The sharp squeak of shoes echoed across the school gym, where the PE teacher had split the court in half: boys on one side and girls on the other.
On the right side, the boys were fully engaged, shouting, sprinting, and trying to outdo each other. In the middle of it all was Ryo, the new kid. He hadn't been around long, just a day, but he played with the calmness of someone who had been there for years. He didn't call for passes or rush his moves; he just moved as if the court were his second home. Every dribble was smooth, every pass clean, and when he shot, the ball slipped through the net without a sound.
From the bleachers, Minato leaned forward, watching Ryo with a curious smile. "Man, I can't believe he's only been here one day. He's like a natural."
Reina, sitting beside him, nodded but kept her eyes on the game. "He's... strange. Quiet. But good. Guess that ghost-hunting thing we did last night wasn't just a fluke."
Minato laughed. "Yeah, who knew? Ghost hunter one night, basketball player the next."
Reina raised an eyebrow. "And he was so calm during all of that. I mean, he figured out what was going on with the piano so quickly. Didn't even bat an eye."
"Yeah, it was like he knew exactly what to look for," Reina said.
Minato nodded and replied. "Makes you wonder what else he's got up his sleeve."
Across the court, the girls' side was picking up speed. Ruri caught a pass, her focus sharp. She didn't rush or force things; she just moved with quiet control. She faked left, slipped past her defender, and sank a clean shot. Swish.
"Nice one, Ruri!"Koharu cheered, her energy infectious. She dribbled up next, now more relaxed. She made a quick move around a defender and took her shot It hit the backboard and fell in.
"Yesss!" Koharu fist-pumped.
"Looking good, Koharu," Ruri said, jogging over to high-five her.
"Trying to keep up with you!" Koharu laughed.
From the bleachers, Reina cupped her hands and shouted, "Ruri! Let's see that move from last semester!"
Ruri shot her a look but smiled. "You never give up, do you?"
With a quick dribble forward, Ruri launched a perfect jump shot. The ball arced beautifully through the air and dropped right in. A few of the girls whistled, impressed.
Even Minato clapped from the sidelines. "Alright, that's what I'm talking about!"
Reina chuckled. "I keep telling you, she's been holding back."
Ruri shrugged, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I just like playing."
Across the court, Ryo glanced her way just a brief, silent look. No words were exchanged, but there was something in his gaze before he turned and took another flawless shot.
________________________________________________________
The scene shifts to After Class — Behind the School
The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the back courtyard. Most students had already scattered to their clubs or left for the day.
Ruri, swinging her bag lazily, made her way toward the clubroom when she noticed two figures standing near the old fence. She slowed down, instinctively stepping behind a column.
Ryo was there, his school jacket slightly open, hands tucked into his pockets, standing with a relaxed but distant posture. Facing him was a younger girl, maybe a first-year, clutching a small envelope to her chest and fidgeting nervously.
"I know you only transferred a few days ago," the girl said, her voice trembling slightly, "but when I saw you, I just... I couldn't stop thinking about you. You're so cool and kind-looking, and..." She bowed, pressing the envelope forward. "Please! Would you... Would you go out with me?"
Ruri blinked. That was fast. Still, she supposed it wasn't so strange. Ryo had a certain magnetic coldness about him. Even Minato had joked earlier that day, "Dude could model for a manga cover."
There was a long pause. The breeze stirred the leaves, and Ryo's hair shifted slightly over his forehead.
His voice, when it finally came, was soft but firm. "Sorry. I'm not looking for anything like that right now." No hesitation. No drawn-out apology.
The girl stood frozen for a moment, then nodded stiffly. "I... I understand. Thank you," she said, bowing again before rushing away, her shoes scraping against the concrete.
Ryo remained still, his gaze distant, almost thoughtful. Then, slowly, he turned his head sharply, and his eyes locked directly onto Ruri's hiding spot.
Caught. Again.
Ruri straightened awkwardly, lifting a hand in a stiff wave before quickly walking back toward the school. She wasn't exactly embarrassed, just uncomfortable being seen spying.
Behind her, she sensed Ryo's cold, steady gaze following her until she turned the corner.
____________________________________
The scene shifts to the clubroom.
Reina sat at the head of the table, while the others contemplated what to do next after their recent discovery about the truth behind the music room ghost that had been playing the piano. They began discussing various suggestions, each one sputtering out their ideas.
Just then, Ryo opened the door, walked in, and took a seat. Ruri felt embarrassed as she glanced away, recalling the earlier moment when she had been caught spying.
Koharu waved a playful hand. "How about visiting a haunted house? What do you think, Reina?" she teased with a light tone, but then fell quiet. Her smile faded into a nervous grimace. "I'm just kidding... but seriously, this next investigation could be even more interesting. Why don't we review the old archives?"
Reina nodded calmly. "Good idea! We haven't opened those in a while, have we? There might be something we overlooked in our past research."
Minato glanced at the dust-covered folders. "The archives? We haven't looked at those in ages," he said cautiously. Haruki, with his hands clasped together, added, "It's a good thought, though. Maybe there's a clue hidden in these old journals."
Ruri raised an eyebrow. "Alright, let's see what we have." She picked up a thick journal titled "Old Cases" and passed it to Ryo.
Ryo held the journal, flipping through its pages until something caught his eye. He paused, his expression remained neutral, but something flickered in his eyes. Ruri, observing him, spoke up, "Is that the case you were interested in? The one you were reading about yesterday?"(The case he was holding was titled "Street 07.")
He didn't respond but continued reading. After a moment, he closed the book and returned to his usual neutral expression. He looked at Ruri and said, "This case is intriguing. But I can't be sure yet. We'll need to confirm it first."
Reina stepped closer to them and spoke, "It looks like you find it interesting, Ryo. This case hasn't been officially concluded in our town. Old residents avoid discussing that place and don't want anyone to go there. If we get the opportunity, we can investigate it, and if we find more clues, we will report back, okay?"
Koharu leaned back in her chair, resting her hands behind her head. "So, what are we going to do for the rest of the day, Reina?"
Reina shrugged. "Let's take a break. We have a lot of research to do later tonight anyway. How about we go get a snack? My treat," she suggested.
They gathered their bags and left the room.