Running After You

Chapter 12: Fundamentals

Youta was back to square one when it came to this girl. Her basketball skills were atrocious. So much so that he wondered if she was better off just giving up. However doing so would reflect poorly on his job as sports manager and still wouldn't address the other issue she brought up.

His lack of knowledge in the sport of basketball also proved to be a hindrance. Just because he knew of the concepts didn't mean he understood what it took to coach and teach others to perform at a high level. Or in this case, at a level that didn't involve creating a hazard with the ball.

So the boy had nothing better to do during the down time between classes, but to crack open a book to read about the fundamentals of basketball. Surely this wouldn't make him a world class athlete or good coach. But perhaps he could give her an idea of what to do to make herself a better player.

Surprisingly to him, the game was much more complex than he gave it credit for. Most of these sports presented themselves as relying heavily on raw athletic talent. And while that may be required if one wished to go pro, even someone like him could perform after figuring some things out.

One important aspect he noted was the different positions they played. He noticed this back when he watched that game the other day, but couldn't tell what it was that made each them different. Now reading on the roles of players such as the point guard or center, he couldn't help but wonder what exactly Takame's role was within her own team.

He already had an idea based on her size and stature, but what was the official position? Hopefully nothing stupid like expecting her to be one of the guards. Her ball handling skills and ability to shoot might as well have been deadly for all the wrong reasons.

Fortunately he'd be able to lend some help for her to get into the right direction. This book gave him the clarity he needed, but there was one of other thing Youta needed to be assured he'd be able to succeed at his job.

"Fuwaka, can I ask you to skip your practice just this once?" This would be enlisting the aid of the only person he knew who would understand his need. "I know swimming's real important for you, but I don't think I can do this on my own."

"Whoever you're helping isn't troubling you, are they?" She asked while stretching out her body as if preparing to fight. "Because sadly I'm not much for confrontation, so I can't help you there." It turned out her actions were only for show as Fuwaka would be useless were he to need a buddy to fight.

"First off, I don't need a girl to stand up for me." He responded, looking downward to avoid having to look at her and think of being someone who needed rescuing. "And secondly, she's not mean or anything. I just think that it's a lot harder to teach someone a sport when I'm by myself. And I'd ask one of her teammates, but they all give me strange looks now and I'm a bit worried to approach them." For whatever reason, he noted that after yesterday, the girl's basketball team began to have a slightly negative perception of him.

"It sounds like you are getting bullied then." She couldn't imagine why anyone would want to pick on or avoid him. Youta was a wonderful person in her eyes and someone she was more than thankful to have met. "I can help though since swim practice isn't a big deal right now. The first meets don't start until June, so we've just been mostly warming up from the long winter. We haven't been required to make practice yet."

"Thank you." He bowed his head down. "I promise I won't make you skip out often. This is just a one time deal."

"No problem." She smiled, laying back in her seat. "If it's you, I'm ready to help with almost anything." Whether that help would be useful, she didn't even know yet. However Fuwaka would come to know what it was he needed when they arrived at the gym.