Stealing Spree

Chapter 2821: Motivate us again

A few minutes later, just as I was starting to wonder if the seniors had changed their minds about talking to me privately, the door creaked open.

Kawakami-senpai stepped in first, her athletic frame filling the doorway. She was already in her jersey. Her sweat-dampened hair was tied back in a high ponytail that made her look even more commanding than usual.

After scanning the room first, perhaps to see if I was alone or not, her eyes landed on me. A faint flush seemed to creep up her neck.

I guess this was a little embarrassing for her, huh? Or perhaps, she was remembering that locker room ’reward’ from the Interhigh.

Kanno-senpai also arrived half a minute later. With her height, she towered over her friend with that lanky, powerful build that made her jump shots and rebounds something Satsuki aspired to replicate.

Wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, I couldn’t help but see how her jersey clung to her muscular curves. Whoever’s gonna date her, they’d better have the strength necessary to handle her. She seemed to be the dominant type. But then again, there’s also a gentle side of her that I’ve already seen before.

As they stepped further inside the room and closed the door behind them, I stood up, greeting them both with my usual amiable smile.

“Kawakami-senpai, Kanno-senpai, I’m here to cheer for the team again. I’m just wondering... What’s this about? Orimura-sensei said you wanted to talk to me privately. Is everything alright with the team?”

Kawakami-senpai crossed her arms under her chest, which pushed up her modest curves beneath the jersey in a way that made it hard not to notice, but I kept my gaze steady on her face. Her ponytail swayed slightly as she tilted her head, perhaps trying to compose herself.

“Un. Thanks for coming, Onoda-kun. Everything’s alright, it’s just...” Her voice trailed there as she seemed to pass the baton to Kanno-senpai.

I turned my gaze to the other girl, who immediately reacted by rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly as she shifted from foot to foot.

She glanced at her friend, then back at me, before finally speaking up, continuing what Kawakami-senpai failed to convey.

“Uh... yeah, Onoda-kun. We... well, the team’s a bit tense out there. Hirari’s crowd is rowdy, and some of the girls are feeling the pressure from the rematch. We were hoping you could... you know, do your thing. Like you did during Interhigh.”

My thing? I raised an eyebrow, already sensing where this was headed.

Kawakami-senpai nodded quickly, stepping forward a bit. She successfully recovered her composure.

“Exactly. Your... motivation speeches. They worked wonders last time. The girls respect you, and... well, you have this way of getting us fired up. Please? For the team?”

I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips. Motivational speeches? That’s what they were calling it now? I mean, I didn’t do anything special back then. I just cheered them on before the game. And when I saw they were down a few points in the last few minutes, I suggested a strategy.

And that’s all.

Still, seeing these two seniors, usually so composed and in charge, looking at me like I held the key to their victory... it stirred something in me.

“Senpai, you know you don’t need to ask me for that. You are Satsuki’s teammates. I’m just wondering why you come directly to me instead of asking her.”

“Oh... That? Maemura did offer to do it when I brought it up. But... shouldn’t it be my responsibility... as the Club President and Captain?” Kawakami-senpai answered as she rubbed her arm awkwardly, her

confident posture faltering just a bit under my gaze.

That small movement somehow made her jersey clung to her from the warm-up sweat, highlighting the lean muscles she’d built over years of playing basketball.

As a bonafide pervert, it was hard not to stare. Thankfully, I could control my expression.

Kanno-senpai nodded in agreement from behind her. She also took a step forward, making both of them loom closer towards me.

”She’s right, Onoda-kun. Kawakami feels like it’s on her to rally everyone, especially since this rematch is kinda personal for us third-years. We won because of you last time, and... well, your words hit different. They stick.”

I sat back down the bench as I took in their earnest expressions.

It wasn’t hard to see the weight they were carrying. The pressure of leading a team that had just clinched a championship, only to face the dethroned rivals on their home turf.

Rowdy crowds, high stakes, and that lingering sting of not even getting a good result last year flipped on its head.

Thinking about it, this was probably for the second and third years more than the first year members like Satsuki. In a way, they still lack the confidence to stand undeterred before a strong rival team.

”Alright,” I said after a beat as I faced their worried gazes with my confident smile, ”If it’s motivation you need, I’ve got plenty. But senpai... how should I motivate you this time? Back then, words were sufficient.”

“Un. Words are enough.” Kawakami-senpai said but somehow, I couldn’t help but notice her hesitating. As if there was more that she wanted to ask.

I glanced at Kanno-senpai who put on an awkward smile before leaning close to whisper, “Maemura suggested that it could be more effective if you motivate us one by one.”

Motivate them one by one? That’s normal, no?

Normal, my ass! Where did Satsuki pull out this suggestion? Shouldn’t she be acting jealous right now because of my visit to Juri and Setsuna-nee’s dorm yesterday?

Ah... So that’s how it was... This was her way to make it awkward for me, huh?

For sure, once I was done motivating everyone, she’d come right in to check if I was tortured enough from the awkwardness of holding back my shameless urges in front of the entire team.

Satsuki, that sneaky girl. This was payback, plain and simple. She knew exactly how hard it’d be for me to ’motivate’ each member without slipping into my usual flirtatious territory, especially after they already had that locker room ’reward’ memory burned into their brains.

And she’d swoop in at the end to gloat or scold me, depending on how flustered I looked.

A wry smile couldn’t help but tug at my lips as I glanced between Kawakami-senpai and Kanno-senpai. They were both watching me expectantly, like I held the solution to unlock their team’s full potential.

If only they knew the real battle was happening in my head, fighting the instinct to turn this ’motivation’ into something far less innocent...

”One by one, huh?” I echoed as I rubbed the back of my neck while smiling sheepishly. ”Satsuki’s idea? Sounds like her. Alright, senpai. If that’s what the team needs, I’ll do it. But... how private are we talking? And what exactly do you mean by ’motivate’? Words of encouragement? Strategy tips? Or...”

I let the sentence trail there as my gaze watched them react to it. Somehow, their cheeks started to turn into a deeper pink. They’re not used to this, huh?

But shouldn’t they be popular with boys? Oh. Right. They dedicated their high school days to this sport. No time for boyfriends.

Kawakami-senpai uncrossed her arms quickly, as if realizing how she was accentuating her figure under the jersey, and cleared her throat.

”N-not like that, Onoda-kun! Just... talk to them. Like you did during Interhigh. You have this way of making us feel... capable. Strong. It’s not about anything else.”

Kanno-senpai nodded vigorously, her tall frame shifting awkwardly as she rubbed her arm. ”Y-yeah. The few first-years look up to you because of Maemura and your exploits in your year. The second-years remember how your strategies turned the tide last time. For us third-years... well, it’s our last year. We want to go out strong. Your words stick, you know? They make us push harder.”

Heh. Looks like Kanno-senpai had a way with her words better than Kawakami-senpai. I guess this was the reason they came to me together. Kawakami-senpai would probably faint from embarrassment talking about this to me.

”Alright,” I softly replied with a nod, lacing my voice with a reassuring tone. ”If it’s motivation you need, I’ve got it. But senpai... since you’re here now. How about we start with you two. After all, the leaders set the example, right?”

Kawakami-senpai’s eyes widened a fraction, her lips parting like she hadn’t expected me to turn it back on them first. ”U-us? But we–”

I cut her off gently as I stood up again and placed a hand on her shoulder. The contact was light, but I felt her tense under my palm, then relaxed almost immediately.

”Yeah. You two carry the team. If you’re fired up, everyone else will follow. So... tell me. What’s weighing on you most right now? The crowd? The rematch pressure? Or something else? I’m all ears.”