"Junpei, have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"Shota is dating Sunny," Tanaka told him.
Tanaka's words made Junpei shudder, "what did you just say?"
"Matsumoto, number 11 is dating Watanabe!" Tanaka repeated.
"Why you are telling me this?" Junpei asked.
Junpei's attitude left Tanaka confused, "I thought you'd like to be aware of what is going on."
"I don't want to be informed," Junpei said as he continued to put on his basket shirt.
At that exact instant, Matsumoto strolled into the locker room with his usual nonchalant phlegm. A deathly silence which would make flies fall under its weight filled the changing room.
Matsumoto went straight to his locker while the other guys from the team resumed their activities. Only Junpei glared at his kohai [a younger student], Matsumoto had disrespected him, and he had to pay.
"You shouldn't have done that," Haruka murmured in Matsumoto's ear.
"Done what?"
"The girl, she was senpai's," continued Haruka.
"So?"
"The rules state when a girl dates a senpai, and he drops her, she is sentenced to live as a high school spinster," Haruka explained.
What Haruka said sounded ridicule, the victim of a breakup was doomed while the boy moved on picking all the roses he wanted to decorate his trophies, board.
Shota muffled his laughter with his hand, Haruka's remarks amused him.
"You know how senpai is he won't let it go," Haruka warned.
Haruka's words rung like a presage, the passes Matsumoto got during practice, were ribs smashing and head bashing. Shota's quick reflex allowed him to block most of the balls and he appreciated Haruka's backup.
Junpei had him pick up the balls and store the equipment to everyone's dismay. The tension on the court was oppressing; it was with a lot of relief the team finished practice.
"Yo, Shota," yelled Junpei "before you go I want you to shoot 100, Tomoe will keep the count."
Shota didn't argue; resistance was futile he accepted his punishment. All he had to be bare with it, Junpei was clever he wouldn't keep up with this childish payback.
Shota's and Sunny's actions scratched the captain's ego. Junpei couldn't touch Sunny but hurting her by proxy was possible.
Haruka watched his friend shoot his 100; strict Tomoe had no attention of letting number 11 leave with less than the ordered shoots.
Shota's arms got sore, and the cuts under his wrists bands pulled with the strain of every shoot, yet he carried on for he too was a stubborn bull.
Shota's arms got sore, and the cuts under his wrists bands pulled with the strain of every shoot, yet he carried on for he too was a stubborn bull.
°°°
"So are you going to wait for him?" Yuta asked.
"Why? Should I?" Sunny asked.
The girl didn't know what attitude to adopt. The circumstances leading to their relationship were too confusing for Sunny to rejoice and play kawaii Kanojo [cute girlfriend].
"Well, he's your boyfriend he has basketball practice you should go and cheer," Yuta teased.
"iie-iie-iie, are you crazy Yuta? Are you a full baka or are you doing it on purpose? How is Sunny supposed to face X senpai?"
Madoka suspected her friend of avoiding the basketball team captain, and she didn't blame her. She still regretted not being at Sunny's side the day Saitama Junpei dumped her. Madoka kept imagining how she would have punched his face in making him lose more than 20 ranks in the ikemen [hot guy] school chart.
"Well, she accepted to become his Matsumoto San's kanojo, she'll have to act like it," Yuta added.
Thes cut throat sentences were Yuta's way of punishing Sunny; he didn't like the idea of her dating number 11, making her feel awkward was the only way Yuta found to push Sunny to renounce to the relationship.
"Dou shiyou? What should I do? How should I act? Je suis folle, complétement folle?" Sunny said.
The teen was in psychoses internal conflict since they had arrived in the photography club.
"We should do something she is mumbling her French gibberish," Yuta said. He and Madoka turned to look at Sunny who sat swaying from side to side in the corner of the room.
"Be you Sunny, be your usual shining self. The person you imitate the best is yourself," Madoka said with a sentiment of having said something somewhat mature.
"Madoka, please stop it, you gave me goosebumps, don't go metaphoric, don't. Take your advice imitate yourself."
Yuta's words made the two girls burst out into laughter; they packed up the material and prepared to leave. As they walked in the halls, Sunny pondered should she go and wait for him.
The practice must have ended Sunny thought anyway, but the still lit gymnasium made her hesitate to leave. Madoka turned around to see her friend's gaze trailing along on the gym's walls.
"Go if you want to, I'll take our pet home," Madoka said beaming.
"Which pet? Who are you referring to?" Yuta scuffed.
Sunny smiled with gratitude, feeling lucky to have such understanding friends. She waved them goodbye before dashing off the gym.
°°°
As she approached her enthusiasm diminished, how would Matsumoto take it and what if Junpei was there?
As she approached her enthusiasm diminished, how would Matsumoto take it and what if Junpei was there?
How would he react?
It was too late to back away even if it was still possible to catch up with her friends. A part of her wanted to see Shota.
The door was slightly open, she could hear the rebounding ball, but it was impossible to have a clear view. The only thing left to do was to go inside.
Once in the gym, she saw Shota shooting, and she recognized severe Tanaka. Shifting her gaze across the court, she noticed the boy who never left Matsumoto's side. If Sunny wasn't mistaken the boy's name was Haruka, she walked to the bench where he sat.
"Konnichiwa," Sunny said with her brightest smile.
Haruka barley nodded a greeting.
Great Matsumoto Kun's friend doesn't seem to appreciate my presence at the same time; he can't be blamed I'm a senpai's motokano [former girlfriend], thought Sunny.
"Ano Watana,-"
"Don't try to play politely with me, I know who you are we don't need to be friendly," Haruka said cutting off Sunny.
Yikes, he hates me, he hates me, concluded Sunny.
Matsumoto seemed to have finished his exercise; he smiled as he saw Sunny, he made a sign for her to wait for him outside.
Matsumoto seemed to have finished his exercise; he smiled as he realized Sunny's presence making a sign for her to wait for him outside.
°°°
The two spectators left to wait as instructed, Haruka kicked the gravel in front of his feet. The awkward silence pushed Sunny to attempt a conversation again.
"Etoー"
"I told you don't try to get friendly; this late practice is your fault! You shouldn't be with Matsumoto. You can't be with him for yours, and his sake, Shota wa kiken desu [Shota is dangerous]," the tall boy said as he walked towards her to stand a few inches away from Sunny's face.
What was Haruka saying?
Why was Shota's practice her fault?
Why couldn't she be with Matsumoto and how was he dangerous?
The only thing dangerous about number 11 was his hotness, which forced the young girl to wonder, about how long she was going to resist to his natural charms and delicious lunchtime bentos.
The questions roamed over Sunny's head, Haruka's warning rang like sirens in the girl's mind.
Haruka's words colluded with the feeling that something didn't fit the puzzle. From the very beginning the thought haunted her, and now Haruka's words made her want to flee. Sunny had to put an end to the masquerade; she would do it tomorrow for today she preferred to run.
°°°
Sunny turned to leave, but her gaze fell on a pouting Matsumoto.
"Sumimasen, for making you wait," Shota said with his hands on his knees as he recuperated his breath.
"Iie, iie, it's my fault I shouldn't have come without informing you. I'll leave you to talk with your friend; I'm sure to have many things to see to," Sunny said passing him to leave.
"Where are you going? I just got here stay with me awhile" Matsumoto said tugging on her sweaters sleeve in a tone which seemed like a plea.
How does he do this? How does Matsumoto Kun manage to make me feel obliged all the time? Sunny thought.
She knew the problem wasn't just the Colgate White Wow smile he wore when he spoke to her. A part of her wanted to do as he desired. The reflection was interrupted by Haruka.
"If she wants to leave let her, you can't force her to stay," Haruka said with a smirk.
With that Shota let go of Sunny's sleeve, his facial expression changed to the stern face Sunny was used to seeing on a daily basis.
"Go if you want," Matsumoto said coldly.
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