Someone Who Believes They Can Live Normally in a World Where Chastity Is Reversed (Did You Think You Could Live Normally in a World With a Male-To-Female Ratio of 1:5?) - Chapter 36: Basketball Loving JC's Feelings

“Let’s have a match, Masato-nii-san.”

With the sunset as the backdrop, Yuka said that to me.

For a moment, I caught my breath as her gentle smile made her look beyond her years.

No, no, she’s just a middle school girl.

It would be too creepy to say “beautiful” about a middle school girl.

Shaking off such thoughts, I faced Yuka.

“A match… you mean a one-on-one?”

“Yes.”

A one-on-one match. It’s something we always do with Yuka… and I’ve never lost, technically speaking.

I mean, I can’t lose to a middle school girl. It’s a matter of pride.

…But seeing her performance today, I can’t help but feel like I might lose soon.

“But it’s a one-shot deal. We’ll each take turns on offense and defense once, and if there’s a difference, it’s over. How about that?”

“…I see.”

We usually play one-on-one with a first-to-five-points rule or something like that, but she’s suggesting a one-shot deal this time.

Certainly, this might give Yuka a chance. After all, no matter how skilled a player is, no shot is guaranteed to go in 100% of the time. In other words, the fewer attempts, the more the results fluctuate.

And… while I have a pretty good idea of what she’s capable of, if Yuka has some hidden move…

I wouldn’t know how to respond to it on the first try.

But even if she scores, it’s unlikely that she’ll be able to stop me from scoring. After all, in this sport where height is everything, the advantage is definitely on my side.

“Alright. We don’t have much time, so let’s get ready and start.”

“One more thing.”

As I stepped onto the court, Yuka raised her index finger.

“The loser has to grant one request to the winner. How about that?”

…She seems unusually confident. It might be wise to assume she has some hidden move.

“…Sure. I’ll accept.”

A request, huh? What should I ask Yuka if I win?

Maybe I’ll ask her to wake me up with a morning call since it was helpful last time. I have trouble waking up in the morning.

Taking the ball from Yuka, I did a light warm-up.

“Since you’re tired after the game, don’t overdo it! I don’t want you to fall like you did before!”

“…!”

Yuka froze in surprise.

Huh? Did I say something weird?

“You remembered, huh.”

“Well, yeah, I remember that much. Wasn’t that a long time ago?”

I think it was about three months ago when we started playing basketball together…?

“Fufufufu…”

“W-What’s so funny?”

“No, I just felt happy!”

Yuka’s face lit up with a smile.

Huh, did this girl always have such a mature smile…?

Despite her youthful and cute appearance, I couldn’t help but feel a little flustered. No, no. She’s a first-year middle schooler. I could easily be arrested for that kind of thought.

—-

After finishing a light warm-up, we finally began the match.

I see. This might be the last time we can have a match in this place. Thinking that, I felt a little sentimental.

Yuka seemed ready as well.

“Well then, let’s begin. Who’ll take the first offense and defense?”

“As usual, you can decide, Yuka.”

“In that case, I’ll take the offense first.”

Yuka always decides who goes first on offense and defense. It doesn’t make much of a difference, but it’s only fair that she has this much say. Taking the ball from Yuka’s bounce pass, I dribbled it a few times in place.

The match started the moment I passed the ball back to Yuka. Looking at Yuka, she closed her eyes and seemed to concentrate a little.

…Is she really taking this seriously? Well, that’s fine, I guess…

It would be rude not to take this seriously myself. As I bounced the ball back to her, I immediately took a defensive stance against Yuka.

Low posture. A big stance to block her path. There’s also a difference in physique. Normally, I wouldn’t lose in a match like this.

But this girl…

“Here I go.”

She’s not normal.

First, she faked a shot as if greeting me. I’m not falling for that. In a one-shot match, Yuka’s success rate from this distance isn’t high enough to depend on.

Well, it’s unbelievably high for a middle school girl, though.

Luckily, Yuka seems to admire my style. My playstyle, of course, includes shooting from outside occasionally, but I mainly drive inside to disrupt the defense.

So it’s natural to choose this move in this situation.

“Hah!”

A drive!

A sharp change of pace with a crossover. Any other middle schooler would have no chance of keeping up with this.

If I were in middle school, I probably couldn’t keep up. But I’ve seen this speed many times before, so I know. I circled around in front of Yuka’s path.

If she keeps coming straight ahead, it’ll be an offensive foul.

“Still…”

Then she immediately came up with the next move.

A roll.

A technique where you keep the momentum going in the opposite direction. This is another move she’s completely mastered through our practice sessions.

Truly frightening. But I taught her that, too.

“I know!”

I also circled around. There’s a difference in size, so of course, there’s also a difference in the length of our strides.

So, I can catch up. The difference in physique is a significant factor in sports.

“…Right.”

And Yuka also knew that I could respond to her roll. She stopped the roll midway, dribbled behind her back, and then took a step back.

There’s no way this is a technique a first-year middle schooler should have. It’s almost laughable.

――At that moment. Yuka, who had distanced herself from me, jumped with one foot.

(Sorry! But I can reach you, Yuka!)

Once she jumps, there’s only one option left in this one-on-one match: a shot.

Certainly, she created distance with the step back, but I can still reach her from here. Because of the height difference.

That’s what I thought.

But my outstretched hand… missed.

“No way…”

Yuka, with one hand, had tossed the ball into the air.

――An overhand floater shot.

A shot used even in the professional world to avoid the opponent’s block. Yuka changed the trajectory so that I couldn’t reach it.

I had never seen this before.

The ball, drawing a high parabola, was sucked into the rim.

“Now, I’ve scored first, Masato-niisan.”

“Hey, that’s not fair…”

I couldn’t stop the goosebumps as I laughed at her triumphant expression.

Yuka’s height was quite tall for a first-year middle schooler.

It’s even taller compared to a third-year middle schooler. Which means, Yuka shouldn’t need to think about a way to bypass a high block. Yet, she’s way too familiar with that shot.

She’s been practicing it regularly. That means――.

“I practiced to beat you, Masato-niisan.”

“Are you serious…?!”

She probably practiced this shot during club activities or other times when I wasn’t around.

Did she want to take this place away from me that badly?

“Hey, it’s your offense, Masato-nii-san.”

“Yeah…”

Feeling somewhat taken aback by Yuka’s unusually confident smile, I returned to my starting position. It’s okay, this is still within expectations.

Knowing Yuka, I expected her to have some sort of hidden move in her offense.

However, defense is a different story. Offense may be fluid, but defense isn’t.

I’ve never been blocked or stolen by Yuka when I genuinely tried to score. Sorry, Yuka, but I can’t afford to lose so easily.

I passed the ball to Yuka.

If it comes back to me, it’s my offense.

Yuka bounced the ball a few times on the ground while looking straight into my eyes.

Her eyes were pure and straightforward, almost sucking me in with their gaze.

“Masato-niisan, you’re injured, right?” came Yuka’s unexpected question.

“Why do you think that?” I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“I’ve seen you play so many times, I can tell. It’s either your right elbow or your right shoulder, isn’t it?”

I remained silent.

“Is that the reason why you’re not playing basketball—or any sports—right now?”

“I’m not sure,” I responded, feeling a bit uneasy about her spot-on observation.

“I still don’t know much about you, Masato-niisan. Not about what’s happening now or about your past,” Yuka said, sounding a bit lonely.

Then, she firmly held the ball with both hands.

“I want to know more—about you, Masato-niisan.”

I was caught off guard by her pure sincerity and the gaze she cast up at me.

What’s happening?! Am I turning into a lolicon?!

“O-Okay, after the match!” I quickly replied, trying to regain my focus. Is she trying to mess with my head? If that’s the case, Yuka might have turned into quite the villain without me noticing…

“Yes. After this is over… Please, tell me a lot more about yourself.” she said decisively, holding the ball in both hands.

The ball was passed back to me with Yuka’s words. It’s my offense now.

You talk like you’ve won already…I am gonna change that!!

With Yuka closely following me. Her defense was impeccable, with no room for criticism.

I put in a fake shot.

Yuka stayed with me.

Of course, she would. She knows my outside shooting percentage, and if I make it, her lead is nullified. She wants to eliminate that possibility. It’s the opposite of when I was defending.

So, a slight opening is created――!

I swiftly drive left.

I have confidence in my left-handed dribbling skills.

Even if my right hand is injured, it’s not a problem.

But Yuka is still right behind me, albeit slightly delayed. I make it to the basket, but it’s not easy with her defense.

Still, being this close to the rim is enough.

I grab the ball with both hands, turn, and attempt a fadeaway――

“There!”

The moment I grabbed the ball with both hands. Yuka’s extended right hand accurately deflects the ball I held.

“Your right hand is injured. So, when you hold the ball with both hands, there’s a slight delay in transitioning to your shooting form!”

“No way…!”

The ball deflected above my head. It feels like the world is in slow motion.

If I don’t get this ball, it’s my loss. Because I was attempting a fadeaway, my posture is leaning backward.

I try to grab the ball again as it floats above me――

“Nope.”

Even that attempt was deflected by Yuka’s right hand.

The ball mercilessly flies backward.

… Is this my defeat?

Desperately trying to deflect the ball, Yuka leaned over me.

Helpless, I fall backward, landing on my back.

Yuka collapsed on top of me, and we both fell together.

With a thud, there was an impact on my back.

Thud, thud…

The sound of the ball rolling backward echoed.

—

As I opened my eyes, which had been closed to endure the impact, I found Yuka’s face right in front of me.

And it was too close.

I felt a sensation on my lips.

Huh…?

Before I could comprehend, it was already too late.

Slowly, Yuka’s face moved away.

“Haa…”

“W-What are you doing—”

I was beneath her, and above us was the crimson sunset and Yuka’s innocent yet beautiful face, flushed with excitement.

“I don’t want that.”

“Huh…?”

“I don’t want to be a little sister.”

…!

A loud heartbeat echoed.

Was it Yuka’s heartbeat, or…?

“I know it’s too much to ask for now. But… Please, be conscious of me. Not as a little sister, but as a girl. That’s my request.”

“I… I don’t know.”

“Is it not okay? Am I too small… too much of a middle schooler?”

Yuka’s face, always so familiar and cute.

But why did it suddenly seem so bewitching and enticing?

I instinctively covered my face with my right hand. Wait, my face is probably red and embarrassing right now…

“No.”

“Wait—”

Yuka forcefully removed my hand and pinned it down on the ground. Her grip was too strong!

“Mm…!”

Once again, Yuka’s face was in front of mine.

There was no escaping now.

A forceful yet somehow… hopeful and gentle kiss.

“….!”

“How about now? Is this still not okay?”

Yuka’s face was flushed red.

“I love you so much. I can’t hold it back anymore! Even if it’s too much now… please, just… just see me as a girl, not just a little sister.”

With tears in her eyes, Yuka’s smile was radiant.

It had enough power to stir my heart wildly. My heart pounded violently.

I felt embarrassed to death, unable to show my face properly. Even when I tried to turn away, she forcefully turned me back to face her.

I couldn’t hide my expression either.

Both of my hands were completely under Yuka’s control.

“Hey, Masato-niisan.”

I could only see Yuka’s face.

“…Can I do more?”

Seeing Yuka’s excited expression at that moment, I finally realized.

Which one of us was truly “on top” at that moment.

And in the following minutes, I would come to understand.