The Present Or Future

Basketball club

The three of them finally finished with their meal. Once again, Mayumi praised Haru's food as she had when she first tried it. Haru certainly felt happy about it

Just finished with the food. Akihiro, one of Haru's friends comes to the library. Her goal was none other than to invite Haru

"Haru, that's where you look! Uh, Mayumi too? What are you doing here?", asked Akihiro

Mayumi, answering her in an upset tone, "what's the matter! Is it wrong if I'm here?"

"Y-yes, mom-it's not like that. I'm quite surprised that I can find you in a place like this. Hey Haru, can you come in here for a second?"

"What's the matter?", Haru then stood up from his place and headed towards the direction Akihiro was standing in. The two of them then turned around, and whispered

"Hey, Haru. Are you talking about something important?"

"If you say it's important, maybe not. Why why?"

"Yes, do you want to go to the gym? There are our junior girls playing basketball!"

"Hee! What's for?"

"Huffs... Comeon! All our friends are there too, you don't want to miss this opportunity, do you? I guarantee this will be interesting"

"Alright, if you insist", replied Haru

Haru then turned around again, and told the two girls in front of him, "I apologize. But I have a little business. You guys talk first. Oh, yes for the lunch box just keep it here, yes Misaki, I will take it when I go home later"

Without lingering, Akihiro instantly pulled him over quickly. Carrying Haru out of the library and leaving the two girls with a hint of confusion

In the school hallway. Haru then asked with a slight annoyance, "why are you in such a hurry anyway?"

"Hehe, sorry. I just don't want to deal with that tomboy girl"

"Oh, you mean Mayumi? I don't think he's as tomboyish as you think he is. I mean, he might pull out his tomboo nature if you're weird with him"

"But look at that. I was just a little surprised that he was in the library, but he just got mad. Don't you feel weird?"

"So, maybe that's how he's dealing with you. By the way why are you taking me? Do you want to tell me your plan?"

"Patience, can't you wait to date her?"

"Not really. Just yeah, that's it. If it wasn't for that, I'd rather just go back to the library"

"Are you serious? We are this close! Come on, you hear that? Looks like the basketball club kids have started training"

(What's right!? Almost all of our classmates are here?) Haru thought when he had just arrived at the sports room

In the sports hall, Haru and Akihiro headed to the audience seats while looking at the members of the training basketball club. "You see there? It seems like the girl is quite famous these days" Akihiro said as she pointed at the girl she was referring to

"Which one? Hold still... Don't tell!?"

"What's up Haru?"

"N-no, ah, haha. That girl huh, I just found out that that girl is quite famous among us"

(Can't be!? My sister, Izanami!? The popular girl?)

Almost everyone watching was directed to Izanami, some people were also sometimes heard cheering his sister. Akihiro also had time to shout just to encourage the girl. Meanwhile, Haru must have just kept quiet and tried to keep his sister unaware of his presence

"It looks like you're getting famous among the seniors, Izanami" said the club's chairman

"Eh!? The senior? Yeah, haha... Such is. But as long as he doesn't bother us, I don't think it's a problem. After all, it also makes this club increasingly known by others. So let's stay focused on the practice" Izanami replied

"Gee! This kind of spirit I expect from you! Then let's get started!"

The club members then began their training. The cheers from the audience also grew more and more lively, Akihiro also grew more excited when she saw Izanami begin her training. No exception with Haru, he just opened his smartphone and opened 'TapMe', one of his favorite social media. Haru only once saw the members of the basketball club practicing on the court

Ten minutes had passed, the break should have been over, but his friends were still watching them practice. Haru then asked Akihiro, "isn't this the lesson? Why are our friends still here?"

"You don't know, huh? The teacher who taught us today is an impediment. So, we have an empty clock until 12 noon", Akihiro replied

"Ah... I don't know about that"

Meanwhile, Izanami, while resting for a while by drinking her bottled water, saw her brother in the audience seat. (It wasn't Haru? What are they doing here? Is it possible that he has been here since then with other spectators?), Izanami thought

Izanami saw her brother talking to his friend. Realizing that, he then became a little nervous and in his mind contained his curiosity about his brother

Still continuing, a few minutes later Izanami's game became more aggressive. He became agile in carrying the ball, and his accuracy increased when making long throws. Of course, he was increasingly in the spotlight by the people who watched it

The members of his club were also more and more amazed at Izanami. His style of play suddenly became more visible in the rest of his training. Even the chairman of the club also praised Izanami at the end of his training

"Hehe, not really, brother. I'm just a little excited today"

"Hee... Is there anyone you like watching you today?"

"Bu-not so! It's purely by chance"

"Haha, don't be so serious. I was just kidding!"

Surely what Izanami said was just a lie, he could not say what he really felt. He turned to the audience seat, where Haru had been sitting. But unfortunately he didn't see Haru there

(Based on stupid brother!), Izanami said with a pouting face

In the schoolyard, when Izanami wants to go back to her class. He heard a familiar voice in his ear along with others. "Are you serious! I'd better go home!", "Please Haru! Just once, I don't want to miss this opportunity!"

He was surprised not to play because he was detained by two men. And worse, one of the men is her brother, Haru. He did not know how to respond, but he tried to stay calm and try to behave as usual

"Anu... I'm sorry, but can we talk for a second?", said Akihiro

"I? Y-yeah, what's wrong?"

"Can we get acquainted? Uh, not acquaintance. I mean, can we get to know each other?"

Haru, who was standing behind him then whispered in his ear. "Hey, what are you saying? He's just getting confused!"

Izanami then asked curiously, "wait. What kind of acquaintance do you mean? For now, I don't want to be close to other men for a while"

"That's not what I mean! I-I mean, at least we can get to know each other. You know, the two of us used to see you rehearsal. So I guess it's good that we can get to know each other"

Hearing that, Izanami grew even more embarrassed when she heard that her brother often saw her practice

Haru then reprimanded Akihiro from behind, "oii. Why do I have to follow!?"

Akihiro turned around and whispered towards Haru, "calm down! I'll explain it to you later!"

"Y-yes, okay. But that doesn't mean I'm interested in you guys huh" Izanami replied while remaining calm in front of men

"Haha, I didn't expect that either! Well then, my name is Akihiro, and this is my friend. Haru"

"H-hai" said Haru

"Izanami Nakagawa. Then can I pass by? I'm worried that my lesson time has already started". Izanami was not strong enough to hold back his shame, he tried his hardest so that his brother did not realize his feelings

"Y-yes, please. See you at the training ground again!", replied Akihiro while letting Izanami pass in front of him

Izanami glanced a little towards Haru, he was getting curious about what he was thinking as he met instead of as brother sister. Except as a senior and junior. He also felt a little relieved because his brother did not realize that his face was turning red

When Izanami was out of sight, Haru then asked with a slightly irritated feeling, "Hey, what do you really want to do!", asked Haru

"Isn't that girl cute enough, is she? I mean, I'm taking you to see the girl"

"Keep, why did you meet him?"

"Come, being known by someone popular is so much better than he doesn't know you at all"

"Are you kidding me? Are you a fan of hers?"

"Fufu, definitely! Maybe I'm a little interested in him"

"I feel a little sorry for your boyfriend"

"That's not what I mean, here's how. Boyfriends and fans are different things, maybe almost the same. But it's certainly different"

"Alright, alright. Do what you want to do, but don't expect more of him"

"Eh, do you know him?"

"It's not like that, he's popular. Usually the popular person wants a man whose criteria vary"

"You're right, but I didn't get that far. I just he knows that I'm one of his biggest fans, you know like an artist who knows his fans, nothing more. And of course, I'll try to do anything to her"

"Oof... But then you have to face a lot of rivals for sure, haha"

Akihiro confidently said, "just calm down. I can handle it"

Hearing that, Haru was proud of his confidence and could only hope that his confidence would last until he could actually reach it