The basketball club is having a short break from their strenuous practice. They are tired as hell but they don’t seem to mind at all. In a few days will be their most important and most difficult match—the Winter Cup Finals against Rakuzan so they’re giving their all even at practice.

The basketball club captain Hyuga Junpei headed towards the gym’s entrance to get something to drink when he accidentally bumped at you.

“I’m sorry. Are you okay?”  He said to you as helped you get up.

“Yes…Um…Are you guys still practicing?”

“Actually, we’re just taking a short break. What can I do for you?” he was wondering what a girl wearing another school’s uniform doing in Seirin at this hour.

“Um…can I talk to Shun for a bit? If it’s okay…”

“Shun? Ah you mean Izuki?”

“Yes.”

“Izuki, someone wants to talk to you.” The guy with glasses called out to their point guard.

Izuki looked back at Hyuga to see you standing by the door. You gave him a small smile and waved your hand at him. He returned the gesture and immediately walked towards you.

“Guys, I’ll be out for a bit.” He said to the other basketball club members before going outside with you.

After you two left, the remaining basketball club members exchanged puzzled looks.

“Hyuga, do you know who she is?” Kiyoshi asked.

“No. I haven’t seen her before.”

“Judging from her uniform, she’s from [Name of School]. But what is her relation to Izuki-senpai?” the shaven-head Kawahara pondered.

“Oh…could it be…she’s Izuki’s girlfriend?!” the cat-faced Koganei exclaimed.

“Koga, the way you said it, do you doubt Izuki having a girlfriend?” Tsuchida said. The silent guy Mitobe nodded in agreement with the slit-eyed guy.

“I don’t mean it that way! …Guys I have an idea,” Koganei piped up.

“Why don’t we spy on Izuki and the cute girl to find out their real relationship?”

“What are you talking about? Just let them be. The person deserves some privacy.” Hyuga objected.

“Koganei-senpai, I think Hyuga-senpai is right. Eavesdropping to other people’s conversation is kind of rude.” The presence-less guy Kuroko agreed to the captain.

“Eh? But guys aren’t you curious?”

In the end, the remaining basketball club members followed you and Izuki and hid behind a big bush.

(At the same time as the basketball club members’ conversation in the gym.)

The two of you went to buy something do drink from a nearby vending machine.

“[Name], why did you go here at this time? It’s already 6 in the evening. Uncle and Auntie must be expecting you home by this hour.” He said to you.

Your family and the Izuki’s are close family friends after being neighbors for a long time. The four of you (including Shun’s two sisters) are childhood friends. But before the start of middle school, your family moved out because your father got reassigned to work in another place. But you did your best to keep your communication with him.

“Don’t worry. I’m a big girl now. I can take care of myself. Mom and Dad know that I’m here. They even said to me to send their regards to you and your family…you know what Shun…”

“What is it?”

“I miss you so much…” you wrapped your arms around him in a hug. He was caught off guard with your sudden hug but he gently wrapped his arms around you.

“Me too.”

“If only we didn’t have to move out to [Place]…”

“[Name], change is inevitable…except on vending machines…”

“Shun, you’re ruining the mood…”

“But seriously [Name], even if everything around us changes, I will never change.”

“Really? Is that a promise?”

“Yes. Promise.”

After buying drinks from the vending machine, you and Izuki sat on the grassy school grounds under a tree. Unknown to the two of you there were ten curious people hiding behind a nearby bush.

The two of you opened the canned drinks you bought earlier and took a sip.

“This soda is so dalicious! *Kitakore!” Izuki exclaimed. He grabbed a pen and a notepad from his pocket and jot some words down. You stifled a chuckle as he did it.

(Meanwhile behind the bushes...)

“Did she just laugh at Izuki’s pun?!” Koganei said. He found it unbelievable for someone to understand Izuki’s eccentric sense of humor.

“Shhh! You’re loud. What are we going to do if he finds out that we followed him out?!” Hyuga said to Koganei, trying to make him quiet.

“Hyuga, you’re just as loud as Koga.” Kiyoshi said to the guy with glasses.

“Shut up Kiyoshi.” The megane retorted.

(Back to you and Izuki)

“...You still don’t change, Shun.” You said to him, giggling. He just glanced at you and his lips curled up in to a small smile. He put his hand on top of your head, gently ruffling your hair.

“You too, [Name].”

“Shun, what do you call a person rabid with wordplay?” he gave you a confused look.

“What?”

“An Energizer Punny!” you said. He chuckled.

“That’s a good one, huh.” He jot down your pun in his notepad.

(Behind the bushes...)

“She made a pun...” The flustered Seirin basketball club members whispered in unison.

(Back to you and Izuki)

“Nee, Shun...”

“What is it?”

“The truth is I went here to personally wish you luck in your next game. But whatever happens, I’ll be always proud of you.”

“Thanks [Name]...Our next game will be even more difficult than our past ones, but I promise we will do our best.”

“I believe in you Shun.” You gently pressed your lips on his. It didn’t take long for him to kiss you back.

“Just think of it as a good luck kiss,” You told him after you pulled away.

“I’ll watch your game to cheer you on.” You winked at him.

“Thanks.”

(Behind the bushes)

“It must be nice to have a girlfriend...” the Seirin basketball club members thought, well except for Tsuchida (he has a girlfriend after all).

(Back to you and Izuki)

“Shun, don’t you think that bush has been moving oddly since a while ago?”

“Now that you say it...It has been rustling.” Fear has been evident to your face after Izuki said that.

“Don’t worry. Maybe it’s just a small animal.” He walked towards the bush.

“Wait for me Shun!”

“What are you guys doing in there?” Izuki had a serious look in his face as he asked the remaining Seirin basketball club members.

And that’s how you and Izuki discovered them hiding behind the bushes.

*Kitakore – it’s the phrase Izuki often says after making/hearing a good pun.