The sun hung low, casting long shadows as Kenji dragged his feet down the sidewalk. His body ached—gym class had been brutal, and Jiro's smug face still burned in his memory.
"Waste of damn talent."
Kenji scowled, kicking a pebble. He just wanted to collapse into bed and forget today ever happened.
---
Night – Kenji's Room
He flopped onto his bed, not even bothering to turn on the lights. The ceiling fan spun lazily, doing nothing to stop the mosquito that had been buzzing around his head all evening.
Slap.
"Tch—missed."
He rolled over, pulling the blanket up. Then—
Sting.
"Ow—!?"
A sharp pain flared on his forehead. Kenji slapped at it, but the damage was done.
In the bathroom mirror, a swollen red lump glared back at him, right between his eyebrows.
Perfect.
---
Next Morning – Shinwa High Entrance
Kenji arrived anhourearly, hood pulled low, bangs strategically combed forward. If he could just avoidpeople until the swelling went down—
"T-Tachibana-kun!"
A voice. A familiar voice.
Kenji froze.
YukiShirakawa, the basketball manager, stood at the gate, clutching a clipboard to her chest. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes darting everywhere except his face.
"I—I have something for you!" She thrust out a paper—club application forms.
Kenji instinctively covered his forehead. "Not interested."
"W-Wait!" She fumbled, papers fluttering. "Jiro already agreed! If you just—"
Kenji didn't wait to hear the rest. He bolted past her, his face burning—both from embarrassment and the stupid mosquito bite.
---
Classroom – The Nerds' Obsession
The room was empty except for Haru, hunched over his tablet, watching old footage of Sora Tachibana.
Kenji slumped into his seat, still hiding his forehead.
Haru didn't look up. "Your father's vertical leap in this game was 43 inches. I've prepared a training regimen to help you reach—"
"Why are you so obsessed with him!?" Kenji snapped, louder than he meant to.
Haru flinched. The tablet screen flickered, paused on a shot of Sora mid-dunk—young, vibrant, alive.
For a long moment, Haru didn't speak. Then, quietly:
"I was hospitalized for three years."
Kenji's breath caught.
"Bone disease. Couldn't walk without pain." Haru adjusted his glasses, voice trembling. "The nurses… they played your father's games for me. Said his plays were 'medicine.'"
He tapped the screen. Sora laughed, sweaty and brilliant.
"I promised myself… when I got out, I'd be part of a team. Even if I couldn't play."
Kenji's chest tightened. Shame curled in his gut.
Before he could say anything, the classroom door slid open.
"Morning~!"
Their classmates streamed in, chatting and laughing. Haru quickly wiped his eyes and returned to his notes.
Kenji stared at his desk, the mosquito bite forgotten.
---