{Yamaguchi-kun Sitting Next to Me}

“Wow,” someone exclaimed.

The gymnasium had a high ceiling, making it easy for sounds to echo.

The sound of someone’s voice, the squeak of indoor shoes sliding across the floor, and the noise of the basketball net swaying and the ball dropping with a thud were all clearly audible. These sounds traveled across the gym and reached me.

The whistle blew, vibrating through the air.

“Yamaguchi-kun, you’re amazing,” someone said next to me, and finally, I looked over to the other side of the gym.

Half of the gym was being used by the boys for basketball. It seemed like Yamaguchi-kun had just made a shot, and he was exchanging high-fives and smiles with his teammates.

Yamaguchi-kun’s broad, beaming smile was something I felt I had never seen before.

Even from this distance, his joyful expression was obvious.

During PE, Yamaguchi-kun seemed very lively and happy. Maybe he really likes basketball.

With Yamaguchi-kun being good at everything, perhaps basketball is no challenge for him.

On the other half of the gym, the girls were in the middle of floor exercises. Of course, I wasn’t very good at them.

“Wow, it’s clear that someone who used to be in the basketball club has a perfect shooting posture,” said my classmate Yukawa-san as I waited for my turn with a gloomy mood.

“Yeah, Yamaguchi-kun is cool, isn’t he?”

I was surprised when Yukawa-san said that.

I did think he was great, but I didn’t know that Yamaguchi-kun had been in the basketball club. I always thought he was just a member of the home room club.

“Yamaguchi-kun was in the basketball club?”

When I asked this, Yukawa-san seemed even more surprised.

“Yeah, he was in middle school. Didn’t you know?”

I didn’t know.

“Well, I wasn’t in the same middle school as Yamaguchi-kun,” I explained.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Yukawa-san smiled with dimples on her cheeks.

“I thought you would know since you’re close with Yamaguchi-kun.”

No, I didn’t know.

Now that I think about it, despite having many conversations and receiving a lot of help from Yamaguchi-kun, I still don’t know much about him.

So he was in the basketball club. I wonder if he’s not playing it now that we’re in high school. If he was really good at basketball back then, he might still be great at shooting even if he’s not on the team now. Since the girls were cheering, it might be true.

I regretted missing Yamaguchi-kun’s shot.

I wish I could have seen it. I wonder how impressive his shot was. If I had been paying attention, I might have cheered just like everyone else.

Hoping for another chance, I watched the boys’ side for a while, but my turn for floor exercises came up before I knew it.

“You’re not good at floor exercises either, are you, Satou-san?” Yamaguchi-kun said to me during lunch break.

I was startled.

Yamaguchi-kun, sitting next to me on my left, looked at me with furrowed brows.

“Did… did you see?”

I asked in a flustered manner.

“Yeah, I saw. It was just by chance, though. Since we were in the gym, it was inevitable.”

Yamaguchi-kun spoke quickly, then shrugged his shoulders.

“Your cartwheel wasn’t really a cartwheel. Your legs barely went up.”

“Ugh…”

I felt terribly embarrassed thinking about how he saw my clumsy attempt.

I couldn’t do it at all. Instead of a proper cartwheel, I only managed a somersault on the mat and was laughed at by my classmates and the PE teacher. I managed to get my hands on the mat, but I didn’t know how to rotate properly and ended up rolling headfirst.

But Yamaguchi-kun was supposed to have been playing basketball and even had the ball during my floor exercises. I wondered how he managed to see so well.

Can someone who used to be in the basketball club really keep track of things even from a distance during a game?

“I’m not very good at floor exercises either. My body is stiff,” I admitted honestly, despite being embarrassed.

After that, I said, “Oh, but they said today is the last day of floor exercises, so I’m relieved. Next week, we’ll be doing basketball.”

Yamaguchi-kun’s eyes widened.

“Really, the girls are doing basketball too?”

“Yeah. I’m happy that floor exercises are over.”

“Satou-san, are you good at basketball?”

Being asked this, I found it difficult to answer.

After all, I don’t excel at any sport.

“Uh, well, I’m a bit better than at floor exercises,” I said.

When I answered, Yamaguchi-kun lowered his eyes and murmured, “I see.”

I’m not good at ball sports either. In basketball, you can’t run while holding the ball, which makes it difficult. I can’t dribble for long distances. The ball always goes flying somewhere. I can’t even imagine how to make a shot like Yamaguchi-kun does.

“Oh, by the way,” I suddenly thought of something and brought up a topic I had heard from Yukawa-san.

“Yamaguchi-kun, you were in the basketball club in middle school, right?”

“Huh? Did I mention that?”

Seeing Yamaguchi-kun’s puzzled expression, I added an explanation.

“No, Yukawa-san told me. She said Yamaguchi-kun was in the basketball club in middle school.”

“Oh, I see. Yeah, that’s right.”

Yamaguchi-kun nodded, appearing convinced.

I thought he was amazing—good at studying, skilled in basketball, quick at typing emails, has many friends, and is kind. Yamaguchi-kun really can do everything. I used to think he was like someone from a different world.

I try not to think that way now, but my admiration hasn’t changed.

I want to become someone who can try hard at everything, even if I can’t be exactly like Yamaguchi-kun.

“Earlier, you made a shot during PE, right?”

“Yeah, well, that’s something I can do easily.”

After saying this, Yamaguchi-kun smiled a little and added, “So, Satou-san, you were watching too?”

“No, I wasn’t watching. I missed seeing you make the shot.”

When I answered honestly, Yamaguchi-kun suddenly stopped laughing.

He blinked repeatedly and asked, “You didn’t see?”

When asked, I answered truthfully again, “No.”

“And just my shot?”

“Uh, yeah. But I was watching after that, but, um, before you got the ball again, it was my turn for floor exercises.”

This time, I spoke rapidly, almost like a tongue twister.

It might have sounded like an excuse, but it was the truth. I really wanted to see Yamaguchi-kun’s shot, but my mind was too occupied with floor exercises to pay attention to the boys’ side.

How did Yamaguchi-kun react to my explanation?

“Oh, I see…”

Yamaguchi-kun propped his chin on his hand and looked away, seeming disappointed.

I must have upset him. It’s not good that I didn’t see Yamaguchi-kun’s skillful shot. I feel bad about it…

“I’m sorry.”

I quickly apologized.

“I’ll make sure to watch your shots next time, Yamaguchi-kun.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, I will definitely watch next time. The boys’ PE class will be basketball again, right?”

“Yeah, it will.”

A sigh came from the seat next to me.

“But the girls will be doing basketball too, right? Satou-san, will you have time to watch?”

I see. Thinking about it, I might not have the time to watch.

Since I can’t even dribble, I might not have the luxury to keep an eye on the boys’ game.

So I hurriedly said, “Oh, then let’s do this.”

I suggested to Yamaguchi-kun, “Could you teach me how to play basketball?”

“Me?”

Yamaguchi-kun looked at me and tilted his head.

Finally meeting his eyes, I continued, “Yeah. I want to improve a little before the next class.”

I want to get a little better, just enough not to drag everyone down. I thought it would be best to learn from someone who’s good at basketball.

Yamaguchi-kun would be perfect for that.

“Sure.”

After Yamaguchi-kun nodded readily, he asked, “But how much do you need me to teach you?”

“Well, first, I need you to teach me how to dribble.”

When I confessed honestly, Yamaguchi-kun muttered, “I thought so,” and then lightly smiled.

“Got it, I’ll teach you if you want.”

“Thank you!”

I sighed with relief and smiled in return.

“Oh, and I’d like to see your shot too.”

“That’s fine.”

Yamaguchi-kun, now smiling wryly, shook his head.

“Well, if you ask to see it like that, it feels like I’m just being indulged.”

“I don’t think of it that way.”

In the end, it was my fault for being so absent-minded.

I’d rather have another chance.

I won’t miss Yamaguchi-kun’s shot next time.

“Can you also teach me how to shoot after dribbling?”

I asked gently.

That makes sense, right? First learn dribbling, and if I get that, then next, learn shooting. Yamaguchi-kun would start by showing me how to do it.

Yamaguchi-kun thought for a moment, then eventually answered.

“Okay, sure. It’s not a big deal so it’s fine.”

“Really? Thank you!”

I was glad I asked!

I clapped my hands in excitement, and Yamaguchi-kun, still smiling wryly, muttered, “I can’t win against you, Satou-san.”

I don’t think that’s true.

The one who can’t win is me. Yamaguchi-kun can do everything—he’s capable, reliable, kind, and such a wonderful person.

I thought I knew a lot about Yamaguchi-kun’s good qualities, but it seems there’s still much I don’t know. I want to know all of those things too. I want to understand everything.

And even if I can’t be like Yamaguchi-kun, I want to get closer to him in my own way.

Because I want to be able to accept the feelings I was made aware of on the train the other day.

I’ll do my best in PE class first.