After straightening out the details with the two seniors once more, I followed them out to join the rest of the team. The mont we stepped onto the gym proper, Satsuki caught my eye with an amused expression.
Clearly, she understood what might’ve happened. Ria was seated behind her, sandwiched by Ryouko-san and Orimura-sensei. They all stared at as if waiting for a reaction, like I was supposed to look flustered or guilty. Instead, I just smirked and gave Satsuki a knowing wink.
Her lips twitched and then gestured with her fingers, silently signaling over.
Looking around, the warm-up was already finished. They’re only waiting for the Hirari High official and referees to call the start of the match. anwhile, the opposing team was already settled on their benches, sizing us up.
Or rather, most of the attention focused on . I imdiately noticed the point guard of Hirari High, Sakuraba Mikan, was it? That girl attempted to get my na. She even charged at when we ran into each other where she introduced herself.
Of course, I didn’t give her my na but looking at how she’s already glaring at , she clearly rembered . Next to her was her friend. The transfer student and the shooting guard of their team. She’s also staring at like her nesis. Perhaps it had to do with how I rejected her friend’s attempt to get my na back then. She did say she disdained how I treated the girl, after all.
Sakuraba Mikan waved shyly as if we were old friends. She even mouthed sothing along the lines of ’Hey, we finally t again. Tell your na later!’. And upon seeing that, her friend pulled her away with an exasperated sigh, shooting another glare.
I just shook my head and continued. When I reached our side of the court, Ria leaned forward from her seat and called out to . "Dumb-senpai, did you seduce their point guard too? She looks ready to defect."
Satsuki clicked her tongue and added, "Tsk, is that even a surprise to you, Ria-chan? That idiot can pull a girl from everywhere."
How should I answer them? Well, it’s not like I flirted with that girl. It was of her own volition.
So I simply shrugged as I crouched down to face them. "I didn’t do anything. She has been like that since the interhigh finals."
"I don’t believe you." Satsuki’s fingers twitched toward my collar like she wanted to shake answers out of , but she restrained herself with a glance toward the opposing team. "You always say that, you pervert."
"Now, now. Let’s not start with that. Ruki-ku– I an, Onoda-kun, how is your talk with Kawakami and Kanno?" Ryouko-san interrupted as she stared at with expectant eyes.
She’s the one who arranged it, after all. She clearly knew that those two seniors would ask to motivate them again. She never thought it would lead to sothing else.
Before I could answer, Kawakami-senpai appeared behind , clearing her throat. "Sensei, we’re ready. Onoda-kun agreed. He’s going to help us again."
Upon saying that, she turned to the other starting players of the team. Satsuki wouldn’t be playing in the first half so it would all be the 2nd and 3rd-year seniors. "Gather round, it’s ti for the pep talk. You’re all looking forward to Onoda-kun’s assistance, right?"
Kawakami-senpai’s voice rang with confidence. She seed so different from the flustered girl who just hugged .
That’s the captain for you, I guess?
She clapped her hands, signaling the starting lineup to form a tight circle. The others responded imdiately. Those warming the bench also joined the circle and naturally, Satsuki pulled into the center with them.
I exhaled before opening my mouth. "Uhm... Girls, how should I start? What do you want to hear?"
The girls exchanged glances around the tight circle. So were nervous, possibly because of the loud crowd behind us. It was truly full of Hirari High crowd up there. There are probably a few from our school, but their voices were already drowned out.
Kawakami-senpai cleared her throat and answered for the rest, “It’s your call, Onoda-kun. Just... make everyone feel like we can’t lose. Like last ti.”
Her mouth remained open but no more words ca of it as if she held back in stating how I motivated them personally minutes earlier.
Kanno-senpai grinned from that before continuing, “Yeah, like Chiho said, do it like how you did it before, Onoda-kun. Tell everyone why we should be bothered by the large crowd that’s against us today. Make it count.”
The rest of the team murmured agreent as they stared at like I was their lucky charm.
Eventually, Satsuki finally spoke up, “Idiot Ruki. Stop hesitating. You know what they really want. Don’t hold back just because it’s a match. Motivate them the way only you can.”
I could only put on a smile from what she just said.
What else can I do? If they’re looking at expectantly like this, there’s no reason to deny them that.
“Alright,” I started, lowering my voice enough that only the circle could hear over the distant roar of the crowd. “You want motivation that sticks? The kind that burns in your veins long after the whistle blows? Then listen up. What’s before you isn’t just a rematch of the finals. This is your legacy. Show them that you earned it, not by luck but because of your skill. Every dribble, every shot, every sweat-soaked second out there is proof you’re not just champions. You’re unstoppable.”
“Does the Hirari crowd want to rattle you? Let them scream. Turn every boo into fuel for enthusiasm. Then, feel it here...” I tapped my chest and then glanced at Satsuki, “And here.”
The girl just smirked at as though saying, ‘shaless guy’.
The other girls murmured agreent as they copied my gesture.
“But words alone aren’t enough today,” I continued, letting the tone drop. “You need to feel it. So here’s the deal. Close your eyes for ten seconds. Picture the win. Picture the crowd going silent when you dominate. And while you do that... rember how good it feels to be rewarded for pushing your limits.”
“Feel that fire building? That’s the sa fire you’ll carry onto the court. And after we crush them, you’ll no longer fear a huge crowd coming into the prefectural tournant. So, go out there and win.”
At the sa ti I finished my speech, a whistle echoed from one of the referees, calling for the start of the ga.
With that, with the lead of Kawakami-senpai, the starter team of our Girls Basketball Club stepped into the battlefield.
As for ? Satsuki pulled to the bench where Ria had already opened up a spot where they could sandwich between them.
Ryouko-san looked on helplessly. Clearly, she also wanted to get the privilege of being next to but as the Coach and the advisor of the Girls Basketball Club, she couldn’t openly express that.
Anyway, given how narrow the bench was, our thighs were forced to press tight together.
Ria comfortably occupied my left with her small fra curling against my side like she owned the real estate, and Satsuki on my right, her fingers already locking with mine as she rested our hands on her lap.
“Idiot Ruki,” Satsuki muttered under her breath while the referee’s whistle echoed across the court. “You really let those two seniors drag you off for a ‘pep talk’? I can sll their perfu on you. Both of them. Don’t think I missed how flushed Kawakami-senpai looked when you ca out.”
Ria mischievously giggled on my other side, “Dumb-senpai, your face says you behaved... but we know you enough that those two seniors got the best of that mont. You’re never going to be inconsiderate of girls, after all.
“I just motivated them like before. Besides, isn’t it your idea, Satsuki? Are you still jealous over yesterday?”
“Hmph. Don’t remind of that. Nee-san kept calling . She’s complaining about you and apologizing to . She’s going ho tomorrow since she wants to apologize properly.”
That... Alright, I didn’t expect that at all. Should I ssage Setsuna-nee and ask what she’s feeling? Or should I just ask Juri to look into it for ?
No... That won’t be good. It’s my responsibility.
“Should I go ho with you tomorrow? You know... to settle her mind.” I said.
At this point, the ga finally kicked off with a sharp tip-off. Kanno-senpai leapt high to win the jump ball as she dished it out to Kawakami-senpai for an easy layup.
The Hirari crowd booed loud enough to shake the rafters, but our girls didn’t flinch. Mhm. That’s a great start.
“Idiot. Settle her mind? Or flirt with her again? But it’s not a bad idea... It’s been a while since you... walked ho.” Satsuki replied, sounding both annoyed and pleased at the sa ti.
Ria, on my other side, could only giggle before saying, “Wow, can I also be jealous, Dumb-senpai?”
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