As his second year of high school began, Fukatsu's days remained as routine and monotonous as ever.
After the national tournament, his outstanding performance as a starting player earned him the title of Japan's best point guard. But his calm gaze made it clear he didn't care all that much for the honor.
It seemed like nothing could throw him off.
Every day: classes, practice, home.
His life followed the same route between classroom, gym, and home. The only possible change of pace was the new first-year player, Sawakita Eiji.
He was exceptionally talented and good-looking, though he seemed aloof and hard to approach. Even so, his arrival caught the attention of plenty of girls.
Sawakita's reputation spread quickly. In the second month after breaking up with Fukatsu, Sakuraba Kaoruko finally set foot in the gym for the first time, though she was there on an assignment from the school newspaper.
When she entered the gym, she saw a few girls sitting together in the stands. Sure enough, quite a few people had come to watch Sawakita.
As she was thinking this and getting ready to head up to the stands, a second-year player came out through the players' entrance.
Her eyes met a pair as deep and still as an ancient well. Sakuraba Kaoruko knew them all too well, after all, she had dated him for half a year.
The well showed no ripples, and the depths remained unfathomable...
An expressionless face: Fukatsu Kazunari, Japan's best point guard, renowned far and wide yet incredibly low-key.
Kaoruko raised a beautiful smile, its curve flawless. The outer corners of her round eyes dipped slightly, making her look all the more endearing. She had always known which of her features were her best, and she had chosen just the right angle to face Fukatsu Kazunari.
A brilliant cherry blossom fell into the deep pool, without causing even the slightest ripple...
"Long time no see, Fukatsu."
Fukatsu's eyes remained calm, betraying no emotion. "Long time no see, Sakuraba." He didn't add anything else, which somehow made the words sound strange coming from him.
Kawata watched the two of them with a strange expression. On one side was Sakuraba, surrounded by several members of the school newspaper; on the other, Fukatsu, at the head of the second-year team. He had heard their exchange, which made their relationship sound rather ambiguous. Kawata was one of the few who knew the truth. He never expected such an awkward post-breakup reunion to happen to Fukatsu. Sakuraba's smile was so bright that Kawata could even detect a hint of provocation in it. This was getting even stranger...
After greeting him, Kaoruko went off on her own with her camera and climbed up to the stands. Fukatsu went onto the court, picked up the ball by his feet, and began warming up.
When they gathered together, Kawata was incredibly glad that Fukatsu was such a level-headed leader-in-waiting.
Even with his ex-girlfriend watching someone else from the sidelines, he could calmly practice his mid-range shots. It almost made you wonder whether he had ever really put his heart into their relationship...
Theme: A familiar, clichéd story of rekindled romance
