Before I could even tap a starting letter to reply, new messages from Koizumi-san popped up consecutively.

Im sorry, Onoda-kun! Its not my--

Forget it. Come and pick us up. Were waiting for you at this station.

No... Its Sets--

Yes, Setsuna is with me. She wants you to escort her to her little sister.

Hurry up.

???

And so on...

Well, just from that, its easy to guess whats going on. That damn older sister of Satsuki was the one trying to mess with me.

Should I stop being too polite with her? Uh. No.

Its still her phone, after all.

I thought for a while before typing in my reply.

Im sorry, Koizumi-san. I have to meet Satsuki. Please tell Setsuna-nee-san to behave. Ill tell Sakuma to pick you up.

Seconds after sending that, an angry sticker popped up followed by a simple, Tsk.

And a few more seconds later, Koizumi-san finally regained control of her phone.

I apologize, Onoda-kun.

Dont worry about it, Koizumi-san. Setsuna-nee-sans humor was just that tasteless.

As though shes reading that from there, Setsunas message suddenly popped up on my notification.

Huh?! Whose humor was tasteless? Care to say that to my face?

I quickly swiped it out of the screen without replying at all.

Right at that moment, Koizumi-sans reply arrived, Youre right... Shes always like this if she wants to mess with someone.

Yep. I totally agree. Even when we had just met, she already showed how she wanted to make fun of me...

Yet, another message from Setsuna arrived just seconds after that, Dont readily believe Juri. Shes just the same as me.

So, since shes not gaining any ground with this battle that I kept ignoring, shes now trying to mess with her friend too? Skewing my perception of that fashionable girl.

Perhaps theyre laughing together right now. In any case, I would only believe what I see. And Im clearly aware that the one interaction with her wasnt enough to fully understand the person named Koizumi Juri.

Nonetheless, theres the thing called first impression. I could definitely say that although shes slightly mysterious because of how she somehow treated me like were at the same age, she's a pretty cool girl.

Thats why before this escalates more, I decided to end the conversation right there, Mhm. Take care on your way, Koizumi-san. Please pass the message to Setsuna-nee-san as well.

Sure!

If I see you later, Im gonna strangle you in front of Satsuki.

And yep, the second one was Setsunas threatening message.

I guess I better invoke someones sacrifice.

Before riding the train and returning my focus to my girls, I sent a message to Sakuma.

Its your chance, man. Dont leave her side. Got it?

Looking at the time when I got off the train, there were still a few minutes before 1 pm, an hour before the actual game.

On my walk there, I messaged Coach Ayu, reconfirming that the lesson would be moved to 5 pm, this way I wouldnt have to rush out after the game.

I already told her that two days before so the womans reply came fast. Yes, its done. I sent out the notice to everyone who registered for your program the day before yesterday.

Thank you, Coach.

No problem. By the way, I wont be there to look after you.

Alright. Thats news to me. Is she trying to run away after what happened to us last week? It cant be, right?

Even though she failed to restrain herself, we could just attribute that to how she fell sick... Besides, shes a strong woman whose passion for boxing trumped anything else. She wouldnt just skip it just because she didnt want to face me. There must be another reason...

I understand, Coach. But can I ask why?

I know what youre thinking. Im not running away. I have other business to attend to. About what happened... lets talk about it tomorrow.

Yes. See you tomorrow, Coach. And good luck to whatever business youre attending to.

And I was right... Since shes the one who brought that up, I guess she already found her answer. In any case, whatever that was, I already prepared myself for either choice. The real question would be... whats going to happen next?

Whether she fully embraced her feelings for me or drew a clear line about our relationship, theres no doubt that something would change going forward...

By the time I reached the school, I noticed that there were not only students from our school who were coming to watch. There were three buses parked inside that were clearly not from our city.

Those were the buses of the school going to play against our schools basketball club. Theyre supposed to be the number one in the prefecture... Thats some tough opponent to beat. They even brought a cheering squad of two full buses of their students.

Even now, I could see them walking around, sightseeing on our campus. Theyre in their school uniforms with purple as their color motif. Thats why its easy to pick them out from the other students from our school who came to watch the match.

Ignoring those students, my feet led me to the usual side door...

Nami and the others were already upstairs along with our classmates, at the same spot as the last time we watched here. I was supposed to join them after meeting Satsuki here but I informed them that I might not even show up close to them out in the open.

Its to prevent Setsuna and Koizumi-san from seeing me and messing with the tranquility of our complex relationship.

I know that its weird calling it tranquil but its kind of true when were all aware that a little disturbance could create ripples noticeable enough by everyone.

I better tread this day carefully. Otherwise, come Monday, the hot topic would be... my relationships with my girls being exposed for all to consume for their gossiping habits.

A few minutes later, Satsuki showed up from the door. As soon as she spotted me waiting at the side, the girl cheerfully ran towards me, our lips meeting in the process.

Shes already wearing her jersey but she put on a shirt on top of it. Apparently, the final decision for the starting lineup became filled with all the veteran regulars. Shes going to substitute at most the second half or if theres a need to switch that third-year senior early on.

And thats why she had a lot of time to spare at the moment.

Whats this? Is my Satsuki nervous?

Im always nervous when it comes to this, you idiot. Its the same as last time, remember?

Oh... Right. And how did I calm you down back then?

You pervert... We did it in the classroom.

She remembered. Well, its that day when she finally got to talk to Sakuma. Before the guy arrived, we did it right on top of our desks...

What do you think? We can run there and return here on time.

This hopeless idiot. Do you want me to smack you now?

Not really. A kiss is more than welcome though.

Ugh... As always, youre this hateful. Although she said that, Satsuki still helplessly kissed me and intimately at that. For her, I was probably like an irresistible candy.

Following the separation of our lips and tongue, Satsuki grabbed my hand and said, Come with me to the meeting room.

Meeting room? Are we--"

No, pervert. Everyone is there. Coach asked for you.

Coach? Oh... Eguchi-sensei.

Wait. Why did she ask for me?

You do know Im not an athlete, right? What does she need me for?

Water boy, Satsuki answered instantly while smirking.