The library loomed tall among the faculty buildings. Far above, from the highest window, Haruko was gazing out, lost in a daydream, poetry anthology open and neglected on the desk before her. The outside world was dark and sleepy. Classes were done for the day, and the sun had already set. The pathways between buildings were lit with soft yellow lamps, each light glowing like a firefly in the dark. There were few students at this hour. The campus was quiet and dark all around.

Yet along one dim path crossing the centre of campus far below, passing between bright yellow pools of light and bars of blackness, a student was running.

He had left his final lecture in the main building the moment it was finished, and was scampering back to the law faculty as fast as he could go. He wore a book bag on his back, heavy with the volumes. His eyes were bright behind his glasses. His long legs carried him swiftly as he ran through the dark.

He took the faculty steps two at a time, charged along an empty corridor, and burst into the meeting, feet scrabbling at the floor as he hurtled round the doorpost.

"You're late!" the team captain snapped at him.

"Sorry, sorry!" Sendoh lifted a hand to apologise, his eyes already roaming around the room in excitement.

The other members of the law faculty basketball team were already seated, the meeting underway.

The tallest in the room was Aota, their captain. He was a huge, towering figure, and a very tiring final year student. Then there was Sendoh. There was also a large bullish student who looked bulky and strong, as if he spent all his free hours lifting weights. Beside him was a slim boy who looked like a sudden wind might catch him and send him flying like a kite. Near the window was Koshino Hiroaki - Sendoh's best friend and hallmate - rolling his eyes at Sendoh's lateness.

Sendoh felt an excited rush of nerves.

The sports competition was arranged so that each non-sporting faculty team was assigned one athletics major as support. That meant that each basketball team - including theirs - would be assigned one of the Wildcat players to assist them. The question, of course, was which one?

Might it be... the freshman?

Sendoh's heart seemed to have crawled up into his throat.

He knew about the Wildcat's new ace only because he'd watched that boy practise. He'd stood mesmerised as time stretched into blurred meaninglessness. Standing frozen at the window, looking down into the court. Forgetting the weight of the books in his hands. Forgetting the start of his class. Just standing. Just watching. Time drifting past without him even noticing.

He did not know why that boy came all the way to the law faculty to practise alone. Hardly anyone made use of the law faculties sport's facilities. But Sendoh was glad of it. Because there was magic in the way that he played. His every motion a kind of poetry that pulled Sendoh's heartbeat into an unsteady staccato.

And Sendoh had wondered if there would ever be a chance... to maybe... meet him?

Perhaps even to... be his friend?

He had volunteered himself and Koshino for the faculty team this year just on the chance that this strange and secret wish he harboured might come true. And so he looked around the small faculty room now hoping perhaps...?

Ah! His eyes landed on an unfamiliar person, sitting near the front. The Wildcat player! Could it be-?

"This guy is going to be our small forward," Aota addressed the visiting player. "If you don't mind working with him then-"

The Wildcat player turned around in his seat to see Sendoh. A smile immediately appeared on his face, his eyes bright with interest. "Great!" he said, standing up. "Wow. You're pretty tall!"

Sendoh came forward lifting a friendly hand, happy to shake.

If he was disappointed, it did not show. But in the end it seemed it was not the freshman after all.

"My name is Myagi Ryota. I play point guard. I'm a second year," the Wildcat player explained cheerfully. "I think this team is going to be really strong! I'm excited to work with you guys."

"Great to meet you," Sendoh smiled happily at him. Myagi was one of the starters for the Wildcats, built short and light and speedy, he had a friendly face, strong arms and legs, and a golden hoop in one ear. It was definitely a blessing to have him on their side.

Around the room, the rest of the team were nodding, each looking excited and eager.

Even though he had not been lucky enough to meet the new ace, Sendoh still felt that the competition was going to be a lot of fun.

"We'll only have one week to practise together," Aota warned them all, looking at his notes. "The competition starts next Thursday. We'll be playing against humanities. If we want to beat those book nerds then we have to work hard!"

It was a bit rich for the law students to be referring to the humanities as book nerds, but for the moment, no one minded that.

"Yes, Captain!" they chorused eagerly.

On his way home to the student halls, Sendoh could not resist walking past the law faculty's indoor court just in case. His feet often took him this way these days. It had become his habit.

A few weeks ago he'd first noticed the new freshman ace playing here. The Wildcat did not come often. Sendoh had only seen him on a few occasions. But now he walked this way each time. Just in case.

Today, when he walked by, the court was empty and dark. He paused for a moment at the window, looking down into the dark hall. His eyes wandered over the familiar white lines, and the baskets at each end standing still and silent like sentinels. There was no one there. And yet Sendoh imagined he could hear it. The steady thump thump thump of the ball. The squeak of shoes against the polished wood. The way the boy moved - his feet light like he was walking on water, his fingers, wrists, the fluid twist and snap of his hand as he controlled the ball like it was an extension of his arm. The way he jumped. High. So high. And with every leap it felt like he was pulling Sendoh upwards with him.

It had been years since Sendoh had last stood on a court with a basketball in his hand. Since he'd last felt the satisfaction of slamming a ball into the net. He'd played throughout middle school, but had dropped out of his high school team to focus on his main ambition - to enter law school.

And now, here he was.

He had never regretted his decision to quit competitive basketball. There were other things to which he wanted to dedicate his time. Other ambitions he harboured in his heart. And basketball had always been just a hobby to him, so it hadn't been all that hard to reduce himself to a fan. A spectator. Cheering for his favourite teams.

But now... something made his fingers twitch, his body hum, his legs want to run and jump. Watching that boy play put something bright and hot into his chest. This strange nostalgia. He wanted... to know it again. Whatever it was. That special feeling. The moment. Remembering the thrill of those times in the past when he too had been so absorbed in the sport he loved.

He stared down at the empty court, his eyes seeing that phantom boy running back and forth, leaping, turning, twisting. His heart and his stomach seemed to twist up together.

I'm so excited, he realised, thinking of the upcoming tournament, his hands trembling. I can't wait. I just can't wait.

I really feel like something is about to begin.

-tbc

ANs: Thanks so much for your views and reviews, Ms Pau and KS711 :) hope you will enjoy the story!