The finals of the women’s basketball tournament. The gymnasium, the venue for the event, was drenched in a strange atmosphere. The excitement of the players on the court was tremendous, and the spectators were watching with bated breath. There was a unique sense of tension, where excitement and silence coexisted.
“I’ve heard so much about your class, Yui-chan! I didn’t expect them to be so skilled!”
I’m not sure if it was because Otsuki had a wide network of information or because he was good in communication skills, but when did he get this information?
“Huh-uh. That’s a trade secret, Yoshi. Anyway that’s not the point, in Yui-chan’s class there are five kids who want to try for the basketball team! What a surprise!”
“Hee… there’s that many of them. But are they enough to make it to the finals?”
“That’s the thing, Yoshi! From what I’ve heard, Yui-chan made it to the national tournament during her middle school! And that too as an ace!”
Qualifying in the National tournament!? And that too as an ace!? Yui never said a word about that!? If anything, Nikaido, a senior member of the basketball team, hadn’t said a word either. No, wait. Speaking of which, Nikaido said something like this a while ago.
—I thought it might be possible, but I never thought she’d make it to the finals. I’m really impressed, Yui-chan.
“Maybe. That’s what Nikaido said for sure. Moreover, they must have been practicing together. If that was the case, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had heard about Yui’s ability and also that she had participated in the national tournament. Well, Yui’s personality would make her feel too proud of this achievement.
“I don’t play sports, so I don’t know, but I think she didn’t say it because it sounded like she was bragging? They say the stakes are always high. Maybe she didn’t want us to make a fuss about it.”
You have a point. Even if you don’t feel like it, the people around you would infer it as bragging, it could cause envy and jealousy. You don’t seem to be thinking about it, but that would involuntarily make you think about it. Or maybe Kaede advised you to do so? Yeah, there’s a strong possibility of that.
“At any rate, it means it’s not a fluke that we made it to the finals! This is going to be an interesting match, I promise!”
“Nikaido-san, the ace of the basketball team along with Hitotsuba-san versus the freshmen team led by Miyamoto-san, who participated in the national tournament. As Akiho-kun said, it was going to be heated.”
Otsuki-san and Shinji’s voices were filled with excitement. This was the first time we’d seen Yui play. How far would she go against Nikaido and Kaede? Or would she be able to devour them both. In some cases, she could be the star of the match. Maybe that was why the audience seemed so nervous.
“Whatever the case may be, the fate of the match rests on you, Yoshi! We’ll be cheering for Kaede-chan and Ai-chan, ready to choke yourself out so that they can give it their all!”
For the all-you-can-eat yakiniku! Otsuki-san clapped her shoulder with a bashin. Of course I’m going to cheer for her, but I couldn’t let my throat get dry because I had a final match coming up. It was not that I didn’t like it, but it would hurt.
“Both of you, the game is about to start.”
At Shinji’s urging, I rubbed my aching shoulder and turned my attention to the court, where the pre-game warm-up had just ended. After a final strategy meeting, the players gathered in the center and lined up.
“Hang in there, Kaede. Nikaido.”
＊＊＊＊＊
“Our opponent in the final is a freshman, but we can’t be too careless. As Kaede probably knows, they have a girl who has participated in the national tournament. And she’s their ace.”
The last meeting before the game started. Everyone was astonished at the information that Ai-chan let loose. I didn’t dare to tell Yuya-kun, but Yui-chan was an amazing girl who participated in the national basketball tournament last year.
“I’ll do my best to keep that ace at bay, but the other kids are all basketball players and move well. The other team’s overall strength might be better than mine.”
Everyone looked at Ai-chan with a bitter look on their faces as she stated the facts without hesitation. The games up to the semifinals had been won thanks to Ai-chan’s performance, and before the games, she had always said positively, “Don’t worry, we can win.” That’s why her negative comments dampened everyone’s will to fight.
“But don’t worry. We’ve had enough practice so far. And after all, we have Kaede!”
Eh!? Is that me!? I don’t think you should be talking to me here! But Ai-chan smiled wryly and patted me on the shoulder.
“It’s okay, Kaede. As a member of the basketball team, I can see that Kaede has very good taste. I want to recruit her to the basketball team. It might be a little tough if it’s against Yui-chan, but it’s no problem for the other kids.”
“No, I don’t think so, do you?”
“Fufu. And in Kaede’s case, I wonder if she would become invincible with Yoshizumi’s cheering. Wouldn’t it be like a combination of Avalon and Holy Britannian Emperor Lelouch?”
The protagonist and his beloved machine, the Emperor and Avalon. I thought only Akiho-chan would use such an exquisitely incomprehensible analogy, but I didn’t expect Ai -chan to use it too. The rest of the kids were puzzled.
In summary, I think Ai-chan was trying to say that with Yuya-kun’s support, I would not lose. Yes, it seems embarrassing, but it was also true.
“Well, so much for the joke. The strategy is simple. Let’s attack with Kaede in the center. The defense is in a zone. I’m sure their ace will be following my mark, so this game is all about you, Kaede. I’m sorry to put pressure on you, but… please?”
“… I’ll leave the defence to you. Because I promised Yuya-kun! Let’s win this game, for sure!”
Yuya-kun promised that if I did well in this match, he would give me a hug at home and nudge my head while saying, “You did well, Kaede!” After that, of course, we’ll kiss. hehe, I can’t lose then!
“Aah… yeah. That’s not a problem. But Yoshizumi, what kind of promise did you make”
Aah, the match is about to begin! For a reward from Yuya-kun, Yui-chan will have to fall down here!
The finals of the women’s basketball tournament. The gymnasium, the venue for the event, was drenched in a strange atmosphere. The excitement of the players on the court was tremendous, and the spectators were watching with bated breath. There was a unique sense of tension, where excitement and silence coexisted.
“I’ve heard so much about your class, Yui-chan! I didn’t expect them to be so skilled!”
I’m not sure if it was because Otsuki had a wide network of information or because he was good in communication skills, but when did he get this information?
“Huh-uh. That’s a trade secret, Yoshi. Anyway that’s not the point, in Yui-chan’s class there are five kids who want to try for the basketball team! What a surprise!”
“Hee… there’s that many of them. But are they enough to make it to the finals?”
“That’s the thing, Yoshi! From what I’ve heard, Yui-chan made it to the national tournament during her middle school! And that too as an ace!”
Qualifying in the National tournament!? And that too as an ace!? Yui never said a word about that!? If anything, Nikaido, a senior member of the basketball team, hadn’t said a word either. No, wait. Speaking of which, Nikaido said something like this a while ago.
—I thought it might be possible, but I never thought she’d make it to the finals. I’m really impressed, Yui-chan.
“Maybe. That’s what Nikaido said for sure. Moreover, they must have been practicing together. If that was the case, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had heard about Yui’s ability and also that she had participated in the national tournament. Well, Yui’s personality would make her feel too proud of this achievement.
“I don’t play sports, so I don’t know, but I think she didn’t say it because it sounded like she was bragging? They say the stakes are always high. Maybe she didn’t want us to make a fuss about it.”
You have a point. Even if you don’t feel like it, the people around you would infer it as bragging, it could cause envy and jealousy. You don’t seem to be thinking about it, but that would involuntarily make you think about it. Or maybe Kaede advised you to do so? Yeah, there’s a strong possibility of that.
“At any rate, it means it’s not a fluke that we made it to the finals! This is going to be an interesting match, I promise!”
“Nikaido-san, the ace of the basketball team along with Hitotsuba-san versus the freshmen team led by Miyamoto-san, who participated in the national tournament. As Akiho-kun said, it was going to be heated.”
Otsuki-san and Shinji’s voices were filled with excitement. This was the first time we’d seen Yui play. How far would she go against Nikaido and Kaede? Or would she be able to devour them both. In some cases, she could be the star of the match. Maybe that was why the audience seemed so nervous.
“Whatever the case may be, the fate of the match rests on you, Yoshi! We’ll be cheering for Kaede-chan and Ai-chan, ready to choke yourself out so that they can give it their all!”
For the all-you-can-eat yakiniku! Otsuki-san clapped her shoulder with a bashin. Of course I’m going to cheer for her, but I couldn’t let my throat get dry because I had a final match coming up. It was not that I didn’t like it, but it would hurt.
“Both of you, the game is about to start.”
At Shinji’s urging, I rubbed my aching shoulder and turned my attention to the court, where the pre-game warm-up had just ended. After a final strategy meeting, the players gathered in the center and lined up.
“Hang in there, Kaede. Nikaido.”
＊＊＊＊＊
“Our opponent in the final is a freshman, but we can’t be too careless. As Kaede probably knows, they have a girl who has participated in the national tournament. And she’s their ace.”
The last meeting before the game started. Everyone was astonished at the information that Ai-chan let loose. I didn’t dare to tell Yuya-kun, but Yui-chan was an amazing girl who participated in the national basketball tournament last year.
“I’ll do my best to keep that ace at bay, but the other kids are all basketball players and move well. The other team’s overall strength might be better than mine.”
Everyone looked at Ai-chan with a bitter look on their faces as she stated the facts without hesitation. The games up to the semifinals had been won thanks to Ai-chan’s performance, and before the games, she had always said positively, “Don’t worry, we can win.” That’s why her negative comments dampened everyone’s will to fight.
“But don’t worry. We’ve had enough practice so far. And after all, we have Kaede!”
Eh!? Is that me!? I don’t think you should be talking to me here! But Ai-chan smiled wryly and patted me on the shoulder.
“It’s okay, Kaede. As a member of the basketball team, I can see that Kaede has very good taste. I want to recruit her to the basketball team. It might be a little tough if it’s against Yui-chan, but it’s no problem for the other kids.”
“No, I don’t think so, do you?”
“Fufu. And in Kaede’s case, I wonder if she would become invincible with Yoshizumi’s cheering. Wouldn’t it be like a combination of Avalon and Holy Britannian Emperor Lelouch?”
The protagonist and his beloved machine, the Emperor and Avalon. I thought only Akiho-chan would use such an exquisitely incomprehensible analogy, but I didn’t expect Ai -chan to use it too. The rest of the kids were puzzled.
In summary, I think Ai-chan was trying to say that with Yuya-kun’s support, I would not lose. Yes, it seems embarrassing, but it was also true.
“Well, so much for the joke. The strategy is simple. Let’s attack with Kaede in the center. The defense is in a zone. I’m sure their ace will be following my mark, so this game is all about you, Kaede. I’m sorry to put pressure on you, but… please?”
“… I’ll leave the defence to you. Because I promised Yuya-kun! Let’s win this game, for sure!”
Yuya-kun promised that if I did well in this match, he would give me a hug at home and nudge my head while saying, “You did well, Kaede!” After that, of course, we’ll kiss. hehe, I can’t lose then!
“Aah… yeah. That’s not a problem. But Yoshizumi, what kind of promise did you make”
Aah, the match is about to begin! For a reward from Yuya-kun, Yui-chan will have to fall down here!
