According to Shiina-senpai's explanation, the regulars and the reserves were having an intra-team match in preparation for the spring tournament.
Even if they were in the reserve group now, if they could play well in the practice games over the next few days, they had a chance to break into the regular group, so they must be in high spirits.
As for Yuu, he couldn't help but get drawn by the dynamic game being played out in front of his eyes.
「How nice. I bet it would feel great if I could make a shot like that.」
In spite of them being in the midst of hustle and bustle, Shiina-senpai managed to catch Yuu's quietly muttered words.
The reason for this was that she had been leaning close to Yuu, even as she basked in the envious and jealous gazes of the club members.
「I'll teach you, so do you want to give it a try for a bit? It's fun, you know? Basketball, I mean. No, even if it's impossible for boys to join the club, I want you to understand how fun basketball is. And then…. I-i-if, if possible, cheer for us during our matches… Ahem, w, well, anyway, c'mon, it's a rare opportunity, after all!」
As if now was the time for it, Shiina-senpai persistently pressed on Yuu.
The reason why she became so desperate was probably either because she wished to be related with the boys as members of the basketball club or because of a personal reason that as she had no boyfriend, so wished to create a chance to be in contact with boys, even if they were first-year students, that way.
As far as Yuu was concerned, he didn't mind either way.
Just watching the figures of high school girls in their uniform playing animatedly already brought him to the cloud nine, but the chance to mingle with them there was surely not something that came often.
Yuu smiled back at Shiina-senpai who was looking at him as if she was peeking into his face.
「Then, just for a bit. I'm a complete amateur, so please teach me, se~n~pa~i!」
「Oooooh! Being called senpai by a boy for the first time… Like, I'm truly glad I was born into this world!」
The club members looked exasperatedly at the captain, who was delighted in an exaggerated manner.
Yuu was unable to take his eyes off Shina-senpai's breasts, which swayed grandly whenever she jumped up and down.
「Will you be okay? Have you ever played basketball before?」
The practice game would be over in three minutes, and while they were waiting, Rei anxiously tugged at his hem.
「Hmm? Well, I bet I'll manage somehow or another.」
The last time he did it was in PE class during his student days in his former world.
To begin with, he had no intention to compete with the active members of the basketball club.
「I suddenly wanted to move my body for a bit, you see. Ah, I'm sorry. Even though the plan was for me to accompany you on your club activity observation, Higashino.」
「No, that's fine, but… Besides, the observation period will last until the end of next week anyway.」
「I'll come with you from tomorrow onward, so… Please hold it for me.」
It seemed that once that practice game was over, the plan was to get into their usual practice, but they changed it and decided to hold a basic basketball play, in which the first-year visitors, including Yuu, would participate.
There were eight female visitors, five of whom seemed to have had experience with it since middle school.
The court was divided into two halves, and the experienced group was apparently going to have a light game against the seniors in gym uniforms.
The girls who were sent that way clearly had a regretful look on their faces, but the first-year beginners who were with Yuu sported a delightful look on their faces, saying 「Today sure is our lucky day, right?!」.
「Well then, let's start with the basic dribbling.」
All of the seniors who were teaching Yuu and the other beginners were wearing uniforms, so they must be members of the so-called first team.
This part, too, was decided based on meritocracy.
After the seniors showed some examples, it was the first-years' turn.
Even though they were called beginners, the girls had already done it in PE class, and those who came to observe the club activity must have good motoric abilities. They were going at it smoothly.
Recalling what he learned in PE class from a long time ago, Yuu tried to move slowly while dribbling.
He tried not to look downward, but to look straight ahead.
「Oh, you're pretty good at it!」
「You're doing great.」
「Not bad!」
「Not only are you good-looking, you also have good senses, huh!」
「Hahaha, is that so?」
Even though the other girls only had two seniors with them, for some reason there were four who were by Yuu's side, including Shiina-senpai, interrupting and keeping each other in check.
Well, there was no way he was not happy to be praised, though.
Once they were done with the dribbling, they passed the ball around. Then the time came for shooting from the free-throw line.
After the four seniors showed how they perfectly scored goals as an example, it was the first-years' turn.