The rhythmic thud of sneaker soles scuffing the wooden floor echoed repeatedly. The sound of an orange ball bouncing, rebounding, then a satisfying swish as it slipped cleanly through the net. That was the daily rhythm for Ririn Nataya.
Standing under the warm glow of the neon lights, Ririn held the basketball, catching her breath after an intensive practice session. Sweat drenched her strands of jet-black hair—like a moonless night—but she paid it no mind. Her soft, fair-skinned face showed a hint of exhaustion, yet her blue eyes, as beautiful as the first dawn, radiated a fierce determination.
Ririn, in her third year at Almorus Sports High School, was already a key figure in the girls' basketball team. Her height, 167 cm, gave her the agility a guard needed.
She wasn't the talkative type on the court, or even in the school halls. However, buried deep within her was a burning ambition: to win the National Championship, and perhaps, even step onto the international stage.
She took a deep breath, recalling the flashback that often visited her. Why basketball? It all started on the streetball court in her neighborhood during junior high.
She was just a girl who happened to pass by, then became captivated by the players' raw energy—the nimble moves, the unexpected tricks, and the shouts of passion. One simple shot, a buzzer-beater that sailed in beautifully, planted an unquenchable seed of passion in her heart. Since that moment, her world smelled of rubber ball and wooden floor.
"Hey, Nataya! Stop daydreaming, it's time to change!" a loud shout jolted her back to the present.
It was Serina Medaia, Ririn's long-time best friend. Unlike the silent Ririn, Serina was a cheerful, energetic student, even though she preferred the badminton club.
Ririn only offered a faint smile, a small nod. "Just a moment, Serina. I want to take one more shot."
Serina rolled her eyes, but her smile remained. She understood. Basketball for Ririn was like breathing. Serina walked toward the spectator benches to wait.
After finishing her last shot, Ririn walked listlessly to Serina. In the locker room, Ririn finally let her voice out. When it was just the two of them, Ririn's wall of defense seemed to crumble.
"Coach said my defense is still slow to rotate. I have to be faster, Serina. The National Tournament is no joke," Ririn confided, drying her hair.
Serina simply listened, occasionally interjecting with humor. "Defensive on the court, but your heart is offensive towards everything else," Serina teased.
Ririn shook her head, letting out a small laugh. "Hah! Nonsense! Nothing is offensive but a drive to the opponent's basket. You know I only think about basketball."
"Yeah, yeah, Ririn Nataya The 'Queen of the Court', I know," Serina said, nudging Ririn's arm. "But there's something more exciting than basketball, you know."
"What?" Ririn asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A transfer student! Our class is getting a new person tomorrow!" Serina exclaimed enthusiastically.
Ririn shrugged indifferently. "A transfer? That's normal, isn't it?"
"Not normal, Ririn! I'm absolutely sure!"
Ririn frowned, looking curious. "How do you manage to know that kind of information?"
Serina offered a stiff smile. "Uh... W-Well, you know I have a close connection with the teachers?"
"Hmm... Is that so?"
Serina nodded, affirming her statement.
•••
[Class 3-5]
The next day in class, the clock showed 07:10.
A tall boy stood in front of the students, accompanied by the homeroom teacher.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Nice to meet you, my name is Andrew Swan. I'm transferring from Harran High School. I hope we can be good friends," he said, with a small, seemingly normal smile.
Meanwhile, all the students whispered to each other. Because, as they knew, Harran High School was a school for delinquents, yet despite being called that, they had outstanding achievements in non-academic fields.
'Is that who Serina was talking about?' Ririn thought. Her seat was by the window.
08:55
Ririn was still sitting as usual, her eyes half-sleepy staring at the whiteboard. Her mind was still filled with the strategies she needed to master. She felt a presence behind her, a new, unfamiliar shadow. It must be Andrew Swan.
When the recess bell rang, Ririn immediately spun her chair around and faced him directly. Serina, who was sitting at the front desk, in the same row as Ririn and Andrew, stood up and approached the two. There was only silence. Ririn just observed him, and Serina just stared at both of them while standing. The two of them stared at each other, assessing, while Andrew felt confused.
'Hey, why are they just staring at each other? Say something!' Serina thought.
Andrew looked awkwardly amused. 'What's with this girl? She keeps staring at me strangely!'
Ririn broke the silence, "Hi, Andrew. My name is Ririn Nataya, nice to meet you."
"Yes, nice to meet you too, Ririn."
Silence. No more sound between the two, Ririn just stared. Meanwhile, Serina felt like a statue between them.
"Um... What's wrong?" Andrew began to ask.
"Are you really from Harran High School?" Ririn asked.
"Of course, is something wrong?"
"Really? You're very different from most of them."
Andrew scratched his cheek with his index finger, awkwardly. "Yeah... Maybe it's because I am different," he said.
From Ririn's perspective, Andrew looked just like an ordinary student. His hair was a little messy but suited his style, and his uniform was clean. Nothing stood out.
However, amidst the lively chatter of the class students, Andrew inadvertently asked something that caught Ririn's attention.
"Almorus is a sports school, right? Are you guys in a club?" Andrew asked, his otherwise ordinary eyes now looking slightly interested.
Serina proudly mentioned the badminton club. Then, she turned to Ririn.
"As for Ririn, she's our Women's Basketball Star... Her dream is to play in the WNBA!" Serina blurted out.
Andrew smiled faintly. "Oh, basketball. Cool. You know, I was once fond of a basketball player from the '90s era. His playing style was unpredictable, very artistic," Andrew said in a calm tone.
Ririn suddenly felt intrigued. 'Who is the player he meant?' She leaned closer.
"Who?" Ririn asked, her voice slightly louder than usual.
Andrew turned to her, his smile widening a bit. "Do you know Jason Williams? White Chocolate? The Elbow pass?"
That name! One of the flashiest players with magical passing. Ririn rarely met anyone who truly understood the essence of the game beyond just points and wins.
Ririn stood up and slammed the table. "Of course, I know! He was a genius! His no-look passing was insane. But I prefer players who are strong on defense, like... Dennis Rodman," Ririn countered, her eyes radiating the same passion as when she discussed basketball with her coach.
Andrew laughed. It wasn't a loud laugh, but somehow, it sounded pleasant to Ririn's ears.
"Rodman was a rebound legend. Absolutely unique. He proved that you don't have to score to be the best," Andrew commented, looking straight into Ririn's blue eyes.
As Andrew spoke those words, something strange happened to Ririn. It wasn't the warmth gained after running or scoring, but the warmth that arises when near someone on the same frequency. She felt happy, very happy. This feeling was hard to comprehend. She was only discussing basketball, but why did it feel like she had just scored a three-pointer in the last second?
"You know a lot about basketball?" Ririn asked, a little amazed.
"A fair bit," Andrew replied modestly.
At that moment, their conversation flowed rapidly—from basketball strategies, NBA team line-ups, to game clips on YouTube. Serina could only listen and smile, watching this strange yet new interaction.
'So weird,' Serina thought. Just yesterday she talked about Ririn's reluctance to discuss anything other than her club and practice. Now? The girl seemed to have found a new well of inspiration. Her blue eyes sparkled, her expression was lively, and her voice was more modulated. All because of a transfer student who had just arrived.
The recess bell ended, cutting short their conversation just as it had found its rhythm. Ririn turned her body to face the front again, but there was a strange sensation lingering in her chest—like the warmth remaining after sipping a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day.
Throughout the next lesson, Ririn's concentration was fractured. She tried to note down the physics formulas on the whiteboard, but her hand unconsciously drew a pick-and-roll play diagram in the margin of her book.
She glanced at the window, looking at the basketball court in the distance, and for the first time, she imagined someone there who understood the complexity behind every assist she gave, not just the final result.
Serina, sitting in front, looked back several times and smirked. Ririn countered with a death stare, making Serina chuckle before quickly pretending to listen seriously to the teacher.
When the final bell rang, Ririn quickly packed her books. Usually, she would dart straight to the gym for extra practice. But today, she hesitated slightly. She saw Andrew also putting his books into his bag.
"So," Andrew broke the silence, "You practice basketball every day after this?"
Ririn nodded. "Almost every day. The National Tournament won't wait."
"Cool," Andrew said. "Maybe one day I'll come watch your practice."
That simple sentence made Ririn's heart beat fast, abnormally. She just nodded again, faster this time. "Go ahead. But don't expect a spectacular show. Practice is... repetitive."
"That's exactly where the greatness lies, isn't it?" Andrew countered, lifting his bag onto his shoulder. "Repeating the fundamentals until they're perfect. I appreciate the process."
He waved. "See you tomorrow, Ririn."
"See you tomorrow," Ririn murmured, watching Andrew walk down the hall and disappear behind the crowd of other students.
Serina immediately clung to her side. "Well, well, well! Look at that! Ririn Nataya spoke more than ten words to a boy who wasn't a coach or a teammate! And she even looked... flushed?"
"I was not flushed!" Ririn retorted, quickly walking towards her locker. "He just... knows a lot about basketball. That's rare."
"Ooh, 'rare'," Serina teased, imitating Ririn's tone. "I told you he wasn't ordinary. Even though he's from Harran, his aura... is different, right?"
Ririn didn't answer. In her heart, she knew Serina was right. Andrew was different. He didn't carry the rough or arrogant energy often associated with Harran students. Instead, there was a calmness in him, a depth that made Ririn curious.
.....