Basketball Invitationals

Three days had passed since Nakano and Mizuki’s almost-kiss during rehearsals, and Nakano couldn’t stop thinking about it. The way he pulled back at the last second haunted him, leaving him full of questions he didn’t know how to answer. Why had he backed out? And what was Mizuki thinking about it? Nakano’s mind kept circling back to that moment as he sat in the locker room before the Kyoto Invitational Tournament.

His team was getting ready, hyped for one of the biggest basketball events of the season. The noise around him, the clanging of lockers, the chatter, and the tension before the game, felt distant as Nakano sat on the bench, leaning forward with his hands clasped, lost in his own thoughts.

"Why did I back out?" he muttered quietly to himself, barely noticing how tense his shoulders had become. He had invited Mizuki to come to the game days ago, but now the thought of seeing him made Nakano’s stomach twist. What if the almost-kiss ruined everything? What if Mizuki didn’t see him that way at all?

"Hey, man, you alright?" Yoshinaga’s voice broke through Nakano’s internal spiral. The tall forward came over, wiping sweat off his brow with a towel. "You’re talking to yourself."

Nakano blinked and sat up straighter. "Yeah, I’m fine." But after a brief pause, he lowered his gaze and asked, "Yoshinaga, can I ask you something?"

Yoshinaga raised an eyebrow, tossing his towel aside. "Sure, what’s up?"

Nakano hesitated before blurting out, "What if you start feeling something for someone but you're not sure if it's real? Or if the person even likes you in that way?"

Yoshinaga stared at Nakano, then smirked knowingly. "Are you talking about Mizuki?"

Nakano’s face flushed bright red. He turned away quickly, embarrassed that Yoshinaga could see right through him. "W-what? No, I’m not—" But the look on Yoshinaga’s face told Nakano he wasn’t fooling anyone.

"It’s okay, man," Yoshinaga said, sitting beside him. "If you like Mizuki, it’s not weird. It doesn’t matter if you’re both guys. What matters is how you feel."

Nakano bit his lip, feeling a mix of relief and confusion. Could it really be that simple? He was about to say something when the door to the locker room burst open, and the rest of the team came barreling in.

"Time to go! The game’s about to start!" one of the players shouted, slapping Nakano on the shoulder.

The team’s excitement filled the air, and Nakano couldn’t dwell on his thoughts any longer. He took a deep breath and followed them out onto the court.

The sound of sneakers squeaking against the polished gym floor echoed in Nakano’s ears, and the energy from the crowd roared around him. But no matter how much he tried to focus, his mind kept drifting to Mizuki. Was he really going to show up? Did he even want to see Nakano play after what happened between them?

The whistle blew, and the game began. Nakano’s teammates were counting on him, but something felt off. His passes were sloppy, and his shots kept falling short. His usual confidence on the court was nowhere to be found, and by halftime, they were down by ten points.

"What’s going on with Nakano?" one of his teammates muttered as they huddled together during the break. "He’s not playing like himself."

Nakano sat with his head in his hands, feeling the pressure mount. This was his chance to prove himself, and here he was, blowing it. Just as he was about to lose hope, something caught his eye in the stands.

Mizuki.

He was sitting near the back, partially hidden by a few rows of people, but there was no mistaking that familiar face. Mizuki’s eyes met Nakano’s, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Mizuki gave him an awkward but encouraging smile and waved hesitantly.

Something in Nakano shifted.

It was like a switch flipped inside him. The doubts, the awkwardness, the nerves—all of it melted away in an instant. Mizuki was here. Mizuki came to see him play. And suddenly, Nakano felt like he had something to fight for.

The second half of the game began, and Nakano was back in his element. His focus sharpened, his passes were quick and precise, and his shots found their mark. The crowd roared louder with every point they made, and Nakano’s teammates rallied behind him as the score slowly climbed in their favor.

By the end of the game, Nakano had led his team to a thrilling victory, and the crowd erupted in cheers as the final whistle blew.

The locker room was full of celebration, but Nakano’s mind was elsewhere. As his teammates packed up and made plans to go out for dinner, Nakano’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his bag and saw a text from Mizuki.

"I just wanted to say goodbye. Good game!"

Nakano felt a tug at his heart. Is he leaving without seeing me? The thought sent a surge of urgency through him, and without thinking, Nakano bolted out of the locker room. He darted down the hall and pushed open the back doors of the building, his eyes scanning the area frantically.

For a moment, he couldn’t see anyone. The parking lot was nearly empty, and his heart sank. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Mizuki’s figure walking through the park across the street.

Without a second thought, Nakano took off running. His feet pounded against the pavement as he raced across the street, dodging cars and barely noticing the people around him. "Prez! Wait!" he called out, but Mizuki didn’t hear him.

"Mizuki!" Nakano yelled, louder this time.

Mizuki stopped in his tracks and turned around, his eyes wide in surprise. Nakano reached him, breathless and slightly out of sorts from sprinting.

"Why were you going to leave without saying goodbye?" Nakano panted, hands on his knees as he caught his breath.

Mizuki blinked, fumbling with his words. "I-I texted you goodbye..."

Nakano shook his head, standing up straight. "That’s not enough."

Before he knew what he was doing, Nakano took a step forward and grabbed Mizuki by the wrist, pulling him close. The world around them seemed to blur as he leaned in, his heart racing uncontrollably. Without another word, Nakano pressed his lips against Mizuki’s in a sudden, impulsive kiss.

Mizuki froze, eyes wide in shock, but slowly melted into the kiss. His heart pounded in his chest, the warmth of Nakano’s lips sending his mind spinning.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were flushed, breathless, and staring at each other in stunned silence.