Chapter 14 – Restarting a Dream

Sachiko's POV

"For three!"

*SWISH*

"*giggle* Looks like I still got it!"

It's been a few days since Akari's birthday party. Everyone had fun…and Akari seemed to be back to her normal cheerful self. For the most part. It was deemed a success by most if not everyone there.

Now, it was just me. At the basketball court near my apartment practicing some free throws. Something that I haven't done in…honestly a while.

I put the sport to the side shortly after I moved to the city from Hakone. Mainly due to the fact that Nanamori…doesn't have a basketball team. In fact…they don't have ANY sports teams. It's one of the few schools that doesn't, from what I was told.

You would think that sports would've been perfect for a school that's 90% lesbian…

So, with that, along with the fact that none of the others knew how to play, I put my basketball dreams on hold. And focused mainly on my new life in the city.

That is…until recently.

"No more living in this slice-of-life "happy go-lily" world we've all become accustomed to. It's time for us to grow up and accept what life really is.

Only then…can all of us be truly happy."

Geez…that stuff Kyoko said is still rummaging through my mind. I haven't stopped thinking about it since that day.

I mean…she's kinda right. We really do need to stop living a delusion and grow up. We can't stay middle schoolers forever…

With that thought in mind, I made another 3-point shot with the basketball.

Maybe it's time to start chasing that dream again…

"You seem to be rather good at this sport."

"Oh. Hey, Kuuko." I said to the girl standing by the gate. "I didn't know you were still in town."

"Akari's recovery process needs a bit more progress. So, I made a request with my family to stay in the area for a little longer to look after her."

"Request…or did you just decide that on your own and your mom's flipping tables because you refuse to come home?"

"*sigh* I suppose there was no chance of fooling you, huh?"

"I know you all too well, Kuuko." I said with a smile.

Especially after meeting your family. It's no wonder you keep running off…

"So. You're familiar with basketball?" Kuuko asked. "How long have you been playing?"

"Oh, for most of my life, really. It's a huge passion of mine and I dream to go 100% pro!"

"I see. Well, that is no surprise…considering that you went to the national championships at only 12-years-old."

"Y-You know about that?" I said in shock.

"How could I not? It was huge news back in the day. A legend such as yourself placing 3rd in the entire nation…"

"Yeah…but it was only 3rd place." I gained a semi-depressed look on my face. "Thinking about it nowadays, I wish that we actually won."

"Still…3rd in the whole nation is pretty impressive, is it not?"

"Yeah, true…" I then grasped the basketball tightly around my hands. "…But even then. I still want to be the best. Putting aside my dreams simply because nobody here plays basketball is a pretty crappy excuse. The more I think about it, the more I believe that Kyoko was right about fixing our lives."

"Hmph. So, you've been thinking of what that NEET said as well, huh?" Kuuko asked with a disgruntled look.

"You too?"

"I may despise her and all she stands for…but even I have to admit. She did have a point."

Then, to my absolute surprise, Kuuko took the ball from me, dribbled it a few times, and then made a 3-point basket without breaking a damn sweat.

It was honestly the most bizarre thing I've seen her do. And she's done some pretty bizarre things in the few months I've known her.

"K-Kuuko…wh-what did you just…" I said in disbelief.

"Fufufufu~. Are you impressed, Sachiko? To tell you the truth, I am a lover of basketball myself."

"S-Seriously?! You play?!"

"I didn't get into Kohatsu Middle School, one of the most elite all-girl middle schools in Tokyo, for just smarts alone. Basketball is one of the school's top sports and I'm the star player."

"No way…Kuuko, that's AMAZING! Never did I believe that I would find someone outside of Hakone that could play basketball! Man…if only Yuri could hear this."

"Yuri?"

"Oh…she's my friend back home. She was also on the team that went to nationals with me. She's really good…d-despite her age."

"Her age?"

"It's…complicated." Was all I said on the matter.

No way in hell can I tell her that Yuri's a 5th grader with a 9th grader's body. The others couldn't handle it. Kuuko would DEFINITELY have a worse reaction…

"A-Anyway…since you can play, Kuuko…you wanna go 1-on-1?" I said with a somewhat cocky smirk.

"Ah. So, you wish to test my skills, do you?" Kuuko replied with the same identical smirk. "Well, then…I accept your challenge, Sachiko Ichiko. Show me the true skills of the 3rd best in the nation. Better not disappoint~. Fufufufu~."

"Oh, you are SO on! Let's go!"


We ended up playing for the rest of the day. Just barely noticing the sun setting and both of us being a sweaty mess. It was then that we called it quits and headed home.

As for who won…that was left in the open. We were having so much fun that neither of us kept score. It was THAT intense. Truly has been a damn while since I felt this way.

But now, as we were heading home, another conversation had started between the two of us.

And it was yet another interesting one.

"Sachiko…where do you plan on going for high school?"

"Huh? High school?" I thought about the question Kuuko asked me out of nowhere. "Well…I'm only a second-year middle schooler. High school's still kinda far from me."

"True…but it is never too late to be thinking about such a future. Although, I guess that doesn't help coming from me since I'm a third-year."

"What brought this up, anyway?"

"Well…" Kuuko went silent for a bit. Gaining an exasperated look as she let out a sigh. "…You know how I said that I've been thinking about what that insufferable NEET said about "fixing our lives"?"

You could at least call her by her name… I gained a mental sweatdrop.

"With that in mind…along with these bipolar pills I've been taking…I've gained a clearer sense of mind about what I want for my future. To have a more "realistic life" as stated before."

"And it involves basketball, doesn't it?"

Kuuko nodded before pulling out her phone and showing me a website she found.

"There's a school near the outskirts of Takaoka named Tohoku. It's a private high school. So, it will be hard to get in. But the benefits once you do…"

"W-Woah…this school gives out FULL sports scholarships to universities all across the country!" I said in amazement as I looked over the website. "And basketball is one of its highlighted sports!"

"Apparently, they're one of the best teams in the country. Out of the 7 times they went to nationals, they won 4 championships. Some of the alumni players are now top-tier professionals that play in big leagues all across the country. And even the world."

"Woah…that's amazing." I then went silent myself. Now fully realizing why Kuuko showed me this. "K-Kuuko…are you saying…"

"I'm going to apply for this school. And take its entrance exam in February. Getting into this school is my number one goal and I will NOT let it escape from me."

"W-Wow, Kuuko…that's a high bar you're setting. Never thought I would hear such ambitions coming from you."

"I can understand that. Considering that just a few months ago, I was 100% determined to have Akari's pus-"

"PLEASE! Don't say it." I said with huge exasperation as I covered Kuuko's mouth.

"*chuckle* Still as innocent as ever, I see."

"I'm not innocent! I just don't want to hear about my friend's crotch on a peaceful walk home!"

"Fair enough."

"*sigh* In any case…you're really going for that school?"

"It is my number one choice."

"I see…" I then went silent for a bit. "…You mind sending me that link?"

"Are you considering attending, as well?"

"Like I said, I'm only a second-year. I just want to look it over some more. See if this Tohoku place really is the school of my dreams."

"Trust me, Sachiko. You shall not be disappointed." Kuuko said as she sent me the link. Once I received it in my inbox, I felt my wonders growing even more.

A school that lets me continue my dream…can something like that truly exist?


Once I parted ways with Kuuko, I went home. Still lost in thought about what I learned about what Kuuko plans to do about her future. And to do with mine.

A chance to play basketball again…that's been my dream since moving to the city. I thought something like this would never come to be since nobody here plays basketball and my old teammates back home all moved away…

Well…not ALL of them. There is still…

*RINGTONE CHIME*

"H-Huh?! Oh…it's my phone." I came out of my trance before answering my phone. "Hello?"

"SACHIKO~!"

"GAH! G-Geez, Yuri…I kept telling you not to scream when you talk on the phone."

"Sorry…but I'm just SOOOO excited! It's been a while since we last spoke to each other, you know."

"Yeah, I know how you feel."

This is the 5th grader with the 9th grader's body I mentioned before. My best friend Yuri Katabuki. She's loud, cheerful, and a full-on country girl like yours truly.

The one thing that makes her stick out though is her massive growth spurt. And I mean MASSIVE. Her height is around the same as mine…and her breasts are as big as Himawari's.

A fact that…many of the others just can't let go.

Small chest envy is still a ginormous thing around here…

"So, what's up, Yuri? You just wanted to talk or…"

"Oh, yeah! I've got GREAT news, Sachiko! I'm becoming a city girl!"

"What?"

"Don't you remember, Sachiko?! We talked about this last month!"

"Huh?" I then thought about what this girl was talking about. "O-Oh, yeah! I remember. So, your parents are okay with you coming to live with me?"

"Yep! They said I can come over during the summer! Just a few more weeks and I'll experience the life of a city girl for myself! I'm SOOOO excited!"

"You really gotta stop saying "city girl", Yuri…" I said with a sweatdrop.

"And maybe once I get there, we can start playing basketball together again!"

"Y-You still play basketball?"

"Of course! I'm still trying to reach our dream of going pro! You're still doing it too right, Sachiko?"

I didn't answer her. Rather, I looked at the link for the school Kuuko had sent me earlier. And basically stared the thing down until it started to hurt my eyes.

So, she's still doing it, huh?

"Sachiko?"

"Y…Yeah. You bet I am. This country girl's gonna go pro in this here city and nothin's gonna get in my way, ya hear?!"

"Alright, Sachiko!"

"Yuri. The bath's ready."

"Okay, Mom!" Yuri replied to her mother. "Well, gotta go. I'll see you soon, Sachiko! Bye now!"

"*giggle* Bye, Yuri." I said before hanging up the phone. Letting out one big sigh before looking at the link again.

This time…scrolling to the bottom of the page. And pressing the button that allowed me to take a tour of the school.

It's a start…hopefully, this first step will take me further…

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

"Hey, Sachiko. Dinner's ready if you wanna come over." Yui said from the thin walls we have in this apartment complex.

"Oh, boy! City girl dinner!" I cheered as I placed the rest of my stuff down and headed next door to eat.

But I can promise you…it was more than just the food that I was happy about.

My own story finally continues once more!

Author's Note: After some encouragement from probably the most UNLIKELY of people, Sachiko continues to follow her dream of becoming a pro basketball player. And to start it all…a high school that cares for the sport as much as she does?

Writing this chapter reminded me of the days when I was starting to write fanfiction stories. Specifically, writing a story called Yuru Yuri Plus 1. The story that Sachiko debuted in.

It…definitely shows how much of a novice I was. It needs a complete rewrite…but I don't think I have the time right now.

So, I'm sure a lot of you guys are aware of FanFiction having tons of issues right now (emails, notifications, stats, etc.). I'm doing my best to adapt to this situation...constantly looking up if there's been anything done to fix it all. In the meantime, though...I've been only posting to AO3.

I know you guys are reading my stories, I really do. I just can't see it. And really, your best bet to see if any of my stories are updated is to consistently check my profile. I'll at least try to continue posting on here...but if this problem continues for the rest of the year, it may be time to say goodbye to .

Thanks for reading. Later.