Episode 78: Someone Special

I hadn’t intended to come.

It was only because Mai said something unnecessary that I ended up coming to watch. Since Golden Week, I’ve hardly had any study sessions with Endo-san until the High School Sports Festival is over.

We see each other at school because we’re in the same class and sit next to each other, but the time after school felt special, unlike school hours, so I feel a little lonely.

　The reason we’d cut back on our study sessions was apparently because she wanted to give her all to her final club activities, and because she wanted to compete in the prefectural tournament to find out which university I’d be going to.

I’d been thinking she didn’t need to push herself so hard just for that, but it seems there’s another reason.

For some reason, I heard that Endo-san and Miumi-chan were competing against each other based on their scores.

　Miumi-chan had also said she wanted to take a break from her tutoring sessions until the High School Sports Festival, so I felt like it all connected somehow, but I did wonder why those two were competing against each other.

And why did Mai tell me all this?

Even when I asked her why they were competing, she wouldn’t tell me, but she did say I should come and watch because Endo-san is cool.

I managed to get to the venue, but there were so many people that I felt nervous.

　The High School Sports Festival was absolutely teeming with people.
The venue I arrived at had the court on the ground floor and the spectator stands on the first floor.

Some teams were celebrating together after securing their place in the prefectural tournament, whilst others had third-year students crying because today was their last day.

This place was a whirlwind of emotions.

Apparently, if Endo-san’s team wins today’s match, they’ll qualify for the prefectural tournament.

　I decided to sit right at the front of the stands.

Since I was on my own, there were plenty of empty seats, so I managed to get a prime spot with the best view.

I’d studied the rules of basketball when I was invited to watch a practice match earlier, and since then I’ve occasionally watched professional games, so I think I’m quite familiar with the rules.

The match was already in the second quarter.

Endo-san, with her ponytail, immediately caught my eye.

‘So Endo-san was the captain… I had no idea…’

Endo-san was wearing the number four jersey.

Her communication, the way she organised the team, the atmosphere she created, and her play on the court. Everything about her sparkled and looked so cool.

The contrast between the way she led the team and her usual self was so striking that I almost doubted it was really Endo-san.

　Mai, wearing the number five jersey, was watching the players on the court closely and making passes. And then I spotted Miumi-chan, wearing the number sixteen jersey.

Despite being so petite, Miumi-chan weaves through the opposition’s defence with agile, determined movements to snatch the ball and take a shot.

It’s a style of play I could never have imagined from the Miumi-chan I usually see.

　‘Endo-san—’

Endo-san’s shots are beautiful no matter how many times I watch them.

There’s no wobble.

The ball leaves Endo-san’s hand on a trajectory that makes even an amateur like me feel certain it’s going in.

The ball swishes through the hoop with a crisp sound.

A spectacular three-pointer.

Just then, the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the second quarter.

　34-27

Endo-san’s team were trailing by seven points. However, the success of that final shot had boosted the team’s morale.

During the long half-time break between the second and third quarters, a serious discussion took place, centred around Endo-san.

I sat in the stands, holding my breath, as I feared that if I were spotted, it might break everyone’s concentration.

　The buzzer sounded to signal the start of the third quarter, and the match resumed.

The opposition’s defence against Endo-san had become considerably tighter.

That was only to be expected; after all, they couldn’t afford to let her sink so many three-point shots.

When it comes to closing the gap in the score and putting the opposition under pressure, a three-pointer is more effective than a two-pointer.

However, Endo-san paid no heed to the tight marking and sank two three-pointers in quick succession, a shot that is clearly more difficult than a two-pointer.

She was skilful at shifting her timing, leaving the opposition’s defence unable to keep up.

　36-33

Right at the start of the third quarter, the gap closed rapidly.

Even though I was just watching, I felt as though I were playing myself, and my heart kept pounding loudly.

It was the first time I’d ever seen Endo-san look so serious.

And she was shining brighter than anyone else in the venue.

I want her to win…

　Whether they won or lost, I’d intended to tell Endo-san which university I wanted her to go to, but I found myself wanting to see the look of joy on her face if they won.

Just as I was thinking that, an unbelievable incident occurred.

It looked as though the opponent marking Endo-san was deliberately pushing her, causing her leg to bend in an unnatural direction.

It felt like she was tripping her up.

　Endo-san couldn’t withstand the pressure, and her ankle twisted in an unnatural direction.

　The referee’s whistle blew.

　He signalled an unsportsmanlike foul.

　Unlike a standard foul, this is a penalty given for malicious obstruction.

　Endo-san was crouching down, clutching her ankle.

　The moment the referee’s time-out began, Endo-san’s teammates surrounded her.

My chest feels tight and I’m struggling to breathe.

Is Endo-san going to be alright?

What if she can’t walk anymore?

I can see the pain on Endo-san’s face even from a distance.

Even though Endo-san is in such agony, all I can do here is panic.

　Anger wells up inside me towards the person who did that to Endo-san.

Endo-san was carried to the bench at once.

Endo-san looked utterly despondent, but she hurriedly cooled her leg, immediately wrapped tape around it, and went back out onto the court.

Her leg looks as though she’s limping slightly.

What on earth is she doing…?

I don’t want her to push herself to that extent.

　What’s the point of pushing yourself so hard?

　If I’d just told her honestly which university I wanted to go to, would Endo-san still be pushing herself so hard right now?

　If I told her now, would Endo-san stop playing the match in such pain?

　No… there’s no way she’d stop.

　Endo-san is many times more stubborn than I am, so I don’t think she’d stop no matter what I said now.

　And Endo-san never gives up.

She’ll keep saying she’ll play even if she can’t walk.

So, what can I do right now…?

If there’s even the slightest chance I can change the look of pain on Endo-san’s face.

My body had stood up without me realising it.

I planted my trembling feet firmly on the ground and took a breath.

The venue is noisy with all sorts of sounds.

It feels like my voice would be drowned out in an instant.

　But just for this moment, I put all my strength into making sure I don’t fade away.

‘Endo-san, you absolutely mustn’t lose!’

　I think my voice came out louder than I expected, it even surprised me.

　Endo-san looks at me with a face that looks even more surprised than anyone else’s.

　Ah, I’m glad she’s far away… I reckon my face must look a right mess, so bad I couldn’t show it to anyone.

　I’m glad Endo-san isn’t looking at me up close.

　I could feel the heat rising in my face as everyone’s gaze fell upon me.

But I ignored it and kept staring straight at Endo-san.

Endo-san gave me a beaming smile and gave me a thumbs-up.

Even though the venue was so noisy with all the different sounds, I could hear my own heart pounding.

The thought that her smile was directed squarely at me made my heart swell.

　Mai looked at me with even more delight than Endo-san did.
　Miumi-chan was also watching me, pumping her fist in celebration.

　I’m so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life.

　I’m so glad I came to watch today.

　I get to see this important match for my brilliant friends and junior teammates through to the very end.

　Endo-san’s expression turned serious again, and before stepping up to the free-throw line, the three of them, Mai, Miumi-chan and Endo-san, held a quick strategy meeting before returning to the game.

As if her leg injury had never happened, she sank both free throws to bring the score level.

The defence against Endo-san remained as tight as ever.

　However, basketball is a team sport.

The whole team has to cover for their teammates’ mistakes. When the opposing team focuses solely on Endo, the centre of the court is left wide open.

As if to exploit that, Miumi-chan cuts inside time and time again to sink her shots. When that happens, the opposition’s defence shifts its focus to the centre.

Now it’s Endo-san, out on the wing, who finds herself unmarked.

　Mai never misses that opportunity.

Endo-san waits, signalling for the ball.

The ball seems to be drawn to Endo-san, and it goes into the basket as if sucked in.

It’s a comeback.

　The teamwork in Endo-san’s team was incredible.

Normally, if a team’s star player gets injured, the team’s balance would be thrown off, and Endo-san’s team should have been no exception, but Endo-san absolutely refused to let that happen.

They didn’t show the opposition any weakness; if anything, they pressed their advantage.

Seeing them like that gave me courage.

‘Endo, that’s cheating…’

My friends, my juniors, and Endo—they were all so cool.

　I couldn’t take my eyes off them until the very end.

The final whistle blew.

In the end, Endo’s team won by seven points.
Both the bench and the players on court were crying with joy.

Endo was smiling.

It was such a wonderful smile.

It was so beautiful that I found myself envying her teammates, who got to see such a lovely smile up close.

　Once the match was over, I went looking for Endo.

I hadn’t decided what I wanted to say or tell her, but I just wanted to see Endo.

That feeling alone was driving me forward.

After running around the vast venue, I managed to find Mai.

‘Phew… Mai, you really did a great job.’

I caught my breath and spoke to Mai.

‘Hoshizora! Thanks for coming. To be honest, Hina-chan was feeling pretty down at that moment, so I’m glad you came.’

Mai said this with a beaming smile.
I had something I wanted to ask her, so I cut in before she could finish.

‘Where’s Endo-san?’

‘She’s over there, in the shadow of that building, icing her sore foot. She asked me to leave her alone because she didn’t want to worry everyone.’

　Without waiting for Mai to finish, I simply said, ‘Thanks,’ and ran off.

I think Endo-san is a fool for trying to cope on her own even at a time like this.

She really ought to rely on someone more.

She really ought to let someone look after her more.

And I found myself wishing that someone could be me.

Endo-san… Endo-san…

I want to see you soon.

　I can hardly breathe.

I spotted Endo-san, cooling her ankle as if hiding in the shadow of a building.

It seemed Endo-san had noticed me.

“Takizawa… um, eh?!”

I pulled Endo-san towards me.

I held her close, lifting her up so her feet wouldn’t touch the ground.

“Takizawa! I’m covered in sweat and I’m filthy right now, so let go!”

‘I absolutely don’t want to.’

I could smell Endo-san.

She’d sweated profusely; her clothes were damp and lukewarm.

Right now, even that felt pleasant.

Perhaps because I’d been clinging to her the whole time, refusing to let go, Endo-san seemed to have given up resisting; all the tension had drained from her body.

“Endo-san, you were so cool. Cooler than anyone else, I’ve fallen for you a little…”

“Eh?”

I tightened my grip on Endo-san even more.

I’d come here without thinking, so I didn’t have the words to express myself properly, and I felt embarrassed, wondering if I’d got my point across. But it was my honest opinion.

“You’re always doing your best, Endo-san. You’re so radiant, and it made me want to be as cool as you. You always give me so much courage. You’ve made me feel like I want to do my best from now on.”

I closed my mouth, having spoken all that in one go, and caught my breath.

“So, thank you…”

Endo-san gives me so much, even though I’m always so anxious.

　Hope for living, the strength to face my family, and the power to change the future.

　As I said that and looked at Endo-san’s face, I saw she was bright red. Realising she must have given her all in the match, I touched her cheek.

　There were so many people around, so I just held her close, but really, I wanted to kiss her cheek and her lips.

　Since I couldn’t do that, I hugged her tightly once more.

　It might be the first time I’ve ever held Endo-san this tightly.

I didn’t want to do that because I didn’t want her to think I cherished her.

Because I believe you only do things like that for people who are truly important to you.

My mother was like that.

She used to hold me close, as if I were precious to her. But once she stopped caring about me, she never held me again.

That’s why I was afraid.

　Of being cherished, and of forming bonds with people I care about.

If I’m going to lose them, it’s better not to have had them in the first place.

Yet, deep down, I simply can’t suppress the emotions that are overflowing, emotions I can no longer lie about.

To me, Endo-san is someone I care deeply about.

No matter how frightening or painful it is, I’ve realised that this is a fact I cannot change. I suppose Endo-san has been someone special to me for much longer than I realised.

　I’d been turning a blind eye.

　So that I wouldn’t get hurt.

　But I don’t care about that anymore.

　Whatever Endo-san thinks of me, I am still me.

　I cherish her because I want to. Even if Endo-san were to disappear from my life, the Endo-san who is dear to me will always remain within me.

　I decided that was fine.

　I don’t know how long I’d been thinking that, but Endo-san spoke up.

‘Takizawa—’

‘Hmm?’

Whilst I stood there, bewildered and not quite sure what was happening, Endo-san gently pressed her lips against mine.

Endo-san is always like that.

She manages to do things so easily that I can’t.

“Thank you for coming to cheer me on. If Takizawa hadn’t been there, I probably would have lost. What you said just now was actually my line. Thank you for always giving me so much strength.”

Endo-san was smiling gently.
Hearing that, a warmth welled up inside me.

I’m glad I met Endo-san.

Endo-san teaches me so many emotions that, had I remained the person I used to be, I would never have known in my lifetime.

　I’m sure these are feelings I would never have known had I not met Endo-san.

“Endo-san, more importantly, your leg.”

“Ah, it’s fine, really.”

　She’s putting on a smile, but I’m sure it hurts and she’s pushing herself.

“During the match, I thought about stabbing the person who injured you from behind.”
“Coming from Takizawa, I wouldn’t put it past you, so that doesn’t sound like a joke.”

Endo-san laughed cheerfully at my words, though even I wasn’t sure if I was joking or serious.

‘We’ve got to go and see Mai and the others, haven’t we?’
‘Yeah.’
‘I’ll carry you on my back, so hop on quickly.’
‘Eh? I’ll walk myself, so it’s fine.’

　I’d turned my back to Endo-san, yet she refused my offer. I felt a little sulky that my suggestion had been rejected.

‘If you won’t listen to me, I’ll just do it my way.’

Saying that, I scooped Endo up in my arms with a flick of my wrist.

I was worried because Endo seemed lighter than when we went to the summer festival last year.

‘W-wait! I’d rather be carried on your back! This is just too embarrassing!’

I thought she should regret refusing my back for a long time to come.

　But the blushing Endo-san was a far cry from the cool Endo-san from earlier, so I decided to be a bit of a tease.

Our eyes met as I held Endo-san in my arms, so I stuck my tongue out at her and carried on walking.

I left Endo-san in the care of Mai, who was grinning from ear to ear, and headed home.

Walking home alone, all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind.

　——Endo-san is important to me.

Once I’d admitted it, there was no way to undo that fact.

Something that used to terrify me so much, I can now accept quite easily.

It felt as though the huge hole in my heart was gradually getting smaller.

When I got home, I happened to bump into my mother.

　It’s only natural, given we live in the same house.

She always ignores me, and I never speak to her either.

But today, Endo-san gave me a great deal of courage.

I want to be able to hold my head high in front of Endo-san and tell her that I’ve grown up a little since I was before.

‘I’m home—’

I felt as though my mother’s movements had paused for a moment, but I decided not to let it bother me and went straight back to my room.