Two: Very Hot

I stomped into the school’s front yard and my stomach twisted in a knot when I confirmed Hirata’s absence. I quickly made it to my team and we stood, watching new students puzzle over the club of their choosing. We ended up getting ten volunteers by the time we had finished and try-outs were being held the following Saturday.

We made our way to the boy’s locker room when we finished and changed into our uniforms before we headed to the basketball court for practice. I finally located Hirata waiting in the court and although I was relieved, I still hated his presence, the other members stormed off with frowns plastered on their faces.

“What gives Hirata?! You were slacking off while we were meant to be working!”

“That’s enough crap out of you Matsumoto! You come here and act like some saint but I know all the shit you’ve been doing. You!” he yelled, pointing at me. “I challenge you to a match, one on one, the first person to five wins.”

I raised a brow, “And why would I waste my time with you Hirata?”

“Winner gets the title of captain, coach approved of it already.”

“Probably because you bribed him.” He glared at me and I gave him a small innocent smile.

“Let’s do this then,” I said and pointed to one of the basketballs.

Matsumoto quickly grabbed one and handed it to me.

“You start Hirata, it would be an unfair advantage to me if you didn’t.” I bounced the ball towards him.

He smirked, bouncing the ball, we heard a whistle and he moved towards my net at full speed. I glided towards him and he tried to move the ball past me but I quickly grabbed it and ran towards his net, shooting it inside.

“Yoshida, one.” Hirata gritted his teeth and smirked.

He grabbed the ball and I ran towards him, taking it.

“You were with Suzuki earlier.” I flinched and he used the chance to take the ball.

He quickly shot it into my net and I quickly took the ball, trying to dribble past him.

“Were you aware that she was late because of you?”

“How is what you do with her my business?”

“I don’t fuck and tell.”

“The saying is ‘I don’t kiss and tell’ get it right.”

“I know what the saying is.”

My stomach growled but I ignored him and shot the ball into the net. “Too bad I don’t give a shit about her.”

He scowled and tried to take the ball but I dribbled well and shot the ball into the net.

“You’re trying to use that to distract me, but I couldn’t care less.”

He was already pissed by my reaction and I was easily able to score the last required goals.

“Good work as always Yoshida,” the coach said and scowled at Hirata. “You’ll be off the team if you keep playing like that.” I snickered and Hirata glared at me. “As for the rest of the team, pick out partners for more one-on-one matches since we’re not complete yet, I can’t give out any strategies.

“Yes sir.” Most of the team said and I sighed, sitting down on the bleachers.

I watched Hirata storm out of the field and gulp down a bottle of water, uninterested in what he was doing.

“I don’t fuck and tell.” Hirata’s words echoed in my mind and I shuddered.

I spent the rest of practice scrolling through my social media and listening to music through my headphones before someone tapped me. I slid the headphones down and gave Matsumoto a questioning look.

“What do you want Matsumoto?”

“The team is going to the ice cream shop and were wondering if you wanted to come, I’m paying for everyone.” I looked at his nervous face and shrugged. “Thank you.”

He said and ran off to meet the rest of the team. I stood up and followed and we all entered the locker room, where I quickly put on my school uniform. The team were laughing and talking about my victory on our way to the ice cream shop while I looked down reigning more cusses on Misaki for ditching me.

We sat at a booth large enough to house all of us and a waitress approached us, I recognised her from our school.

“Yo…Yoshida, what would you like to order?”

The other members looked at me and I realised that I was the only person who was yet to order. I looked at the waitress and noted that her cheeks were red.

“Mint chocolate chip with caramel , rainbow sprinkles, wafers and vanilla whipped cream.” She nodded and wrote it down.

“I’ll be right back.” She said, smiling and I could feel my teammate’s jealous gazes on me.

“You are aware that Ishida has a thing for you right?”

“That’s the name she goes by? I’ll try not to forget.” I looked uninterestedly at my phone and Matsumoto groaned.

“Seriously, you’re going to ignore what we just said? She’s very hot, everyone knows.” The group nodded in sync and I eye rolled. Why am I even here again?

“I mean she’s cute,” I said still looking at my phone. “But I’m not into girls like her.”

“But you’re into Suzuki.” I ignored him and the team changed the topic, knowing they wouldn’t get another answer out of me.

“Um… your ice cream.” I raised my head and could see Ishida blush.

She sucked in a breath and handed me my ice cream bowl with a folded piece of paper.

“Um…”

“It’s mine, I want you to keep it though.” She said, cutting me off.

She walked off and Matsumoto’s eyes lingered on her fading figure before he looked at me with excited eyes.

“What’s in the paper?” I shrugged and opened it, Matsumoto leaned closer to me to read it and I moved back, letting him stumble. I scrunched my brows when I saw a number, her number.

“What’s in it?” Matsumoto asked curiosity in his gaze.

“Her number, I guess.”

“Lucky,” Matsumoto said and I shrugged before squeezing it and putting it in my jacket pocket.

“You’re not saving it?”

“I mean, why ask me now? We’ve been in the same school for a while.” I could see Matsumoto shift uncomfortably in his seat and I grinned.

“Confessions take courage.” He defended.

I shrugged and looked down at my ice cream. “Matsumoto?”

“Yes.” He replied awkwardly.

“If you set me up again, I’m going to punch you, understood?” A good number of the team let out muffled gasps and Matsumoto looked down.

“Yes.”

I took a spoonful of ice cream and closed my eyes, savouring the flavour. “At least one good thing came from this.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s no problem.” He looked down at his ice cream and the rest of my teammates continued to talk once again.

I was the last to finish my dessert and the team waited for me before we all started to head home. The walk was filled with more pointless conversations and my irritability had started to grow. Something caught my eyes soon enough, from a distance was a brunette who looked like… Suzuki?

I picked up my pace, leaving the group behind.

“Suzuki?” I mumbled and her cheeks heated as she looked at me.

The bridge of her nose was covered in freckles, her piercings were gone and she wore black glasses instead of her usual purple contacts, her brown hair was in a ponytail and she wore a plain blue baggy shirt and short leggings and her gothic make-up was gone as well.

“Arata…”

“Yoshida, don’t call me Arata again.” I cut her off and her face fell.

“Yoshida I can exp…”

“Yoshida!” her eyes widened as she heard Matsumoto’s voice and I quickly pushed her into a bush before approaching my teammates.

“You ditched us.”

“My house is down the other road, so I need to go.” He nodded

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Okay. I mumbled and split up from the rest of my team.

I approached the bush where Suzuki sat on the grass, looking painfully at her scraped knee. I scoffed and took out my handkerchief which I wrapped around her knee.

“Thank you.” She mumbled and I stared at her wrapped knee.

“You’re a fan of getting hurt.” She huffed and I sat next to her on the grass.

“That was your fault…”

“Explain yourself.” She sighed as I cut her off.

“My hair dye is washable, my contacts are for my eyesight, I wear make-up to hide my freckles, my piercings are ear magnets and I dress like that at school to show off my figure.”

“So the Suzuki the school knows is just your typical nerd,” I said in a mocking tone and her cheeks blazed red.

“Just, please don’t tell anyone.”

“I’m not into shitty high school drama like that, save that for the MCs in Manhwas, this is real life and this,” I paused, gesturing to all of her. “It’s your secret to keep, don’t think we’re friends or have a reason to talk just because I know you’re a nerd, besides, if you don’t want anyone seeing you, why bother going out like that?” She looked down.

“I understand, but!” she yelled slightly “I didn’t do anything with Hirata.” I raised a brow and her cheeks turned red, “We only made out since he paid but we didn’t go any further even though he tried to.”

“Why are you spouting all this shit?”

“That’s why you’re angry, I think so at least.” I burst into laughter and her cheeks turned redder.

“I don’t care, although, it’s wrong to sell yourself to people like that, it’s still not my business.”

“Huh?” I could see hurt flash through her eyes, she did a good job hiding it.

“Why are you so cold then?”

“I’m cold to people I don’t like, you’re no exception.” She pouted.

“Meanie.”

“You don’t have to pretend to be cute, you nerd.” She scoffed.

“To answer the other question, my parents aren’t aware that I dye my hair or have contacts.”

“Leading a double life, that’s good for you, I guess. I have to go home and I’m guessing you have an appointment with a comic book store little nerd.” Her cheeks flushed and she pouted.

“I’m not a nerd just because I look like one.”

“Well, are you?” I asked, raising a brow.

“In a way.” She mumbled shyly, fiddling with her fingers and I gave her a small smile.

“I need to go home,” I said, standing up.

“Bye-bye.” She said waving and I shrugged, making to stand but she tugged on my sleeve. I turned and glared at her, “You have to reply, stop being rude.”

“Buh-bye.” She groaned and let go of me.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Hopefully not.” She playfully choked and pretended to dramatically faint while I chuckled and left her on the floor.

“You’re supposed to apologise.”

“Goodbye Suzuki.”

“You said goodbye!” I eye rolled and walked off.

I got to my house in five minutes and my mother was already home with my brother who was watching a movie.

“What took you so long?” My mother asked as she handed me a bowl of rice cakes.

“I was with the basketball team… what are these for?”

“Your friend is waiting for you upstairs.”

“I don’t have friends.” I quickly blurted and my mother raised a brow.

“Hayashi Misaki?”

“Oh her, I forgot about her,” I mumbled and my mother sighed.

“You should get yourself and those cakes upstairs.”

“Yes.” I waved slightly at her and made my way to my room.

“Took you long enough.” I heard Misaki say, her blonde hair flowing as she spun around in my chair.

“Why are you here, traitor?”

“We’re friends, I’m free to visit.”

“Only when I permit you to.”

“Okay, Okay. I’m sorry Mr. Grumpy, are we good now?” I shook my head.

“When you mean it I’ll consider.” She stuck her tongue out at me.

I removed my jacket and tie and tossed them on my bed, I carried a loose shirt and shorts and entered the bathroom to change. I walked into Misaki holding a crumpled piece of paper from earlier.

“A girl’s phone number I presume.” I ignored her and carried out my homework. “I heard Ishida had a thing for you.”

“I found out today.”

“And?”

“What else do you want me to say?” She pouted.

“That you liked her too and offered to take her out.” I eye rolled and patted the delusional girl’s head.

“Just eat some rice cakes.” She puffed out her cheeks and took a rice cake.

“Whatever, you’re lucky your mom’s a great cook or you’ll be in trouble right now.”

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