"Life's a bore if you don't challenge yourself" - Yu Nishinoya - Haikyuu!!

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"Emma, you should come see us playing basketball!" 

At the ramen shop Fasto Foodo, Jackie had invited me, and my brother nodded repeatedly while munching his second bowl of ramen and Touma told me he would go see as well. So here I was, right at the gate of the university my brother and his "gang" went to. 

Unlike the overwhelming atmosphere at the stadium, the university was a lot calmer. I looked inside, where students were flocking out of the buildings in the last rays of sunlight of the day, and wondered if a university student's life was any different from that of a high schooler's. Wasn't it just about going to and back from classes? 

After all, I didn't see why people said studying at university was an invaluable life-changing experience anyone could ever get. But if it's just about going to and back, university to me was another door that I was obligated to open, ain't a new big world like some mysterious unknown planets in the outer space. 

"Emma?" 

At first, I didn't know who just called my name, but a yellow-haired "grass" very soon appeared in front of me. It was Jackie. 

"Yoo Emma, how you doing? Are you excited?" 

Jackie had a special accent, he clearly didn't belong to the common Immigrants ethnic group, rather I'd say he's an indigenous Mohme, with a shorter, skinnier build, and brown skin. However, that didn't explain very well why his hair resembled the withered herb tree by my window when I forgot to water it. Mr. Shriveled Hair. 

"Hello Jackie, I'm doing great! Thanks for inviting me!" 

"Hey boi, cut the polite crap! Wanna go to the stadium now? I'm going there to prep now!" 

Jackie welcomed me with a broad smile. I bet he'd look way better with darker hair color. 

"I am waiting for Touma, it's okay! You go ahead!" 

Jackied took out his phone, clicked clicked and now it seemed like he's calling someone. 

"Oh, Touma, is that you? The thing is, I'll show your sister the way in, you just come inside when you arrive here, okay?" 

"..." 

"Nah, I'm not into girls, ya already knew that lol" 

Jackie hang up, and I was still frozen, not by the normal fact that Touma would arrive later. It felt like I was betrayed by my own naive dump belief of how masculinity looked like. His dark skin said all about his manliness, and just a second ago I was positive that a bunch of girls must have a crush on him. He's sincere and genuine, on the million-light-year away from the concept of a "player". But then again, even his voice was damn bewitching. Gender had become such a broad spectrum, you didn't get what you expected in the first place. 

"Ohhh, c'mon!!! Let's go! I'll show how awesome basketball is!" 

Jackie took my arm and dragged me past the gate. 

That was quite a statement, you know? I thought to myself. 

The University of Aster is the second biggest university across 5 regions, but the most prestigious of all. Everyone in my class without a doubt had set their eyes on the rose-and-thorns path to this place. 

In front of me, the renowned edifice stood enormously. 

"Emma! The three-billions-Mohxu empire! The pride of Aster City, may I introduce to you to the Emblem of Prosperity!!!" 

An pure Gothic-style construction. It is definitely one of the greatest and most astounding achievements of Immigrants the First Generation. I was totally blown by the beauty of it, but then again, nothing else very special really came out of it, after countless of times I passed by this place since childhood. 

"I am proud to be a part of this legacy! And I'm sure, you will be joining us very soon! Want a picture?" 

I smiled at the over-enthusiastic energy Jackie possessed. We took a selfie and went straight ahead to the back of the gigantic building. The closed-in stadium appeared not very far away. 

The University of Aster is like a huge green botanical garden if I could put it in that way. Students were gathering, picnicing, and some even sleeping under the big shade of trees. I guess the wind was quite chill when the sunset drew nearer. 

"Emma! This is semi-final for the All-region Basketball Preliminary! Is it gonna be difficult? You may ask. I wouldn't say it is significantly difficult!!! We're strong, we'll definitely crush them, you know? But...!" 

Jackie stopped and looked at me. 

And for a moment, I could feel his boiling blood emitting. I wondered if that was climate change. 

Could you stop that spine-chilling menacing look? :) 

Please. 

"But what?" I asked cautiously. 

Jackie's lips very slowly curled up. 

"I'LL BE THE ONE SMASHING THOSE CITY BOIS HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" 

Neglecting the looks of the students walking around us, someone actually spotted and called out. 

"Jackie, you're a sub, dumb-ass! It is MY freaking turn, dumb-ass!" 

Fernando in uniform approached.  I waved him a hello. 

He smacked my back the moment we were close. And I smacked his back, only hearing him laughing. 

"I wonder if you'll become my fan once you see me on court, Emma!" 

I gave him a gentle smile. 

"Even if you suck! I'll cheer for you, Fernando!" 

"Fernando you stupid, is dumb-ass the only word inserted in your dictionary?" Jackie smirked next to me. He changed his weather more often than the weather itself :) what a scene. 

"Okay, dumb-ass! Let's together escort Lady Yamaoka to our kingdom!" Fernando took Jackie's hand on the right and spreaded his left hand on my shoulder, dragged the both of us toward the huge stadium. 

"Do you know where Ben is?" I asked Fernando

"He seems to be attending a business of his, he should be here any moment now" Fernando replied 

"Oh, he has class?" I asked 

"I think it's about Christine though..." Fernando said it hesitantly. 

Instead, Jackie bursted out angrily. 

"Goddamn! Dude's super awesome at everything, only to find a jealous girlfriend like that, I sometimes don't f*cking understand him at all!" 

Oh wow. 

Now I finally understood. Around few months ago, out of the blue, big bro asked me whether girls liked going to the cinema or the amusement park for a date. Well, wasn't that a little bit giant of a generalization? This matter really depends on each person, right? I mean, I'd prefer to go to a bookstore or a foodie crowded place. Like big bro a hundred percent would want to have a date going to see a football match for example, or go to the city art museum. 

And wow. There's a girl who big bro was willing to spoil her. But to what extent, I didn't know for sure myself through the conversation. 

They didn't mention further about it, and shifted to talk about their opponent today. 

Medical Academy was a strong team, and the most shining player being their Wing Forward, the small but highly skilled player, being the dark shadow of their Point Guard. 

Medical Academy is the place where the rich kids usually go to, because it has been to most important part of the New Faerie society. 

We're already in front of the big stadium, but those two guys kept dragging me on. I found it super weird. 

"This is Mammoth Stadium, where football and athletics are held. And that one!" Jackie pointed at an arena just a bit behind this huge fancy stadium. 

"THE ATOMIC HALL! OUR KINGDOM!" 

The hall looked smaller than the previous one, however, way more people gathering, scattered from the door to the canteen. And most of all, I could see an army of cheering squads in purple uniforms. The university atmosphere over wasn't that calm after all. 

"Our opponent never fails to throw their money through the window for the cheering squads lol" Jackie commented. 

We shortly arrived at the small arena. Standing before the orange court, I couldn't bring myself to say a word. The cheering sound, the echoing, the clapping, the sound of the most vibrant atmosphere. I was dumbfounded. The exact feeling when I was in the city stadium flooded back to me. It was like a freezing breeze blowing through my every cells, yet all of my sense were livened up. 

"The match officially starts in 30 mins, quite a time, so I think you can jog around, see stuff first and come back. We're going now!" Fernando told me 

"Emma! Wait, I'll give you my cap!" Jackie hurriedly looked into his heavy-looking backpack. 

A simple black cap was put on my head. I took it off and stared at the vertical line in the middle of the cap. 

"Jackie, what does it say?" 

Jackie smiled at me, and this time, Fernando also. 

"It means 'Rise higher', lil lady"

"Please cheer for us with all you've got, Emma! It's gonna be an excited time!" Jackie winked at me. And they left. 

Their kingdom, was this huge orange court, unknown to me.