"One Week Later..."

"Hey Kaito! You heading home soon?" Shinra called out.

"Well, I had this hot date—of course I am! I'm not interested in any clubs!" Kaito denied  while shaking his head.

"Haha! Alright alright. I was asking cuz I was planning on shooting some hoops later. You wanna come?" Shinra asked with a smile.

"I don't know Shinra, I've never played basketball before. I don't even know the rules." Kaito said while scratching his head.

"Pfft that's a total lie! You've had P.E. before, just like the rest of us! Of course you've played the game!" Shinra shot back with a pointed finger.

"Fine, you caught me! I have played before! But that was that was then and this is now." Kaito explained while waving his hands.

"Ok, so why not now? You busy or something?" Shinra asked with a puzzled look.

"It's because I can't! Just face it, I'm no good!" Kaito confessed while shaking his head.

"Oh really? Says the guy who has girls falling at his feet. Come on! I'll teach you a thing or two." Shinra offered with the wave of his hand.

"Alright alright fine! I'll play your ball game! Even though I'll probably be the one falling, anyway." Kaito sighted in defeat.

"Hehe. Okay then, let's go!" Shinra cheered enthusiastically.

The two boys walked over the the practice building to find the gym, but they ended up finding something else instead. Someone a lot more interesting than any old gym.

Just right outside the basketball court, they saw a guy with long black hair running around with a basketball in his hand. Dribbling left, then shifting to the right with a quick crossover. Until finally, the guy dribbled the ball one more time then jumped up into the perfect form.

"Whoa, who's that over there?" Kaito asked curiously.

"A friend of mine. Yo Kotegawa!" Shinra called out.

Kotegawa stopped for a minute, then looked over to the voice that had called him. He smiled and waved at Shinra, then ran over to the two boys.

"Hey Shinra! I told you to can call me Wakana remember? Kotegawa sounds so stiff." Wakana replied with raised eyebrows.

"Hahaha! Right, sorry 'bout that." Shinra apologized.

"Anyways, who's your friend you got there? Ain't he one of those hot guys the girls keep raving about?" Wakana asked with a crooked finger.

"The name's Kaito, Kaito Igarashi! But I gotta say, I'm kinda surprised. You think I'm hot?" Kaito asked with a devious smile.

"Well yeah you're attractive, but I don't mean anything by it. It's a fact plain as day." Wakana explained while waving his hands.

"Oh wow, thanks! You're not too bad yourself, Waka-chan." Kaito smirked with a playful look in his eye.

"Ugh, stop it you guys! Quit flirting with each other! I came to play basketball, not be a third wheel!" Shinra screeched while stomping his foot.

"Flirting? We weren't flirting, we were just talking! Sure, I said he's hot, but not in a serious way." Wakana replied with the wave of his hand.

"Well, I sure was! But what's up with you, Shinra? You feeling jealous?" Kaito taunted relentlessly.

"Whattaya mean jealous? I just don't appreciate being left out of the conversation. Nothing else to it." Shinra shot back with a flustered look.

"Mhmm. Sure you do. You sir, have a crush!" Kaito replied with a genuine smile.

"Shinra? Crush? Ha! Now this I gotta see! He hasn't had a crush since elementary school!" Wakana laughed wholeheartedly.

"Well, it's safe to say that he has one now. The question is, who?" Kaito wondered.

"Oh shut up! Like I'd ever tell you! If you're so interested in crushes, then who do you have a crush on?" Shinra asked with a growing blush.

"I don't think I have one." Kaito replied with a shrug.

"Wow really? I thought since you're so popular, you'd have at least one person you like." Wakana gasped in surprise.

"Well, you thought wrong. If anything, it's made it harder for me to become interested. So many choices and none of them are good." Kaito sighed with crossed arms.

"Oof you just set off a lot of shippers with that one. Good luck getting corroded emails later." Shinra chuckled.

"Eh, I'll be alright. But you still haven't answered my question. Who do you like?" Kaito asked once more.

"Yeah Shinra who?" Wakana asked eagerly.

"Its...a secret." Shinra replied, putting a finger to his lips.

Kaito fell over in shock of his vague answer, then quickly recovered and got back up.

"Aww ok. I guess I can't press you for the whole chapter." Kaito groaned while dusting himself off.

"No you cannot." Shinra smiled in relief.

"Hey, what about me? Am I not good enough to have a crush? Wakana asked while pointing to himself.

"Not at all! Sorry about that, I forgot to ask. Who do you have a crush on?" Kaito asked.

"I think I got a thing for Nozomi. She's pretty cool." Wakana confessed softly.

Kaito dropped the ball, while Shinra stood there with wide eyes. They looked at Wakana, then at each other, then back at him and said,

"No-Nozomi?!" They screamed in unison.

"Uh yeah, I just told you that. Why're you two so surprised?" Wakana asked in conclusion.

"Well cuz she's the student council president." Kaito replied with wide eyes.

"Yeah, I never saw that coming." Shinra agreed.

"I know but she's smart and capable! And just so inspiring!" Wakana gushed endlessly.

"Isn't she a third year? And aren't you a second year?" Kaito asked curiously.

"You into older women?" Shinra asked in wonder.

"I might be. I don't know guys, I just like her. That's all." Wakana confessed sincerely.

"Oh alright. But you gotta talk to her. Maybe she needs a secretary." Kaito suggested with a sly look.

"I don't know about that, but I'll definitely do something that catches her attention." Wakana nodded.

"Alright big guy. As long as it doesn't lead you to suspension, I'll help you!" Shinra promised with a thumbs up.

"Yeah, I'll support you all the way!" Kaito agreed.

"Whoa really?" Wakana gasped in shock.

"You bet!" They replied in unison.

"Thanks guys! Now let's play a game!" Wakana cheered happily, as he dribbled down the court.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Shinra shouted as he ran.

"Wait up, you guys! I still can't play!" Kaito cried with endless tears.

"Haha! Well you better hurry up, cuz you're about to learn!" Wakana laughed while looking back at him.

The two boys ran after Wakana, until he scored an easy lay up. Then decided to switch out players to make the games more efficient, with a classic one-on-one game. Wakana and Shinra won several games with high dunks and deep threes, while Kaito barely scored five points.

But he vowed that he would beat them someday. He just needed a little practice, practice that'll get him some points. That way, he'll score the ball right over their heads! But how was Kaito going to manage that? He needed a coach, a trainer, or a miracle worker. But who would be willing to train him? Someone he doesn't know, someone he never noticed, someone closer to him than he thought.