I’m a Shy Loner and I Was Confessed to by a Beautiful Girl Who Has All the Boys in School Smitten, but It Turned Out to Be a ‘Fake Confession,’ So I Politely Declined. As a Result, I Ended Up Learning About Her Hidden Side and She Started to Cling to Me

Huh, what?

I, Kaneda, was confused.

Why? Because I, the absolute ace of the basketball team, was unable to even steal the ball from Sato, an introverted nobody!

What is happening? What’s going on?

Isn’t he incredibly good at basketball? His skill level makes even the guys from teams we lost to at the national tournament look like chumps. This is bad. I’m helpless!

“Ah…!”

My all-out dribble was effortlessly defeated, and he took the ball from me.

Damn it! This is bad. If he scores again, it’s my complete defeat.

“Go, Sato!”

“Hey, Sato’s going to win this!”

“Go, go! Finish him off!”

“Keep it up, Sato-senpai!”

The crowd roared—shut up! Don’t you see? I’m your star, Kaneda, and I’m in a pinch! Why are you cheering for him? Shut up, you idiots!

Everything was infuriating! My frustration was at an all-time high.

You bottom feeder! Don’t get ahead of yourself! You’re just a socially awkward loner!

Ah, that’s it. If I’m going to lose, I might as well make sure he can’t continue to play. Even if it’s a foul, it doesn’t matter. I can just say it was unintentional.

No one would care about him anyway.

I’m special! So, it’s you who will be pitiful! Sato!

“Ah!”

I charged at Sato, ready to commit a foul.

This is the end! Die!

“Your moves are obvious. Amateur.”

Sato dodged my foul attempt with a feint and a shift of his center of gravity.

What!? If he changes his center of gravity now…!

I missed and fell over.

And as I was down, I looked up at Sato’s face.

You can’t be serious… Was he anticipating that I would go for a foul?

“What’s the matter? You’re even worse than I thought.”

Sato prepared to shoot.

Stop it! Please stop!

I reached out my hand, desperate.

No, no, no!

If I lose like this, I’ll fall to the bottom of the social ladder!

Sato shot the ball, coldly and mechanically.

Aah!

Please miss! Please!

I’ll lose my place in the world!

The ball went in.

Ah, it’s over.

The gym erupted.

“Sato wins!”

“Wow, Sato!”

“Sato totally dominated!”

“Sato is amazing!”

This can’t be… Those cheers were supposed to be for me!

Even the girls who were supposed to be mine were shouting Sato’s name. Even Nene, who was supposed to be my girl, was staring at Sato.

“What… what are you!? You lied!”

“Lied?”

“You said you quit basketball after a month! That’s not the movement of a beginner!”

“I wasn’t lying. I did get bored with basketball and quit after a month. So, I haven’t really practiced. I’m practically a beginner.”

“Then why can’t I lay a finger on you?”

“Just talent.”

“Guh! I won’t accept this! I can’t!”

“If you still can’t accept reality, we can continue. Let’s see, the bell for the next class rings in 10 minutes. If you can steal the ball from me by then, you win.”

What? What is this condition? Is he mocking me?

“I’m not mocking you. It’s just the fact. You can’t steal the ball from me.”

“Ugh!”

I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t argue back. Sato’s words had weight because I was made to realize the difference in our abilities.

I seriously thought I might not even be able to touch the ball.

But I had to try. Because I had no other options.

I tried to steal the ball from Sato with everything I had.

But I couldn’t even touch it.

“Poor Kaneda.”

“Kaneda’s not as great as we thought.”

“Go, Kaneda!”

Everyone was mocking me. The more time passed, the more something felt wrong.

Over and over, I was shown my place. In every aspect—vision, physical ability, technique, reaction speed, sense—Sato was far superior.

I caught a glimpse of Sato’s face. While I was sweating and desperately trying, he looked as if he was bored, playing with a child.

His face looked utterly uninterested.

“As if to say, don’t make me do this boring task.”

That’s what he seemed to be saying.

Ah…

What is this feeling of losing everything… this despair…

I had talent in basketball. That’s what everyone told me. And the more I practiced, the better I got.

Basketball was the one talent, the one place where I could shine, that significantly elevated my worth.

But in front of him, my talent is trash.

I was just a frog in a well.

Ah, I can’t… I hate basketball now.

“Stop it… Just stop.”

Hearing my words, Sato stopped dribbling.

I was completely drained, my knees giving out. Even though I gave it my all, Sato wasn’t even sweating or out of breath.

Ah, I see… I…

“Ugh…”

I couldn’t hold it back any longer. Tears started to fall.

“Wow, he’s crying!”

“Seriously? Haha!”

“Kaneda’s so lame!”

“Getting beaten by an amateur, lol.”

“Can Sato teach me basketball?”

“Don’t act so high and mighty ever again.”

Ah, I was… never special after all.