Fukui High School

As night fell and the city lights illuminated the streets, Shiro and Momoi lay quietly on a soft, spacious bed. Leaning against each other, the faint glow of the TV screen reflected their relaxed expressions.

Suddenly, a crisp ringtone broke the peaceful silence.

Shiro picked up his phone and saw the name "Nijimura" displayed on the screen. Without hesitation, he answered.

"Hello? Nijimura?" Shiro's voice carried a hint of anticipation. He had a strong feeling this call might bring good news — that Nijimura was ready to return to Japan and rejoin basketball.

"Shiro, I want to play basketball again!" Nijimura's heavy voice came through, though it also carried a tone of relief and joy.

"Great, Nijimura! Pack your things soon—we'll head back in a few days. Leave any obstacles to me. All you need to do is come back with us!" Shiro's face lit up with a brilliant smile. His hunch had been right — Nijimura was coming back!

"Alright! Thank you, Shiro!" Nijimura's voice grew more animated, his excitement bubbling over. After a year away, the prospect of returning to Japan to play basketball filled him with joy.

"There's no need to be so formal. We're practically family," Shiro laughed. Helping Nijimura wasn't just a gesture of kindness — it was a boost to their future team.

"Still, I have to thank you. Without you, I might not have found the courage to make this decision" Nijimura said earnestly.

After a brief pause, Shiro responded firmly: "Then, let's win the high school championship together!"

After a moment of silence, Nijimura firmly responded, "Yeah!"

He knew all too well about Shiro's ambitions and wasn't surprised. After all, he was once regarded as the top player in middle school.

After ending the call, Shiro turned to Momoi, who was watching him with curiosity.

"Did senior Nijimura agree to return?" she asked.

"Yes!" Shiro nodded, his joy unmistakable.

Seeing him so happy, Momoi couldn't help but smile, wrapping her arms around him tightly.

The two spent the rest of the evening in quiet contentment.

...

Soon, it was time to return to Japan. Shiro and Momoi packed their belongings early and, after bidding farewell to Maki, who watched them leave with reluctance, they met up with Nijimura at the airport.

On the plane, the three rested with their eyes closed, preparing for the long journey.

After over 12 hours of travel, their plane finally landed in Tokyo. They disembarked, exchanged farewells, and went their separate ways.

...

Shiro stared at his phone, his gaze deep and contemplative. His brows furrowed as if he were grappling with an important decision.

He muttered to himself, "Fukui High in Osaka, huh?"

Just moments ago, he had received a call that changed his plans to randomly pick a high school.

The call was from an old rival, Yuki Kawamura — the formidable point guard who had given Shiro a tough time during the middle school finals against Rokko.

Kawamura, now a high school student, stood at 172 cm— short by basketball standards. Unlike towering players like Rui Hachimura or Yuta Watanabe, Kawamura couldn't pursue opportunities in the U.S.

At Fukui, Kawamura found himself lacking trustworthy teammates. Despite his skills, winning a championship alone was an impossible task.

Upon learning that Shiro had yet to choose a high school, Kawamura wasted no time extending an invitation to join him at Fukui.

Shiro hesitated. Choosing the right school was crucial for his development as a player.

He quickly dialed Momoi. The call connected within seconds.

"Hey, Shiro! I miss you!" Momoi's cheerful voice greeted him.

"I miss you too. Let's meet tomorrow, but I need to discuss something important now" Shiro replied with a smile, his tone turning serious. "Do you remember Yuki Kawamura, the point guard from Rokko we faced in the finals?"

"Of course. What's up with him?" Momoi asked.

Shiro recounted Kawamura's call in detail. Momoi listened calmly and then reassured him with a lighthearted tone, "It doesn't matter where you go — I'll always support you. Just do what feels right."

Shiro's heart swelled with warmth, and he chuckled happily. "Alright, I'll discuss it with Nijimura. Talk tomorrow—bye!"

"Bye-bye!"

After hanging up, Shiro immediately called Nijimura to get his opinion.

"Moshi moshi," came Nijimura's slightly breathless voice.

"Am I interrupting?" Shiro asked cautiously. Hearing Nijimura's labored breathing, he grew suspicious.

"Of course not, you idiot! I was just training to get back in shape. What are you imagining over there?" Nijimura shouted, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

"Just teasing. Don't get mad" Shiro laughed, then got serious. "I called because I wanted your input on something…"

He explained his conversation with Kawamura in detail.

After a brief silence, Nijimura broke the tension. "Hmm… This isn't a bad idea. Osaka isn't far, and Kawamura is a solid point guard. He complements our playstyle without overlapping our positions. It's worth considering."

Shiro nodded, thinking the same. "Alright then, Fukui High it is."

"Good. Now, back to my training — bye" With that, Nijimura ended the call.