I just love this gorilla! He’s so sweet! – Admin Jade
“Okamura-senpai, we’re leaving, are you gonna stay late again?” shouted his point guard from across the gym. “You know the girls team is comin’ in soon!”
Despite his best efforts, Okamura could feel his cheeks heating up. Did they know? Shaking his head, he called over his shoulder, “Just a few more shots, I’ll be outta their way soon! See you tomorrow!”
A mumbled reply was all he got as they exited to head to their respective dorms chatting as they went.
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Okamura turned towards the basket, shooting a three pointer. Gathering the ball, he took another shot and then another, both of which bounced off the rim. He hadn’t lied, he really would keep taking shots, though his focus was less than perfect. Any minute now-
“Oi! Girl’s team coming in! Time to get out!” shouted the vice captain.
Okamura gathered his ball and headed towards the bleachers to pick up his bag, strategically placed right underneath so he’d have to pass right by her. Gathering courage, he made eye contact and smiled at the captain, raising a hand in greeting. She returned the gesture before refocusing her attention on the conversation with her partner.
It wasn’t until he was outside that Okamura realized he’d been so distracted by her beautiful smile he’d forgotten to pick up his bag!
“Ugh, how embarrassing, but I can’t leave it there all night,” he groaned. Sighing he pivoted, heading back into the gym.
Just as he touched the strap, he heard a voice say, “Oh I just wanna give him a big hug! He’s like…like…like a teddy bear!”
It froze him in his tracks; he knew that voice, had dreamed of that voice. His shoulders slumped, head beginning to hang. He supposed he shouldn’t be that surprised she would have someone she was interested in, maybe even was already dating, though he’d not seen evidence of that. Then again, maybe she had someone back home. Yeah, that would make sense. His heart ached, a deep burning pain rushing through his blood and giving him a headache. But before he could retreat he heard the vice captain ask, “Who? The guy who’s always here till the last minute?”
“Of course! Who else did you think?”
Now he was sure his heart had stopped; was she actually talking…about him?
The vice captain snorted, “I can’t believe you like him. Don’t you think it’s…kind of creepy how he’s always here when we’re coming in?”
“Just because he works harder than everyone else does not make him creepy! It’s admirable!”
Okamura lips twitched upward, heart beating a bit faster hearing her defend him. Not that the vice captain was entirely wrong, he did stay late for more than just extra practice but it wasn’t like he just sat around!
“Yeah, well, I’d say it’s a bit of a stretch calling him a teddy bear. Gorilla is more like it.”
There was a pause and for a moment Okamura felt the weight of dread settling upon him; did she think he was a gorilla too?
Then she laughed, loud and bright. “I have always been a fan of primates, and he’s as prime as they get for a mate!”
Her partner groaned, the sound of a smacked arm echoing in the gym. “I swear, you get worse and worse! You really should stop hanging out so much with Izuki!”
“Hanging around?! The only reason we’re in that stupid study group, you know the one on the complete opposite side of campus, is because you wanted to join it. And the only reason you wanted to join that one was because of-”
“Oh look, the girls are comin’ in!”
“You can’t hide from me!”
Okamura chuckled, watching from his position under the bleachers as they ran to greet their team.
So she wanted to give him a hug did she? He’d just have to make her wish come true.
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