For once in your entire friendship, it was Ryota who asked to hang out today. You were both at a basketball court near your house after school, bags haphazardly thrown on the concrete and uniforms looking disheveled.

Ryota sits under the basketball hoop, smiling to himself while drinking from your water bottle as he watches you dribble the ball up the court and make a shot. Although competitive basketball is all he lives and breathes, it’s always important to take a step back and remember what made him fall in love with the game—the fun of it.

It’s truer now more than ever before. He raises a single arm up, groaning as he makes the move to stand up again.

“Nice shot, idiot. C’mon, pass the ball. We’ve got to work on your passing.” The grin on his face widens when you bounce the ball back to him. “Leave your training to me, I’ll make you project Ryota Miyagi!”

Ryota laughs at the unimpressed look on your face. “Don’t look at me like that, cheer up.” He dribbles the ball between his legs. “You’ll get as good as me in no time if you keep playing with me. My greatness will rub off on you.”