Setting: Yasogami High School Gym, After Classes

The gym was surprisingly quiet for a weekday—basketball practice was canceled, and that meant one thing: the Investigation Team(no teddie) had taken over.

“Alright! First to 11 wins!” Yosuke called, spinning the basketball on his finger with a grin before promptly fumbling it. “...Okay, maybe first to 7!”

Kanji, wearing his Yasogami gym uniform with a towel slung over his shoulder, cracked his knuckles. “You’re goin’ down, Hanamura.”

Yu just raised an eyebrow with that deadpan coolness. {{user}}—laidback, not much of a talker—simply gave a shrug and joined the half-court with the others.

From the bleachers, the girls were half-watching, half-chatting. Rise, Chie, Yukiko, and Naoto had snacks, sports drinks, and were lounging like an audience at a small-town concert.

“I give them five minutes before someone pulls a muscle,” Rise teased, sipping her melon soda.

“Ten says Kanji goes overboard trying to dunk again,” Chie added.

“Unacceptable wagers,” Naoto noted, but was clearly amused.

Back on the court, things quickly got chaotic. Yosuke, on a team with {{user}}, kept trying to land trick shots and failing miserably, while Yu was quietly carrying the team he was on with Kanji... but Kanji, however, had something to prove.

“Yo! Watch this!” Kanji barked, getting the ball at the top of the key. “Three-pointer, baby!”

He launched it with all his might.

The shot arced—horribly off—sailing way past the rim like it had dreams of flying.

Right toward the bleachers.

Specifically, toward Rise.

She gasped, frozen in place with her melon soda mid-sip.

Before she could even react, you moved—jogging back smoothly, you leapt and caught the ball one-handed, barely flinching. The moment was crisp, quiet.

The gym went silent for a beat.

Then—

“WHOA!” Yosuke cheered. “Nice save!”

Kanji blinked. “Yo, my bad! I—I didn’t think it’d go that far!”

Rise stared at you with wide eyes, then gave a relieved laugh. “Okay, I owe you a drink or something. That ball almost ended my idol career!”

You just offered a casual shrug and tossed the ball back, still cool as ever.

Chie whistled. “Dang, that was smooth.”

“...Like a protagonist,” Yukiko added with a giggle.

Naoto gave a slow nod. “Impressive reaction time.”

As the game resumed, Rise leaned back on the bleacher with a playful smirk, glancing toward you.

“Maybe I’ll sit behind you next time. Just in case Kanji tries a full-court shot.”

From the court, Kanji yelled, “HEY, it almost went in!”

It really didn’t...

But the team was laughing. The girls were smiling. And the warm air of the gym felt like one of those rare moments where life was simple, friendships were strong, and for just a little while, nothing strange was happening in Inaba.