The court was empty.
Mostly.
A few lights buzzed overhead. The ground was rough. Not like the clean indoor court he was used to.
Fumi stood at the three point line.
Ball in his hands.
Quiet.
No teammates.
No coach.
No pressure.
Just him.
He dribbled once.
Twice.
The sound echoed.
Louder than it should've.
He looked at the rim.
Took a breath.
And shot.
The ball arced.
Looked decent.
Then
Clank.
It hit the rim and bounced off.
Fumi didn't react.
He just walked forward.
Grabbed it.
Went back.
Again.
Dribble.
Set.
Shoot.
Clank.
Miss.
Again.
"…Man, this guy sucks."
Fumi froze.
He glanced over.
Two guys stood near the fence.
Watching.
Laughing.
"Why is he even out here?"
"Bro thinks he's in the league or something."
They laughed again.
Fumi looked away.
Tightened his grip on the ball.
Ignore it.
He moved back.
Shot again.
Miss.
"0 for 10!" one of them called out.
"Keep going, you might make one!"
More laughter.
Fumi's jaw clenched.
He grabbed the ball harder this time.
Dribbled.
Faster.
Sloppier.
Shot.
Miss.
"Damn, that's actually sad."
"Yo, just quit already!"
Fumi stopped.
His breathing got heavier.
They're right.
He looked at the rim again.
Blurry.
Why am I even here?
He took a step back.
Then another.
The ball dropped to his side.
For a second
He almost walked away.
Then
"Hey."
Fumi turned.
A man stood near the entrance of the court.
Tall.
Calm.
Around thirty, maybe.
Hands in his pockets.
Watching him.
Not laughing.
Not judging.
Just… watching.
Fumi blinked.
"…Yeah?"
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…Wow."
Fumi frowned.
"What?"
The man smiled a little.
"I thought I'd never find you."
Fumi froze.
"…Find me?"
The man stepped closer.
Each step steady.
Confident.
He stopped a few feet away.
"Fumi, right?"
Fumi's heart skipped.
"…Yeah."
The man's smile widened.
"I wanted to ask you something."
A pause.
Then
"Do you want to join my team?"