"Hey, you sure this is okay? You just asked Takeuchi for leave without even giving anyone a proper heads-up."
On the highway, Araki was behind the wheel, driving Reiko and Kota toward Narita Airport.
At her question, Kota lazily rolled over in the passenger seat and muttered,
"It's fine. They're all adults… or almost adults anyway. Me missing won't make a difference."
He stayed in his usual posture whenever he rode shotgun with Araki — half-lying sideways, looking as if he were already asleep.
Araki glanced at him from the driver's seat and let out a faint sigh. She didn't push further. She always thought she could read Kota well enough, but deep down, what went on in his heart was something only he truly knew.
In the backseat, Reiko leaned against the window, staring outside at the tightly packed Japanese houses.
"Four years already…"
She whispered to herself. It had been four years since she first came to Japan. And just as long since she left her homeland.
"Really nostalgic, huh? Kota, once we get back to my country, I'll make sure you experience the culture properly."
Smiling, Reiko patted his seat. She sounded in high spirits.
"That so? Guess I'll look forward to it then" came Kota's muffled reply from the front, his face still buried down as if hiding.
Reiko didn't mind. She simply went back to enjoying the view.
Since Narita wasn't far from central Tokyo, the drive didn't take too long.
Two hours later, Araki gave Kota's head a light pat.
"We're here."
This time, Kota didn't bother stretching. He just slowly sat up and opened the door. He hadn't been asleep after all.
Araki , who was about to walk around to pull him out of the car herself, froze. She stood there, eyeing him up and down as if seeing him anew.
Meanwhile, Araki hopped out excitedly, unaware of the unspoken little "ritual" between the other two.
"Our flight's at ten. We're pretty early, so we can take it easy" Reiko said as she adjusted her hair.
"It'll take a little over four hours to get there. Kota, you've never had airplane food before, right?"
Still dazed as he stared at the airport sign, Kota finally replied,
"Yeah, never been on a plane before."
Of course, he meant in this lifetime.
Reiko, who had already guessed as much, nodded. "Let's go then. No harm finding the gate early."
She led the way inside.
Kota hung back a little and turned to Araki. "Miss Masako, are you coming in with us?"
"No. I've got things to deal with back at Yosen."
She hesitated a moment, her lips twitching, but in the end she just said two words:
"See you."
Kota wasn't fazed. He was used to her being like that. He nodded.
"See you. Careful on the way back."
She gave a slight nod, got back in the car, and drove off.
Kota waved, then turned and followed Reiko into the terminal.
Hearing the engine roar behind him, he smacked his tongue.
"Tch. I thought maybe that farewell scene would have… something more. Guess not. But really, with Araki's personality, it'd be stranger if it did."
A faint smile tugged at his lips. Truth was, he hated dramatic farewells—that was exactly why he hadn't told anyone he was leaving for Reiko's country. Not even Kise.
"Sorry, genius" Kota whispered, "I might break our promise."
He remembered it clearly — the vow he and Kise once made: to join the U-18 national team together, to go pro, and to keep playing side by side long after high school.
But there was no way he could crawl his way into the team, taking humiliation and sneers. That wasn't him.
"I'll make it onto the U-18 team. I'll make the national team too. Playing together is inevitable. But… looks like the two of us might end up playing the role of rivals instead of brothers."
His fists tightened slightly at his sides.
Those teenage vows might have been unrealistic, even laughable, but it's chasing impossible dreams that keeps legends alive.
Years later, when people looked back at that Kaijo team, they'd say fate had scripted everything—triumphs, regrets, the lot.
And that's what youth is: full of regrets, but unforgettable.
....
"Eh? Araki already left?"
At security, Reiko was surprised to see only Kota behind her.
She half-expected the two of them had stayed back for some sappy, clingy farewell.
Catching her suspicious gaze, Kota rubbed his nose.
"She said she had things to deal with at school, so she left."
He thought that explanation would kill her overactive imagination. Big mistake. Her stare only got weirder.
"Miss Reiko, if you keep staring at me like that, I'll get embarrassed."
Kota's joking tone earned him an eye-roll.
"Cut it out. What's going on between you and Araki anyway? And fine, just call me Reiko."
She waved him off but kept watching him like she was digging for gossip.
Kota considered, then shrugged. "Probably more than friends, less than lovers."
After all, despite how they acted like an old married couple sometimes, he and Araki had never even held hands — massage sessions aside.
Reiko clicked her tongue. "Figures. A point guard always sees the court clearly. I thought you'd just say 'just friends' like some clueless idiot."
Most high school boys she'd interviewed would dodge and fumble around when it came to romance. Not Kota.
"Well, from what I saw, Araki really does like you. But she didn't even give you a goodbye kiss — just played chauffeur. Tsk, tsk."
Reiko shook her head like some relationship guru. "You've got a long way to go, kid. Work hard! That's your chance to marry up and climb the social ladder!"
Kota just shrugged. Everyone had their own way of saying goodbye. Sure, he'd daydreamed about it—confessions before departure, last-minute kisses, that cheesy anime stuff.
But if it really happened, both he and Araki would've freaked out.
"Ding! Flight JAXXXX is now boarding. Passengers, please proceed…"
The boarding call rang out. Reiko straightened her clothes and waved him along.
They boarded, and since Kota had "never flown before" (technically), she'd even chosen him a window seat.
"When the plane takes off, you'll feel your ears pop from the pressure. Don't worry, just swallow and it'll ease up" she explained.
Her thoughtfulness warmed him, even if he wasn't truly a first-timer.
Soon she was flipping through the in-flight magazine while Kota leaned against the window, lost in thought.
The engines roared, the plane surged forward, and the pressure pushed him back into his seat. Reiko glanced at him — calm as ever.
Once airborne, she nudged his arm eagerly, urging him to look outside. Her excitement was almost childlike.
Kota chuckled.
"We just left the ground. There's nothing to see yet" But he humored her.
At first he looked half-heartedly, but soon he was practically plastered to the window.
Reiko smirked.
"See? Told you! And wait till we get above the clouds—it'll be amazing!"
But Kota wasn't watching the sky.
"I've already seen the best view."
Down below, parked near the terminal, was a familiar black sports car. And inside, a figure waving him goodbye.
His grin widened until tears welled up.
Reiko blinked in shock, shoving tissues at him. "Geez, the scenery's nice, but you don't have to get that emotional. Don't tell me you're secretly the sentimental type?"
Kota dabbed at his eyes but kept staring down until the car was gone from sight. Only then did he lean back.
"I'll nap a bit, Miss Reiko. Wake me when the food comes, okay? Thanks."
He tilted his head—and instantly conked out.
Reiko's jaw dropped.
"He fell asleep already?"
Shaking her head with a small smile, she pulled a blanket over him. For all his composure, he was still just a sixteen-year-old kid. Probably hadn't slept a wink last night.
The thought made her chuckle—not mocking, just warmly amused.
"Ding! The aircraft has reached cruising altitude. Please enjoy your flight…"
...
Airport Entrance
That flashy black sports car was still parked at the curb.
Inside, Araki, who should have left over an hour ago, was slumped forward over the steering wheel, her hair messy, both hands cradling her head.
Half an hour ago, the principal of Yosen High had called her—but she didn't even glance at the screen, just hung up immediately.
After what felt like forever, Araki slowly lifted her head, her eyes vacant as she stared up into the sky.
By now, the plane carrying Kota and Reiko had long since vanished beyond the horizon. All Araki could see were a few scattered clouds drifting lazily overhead.
"Good luck, you annoying guy…" she muttered.
Kaijō High School
"In the study of sequences and limits in high school mathematics, this section is considered more advanced… but don't worry, as long as you pay attention…"
2nd Year, Class B.
Kise propped his chin up with one hand, half-listening to the math teacher drone on. Since he was little, thanks to his ridiculous learning ability, both in academics and sports, he barely had to try to understand things.
Take this teacher—whose name he couldn't even remember—going on about something that seemed difficult. For Kise, just a quick glance was enough to know: if I spend ten minutes after class looking at it, I'll get it. So why waste precious class time listening?
Everyone knows the best way to use class hours is to let your mind wander.
"What should I practice at training later…?"
Kise scratched his cheek absentmindedly, his thoughts drifting.
"Shooting drills? Dunk practice? Maybe a one-on-one with Yuuki? Actually… it's been a while since I played a one-on-one with Kota. Yeah, I'll ask him tonight! After that, we can grab some ramen…"
The thought made him grin unconsciously. He turned his head to look out at the fluffy clouds outside the window.
"Wonder what Kota's doing right now…"
"Hah, knowing that guy, he's probably sitting up straight and paying attention. No way he's sleeping in class, haha!"
...
On the Plane
"Kota, Kota—wake up, we've arrived."
Half-asleep, Kota heard a gentle female voice.
"Araki…?" he mumbled, rubbing his head. He stretched—only to freeze halfway, realizing the surroundings weren't familiar at all.
Still groggy, he turned stiffly. This wasn't Japan anymore.
Reiko unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned over to undo his as well, giving him a knowing look.
"Welcome to China, Kota."
Arrival
Following the stream of passengers, Kota kept hearing the familiar language spoken all around him. It felt surreal, like he'd stepped into a dream.
Reiko skipped ahead, her face glowing with excitement, her pace quickening without her noticing.
"You're walking way too fast" Kota said helplessly. He had just woken up, still sluggish, and wanted to stroll at his own pace. But keeping up with her was exhausting.
"Sorry, Kota, but I haven't been home in years!"
Reiko flashed him a bright smile before adding,
"You probably don't get that feeling yet. But don't worry—once you've spent enough time here in China, when you finally return to Japan, you'll understand. That feeling of coming home after being away."
"Coming home, huh…"
Kota's face stayed calm, but inside, he couldn't help but feel the weight of those words.
After all—wasn't he the same?
Suddenly, a booming male voice cut through the noise:
"Yimin! Over here!"
A man in sunglasses and slightly overweight, probably around thirty, came hurrying toward them.
Reiko blinked in confusion, clearly not recognizing him.
"You've been away too long, can't even recognize me, huh?" the man teased, removing his sunglasses to reveal his face. His eyes crinkled with a smile.
Reiko froze for a moment, then her jaw dropped."Big Bro Shu!!!"