Rukawa Kaede || When Nuisance Turns Into Something

10

The towering red brick building of Shohoku High loomed ahead, a stark contrast to the familiar, sleek campus of Sannoh High she had left behind. Clutching her transfer documents tightly against her chest, Yuzuki let out a nervous breath. The hallways were vast, and she was utterly lost.

Just as she was about to turn another corner, she spotted a towering figure standing near the main corridor. The most striking thing about him was his bright, violently red hair, closely shaved to his scalp. As she stepped closer, she noticed something else-he was wearing a thick, rigid back brace beneath his school uniform.

"Excuse me?" Yuzuki called out politely, stepping into his line of sight. "Um, do you happen to know where the administration office is? I'm a new transfer student, and I need to complete my enrollment."

The tall boy turned around, his thick brows furrowing into a comical, intense scowl as he looked down at her. For a terrifying second, Yuzuki wondered if she had accidentally approached a local delinquent. He blinked, staring at her for a long moment before his face suddenly split into a wide, booming grin.

"Huh? Oh! Hehe, hi!" he boomed, gesturing to himself proudly. "Are you new here?"

Obviously. I literally just said that a second ago,

Yuzuki thought irritably. A sarcastic retort danced on the tip of her tongue, and she had to actively fight the urge to roll her eyes. Reminding herself to be on her best behavior at her new school, she forced a polite smile and swallowed her annoyance.

"Ah, yes. That's why I'm looking for the office. Do you know where it is?"

"Yeah, of course I know! This school is practically my kingdom!" The red-headed giant laughed, placing his hands on his hips. "Anyway, what's your name, miss?"

"I'm Hibikara," she replied, keeping her first name to herself for now. "And you are?"

"I am the Tensai Sakuragi Hanamichi!" he announced proudly, pointing a thumb at his chest. "I'm a basketball player, the number one player in all of Japan! Nyahahahahah!"

Ehhh? What a loud, arrogant idiot!

Yuzuki groaned internally, her polite smile straining at the corners. He was incredibly theatrical, but as she looked down at the heavy medical brace wrapped around his torso, her irritation softened into genuine concern.

"Um, why are you wearing a back brace, Sakuragi-san? Were you severely injured?" she asked softly.

Sakuragi's loud laughter quieted down into a dramatic, solemn sigh. Eager to impress a pretty girl, he launched into a highly animated, slightly exaggerated story about what had happened to him during the national Interhigh tournament. He spoke with fierce pride about their legendary battle against the undefeated champions-the strongest team in the country, Sannoh High.

The moment the name Sannoh left his lips, Yuzuki felt her heart drop. A sharp, bittersweet pang struck her chest. Images of her old school flashed before her eyes, immediately dragging forward memories of a very specific person. Eiji Sawakita. The ace of Sannoh. Her ex-boyfriend.

"But hey, I'm totally fine!" Sakuragi's booming voice snapped her out of her sudden trance. He flexed a bicep confidently. "I just have a few more months left of rehabilitation at the medical center before the Genius makes his grand return to the court."

Yuzuki blinked, pushing thoughts of Sawakita away. "Eh? But if you're supposed to be recovering, why are you here at school? Shouldn't you be resting at the rehab center?"