Stealing Spree

Chapter 196: Practice Match

”Onoda. Why are you…”

On our way to the Gymnasium, Sakuma suddenly appeared from the School Building. His inquisitive eyes immediately scanned both Nami and me. He already knew that Nami is also close to me because of that time when they helped me to clean that club room. However, after his talk with Satsuki, he probably thought thereʼs also something going on between the two of us.

Even if he didnʼt complete his sentence, heʼs clearly asking why I am with Nami now when I was just with Satsuki earlier.

Good thing that when we entered the School Grounds, Nami let go of my hand and just stayed close to me. Sheʼs aware that there will be many eyes that could recognize us especially when even Shizu-senpai saw me with Satsuki all the way from the Student Council Room..

”Sakuma-kun, are you also coming to watch the Girls Basketball Teamʼs practice match? Why donʼt we all go together?”

Before I could answer, Nami already went forward to ask him and invite him to come with us. This girlʼs observer skill surely noticed Sakumaʼs current emotion. Also, I still havenʼt told her what went on between Satsuki and him earlier.

I still donʼt know what they talked about but if Satsuki was affected like that, thereʼs no way he wouldnʼt be.

Though heʼs already downcast when he appeared earlier, this time I could see that his eyes were still a bit red.

Considering he appeared from the School Building, he probably cried inside our classroom and only now did he decide to leave.

”Thereʼs still time before it starts, wanna come?”

I rode Namiʼs words and also invited him, ignoring his words earlier.

”I… alright.”

Sakuma deliberated for a while before reluctantly nodding his head.

No matter how affected he looked today, Iʼm not really regretting any of my actions. I guess I will never become a friend to another guy. Sakuma, Ogawa and even that Fukuda.

Well, itʼs not that I need one.

With his addition, from two, we became a group of three who would come and watch to cheer for Satsuki. With Sakuma here, it will be a bit hard to make a move on Nami but I guess thatʼs fine, weʼll be in a public environment anyway. There are more chances later and in the future. Thereʼs no need to rush.

”You two are pretty close, Sakuma-kun. Are you still not dating Satsuki?”

Though Nami sounded innocent, her words were probably taking a jab at Sakumaʼs face.

She already knew that Satsuki was also mine but to take his mislead him away from his possible suspicion of our relationship, Nami used that and it was super effective!

Hearing her question, Sakuma stopped in his tracks and stared at me instead. Heʼs waiting for me to admit that I was the one dating Satsuki but yeah, why would I admit it? Itʼs already enough that he knew.

”Whatʼs wrong? Uhm. Did I say something bad?”

Nami alternated her gaze between the two of us.

This girl… I could see that playful smile she had on her face.

Since Iʼm not saying anything, he had no choice but to answer and diffuse the current tension that was building up.

”Weʼre close but weʼre not like that, Andou.”

However, when he continued his steps and closed our distance, he whispered his clear annoyance at me for not answering.

”Why did you not answer, Onoda? Are you also trying to get Andou when you already have Maemura for yourself?”

”Her question was directed to you and not me. That simple.”

I shrugged before continuing my steps.

What he didnʼt know was that I donʼt really need to answer Nami. Sheʼs more informed on my relationships than him after all.

”You... Onoda, can I really trust you on Maemura?”

Upon hearing his question, I sighed and turned around to face him.

”I love Satsuki. Thatʼs enough reason for me to take care of her. Like you said, I was holding back before to give you the chance since she was clearly still into you at that time, but you already conceded, right?”

Ah. Even without him conceding, it will still end up like this. His chances with Satsuki had already dropped to zero when I made her mine two weeks ago.

”Hurry up, you two!”

Since we slowed down when Sakuma stopped to express his annoyance to my lack of response, Nami gained a few steps ahead of us. And seeing that weʼre not matching her steps, she looked back and shouted.

When Sakuma heard my answer, he could only bite his lips and nod at me. No matter how many grievances he accumulated, Satsuki was already done with him. All of her affection that he probably noticed but failed to act on was already passed onto me. Well, not passed, letʼs say I stole all of it from him.

And the same thing will happen to Ogawa soon.

Thereʼs still 20 minutes before the start of the practice match when we reach the audience stands.

Like before, the audiences can only watch from upstairs. Itʼs just a practice match and it didnʼt have that match importance to the club or school

However, this practice match surprisingly gathered quite an audience from both genders that even 20 minutes before it started, the audience stands were almost full.

At least we still found a spot for us that gave us a good view of the court. Since it will be hard to avoid people here, I put Nami between Sakuma and me.

Below, we could see the Boyʼs Basketball Club who was currently preparing the court that will be used for the practice match.

The girls were probably still in their meeting room, preparing themselves.

Their opponent had already arrived and like the girls, they were preparing at the waiting room given to them.

”Iʼm not really someone fond of watching sports but when I heard that Satsuki will play in it, I couldnʼt help but be curious.”

Nami commented and that was surely directed to Sakuma. This girl missed me and watching Satsuki was just a bonus.

Due to that, I sneakily reached for her hand. When she felt it, Nami opened her palm to clasped our hands together, hidden from Sakumaʼs eyes.

”Because of her height, she was always urged to join Basketball Club ever since our 6th grade. Now, it already grew on her.”

Sakuma answered while recalling his memory of her from the 6th grade. Maybe like Satsuki, he was also watching her play before.

With him stopping to come to their house and her sister leaving for college, itʼs not impossible for him to really fall in love with Satsuki. But because of my one word from him about her sister, it got him too confused that he even ended up conceding.

Now that things have ended between Satsuki and him, also, with her sister back in his life, I wonder how that will change Sakuma?

Will he stay indecisive and let go of that new chance or will he change?

Well, Iʼm not interested anymore.

The 20-minute wait eventually ended and both teams came out and went to their benches.

Our schoolʼs Girls Basketball Team who has a dark-blue and white as the motif for their jerseys and jackets appeared confident.

The opposing team who had yellow and green as their motif was the same.

Only the 5 starting players and the bench reserves had their jerseys on while the other club members were still wearing their jackets or shirts.

Since Itʼs for girls, the jersey was fit and it covered their whole shoulder. Some of them even have a shirt underneath it.

From the bench, Satsukiʼs eyes immediately went upwards to look for us. When our gazed met, she immediately flashed a smile.

”Goodluck Satsuki!”

Nami shouted from where we are. Luckily, she didnʼt gather the eyes of other audiences since there were others like her who started shouting even if the game hasnʼt officially started yet.

When Satsuki heard that, she waved her hand to Nami and of course, to the silent Sakuma next to her.

After that, their coach, our military-like PE Teacher named Eguchi gathered them again to probably once again remind them of their agreed strategy.

5 minutes later, the game was already about to start.

Of course, Satsuki was benched, she was just a substitute for the 3rd year Center after all. However, she told me that the coach will let her play after the 10-minute mark of the 1st half.

This gameʼs purpose is to give them experience. It doesnʼt really matter if they win or lose but of course, they will be happier if they win against a team who always compete in Interhigh.

With the male coach of the Boys Basketball Club as the referee, the 10 players were already in their position for the tip-off.

Along with the sound of the whistle indicating the start of the Practice Match, the ball from the refereeʼs hand was thrown upwards with the two Centers jumping after it to get the first tap.