Hiraku entered into the court. The polished tiles floors reflected Hiraku's face but no one's eyes met his. The squeaking of sneakers and the bouncing of the ball seemed to be in another world - a world Hiraku wasn't in.
"Hiraku!" A voice from behind shouted.
It was Aoi.
Aoi and Hiraku had been friends for almost twelve years. Their bond was one to be spoken off.
He turned to Aoi.
He smiled. He rarely smiled. Aoi always sparked something in him. It was something he could never afford to lose.
"You forgot your energy drink, silly." Pinching Hiraku's cheeks.
"Oh..yeah! Thanks. I guess I forgot it." He said smiling but with this unbothered tone.
Aoi gave him a hug and whispered to him, "good luck!"
After all of that, Hiraku walked into the gym - a bag and energy drink in hand.
Hiraku always seemed invisible. No one looked his way - not even by accident.
He ran a lap around the court, ready to play basketball.
The coach passed a ball to him. The ball slid past his fingertips. A teammate snorted, "Seriously?" No one had even noticed he was there.
His arch nemesis, Riku Kurogane. He moved like the court had been waiting for him. Even the coach straightened when he had the ball.
It disgusted Hiraku.
Riku came for the ball, grinning at Hiraku. He dribbled past two defenders as if the floor belong to him. His jumps seemed effortless, the rim welcoming him. The crowd erupted in amazement.
"Woah, did you see that?!"
"Riku's just amazing!"
Hiraku's passes were clean. His shots were accurate. Riku just got more attention. Something he craved for.
He got a ball, bounced it twice and sank a fadeaway perfectly, yet the cheers went to Riku's earlier dunk. The echo of applause in the gym sounded hollow against his own silence.
Practice was over.
Everyone was around Riku, chatting, laughing. All a nuisance to Hiraku.
"I saw it!" Aoi said it like it was obvious.
They sat down. Hiraku deep in thought.
He didn't want applause, he wanted proof. Being ignored hurt more than missing a shot ever could
Aoi leaned over and flicked his forehead. "Pay attention, sleepyhead." Her grin lingered just enough to make him feel like the only one who mattered in the gym.
But he needed to be recognized.
The noise faded but the question didn't...