Chapter 85: OG

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Translator: Soafp

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[Momo PoV]

9 a.m., at the game venue.

While sipping a caffeine-infused energy gel, I pulled out my phone.

That day, I was more pumped than usual.

It was my first time doing this.

I swiped up on the screen.

Momo: “We’ll meet at 3 p.m. tomorrow, then head straight to the movie theater…”

Hajime Toumachi: “Yeah, that’s right.”

Momo: “After the movie, we’ll check out the bookstore and the anime goods shop, right?”

Hajime Toumachi: “Yep. Oh, is the timing going to be okay?”

Momo: “I think they're open until a little after 8 p.m., so we should be fine!”

Hajime Toumachi: “Got it. By the way, are you going home first? You might have a lot of stuff to carry.”

Momo: “I’ll use the station lockers!”

Hajime Toumachi: “Makes sense…”

---

I was looking at these past exchanges while standing in front of the venue.

“…Momo, you've been acting weird for a while now, are you okay?”

“Yeah, you've been acting strange lately.”

“! W-well, I think it’s just your imagination!”

[――”Wanna come watch the game? Just kidding.”――]

I only said that because of the spur of the moment.

After seeing him mesmerized by that policeman doing pull-ups on the bar.

[I can do that too] I thought.

[I want him to see me too] I thought.

“Please, Ace!”

“Hatsune-senpai, we're counting on you!”

My teammates patted my shoulders.

When even a first-year underclassman says that, there's no way I can't feel the pressure.

…But.

More than anything, I'm doing this for the person sitting in the audience right now.

That's something I could never say to anyone.

---

Needless to say… I'm taller than most people.

Taller than most of the boys, too.

Normally, being tall as a girl doesn't have many advantages.

…Obviously. When you're taller, you end up looking down on the boys.

There's a term called “puppy-dog eyes,” because boys prefer being looked up at from below.

It probably makes girls look cuter that way too.

Not that I particularly care, but!

In other words.

To put it simply, I'm not what you'd call a “girly” girl.

That trait is nothing but a disadvantage—

――”Nice shot!”

――”As expected, Hatsune-senpai!!”

But.

In the world of basketball, that trait becomes an advantage.

The ease of shooting, blocking, and rebounding.

I don't think there's another sport where height plays such a big role.

Of course, height isn't everything, though.

“――!!”

“…Got it!”

A counterattack from the opposing team.

They quickly close in, and the ball heads toward the goal… but, unfortunately for them, they miss.

A loose ball.

The opposing teammate desperately tries to grab it.

But—rebounding is my specialty.

In the pro leagues, where shooting accuracy is extremely high, rebounding isn't given much attention.

But in a high school club match, shots don't always go in. The ball bounces off a lot.

So, I practiced for the team's sake.

…Besides, I'm marked so tightly that it's a hassle. Rebounding doesn't rely on that as much.

“No way—”

“She's too tall—”

It's not just about height; timing is key.

You have to judge the angle and speed of the ball bouncing off the board—then, jump!

“Fubuki!”

“Momo!”

I grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to the captain.

And just like that—

――thud, the ball was sucked into the goal.

“Nice, nice!”

“Let's keep it up!”

Three-quarters of the game had already passed.

Looking at the scoreboard, we had more than double the points.

Of course, my team was the one leading—

――beep

The buzzer sounded.

Teammates rushed over to the captain.

And I—

――”…”

I had known all along.

About him, sitting at the farthest corner of the stands, where no one else sat.

It was Icchi, who had been watching me the whole time.

――[!]

I waved, and he, looking surprised, waved back with a small gesture.

…Did he really think I hadn't noticed?

As if that could ever be the case.

He has so many distinct features besides his hair.

…Though I bet no one else but me would notice them.

And that’s fine by me.

For example, that gentle gaze of his.

The small mole on his neck. The way he fidgets when he's alone. How he always prefers to sit in the farthest corner… I know it all. That's why I was the only one who could spot him.

――”…”

Ah, he just made a happy face.

Icchi, you’re so easy to read!

---

――”Wow, we won, we won!”

――”That was a great match!!”

After cooling down and finishing the meeting, we had free time—sort of.

“Alright, if you’re coming to the usual ‘gathering,’ follow along!”

“…Can I go home?”

“No way, Momo!”

“Knew it~…”

The “gathering” is where we review the game, but in reality, it's more of a girls’ talk session.

I wish I could go straight to Icchi, but it looks like that’s not happening. I knew that.

“Come on, act like the ace you are, Momo.”

“Exactly!”

“A-ahaha…”

Those words kept coming at me, even from the captain—and I could feel the envious glares from the bench players every time.

…It's all just so troublesome.

“Make sure I can leave by 2:30, okay? I have plans with a friend…”

“Yeah, yeah, I've heard it a million times already.”

“Hatsune-senpai, you’re looking fashionable today! You were even spraying a lot earlier!”

“I-it’s just your imagination~!”

We hopped on the train and headed to a family restaurant near the station.

There were about ten of us. Just as we were about to head inside—

“――!? He’s here!”

“Huh…? Ugh, let's change restaurants!”

“Aaah…”

Like a reconnaissance team, my teammates peered through the restaurant window, sneaking glances.

The shooting guard has good instincts—not just for basketball but for other things too, apparently.

She came back looking spooked. Yes, they were there.

The “OGs.”

“You did great, Akie!”

“I could smell something off!”

“They're practically stalkers, showing up wherever we go!”

My teammates walked past the family restaurant, making no effort to hide their disdain.

“How long are they going to keep acting like seniors?”

“For real.”

“They're nothing but a pain.”

“Recently, they’ve been trying to pull us into their group.”

“They don’t pay, but they sure talk a lot!”

They kept venting, one after another.

These two “OGs” somehow always managed to find us after our games.

They’re probably third-year university students now.

Lately, it's gotten really bad.

It's almost like they've got inside information on us or something, the way they keep showing up.

They know we usually hit the family restaurant after games, and there they are, waiting for us inside.

They can't come to the school since alumni aren't allowed on campus, but… after games, they appear without fail.

…Honestly, it's creepy and scary.

They’re much older, so there’s an added sense of intimidation.

“Let's walk a little more and get burgers instead!”

“Yeah!”

“Seriously, just stay away from us.”

…But. With all this distance, I'll need to slip away a little earlier than planned.

After all, I have plans with Icchi.