On the first day of school, time flies.

At the end of the evening shift, looking at the words left on the blackboard, Naruse turned the eraser in his hand and tapped lightly on the table.

"Is there a private book club?"

Choosing your favorite book, reading it to guests in a one-on-one, face-to-face format, and sharing the joy of acquiring knowledge and insights, this is the cultural festival project that was finally voted on by Class C of the year.

Although somewhat secluded, it seems that because of the simplicity of execution, or the fact that the word "private" has captured the hearts of adolescent boys and girls, the other options are immediately overshadowed by this proposal.

The project was decided, and the executive committee of the cultural festival was elected to be in charge of this matter, so that is the end of today's evening meeting, and the rest of the things will be gradually determined later, such as the selection of "scholars".

"If there aren't many people who volunteer, then you can only vote."

"No, no, this kind of freedom to share one's sexuality...... Share your hobbies, and there will definitely be a lot of people signing up. ”

The conversation between the two boys not far away fell into Naruse's ears, and he smiled, thinking that this might be what most people think.

After cleaning up the things, the people in the classroom were almost gone, and the two students on duty discussed in front of the cleaning cabinet and prepared to clean.

"Spring Sea." Naoko is going to the department of the handicraft club and comes to ask him about his plans.

When he first arrived, he had nowhere to go in Tsutaka at the moment, and it was too early to go home, and Naruse was a little embarrassed.

"Do you want to come to the craft club?" Naoko suggested.

"Won't it bother you?"

Naruse also knew that they were busy preparing the exhibits for the cultural festival, so they shouldn't have time to pay attention to him.

"Just looking, it's not an inconvenience."

Naruse thought for a moment, "I'd like to wander around the school first, and I'll come back to you later." ”

Naoko nodded, told him the location of the department, and left first.

Coming to the corridor, Naruse looked at the atrium below, and suddenly a familiar voice came from beside him.

"'The handsome transfer student in Class C', was left out in the cold as soon as school ended."

He turned his head, and Morimi Kazuha was holding his glasses, his eyes looking at him, "Sure enough, the uniform in Tokyo looks better." ”

"It should be said that the uniforms of private high schools are relatively good-looking, after all, the price is not cheap."

Morimi raised an eyebrow and didn't say anything.

Seeing that she was empty-handed and didn't carry a bag, Naruse asked, "Isn't Morimi planning to go back yet?" ”

After entering high school, Morimi didn't join any clubs, and often went home after school, as he knew from his previous casual conversations.

However, she is also a librarian in Class E, and occasionally has to go to the school library on duty.

"Hmm...... It's okay to go back too early, and I'm going to read a little more at school. Morimi said, a little more hesitant than usual.

Naruse glanced over at Class E, and the two girls probed their heads at the back door, met his gaze, and retracted suddenly.

"They asked you to come here?"

"What?" Morimi turned back.

"No, nothing." Naruse understood that he was wrong, "So you really came to laugh at me." ”

Morimi smiled shallowly, and pushed his glasses again: "I just happened to see Naruse standing here in a daze." What about Naoko? ”

"Let's go to the ministry first."

"Yes. So be it, I'm back in class. ”

She turned around and went back to the classroom, but Naruse didn't stand still and went downstairs from the corridor on the other side.

After a short while, the two girls in Class E poked their heads out again.

"Ah, the handsome transfer student in Class C is gone......"

"It's a shame."

In the classroom, Starfish squinted at the two people at the back door, then at Morimi, who was sitting by the window with his chin propped up, looking idle, and then at the exam papers full of errors on the table in front of him, and only felt bored in his heart.

"Why is there such a thing as a make-up exam in the world......

......

When it's time to leave school, wandering around the school in a conspicuous out-of-school uniform will still attract a lot of attention.

After wandering in the atrium for a while, seeing more and more people looking at him, Naruse turned his feet and walked towards the gymnasium.

Several indoor sports clubs, each occupying a part of the field, trained without disturbing each other.

Bang! Bang!

The basketball rises and falls, slapping the floor violently, and as the dribbler shuttles from side to side, breaking through the encirclement and getting closer and closer to his final destination.

Bang!

The basketball that touched the ground bounced again, returned to the dribbler, and was immediately projected.

The short flight left an abrupt arc as the basketball hit the rebound and then fell into the net without incident.

Hikaru Takikawa let out a breath and turned around to high-five the two teammates beside him, a smile on his face.

The basketball that landed on the ground bounced a few times, and it was back in the hands of the players, and the next round of competition began again.

"Huh?"

Hikaru Takikawa suddenly paused, and the ball that had just been passed to his hand was snatched away in the next second.

"Light!" Another nearby team member immediately issued a reminder, "Don't be in a daze! ”

"I'm sorry."

Hikaru Takikawa raised his hand, then left the venue, and greeted the side: "Shidao, you come for me." ”

"Huh? Good ......"

Another girl in a basketball uniform hurried onto the court, but the rhythm was interrupted, and the basketball that flew out was gently caught, and no one cared about it at this time.

"Spring Sea."

Under the watchful eyes of the basketball players, Hikaru Takikawa walked to the sidelines, wiped his sweat, and said hello to Naruse, "Come to me?" ”

"Just hang out. Seems to be bothering you guys from training? ”

"It's okay." Hikaru Takikawa smiled, "I haven't had any competitions lately, it's just ordinary daily training. ”

"Speaking of competitions, October is the Autumn Championship. Will this year's junior women's division be 12 or 47 teams? Naruse asked.

"Does Harumi know any of this too?"

She was a little surprised, and then shook her head, "This year is the forty-seven team system, but it has nothing to do with us, and the coach in charge of selection will not set his eyes here." ”

"Really?"

Naruse's understanding of this kind of sports event basically comes from comics, and he only knows the skin, "Didn't you reach the semifinals of the national competition last year, and there should be a lot of people paying attention to you." ”

"The only thing that can be remembered is the champion."

Hikaru Takikawa looked at him, "For me, stopping at the top four is actually a sad thing, and Harumi actually mentioned it so casually. ”

"I'm sorry." Naruse immediately apologized.

"Hahaha, just kidding."

She laughed, and then said: "Speaking of last year's tournament, after losing that one, the coach at that time was too much, and actually said that it was my responsibility to stop in the semi-finals. ”

“…… Is it? "The real middle school coach is much more ruthless than what Naruse saw in the manga.

"He said, 'It's already the limit of Takikawa to be able to take these kids to the semi-finals.'" ”

"Huh? Wait a minute......"

"I always feel like I'm missing the most important bit of motivation, that's what the coach said."

Naruse, who was about to say something, fell silent again.

Because of Hikaru Takikawa, their team, which may not match their overall strength, reached the semifinals of the national competition;

is also because she "lacks the most critical point of motivation", so their limit can only stop at the top four.

"That coach must be trying to encourage the light." Naruse said, "The limit of the third year of secondary school is the top four in the country, and when you reach high school, you may be able to reach the finals." ”

Hikaru Takikawa smiled, "Basketball is not a one-person sport, and those teammates from last year are now gone." ”

"Aren't any of them in Tsugara?" Naruse asked.

"yes."

She nodded, "Except for me, the other players were poached by the famous basketball schools in the county." ”

He was even more surprised, "Didn't anyone invite the light?" ”

"Yes. But those schools are not in front of Tianjin, and they have to live in dormitories after that. When I thought about not being able to live at home for three years of high school, I refused them all. Hikaru Takikawa said as a matter of course.

“……”

Naruse probably understood what the little drive she was lacking was.

"Hikari, *Do you like basketball?"

Hikaru Takikawa looked at him for a moment.

"Haruko?"

“……”

After chatting with Hikaru Takikawa, she returned to the field to continue training, and Naruse stayed for a few more moments before leaving the gym.

Like most clubs, the club's activity department is also in the annex building, and Naoko tells him that the location is on the second floor.

"Handicraft Society ......"

Naruse slowed down as he scanned the door number as he searched.

Two blue-tie girls shook the drops of water in their hands, walked up from behind, and talked in low voices.

“…… Judging by Ritsuko's meaning, it seems that she plans to take over as minister after she is promoted to the third grade. ”

"Wow, I can't take it."

"Anyway, according to the usual practice, we basically have to quit the department. Besides, there's no one more reliable than her in the first grade. ”

"Who knows if she's really reliable, always smiling, really hypocritical. Maybe it's dark inside...... After all, the biological parents died long ago. ”

Naruse stopped and turned his head to look back.

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* "Do you like basketball?" ": From "Slam Dunk" Haruko Akagi.