Sunday.

The middle day of a three-day weekend.

I was at the training lodge built near the school for athletic clubs.

It was structured like a small school centered around a gymnasium.

The reason I’m here despite not belonging to any sports club is because Iwabuchi invited me.

I came to help the girls’ basketball team.

I was called as meal support staff, but since I’m here anyway, I want to be useful.

With that in mind, I proactively take on chores like bringing equipment in and out or retrieving balls.

When practice in the gym paused for a break, I smoothly mopped the sweat scattered across the court and then—

“Hayama-kun, thanks!”

Iwabuchi spoke to me with a towel draped around her neck, bottle in hand.

That alone fills my motivation and I end up savoring the happiness of seeing her on a day off and during practice.

I’m glad I came!

Even mopping becomes enjoyable, but I can’t just float along carefree.

It’s because of Takatsuka.

This lodge is near the school.

I worry she might suddenly show up and aggressively hit on me again if the chance arises.

She hasn’t appeared over the holiday so far, but I doubt she’ll stay quiet forever…

* * *

Break time ends and practice resumes.

On the court, Iwabuchi and the girls begin an intense scrimmage.

Iwabuchi during practice, looks slightly different.

Her semi-long hair, usually worn down, is tied lightly at the back, exposing her pale nape. Seeing that version of her, unlike the classroom, makes helping worthwhile already.

“Wow…”

Watching Iwabuchi shine as the team’s core, I let the words slip out.

“S-sorry.”

I bow my head to the managers nearby.

I’m here to help everyone, so becoming just an Iwabuchi fan would be a nuisance.

“No no I get it.” “Ayami-chan is amazing.” “She always stands out like that.”

The managers didn’t look annoyed.

“You know? Ayami-chan can dunk.”

Now fully exposed as an Iwabuchi fan, I get whispered to by one of the female managers.

“What!? Really?”

“Yeah. Not in games of course, but when there’s no defense messing around, she jumps super high and slams it in.”

“Wow… dunking at 163 cm… Iwabuchi really is amazing.”

“Eh, 163? Ayami-chan?”

“Yes, that's what she said.”

“Oh dear, underselling her height. She has girly moments too.”

In the end, the manager didn’t tell me her actual height, but apparently she’s taller than 163 cm.

True when we stand together, I have to look up to meet her eyes despite supposedly being of similar height.

And when she told me, she avoided eye contact and sounded hesitant.

Maybe she’s actually around 170 cm.

Even then, dunking shows incredible athletic ability—

“Watch out!”

As someone shouted, my skin prickled. Danger approaching.

Before I knew it, the ball was flying right at my face.

At this rate, it would hit directly, but with my nonexistent reflexes, I couldn’t dodge. Raising my arms wouldn’t make it in time.

Just as I braced for impact —

Paang!

A sharp sound rang out and the ball vanished.

Someone knocked it away.

It was Iwabuchi.

But she leapt to swat it and couldn’t stop her momentum, so she nearly collided with me.

Instinctively, I chose to catch her. At least I could cushion her and prevent injury.

Yet as expected of her, she landed deftly on both feet and stopped me instead, supporting my waist as I’d prepared to fall.

Her beautiful sweat-dotted face was close.

From the outside, it probably looked like a figure skating pair pose.

“Hayama-kun, are you alright?”

“I-I’m fine. Sorry, I was spacing out.”

“It’s fine. As long as you’re not hurt.”

She straightened and smiled.

“Ah, but try not to get too close to the court.”

“O-okay.”

Crap. I meant to stay at the edge but got drawn in watching her.

“You’ve been helping so much today! If you got hurt after taking care of us, I’d feel bad.”

She cheerfully slapped my shoulder, then returned to practice.

Because of my clumsiness, practice stopped and I feel awful.

A-at least from now on, I need to stay out of the way!