism, it’s strategy.

For example, if there was a need to beat someone up, the school would elect me in a unanimous vote. There are many larger and stronger students than me, but none of them have my grit and experience.

As the coach made the best decisions for the team, a national championship contender, resentment grew. This late in the season is around the time most students reached their breaking point.

“Pass me the damn ball!”

“You brick every time!”

The two students were pulled away and yelled at each other some more. They only stop to catch their breath and think of a new insult.

I’m not here for the spectacle, but the person I’m looking for isn’t anywhere to be found.

Practice can be as rough as a game. At times, Toro takes a break in the locker room to cool down and gather his thoughts.

The main gym has a door that leads into the locker rooms and the other entrance is in the hallway with the door to the overlook. This door is locked; however, they’ve never improved it unlike the actual gym itself.

With one good kick, I’m granted permission to the boy’s locker room. I haven’t tried this trick with the girl’s locker room, and I’m not keen on a premature death.

“Yo Toro.”

Toro had jumped into a fighting stance as I barged in. “Oh, it’s just you Myo.”

“Don’t move!” I yelled across the room as he attempted to relax himself. His fighting stance was pitiful. Arms too high, legs shaking, and his midsection is begging to receive a few shots.

I give him a few pokes at the errors in his stance. “Stay on the balls of your feet or you’ll be too slow, position your body at an angle to give them less to hit. I mean, there’s plenty to hit on that mountain you call a body but this way it gives them less to work with.”

Toro chuckles. “I’m not a fighter like you Myo.”

“It’s good to know some simple self-defense.” Toro and I sit on the bench in the locker room.

“I’m sorry that I rely on you to fight my battles.”

“No need, you can hire me as a bodyguard when you go pro.”

“Will do.” Toro meant it. I had no doubt he could make it, but I can’t see that far into my future. “So, you better keep that promise.”

“Promise?”

“Yea, remember? That we’ll see the world together. You can bring Manami with us as well.”

“That would be nice… anyway, why’re you in here?”

Toro drinks an energy drink he likes. It isn’t the most popular brand, but he’s been drinking it since we were in elementary. “Bad start, and I was feeling a bit sick. I did hear the fighting start though.”

That wasn’t all there was to it. He wasn’t sick from an illness or anything of the sort. “Worried about your next game, aren’t you?”

“…I am. It’s on their home court in the mainland. I’ll probably just choke again.”

I sigh. In truth, there’s a high chance he will choke. But chipping away at his self-doubt could do wonders, and I know just the person that could help with that. “Toro, why do you play?”

“Why? Hmmm, I enjoy it. And I like seeing our fans happy.”

“Good. But would the fans be happy if they knew you’re beating yourself up over some bad games?”

“No, but-”

“No. They’ll continue to support you so long as you try your best. Now, I probably shouldn’t be revealing this, but I’ve met your biggest fan.” Toro looks over expecting me to reveal their identity. I had no intention of revealing it. “If you really play to see them happy, then find them. Find the one person who is the happiest when they see you play. When you see that joy, trust me, you’ll do anything you can to keep them that way.”

“…Ok. I will.”

“Good luck out there.”

“Can I get a description at least?” Toro asks as I leave but I don’t reply.

There are a few issues with my plan for Toro. First, I don’t know if Catalina will be here. Second, Toro might not recognize her like I did. Third, he recognizes the wrong person and that could lead to problems in the future.

So, I’m placing my hope on chance.

After reaching the overlook, I looked around for Catalina. As luck would have it, she’s standing in the far corner of the opposite overlook.

A few minutes later, the team returns to the gym. The two students were forced to squash their argument given by the disgruntled looks on their faces. Toro also returned, and the coach started him.

Toro never plays on the same side as the star third year. It would be too much of an advantage to have them on the same side. That said, those two give each other a good challenge.

The third year, Javier, is known for his great shooting skills; however, Toro’s height and strength coupled with great athletic ability made it difficult for Javier to get into a good position to shoot. What he did have going for him was his acceleration and handles that Toro couldn’t match.

Using his acceleration, Javier forces Toro to decide between getting back in front or preparing for his step back. It’s a coin flip they play on court. Javier won most times as Toro tends to run forward full steam which allows his co-star to feint and shoot.

Although he loses the coin toss often, Toro retaliates each time. His build allows him to get close to the rim and dunk or layup whenever he feels like it. While impressive, his strength does lie in his defense. No one other than Javier can get past him.

That aside, there is one last variable. Tenacity. Javier flourished with the challenge, perhaps due to experience. Toro’s performance always declined with each failed play. He let it all distract him.

And that’s why I need him to play for something other than just the win. It is important, but finding another goal can push your performance. Toro loves the sport, but that has only helped grow his frustration at his mistakes.

After missing a shot, Toro allows Javier to get past him without much of a fight.

“Hey Toro!” I started the noise once again. “Look around man!”

Toro does as I say. Most of his usual fans were there, but one caught his eye. One that only he and I would recognize because she changed her clothes to hide most of her body. But the combination of the mask and strange glasses were something we had seen before.

The surprise of seeing Catalina there caught Toro’s attention. I didn’t plan this next part, but I guess the fruits of my efforts are beginning to show.

When Toro finds Catalina, she gives a small punch to the air with both hands as if trying to say, “You got this!”

From then on, every play, Toro would glance over to Catalina to see how she reacted. Every time he made a shot, she gave him some silent claps. Whenever he gave a good assist, she hopped with excitement. And then, as Toro was starting to find his groove, he managed to block a shot from Javier.

The entire gym erupted, but one voice was heard first. “YES!” Catalina yelled as her enthusiasm took over. The sudden flood of eyes that looked her way made her blush and run out of the gym.

At the cost of Catalina’s embarrassment, I think Toro has found an answer.

But I’m done yet. After Catalina leaves, I head for the station myself.

I find Catalina there, covering her face with her hands as if she was still in the gym.

“Catalina.”

She glances at me and sighs with relief. “Hey… were you at the gym?”

“I was.”

“Oh god, how embarrassing.”

“I don’t think so. He looked happy with you cheering him on.”

“You think so?”

“Mhmm, so I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Come watch him play his next game with me.”

“Hello?” Manami’s voice quivers as she speaks.

“Hey gorgeous.” I turned in bed with excitement hoping she couldn’t hear me.

I hear her giggle. “Do you really think I’m pretty?”

“The prettiest.”

“…Thank you.” She muttered.

“Are you nervous?” I replied.

“Can you tell?”

“A little, it’s ok though you don’t have to force yourself.”

I can hear Manami rummaging through her closet. “It’s the first time I’m talking with anyone other than family on the phone. To think it’s my boyfriend… even saying that makes me happy.”

“I’m glad it does. Looking for something to wear tomorrow?”

“I am. I want to keep your eyes on me.” Her confidence is growing much faster than I expected. But hearing her say that was heavenly.

“You look beautiful no matter what. But I could think of some recommendations.”

“I’m sure you could.” She giggles and I hear her jump into bed. “I’ve seen your scores by the way; you should be studying right now.”

“Mind helping me through video call?”

“I… can’t video call right now. I’m not presentable.”

“Naked?!” That was supposed to be in my head.

“Hahaha, I’m not naked. Just not presentable, sorry.”

“That’s ok, your voice is enough to motivate me for many lifetimes.” Somehow, I could feel her smile across the phone.

“I remember when we started high school, you came in late with Toro. Your uniform was a mess and the teacher yelled at you. But you said, ‘They bullied my friend, so I handled it.’”

“You remember that?! I had to sit with a bucket over my head for hours.” We laughed at the memory.

“It was our first day, but I noticed you immediately. There was something about you, so I looked back, and we made eye contact.” Manami said.

“I remember! You took a quick glance but didn’t turn back when we made eye contact.”

“I think I’ve liked you since then.” We said in unison.

“I never thought you would feel that way about me, and I told myself that the times you talked to me you were just being nice. But I looked forward to talking to you. Thank you, you’ve been doing so much for me before you even knew it.”

“There’s still much more I’m going to do, I promise.”

Our conversation continued until we fell asleep on the phone.