Chapter 7: Susumu

After studying, I stop by the vending machine, and pop in some coin for a couple of drinks. I don't know what kind Kasamatsu prefers, so I get a generic kind. Worst comes to worst, I'll drink his.

I try to stuff the drinks into my bag, which are already full of books, but in the end, I have to carry one in my hand. As I walk toward the gym, I screw the lid off and take a sip. The day is nice, summer nearing, the warm breeze hailing it.

Like expected, I hear the thud-thud of the ball as I approach the gym, the door cracked open to let the sound escape. I haven't been back since I first found Kasamatsu staying late and practicing, my family getting in the way, or being too tired after studying to even feel like playing ball. However, today I'm fully hyped up and ready to show Kasamatsu my skills. Or lack thereof.

I push open the door and announce myself loudly. "Kasamatsu-senpaiii!"

I hear a loud slam and see the ball flying through the air toward me. I let out a cry and dodge to the side — my bottle goes the other direction, and even though I'd capped it, I hadn't secured it tightly enough. I cringe as blue-colored liquid begins to pool out onto the gym floor.

"Whoops," I say sheepishly, rubbing my head and moving over to get the bottle. "Do you have a cloth somewhere?"

Kasamatsu scrambles to get the stray ball, then turns to me, his face pale. "W-what are you doing here?" he asks, like I'm an apparition.

"Um, I asked you to teach me how to play, remember?"

"R-right." He was clearly trying to forget. He turns his head away and clutches the ball even harder. Sorta like an anchor.

I grin. "So, about that something to clean this up with?"

"Oh. Right. There should be something over here. . . ."

He moves away for a few seconds, probably glad for the excuse, before returning with some paper towels and offering it to me. Thanking him, I take it, and begin to wipe up the spilled drink.

"What are you going to teach me?" I ask Kasamatsu while I clean.

"Huh?"

"In basketball. Are you going to teach me how to shoot? Dribbling? Passing?"

"Probably stance and ball-handling," he mutters.

"Sounds great!" I must sound too enthusiastic because he looks taken aback. "I mean . . . that sounds like a nice start. I think I'm done here now. I'll just go throw this away. Be right back!"

When I return, Kasamatsu is in the same spot, staring at where I'd been standing. His gaze darts toward me, and it almost looks like he was hoping I wouldn't come back. Or that maybe something would come and kidnap me, getting rid of me, and consequently, his problem.

I just grin at him, and take a ball from a nearby bin. I bounce it experimentally but it slips out of my hands immediately. "So how do you do this, Captain-Senpai?"

"Don't call me that."

"Right. Sorry."

"Well . . ." He runs a hand through his hair, spiking it up funny, thinking of how to explain it to me. "Try to just get a feel for the ball first. From there, I can teach you the actual techniques. Just . . . just get familiar with it, okay?"

I nod and try to dribble again with a little more success this time. As I move around the court in circles, my arm shifting up and down, the ball sometimes flying toward the wall before I run after it to catch it, Kasamatsu observes me carefully. I revel in the attention. I have the feeling he is both intrigued by me and yet embarrassed to be watching at the same time. Now he is an interesting contradiction.

A few minutes later, I dribble the ball near to him, managing to keep it in a near-straight line. "How's that?" I ask.

"Not too bad," he says. "You say you don't know anything about the sport?"

I nod, and catch the ball in my hands, rolling it between my fingers. "I've never really done any sports. Mostly just studying."

"Oh." He glances away, then begins to give me a few pointers, while still not looking at me. I adjust my position according to his words and try again, finding that the ball passes through my hands more easily, and I can switch directions faster.

A half hour passes with him giving me more tips and finally letting me practice on my own. I tell him to get some of his own practice in, since he's staying late to work extra after all, and I don't want to be too much of a bother. He looks appreciative at the thought and so we each pick half of the court. For a while, all I can hear is the bouncing of the ball and the drumming of my heart in my ears.

"This was fun!" I say, after we've decided to be done for the day. I wipe my brow from sweat and send a grin over to Kasamatsu. He just stares back, like he isn't sure how to reply.

I move over to my book bag, and as I pick it up, I realize I'd forgotten to give him his drink. He's already darted out of the gym, probably headed home as quickly as he can to avoid me, but I chase after him, digging into my bag to find the bottle.

"Kasamatsu-senpai!" I call, and I see him in the distance. He must've run, because there was no way he could've made it that far already otherwise. He really is an athlete, to have enough endurance to do his team practice, his own with me, and now still have enough energy to run home. Or maybe he's just desperate to get away from me. That's highly possible; I caught him stealing glances at the door the whole last hour.

He slows when he hears my shout, but I can see the reluctance in his movements as I catch up.

"I forgot," I say, panting as I reach him. "I forgot to give you this."

I thrust the bottle toward him and he manages to grab it before it falls. His eyes are wide and surprised as his hands wrap around the bottle. "You got this for — for me?" he says.

"Yeah," I say, smiling. "I figured you could use a nice, cold drink. Except it's not cold anymore. Sorry about that."

"No, it's . . . fine. Thanks." He uncaps the lid and takes a few deep sips. It's probably mostly just for courtesy's sake but my smile widens anyway.

We begin walking again, together in a way, though I don't think either of us said anything about it. I don't even know where he lives, and he doesn't even know where I live, but so far, it seems like our homes are in the same direction, so for the time being, we stick side-by-side.

"It's getting dark out," I observe, glancing up at the sky, clouds passing over it.

He doesn't reply. Perhaps he didn't hear me. Or he's ignoring me.

"Do you like the summer? I'm pretty excited that it's coming up. I like the warmer weather."

"Summer's fine," he says. "Inter-High is during the summer. . . ."

"Inter-High?"

"Basketball tournament," he grunts out, and I don't question further.

"Oh, that's right. I think Kise mentioned something about that. Sounds fun. I bet you guys will do great."

Once again, he doesn't comment. I'd been about to say something else, but my mouth closes, forgetting the words, and we walk for the rest of the time in near silence.

"My apartment is coming up," I say. "I'm pretty close to school, yeah? It's nice. Barely a ten-minute walk. Don't have to take a train or anything."

"Wait. What?"

Surprised by his outburst, I point to a building in the distance. "That's where I live. Over there, see?"

He blinks. Then his mouth gapes open. "But — but that's where I live."

The way he says it, it makes it sound like there's no way it's possible I can live there as well.

I can't help it. I double over and start laughing.

A/N: Teasing Kasamatsu can be so much fun. Thanks for reading!

~ J. Dominique