Sincerely, Me [Kindaichi Yuutarou] | ✔

Rebound

"Iwasaki-chan, over here!"

Shino glanced up from her clipboard to see Yahaba waving at her from the other side of the gymnasium, a megawatt grin on his face. It was rather fox-like, Shino mused, and she wondered what he wanted from her.

"Could you pass that ball over there? I accidentally lost it, hehe..." A small, boyish blush appeared on his cheeks, and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, not unlike the way Oikawa sometimes did. Opposite him, Watari Shinji, the libero, was giving him a distinctly unimpressed look.

Shino tucked her clipboard beneath her armpit and picked up the ball that Yahaba needed with one hand, lifting it up in the air as she prepared to throw it.

"No, wait!" Yahaba cried before she could launch it over to him. "Come here and pass it to me instead."

"It'd be easier for everyone if I were to just throw it to you," Shino replied. What a strange boy...

"Aw, please? I'm your senpai! And, uh, what if you accidentally hit Makki's head?"

Makki, who had heard his name being mentioned, perked up and elbowed Mattsun. "Psst, dude. Watch."

"Hm?" Mattsun stopped what he was doing, catching the ball that Kunimi had spiked toward him. "What?"

"Just watch."

Pretty much everyone had halted their activities to watch a bemused Shino walk across the court to give the ball to Yahaba. Watari sighed and covered his face with one hand. He had a feeling that this wasn't going to end the way that Yahaba wanted it to.

"Oho, I see what's going on here," Oikawa murmured to Iwaizumi. "It seems that my heir has a small crush on Shino-chan. What do you think, Iwa-chan?"

"Honestly?" Iwaizumi smirked. "I'm just hoping to get a laugh out of this."

Kunimi and Kindaichi were both staring at Yahaba as his smile grew even wider as Shino approached him steadfastly. Then the second year brunet seemed to realize the reality of the situation and immediately grew flustered when Shino was just a few steps away. Both of the first years knew that Yahaba had virtually no chance of courting Shino, mostly because of the fact that Shino wouldn't be able to comprehend such affections. It was only puppy love anyway—it wouldn't last if it were to ever happen.

Mizoguchi, still enjoying his position as Head Coach for one more day before Irihata returned, smirked to himself. This kid is getting in way over his head... From what he'd seen from Shino so far, he came to the same conclusion as the first years.

"Here." Shino held out the ball to Yahaba, who looked mildly taken aback. When Yahaba simply stood there, she sighed. "Yahaba-san...?"

"Uh—right!" Yahaba straightened so quickly that Shino was nearly knocked flat on her ass. "Thanks!" As he took the ball from her, the tips of their fingers brushed. "Erk...!" As Shino turned to leave, he cried, "Wait!"

She halted in her tracks. "Yes?"

"Uh..." As Yahaba grew increasingly red, Watari slapped a hand over his mouth and dragged him to the side, sweatdropping.

"Don't mind him, Iwasaki-san!" Watari said cheerfully, still sweatdropping. "He has low blood sugar levels!"

"Oh, in that case," Shino said as she dug through her pocket, producing a wrapped sweet which she proceeded to give to Yahaba. "Take this, Yahaba-san. Maybe then you'll feel better. If your symptoms persist, I strongly recommend visiting your family doctor."

Then she returned to where she had been before her interaction with Yahaba, flipping through some pages on her clipboard.

"GAHAHAHAHAAAA!" Suddenly, Makki was right next to Yahaba and slapping the younger boy on the back. "Good game, good game!"