Riku didn’t know why he agreed. He could have said no. Could have come up with an excuse. But when Sana had asked him to go out—not for basketball, not for training, but just… to hang out—

  He found himself texting back one word.

  “Sure.”

  The next afternoon, Riku stood near the entrance of the park, hands shoved in his pockets, scanning the area. She wasn’t here yet. Or so he thought. Just as he was about to pull out his phone, two warm hands suddenly covered his eyes from behind.

  “Guess who?”

  Riku froze. The voice was familiar, playful. His lips twitched. “…Seriously?”

  Sana giggled and pulled her hands away, stepping beside him. Riku turned—and paused. She looked… different. Not in a bad way. Just different. Her usual ponytail was gone, replaced by soft waves of dark hair that fell naturally over her shoulders. She wore a casual but stylish outfit—a light hoodie over a summer dress, something simple but effortlessly pretty. Riku didn’t know why, but for a second, he forgot how to breathe. Sana smirked, tilting her head. “What? Stunned by my beauty?”

  Riku immediately looked away, trying to act nonchalant. “You wish.”

  She laughed, grabbing his arm. “Come on, Takahashi! Let’s go!”

  And just like that—she dragged him forward.

  Sana was a menace. One moment, they were walking normally—then suddenly, she spotted a shop and practically yanked him inside. Then another shop.

  And another.

  And another.

  Riku barely had time to react before he was being pulled around the city like a ragdoll. Sana was relentless. Her energy never faded. She talked nonstop, bouncing from topic to topic without a single pause. One second, she was ranting about how vending machines always ate her coins. The next, she was debating whether chocolate or strawberry ice cream was superior. She clung onto Riku’s arm several times, pulling him toward new places, dragging him in and out of stores, pointing at random things and acting like everything was the most exciting thing in the world. Riku, on the other hand, just let it happen. He didn’t fight it. Didn’t complain. Didn’t stop her. Instead, he just watched.

  The way her eyes lit up when she found something interesting. The way she’d laugh at the smallest things. The way she never let go of his arm, never gave him a chance to pull away. And for some reason—Riku didn’t mind.

  The day had been a blur of Sana’s endless chatter, her boundless energy pulling Riku through shop after shop, her hands gripping his arm like she was afraid he’d disappear if she let go. He had let it happen, let her drag him along, let her excitement spill over him like a crashing wave, and for once, he didn’t feel the urge to resist. But then, just as she was mid-rant about how all ice cream should be required to come with sprinkles, she suddenly froze.

  Riku raised an eyebrow. “What?”

  Sana’s eyes widened. Then— “Oh, shit.”

  He immediately sighed. “What now?”

  “The tournament.”

  Riku frowned. “What tournament?”

  She grabbed his shoulders. “The all-gender basketball tournament! The one I’ve been training for! The one I’ve been telling you about for days!”

  Riku blinked. He had vaguely remembered her mentioning it in passing, but he hadn’t been paying much attention at the time.

  Sana’s grip tightened. “We’re down a player.”

  Riku stiffened. “So? Just find someone else.”

  “That’s the problem. We can’t. If we don’t fill the spot, we get disqualified and become ineligible for next year’s tournament too.”

  Riku pulled away. “That sucks. Hope you find someone.”

  Sana stared at him, horrified. “Wait. No.”

  He sighed. “Sana—”

  “No, no, no. You. You can play.”

  Riku shook his head immediately. “No.”

  “Yes!”

  “No.”

  Sana grabbed his hand, shaking it wildly. “Come on, Takahashi! You’re literally the best player I’ve ever seen! You could destroy everyone on that court! Please!”

  Riku ripped his hand away. “I’m done with that life.”

  Sana’s excitement faded for a moment, replaced by something softer. “…Riku.”

  He already knew what she was about to say, so he looked away. But it was too late. His mind had already gone back. Back to that moment.

  The championship game. The crowd roaring. His feet pounding against the hardwood. The fast break, the open lane, the way the ball felt against his fingertips as he soared—

  Then, the shove. The split second where everything shifted, his balance thrown off, his body twisting, the sharp spike of panic that ran through his chest before—

  CRASH.

  The impact. The snap. The pain that had torn him apart. The horror in his teammates’ eyes. The silence in the hospital. The doctor’s voice, calm but final. "You won’t be able to play again."

  His dreams had died that day. His future, his purpose, everything.

  His hands clenched into fists.

  “Riku.”

  Something warm wrapped around him. His entire body froze. Sana’s arms were around him. A hug. His breath hitched. He didn’t move, didn’t react. He had no idea how to react. Her voice was quiet now.

  “I know what you’re thinking.”

  Riku stared at the ground.

  She squeezed him tighter. “But I also know something else. Nobody can stop you.”

  He swallowed hard.

  “I’ve seen it,” she continued. “Even when you’re just casually playing against me, you’re still unstoppable. You’re better than anyone I’ve ever played with.”

  Her words should have made him feel proud. Instead, they made his chest feel tight. Sana pulled back slightly, looking up at him, her brown eyes filled with something genuine, unwavering. “I don’t want your talent to go to waste just because you’re scared.”

  Riku’s breath shook.

  Sana smiled, but there was something sad in it. “I promise, if you compete, I’ll stop bothering you. After the tournament, you can leave me forever.”

  Riku’s heart twisted, he bit his lip. He would be able to just leave her behind, but he couldn’t.

  “That’s not what I want.”

  Sana blinked. Riku’s jaw clenched. His hands tightened at his sides. He wasn’t even sure why he said it, why the words had left his mouth before he could stop them.

  Sana took a step closer. “Then what do you want?”

  Riku didn’t answer immediately. He didn’t know. Or maybe… Maybe he did. Maybe he always had. He exhaled slowly, tilting his head up toward the sky.

  “…I want to play basketball again.”

  Before Riku could process what had just left his mouth, Sana launched herself at him.

  “YES!”

  Her arms wrapped around his neck, her legs lifted off the ground as she jumped onto him with zero hesitation. Riku barely had time to react before his hands instinctively grabbed onto her waist, steadying them both. His heart slammed against his ribs. Sana clung to him, her energy bursting like fireworks. “You’ll really play? You’re really, really gonna play?!”

  Riku hesitated, but then… he nodded. Sana pulled back slightly, her eyes shining. “Holy crap, this is amazing! I have so much to tell you—okay, so the tournament works like this…”

  She slid out of his hold, though her hands were still gripping his arms as if she refused to let him escape.

  “There are two ranking games first, which determine our seeding,” she explained, talking way too fast, bouncing on her toes like an excited kid. “Then we have the quarterfinals, and if we make it, the semifinals.”

  Riku raised an eyebrow. “And if we make it past that?”

  Sana grinned, her excitement practically vibrating off her. “Then we go to the championship game.”

  Riku let out a small exhale, the weight of the decision settling in. He was really doing this. He was really going to play again. And somehow… it didn’t terrify him the way he thought it would. Sana grabbed his wrist and shook him wildly. “This is gonna be so freaking awesome! With you on the team, we might actually have a shot at winning!”

  Riku felt his lips twitch upward. And just like that—he was smiling. Sana suddenly stilled. Then she grinned. “There it is,” she said, her voice softer now. “That pretty smile again.”

  Riku froze. His entire body locked up as the heat rushed to his face. “Wha—”

  Sana smirked, leaning in slightly. “You really should do that more often, you know.”

  Riku turned away immediately, his face heating up, his voice high pitched. “Shut up.”

  Sana giggled. “Aw, are you flustered, Takahashi?”

  “I’m not.” His voice even higher.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  “You so are.”

  “I swear to god—”

  “Blushing and everything, wow.”

  He exhaled deeply. “Sana.”

  “Yes, Riku?”

  “Shut up.”

  She laughed, the sound light and free, and before he could stop himself, Riku smiled again. Maybe… just maybe… this wouldn’t be so bad after all. Sana barely gave Riku a moment to breathe before grabbing his wrist and yanking him forward.

  “Alright, Takahashi, one last stop!”

  Riku sighed as she dragged him down the sidewalk, her grip firm, unwavering. “Where are we going now?”

  Sana didn’t even turn around. “You’ll see.”

  Before he could protest, she pulled him into a small arcade and straight toward—a photo booth.

  Riku blinked. “Seriously?”

  Sana grinned, pushing him inside. “What? It’s mandatory. We need proof of our first official outing as besties.”

  Riku groaned. “Oh my god.”

  Sana ignored his suffering and inserted a few coins, the screen lighting up with a countdown. Riku sighed but didn’t argue, standing next to her as the first picture snapped.

  Click!

  The photo appeared on the screen. Sana was making a peace sign, grinning brightly. Riku, on the other hand, had a deadpan expression, arms crossed.

  Sana laughed. “Oh, come on, at least try to look like you’re having fun!”

  Before he could respond, the next countdown started.

  3… 2… 1…

  Click!

  This time, Sana held up bunny ears behind Riku’s head, laughing. Riku just sighed, looking like he had accepted his fate.

  Then—

  “For this last one,” Sana suddenly said, her voice lighter, softer.

  Before Riku could turn to her, she wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling. The flash went off.

  Click!

  Riku’s entire body tensed. The picture popped up on the screen—Sana, beaming, arms looped around him effortlessly. And Riku? He looked like he was about to pass out. Sana burst into laughter. “Oh my god, look at your face!” Riku groaned, covering his eyes. “Delete that.”

  “Nope!” Sana grabbed the printed sheet, holding it out of his reach. “This is priceless.”

  Riku sighed, rubbing his temple. “I hate you.”

  “No, you don’t,” Sana said, hooking her arm with his again. “Come on, let’s go.”

  And just like that, he let her pull him outside, the warmth of the setting sun greeting them. The sky was painted in soft hues of orange, pink, and purple as they sat on a small grassy hill in the park.

  Sana stretched her arms over her head, sighing happily. “Man, today was great.”

  Riku leaned back on his palms, watching as the first few stars appeared above them.

  Sana pointed at the sky. “Look at that one. That’s Captain Star Sparkle.”

  Riku blinked. “…What?”

  She pointed at another. “And that one’s Sir Twinkle III.”

  Riku stared at her. “You’re just making these up.”

  Sana gasped. “How dare you. I’ll have you know, these are very official names.”

  Riku chuckled. “Right.”

  Sana smirked. “You’re laughing.”

  Riku rolled his eyes. “So?”

  She nudged him. “I’m just saying, you should do that more.”

  Riku sighed, shaking his head. “Oh my god, not this again.”

  Sana grinned. “Hey, I’m serious! You’re way too serious all the time.”

  Riku turned away, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, yeah.”

  Sana watched him for a second before saying, “You’re the best person I know, Riku.”

  Riku froze. The words hit him in a way he wasn’t prepared for. He turned to her, but she was just smiling at the stars, her expression soft, genuine. And for the first time in a long time, Riku had no idea what to say.

  The night breeze was gentle, carrying the faint sounds of the city in the distance. The stars above twinkled against the vast darkness, but Riku wasn’t looking at them. His gaze was locked on Sana.

  She was still staring at the sky, arms wrapped around her knees, the soft glow of the streetlights catching the strands of her dark hair. Her usual hyper energy had settled into something quieter, softer. Then, without looking at him, she held out her pinky.

  Riku raised an eyebrow. “What’s that for?”

  Sana finally turned to him, her brown eyes gleaming. “Pinky promise me something.”

  Riku exhaled. “What now?”

  “That you won’t get tired of me and leave.”

  Riku stared at her. Her voice was light, playful as always, but there was something else beneath it. Something uncertain.

  Riku sighed. “I thought we had a deal.”

  Sana blinked. “What deal?”

  “You said if I joined the tournament, you’d stop bothering me. I’d be free.”

  Sana grinned. “Oh, that?” Then she waved it off like it was nothing. “Yeah, I’m scrapping that part.”

  Riku narrowed his eyes. “So you lied.”

  “More like… changed the terms,” she said, smirking. “You’re stuck with me now, Takahashi.”

  Riku shook his head. “Unbelievable.”

  Sana wiggled her pinky. “Come on, promise.” He hesitated. Then, slowly, he interlocked his pinky with hers. But neither of them pulled away. Their fingers just… stayed there, linked together, unmoving. The warmth of her touch was small but steady. Riku swallowed. Why wasn’t she letting go? Why wasn’t he?

  Finally, Sana smirked and pulled away—only to suddenly lunge at him. Riku barely had time to react before she wrapped her arms around him, giggling. “You’re really the best, Riku.”

  Riku froze.

  Again.

  His brain shut down. His heart picked up speed. For the second time today, Sana was clinging to him like she had no intention of letting go. And this time… Riku didn’t even try to move. Sana’s weight was warm against him, her breathing calm, steady. She mumbled something under her breath before shifting slightly, resting her head against his shoulder. Then—

  “Captain Star Sparkle… and Sir Twinkle III…”

  Riku blinked. “What?”

  Sana yawned, eyes fluttering closed. “I need more names…”

  She mumbled a few more incoherent words, her grip on him loosening slightly. Then, just like that—she fell asleep. Riku just sat there. Staring down at the girl who had somehow forced her way into his life, her quiet breathing the only sound between them. He exhaled, shaking his head. “You’re impossible, Fujimura.”

  But still—

  He didn’t let go.

  The walk back was harder than Riku expected. With Sana fast asleep on his back, her arms draped over his shoulders and her face buried against his neck, he could feel the full weight of her—not just physically, but in the moment itself. His knee ached. A lot. But right now, Sana was more important. He didn’t care if it hurt. Didn’t care if his muscles burned. He just kept walking. After a few minutes, he frowned. “…Wait. Where the hell is her house again?”

  He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, completely lost. He could wake her up and ask, but… she looked so peaceful. Riku sighed. “…Guess you’re coming with me.”

  His apartment wasn’t anything special—simple, small, quiet. The place suited him. By the time he finally reached his door, his knee was screaming, but he gritted his teeth and kept going. Gently, he laid Sana on his bed, brushing stray strands of hair from her face before stepping back. Riku let out a slow exhale and flopped onto the floor next to the bed, arms stretched behind his head. Then—

  Giggling. His eyes snapped open.

  “…What.”

  Sana grinned down at him from the bed, eyes filled with mischief.

  “Wow,” she teased. “You actually carried me all the way here.”

  Riku stared. “You were awake?!”

  “Not the whole time,” she admitted, stretching her arms over her head. “But, you know. Most of it.”

  Riku sat up, scowling. “Are you serious?”

  Sana giggled again. “You’re so easy to mess with, Takahashi.”

  Riku groaned, rubbing his temples. “I should’ve left you on that bench.”

  “But you didn’t.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m regretting it now.”

  Sana pouted. “Rude.”

  Riku sighed, rolling onto his back. “Whatever. Go to sleep already.”

  Sana suddenly shushed him. Riku blinked. “What?”

  She tilted her head. “Why are you on the floor?”

  “…Because you’re in my bed?”

  Sana hummed, staring at him for a second before grinning. “Get in.”

  Riku froze. “…What?”

  She patted the empty space beside her. “Get in the bed.”

  Riku immediately sat up. “I’m not doing that.”

  “Why not?” she smirked. “You scared?”

  Riku scoffed. “No.”

  Sana grinned wider. “Then get in.”

  Riku narrowed his eyes. “Fujimura, I swear to god—”

  “I don’t mind sharing.”

  Silence. Riku’s brain short-circuited. Sana watched him expectantly. After a long pause, without making eye contact, Riku muttered, “…Move over.” Sana smirked in victory.

  Riku lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, completely aware of Sana’s presence next to him. The bed felt too small. Even though there was plenty of space between them, he could still feel the warmth of her body, still hear her soft, rhythmic breathing. Neither of them spoke for a while. Then—

  “…Riku?”

  He turned his head slightly. “Yeah?”

  A pause. Then—

  “…Do you think I’m annoying?”

  Riku blinked. For a second, he considered his options. Then, just to mess with her, he muttered—

  “Yes.”

  Silence. Then—

  “…Oh.”

  He turned toward her, expecting to see her usual playful smirk, but instead, her expression had fallen. She was actually frowning. Riku’s smirk vanished. “Wait. No, I was kidding.”

  Sana still wouldn’t look at him. “It’s okay. I get it.”

  Riku sighed. “Sana—”

  She let out a small laugh, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I mean, I talk too much, I drag people around, I never shut up—”

  “Sana.”

  She stopped. Riku took a breath, staring at the ceiling again. “…No, I don’t think you’re annoying.” Sana stayed quiet, watching him. Riku ran a hand through his hair. “Actually, I think you’re… kind of amazing.”

  Sana’s eyes widened. Riku continued, his voice quieter now. “You’re sweet. Really sweet. And your happiness is… contagious.” He swallowed. “Somehow, this girl I barely met changed my whole damn life.”

  Sana stared at him, completely still.

  “I had already given up,” Riku admitted. “Basketball was just… a dream I kept buried. I never thought I’d want it again. But you gave me something to look forward to. You made me want it again.” Silence. Then, Sana sniffled. Riku turned, startled.

  “…Are you crying?”

  Sana quickly wiped her eyes, laughing through the tears hitting him over and over. “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

  Riku sighed. “You’re impossible.”

  She sniffled again. “That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  He rubbed his temples. “Oh my god.”

  Sana rolled over toward him, snuggling into his side. Riku froze. She rested her forehead against his shoulder, voice soft. “You’re just so easy to talk to.”

  Riku swallowed. Why was it suddenly so warm in here?

  “I feel like I could say or do anything around you,” she continued, “and you’d never judge me.”

  Riku didn’t respond. Because she was right.

  Sana smirked against his shirt. “And that’s my point.”

  She yawned, her breathing slowing. Eventually, she drifted off. Riku let out a slow breath, relaxing. He didn’t move. Didn’t pull away. Didn’t stop her. Instead, he just let her stay.

  The morning came too quickly. Riku had barely registered falling asleep, but the sudden, sharp beeping of an alarm ripped him out of his dreams. He groaned, turning onto his side, trying to drown out the noise.

  Then—

  “RIKU! WAKE UP!”

  His eyes snapped open just in time to see Sana practically jumping on top of him. He barely caught her wrists before she could shake him to death. “What the hell, Fujimura?!”

  Sana grinned. “It’s morning! Time for team practice!”

  Riku blinked, still half-asleep. “Team what?”

  Sana pouted. “Oh, don’t tell me you forgot already.”

  Riku rubbed his face. “We just woke up. Give me a second to—”

  “Nope! Up!” She yanked his arm. “We gotta go!”

  Riku sighed, sitting up slowly. His back ached slightly from laying in the same position all night, and the feeling of Sana practically bouncing on his bed wasn’t helping. As he stood and stretched, he muttered, “Shouldn’t you go home first?”

  Sana froze for half a second. Then she waved it off. “Nah, it’s fine.”

  Riku frowned. “You sure?”

  Sana hopped off the bed and grabbed her hoodie, pulling it over her head. “Yeah. The only one at home is my mom, and she just drinks all day and sleeps, so it’s not like she’d even notice.”

  Riku’s eyebrows furrowed. There was something off about how casually she said that. But before he could question it, Sana was already grabbing his wrist and dragging him toward the door.

  “Come on, Coach! We’re gonna be late!”

  The court was buzzing with energy by the time they arrived. A mix of boys and girls were already shooting around, stretching, passing drills. The gym smelled like polished wood and sweat, and the sound of sneakers squeaking against the floor was too familiar. Riku exhaled sharply. He hadn’t been in an actual team environment in so long. Sana let go of his wrist and clapped her hands together. “Alright, listen up, everyone!”

  The team paused, turning toward them. Sana grinned and gestured toward Riku.

  “This is Riku Takahashi.”

  The moment his name left her mouth, some heads turned in recognition.

  Murmurs spread through the group.

  “Wait. That Riku Takahashi?”

  “No way.”

  “I thought he quit after his injury.”

  “I bet he’s washed up”

  Riku sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked down, reminding him of all the things that happened in the past after his injury.

  “Once again, another disappointing prospect as yet another injury ruins a promising career.”

  “Even if the kid comes back, he’ll never be the same player he once was. Mark my words!”

  “After an injury like that? There’s no point in trying to go back to basketball. His career is over.”

  The voice echoed, louder and louder every time. Riku found himself in an endless void, all the voices surrounding him and he crouched down to his knees.

  “No.” He cried, shaking slightly.

  “His career is over”

  “Stop it!” He cried louder, now hitting the ground, hoping it would end.

  “He’ll NEVER be the same player he once was.”

  “Leave me alone! Stop it!” He curled into a ball, crying his heart out.

  “Dissappointing prospect.”

  He screams at the top of his lungs. The void becomes darker. He’s lost. He will never be the same player he once was, he knew that, but everybody reminded him.

  Suddenly, a hand reached out for him. “Let me help you.” It was Sana. Riku hesitated. He took her hand and suddenly, the void brightened again. He rose up and together they began flying. With her, he could do anything.

  The second practice started, Riku knew he was in for a rough time. Sana had thrown him into warm-up drills immediately, and it was clear from the start—he was rusty. His footwork was sloppy. His timing was off. His handles were still there, but his speed? His explosiveness? Gone. And worst of all—his knee. Every few sprints, every sudden change of direction, he felt it ache. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was enough to make him grit his teeth and slow down.

  “Yo, Takahashi, you good?” One of the guys shot him a look as Riku bent over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. Riku waved him off. “Fine.”

  Sana watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, a small crease of concern between her brows. She wasn’t saying anything, though. She was letting him push through it. And Riku appreciated that. After what felt like an eternity, the warm-ups ended, and they shifted into actual team drills. And that’s when Riku finally got a taste of who he used to be. As soon as the scrimmages began—he was different. He wasn’t just running through plays—he was controlling them. His instincts kicked in before he could even think. He called out defensive switches without hesitation. He broke through full-court presses with ease. He hit mid-range jumpers, faked passes that left defenders frozen, and dribbled through traffic like a ghost. There were moments—brief flashes—where it was like his body remembered. Like it was screaming at him, this is where you belong. But then, just as he’d start finding a rhythm—his knee would remind him.

  Sharp aches shot up his leg whenever he pushed too hard. He’d have to stop. Take a breather. His lungs burned. His legs felt heavier than he remembered. He wasn’t out of shape—but he wasn’t in game shape. Not yet.

  After one particularly hard drive to the rim, he had to step off the court, leaning against the padded walls, breathing heavy. The team kept playing, but Sana walked over, crouching down beside him. She didn’t say I told you so. She didn’t ask if he was okay. She just smiled, handing him a bottle of water. Riku exhaled and took it, drinking slowly.

  Sana smirked. “Still glad you joined?”

  Riku let out a breathless chuckle. “…Yeah.”

  After practice, Riku and Sana made their way to a small ice cream stand near the park. The air was warm, the sun beginning to dip behind the buildings, casting a soft golden glow over everything. Sana, still full of energy despite the grueling training, was going on about her favorite ice cream flavors and how she had a scientific ranking system for each one. Riku half-listened, lazily eating his own cone while Sana happily devoured hers. The soreness in his legs was settling in, but the cold sweetness of the ice cream helped. Then—

  “Oi! Riku!”

  Riku’s chewing stopped.

  That voice.

  It was familiar.

  Too familiar.

  He turned his head and—froze.

  Standing a few feet away, arms crossed, wearing a smirk that hadn’t changed a bit, was a girl he hadn’t seen in years.

  Emu Uesugi.

  His childhood best friend.