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‘Sendou High has high academic standards and a strong basketball team. That’s why I want to go there.’

I remembered Fukase’s words… from the very beginning of our third year in middle school.

Before I knew it, I found myself heading toward the gymnasium.
The practice match had already started, and a crowd of spectators was cheering loudly.

The gym was divided into two courts. On the front half, players who were probably the starters competed.
Their movements were sharp, radiating tension—this wasn’t just a casual practice game; they played to win.
Kaisei High’s girls' basketball team had a decent number of members, but Sendou High’s team had even more, with reserve players cheering noticeably from the sidelines.
You could feel the depth of their roster.

On the back court, what looked like a practice match exclusively for first-years was underway.
I scanned the players on the court and the reserves cheering them on… but Fukase was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

I turned around at the voice behind me to see Endo, looking displeased.

"Huh? Endo? What are you doing at school?"
"I figured you were studying hard, so I made you lunch."

Endo held a lunch bag in both hands.

"Why are you watching a basketball game?"
"Uh… it was a topic of conversation… just a distraction."