The school's basketball tournament had generated immense excitement among all the students. It provided a welcome break from classes and allowed students to compete against each other within their own school community rather than facing external teams. Participation was open to anyone, but only three out of five boys decided to join in.
Jayden was resolute about playing and securing at least one victory this year, driven by his deep passion for basketball. His competitive spirit blazed brightly on the court. William was not far behind, sharing a similar determination. Basketball was one of the few things that still ignited William's passion and held his attention. He had abandoned his love for singing when he transferred to this school, finding solace in basketball as the only time he could engage with others without feeling ignored or alienated. His skills on the court were widely acknowledged.
Shane, on the other hand, registered for the game to enjoy some fun and temporarily escape the pressures of his recent studying and cramming. He was an athlete, actively involved in several school clubs and teams.
The only absentee from the game was a certain black-haired boy, who once again sought refuge on the rooftop.
In total, there were approximately 15 boys participating in the tournament, taking turns in 5-on-5 games. During the first match, Jayden, William, and Shane found themselves on the same team, accompanied by two other students. The bleachers were packed with hundreds of enthusiastic spectators.
In the front row, Daisy fervently cheered for Jayden, signaling her support with constant "Let’s go!" shouts. Despite her desire to root for her friend, her attention kept drifting to another player on the court.
Shane noticed Daisy's gaze directed towards him and entertained the notion that her looks were meant for him. The idea left him momentarily awestruck, motivating him to give his best performance, hoping to impress her.
William remained intensely focused on the game, his face assuming a more formidable demeanor as he sped across the court, swiftly reaching the opposite end. He intercepted a mid-air pass and successfully scored a basket, celebrating with a triumphant fist pump. A genuine smile graced his face, a rare sight that tugged at Daisy's heart. She had never seen him smile before, especially not with genuine happiness. It was a striking departure from his usual stoic countenance with furrowed brows, transforming his face into one radiating lightness and carefree joy.
Daisy found herself inexplicably drawn to that smile. However, it vanished as quickly as it appeared when the coach blew the whistle.
"Let's go, everyone! Make some noise!" Jayden shouted as he descended the bleachers, exchanging high-fives with the crowd. He was the ultimate hype man, both on and off the court.
Further up in the bleachers, Aleena sat in silent support of Shane, who she knew was not particularly inclined towards athletics. This allowed her to attend every game and competition to cheer on her friend. Regardless of any past disagreements or misunderstandings, Aleena wasn't one to hold a grudge, and she continued to support Shane as she always had.
Today was no exception, even though she had been upset with Shane the day before for ignoring her. Aleena kept her promise and showed up to cheer for her friend.
She observed as Shane briefly paused on the court after William scored a basket, his gaze fixed on a spot in the bleachers. Aleena followed his line of sight and felt disheartened to see Shane staring at Daisy, who occupied a seat in the front row. Shane refocused on the game and intensified his efforts.
The game resumed, with William and Jayden determined to secure a victory for their team. Despite being among the strongest players, they encouraged everyone's participation, displaying exceptional leadership.
Gradually, the opposing team began to catch up, much to Jayden and William's disappointment. Jayden sprinted toward an opponent, snatching the ball from their side. He dribbled for a moment, scanning the court to find his teammates. Unfortunately, most of them were preoccupied or too far from the hoop to make a shot. Suddenly, a tall player from the opposing team closed in on Jayden, attempting to block the shot.
"Heyy, over here!" Jayden heard a voice call from behind, speaking in Japanese. "Toss it over your head!" The voice yelled again.
The opposing player in front of Jayden looked perplexed, unable to comprehend the Japanese instructions. Jayden, however, understood perfectly. He flung the ball upward and behind him.
As he turned around, he witnessed William catching the ball while dribbling towards the hoop. William made the shot, earning another basket. Jayden cheered and shot a smile over his shoulder at William, who returned it with a smirk.
Throughout the game, the two boys exchanged Japanese phrases that remained a mystery to everyone else.
"Heyyy, 10 o'clock!" Jayden shouted, gesturing with his eyes toward the tall boy in blue shorts to his left.
William clearly identified the target and swiftly passed the ball to another teammate before it could be stolen. He chuckled softly at the inventive names Jayden was coming up with and the bewildered expressions of their opponents whenever he used them. Their teamwork paid off as their teammate passed the ball to Jayden, who effortlessly made the shot.
"Yes!" Jayden and William yelled simultaneously, turning to grin at each other.
With Jayden's final shot, their team secured a narrow three-point victory. Jayden approached William after the win and clapped him on the back.
"Great game, dude! I had no idea you spoke Japanese; that's so cool." he said, draping his arm over William's shoulder.
William felt a warm flush where Jayden had initially touched him, and the sensation extended to his shoulder when Jayden leaned on him. He was initially tense but managed to relax, offering a small smile to Jayden. Despite Jayden's words, William remained cautious, not entirely believing that they were already friends. People would often say such things as jokes, momentarily liking him when he proved himself useful, but then distancing themselves because he was still perceived as intimidating.
Suddenly, a girl approached Jayden and playfully hit him on the arm, saying, "Hey! Nice win out there!"
Jayden reluctantly let go of William, rubbing his arm and pouting, "Daisy! I wish you'd stop doing that."
She giggled, and he dropped his feigned hurt to smile at her.
"I know! Did you see me and William out there? Did you know he speaks Japanese too? I've found a gem, and I'm keeping him," Jayden said, patting William on the shoulder before hugging him possessively.
William blushed deep crimson, attributing it to the heat rather than the boy who was now clinging to him like an octopus. In truth, he had never received a hug from anyone before, and even this seemingly artificial, clingy embrace felt like the best hug he'd ever experienced. Deep down, William didn't mind the way it sounded; finally, someone wanted to keep him and possibly be his friend. He still appeared slightly flustered, but when he noticed the girl beside Jayden, his expression hardened as he realized she was the one who had disrupted his sleep the previous day.
Daisy tried to maintain her focus on Jayden but couldn't help glancing at William when he was mentioned. She noticed his icy gaze and shuddered under its weight.
"Good game; you played amazingly," she smiled at William.
He nodded and made his way out of the gym. Daisy watched him until he had disappeared through the doors, sighing softly under her breath.