DAYLIGHT - K. Rukawa

twelve

Chapter 12 : first person pov. Edited 3rd of November, 2021.

After the Kanagawa Trials, the team has started practicing again for their improvement. One of the main highlights of every practice is Sakuragi-kun's improvement. Their last game against Takezono was not that good for him because he had a lot of failed attempts at shooting, and even his rebound was affected. I stuck around with them after dismissing my class.

When I arrived at the gym, the team had already started practicing. I was greeted by Mitsui who was currently in the three-pointer line. I nod at him and he simply nods back, when Sakuragi-kun noticed me, he immediately went to me.

"(y/n)-chan!" He was just steps closer to me when Akagi-san picked him up by pulling his shirt. "Gori! Put me down!"

I laughed. "Are you guys feeling well today?" I asked while walking towards the bench where Ayako-san was.

"O-Of course, (l/n)-san!" Kogure-san nervously adjusted his glasses. Although I've been with them for almost three weeks now, I think he's still nervous around me.

"Well, I'm glad for that. Kogure-san," I smiled, letting out a chuckle.

"Do you not notice anything, (l/n)-san?" Ayako-san said beside me, wrapping one of her arms on my shoulder. I looked around the gym, finding out that the black-haired prodigy was missing.

"Rukawa not attending practice?" I said, holding my chin up. "How strange." I sighed.

"Yeah. I mean, he's not the kind of person. He's a basketball idiot after all," Ayako-san said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Did he say something about skipping practice today?" I asked once again.

Ayako-san shakes her head. "Nope, I haven't seen him today, so I really don't know why."

I nodded.

"Maybe he quitted because he realizes that he's not that great after all! He was threatened-" Sakuragi-kun was about to say something against Rukawa again when Akagi-san immediately interrupted him by a smack on the top of his head.

"Oi, Rukawa! You're finally here!"

I immediately turn my head to see him, finally in his casual practice clothes, and his duffle bag on his shoulder. What surprises me is he's walking in my direction.

I felt Ayako-san elbowed me. I looked up to Rukawa.

"What do you need?" I asked. "Are you hurt again or something?"

He didn't say a thing, but he got something inside of his duffle bag. He handed me a white envelope with three boxes of chocolates that were attached to it by a red ribbon.

"What-"

"RUKAWA!? ARE YOU CONFESSING TO (Y/N)-CHAN!?"

My eyes widened when Sakuragi-kun suddenly yelled. I immediately stood up, was about to explain everything to him. Because knowing Sakuragi-kun would start acting dramatically again, it might cause huge trouble with the team that was currently on heavy training.

"Rukawa! That's a lame confession!" Miyagi-san snickered.

"It's not from me." I stopped in my tracks when he said that pulling my wrist a bit, for the distance between us to become a little closer.

"Then who-"

"Sendoh."

"Sendoh?" I repeatedly blinked my eyes. "You mean the fisherman, that was actually Ryonan's ace?"

I blinked my eyes twice when he nodded once again.

"What!? Sendoh!?" I heard some of them.

"But I'm not even that close to him! I just saw him fishing that day on the edge of the boardwalk of a river near our house!" I yelled.

"If you don't want it I can eat the chocolate for you,"

"hUh?" I muttered. I lowered my gaze on the chocolate. "Oh, you can have it then," I gave him the three chocolates that were attached to the envelope.

"Keep one."

My lips parted when he pulled one of my hands, putting one box of chocolate in there. Making me slightly chuckle.

"I never knew you're thoughtful," I chuckled, feeling my cheeks getting warm.

"Oi! Let us have some, too!"

"Are you keeping the letter too?"

My brows furrowed. "Oh, you want to have it too?" I asked, letting out a giggle.

Rukawa lowered his gaze to the white envelope on my hands, with his stoic but very sleepy eyes still plastered on his face.

"Can I?"

My eyes widened. "WHAT ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

"I think it has something to do with basketball, it might be a secret strategy-"

I can't stand it anymore, I let out a laugh with all my heart confusing Rukawa and gaining everyone's attention. I heard Ayako-san laugh with me. I held my stomach, laughing.

With my thumb slightly wiping my tears, I had stopped laughing when I felt everyone's gaze at me.

"What?" I asked, recovering from the laughter.

"You're so pretty F/N-chan!" Sakuragi-kun made an overwhelmed expression by acting and holding his chest. Miyagi and the other first years were behind him doing the same.

"(L/n), can I have it now?" Rukawa asked, confused.

I chuckled. "But, this is for me,"

Rukawa then nodded. He's literally clueless.

"How about we look at what's inside together?"

"What 'together', (l/n)-san?" I heard Ayako-san behind me. Obviously teasing me about it, I turn my back on Rukawa and face her a bit, with a frown on my face.

Before I could even open the envelope it had already been taken away by Sakuragi-kun.

"I WAS RIGHT! IT WAS A CONFESSION LETTER, (Y/N)-CHAN!"