Tsuzuru Minagi/Layup of Certain Victory

Game! 3x3 Basketball

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

	*kick*
Tsuzuru	Phew. Nice pass, Takato-san.
	*kick*
Tasuku	You too, Minagi. But to be honest, practicing passing just makes me want to play soccer for real.
Tsuzuru	Yeah, same. Should we invite some people and go play?
Kazunari	Oh, hey! Tsuzuroon, Tax! Perfect timing!
Tasuku	Miyoshi?
Tsuzuru	What's up?
Kazunari	If you guys are free, wanna play some basketball with me?
Tasuku & Tsuzuru	Basketball?
Kazunari	I'm trying to get some people together right now, y'see...
Friend A	Whew, I managed to submit my assignment in time.
Friend B	But there's still one more piece left to make, right?
Banri	Yeah. I've gotta think about the lines and the production plan.
Kazunari	Setzer, is that you? How's it hangin'?
Banri	Kazunari? What're you doing here?
Kazunari	I came here to check out my underclassman's exhibition. I got so much inspo from the designs!
Banri	Gotcha. Right, there was a summer exhibition, huh?
???	Oh, Banri! Just the guy I wanted to see!
Banri	Hey, Senpai. Need some more help?
Basketball Club Senpai	Well actually, I was hoping you'd come play a practice game with us.
Banri	A practice game?
Basketball Club Senpai	Our club is going to compete in a 3x3 basketball tournament, so we've been inviting a bunch of people to come help us practice for it.
	So, you free this weekend?
Banri	Sorry, but I'm busy with my own practice right now so I'll have to pass. You two probably can't do it either, huh?
Friend A & B	Yeah, sorry.
Basketball Club Senpai	Seriously? Man, isn't there anyone around here who can play basketball? Literally anyone would do...
Banri	Then... How 'bout you, Kazunari?
Kazunari	Who, me?
Banri	You play basketball with the guys from the dorm in the park sometimes, don't you?
Kazunari	Yeah, but we just play for fun...
Basketball Club Senpai	It's fine if you just wanna do it as a bit of exercise! You can invite your friends, too!
Kazunari	Hm... Maybe I will, then!
Basketball Club Senpai	That'd be a huge help!
Kazunari	I'll go get some more people, so just sit tight!
Basketball Club Senpai	Thanks, man!
Tsuzuru	Why would you agree to help out when you don't even know if you can get the people for it?
Kazunari	Aw, come on, I thought if I asked around the dorms, there's bound to be some guys who'd wanna play!
	Like, how about you, Tax?
Tasuku	Well, I am free this weekend... So sure, why not.
Kazunari	See, Tax is in!
Tasuku	It might not be the same as soccer, but it's still a decent way to get some exercise.
Tsuzuru	Ugh... Fine, I'm in.
Kazunari	Yay! Thanks, guys!
	BTW, we'll be playing on the actual court that the Amabi basketball club uses.
	They're gonna be wearing their uniforms, so I was like, what if we make our own? What do you guys think?
Tsuzuru	You're getting pretty into this, huh...
	Don't we need a team name for that, though?
Kazunari	So true! We'll have to come up with something super tough and hype!
	Anyway, I'm gonna go back to my room and come up with a design!
Tsuzuru	Maybe I should've just kept my mouth shut...
Tasuku	Design aside, it's the team name that's the real issue...

Izumi	(Wow, I got a lot of free coupons. Maybe I'll give them out to everybody...)
Kumon	You got so many shots in, Tsuzuru-san!
Taichi	You're all set for the real thing!
Izumi	(I hear some commotion in the foyer. Did they all just come back from hanging out?)
Kazunari	Thankies for helping us practice today, guys!
Misumi	Playing basketball was fun!
Tasuku	I'll see you guys the day after tomorrow, then. Thanks again.
Tsuzuru	Phew...
Izumi	Hi, Tsuzuru-kun.
Tsuzuru	Oh, hey, Director.
Izumi	Let me guess, you were doing basketball practice?
Tsuzuru	Yeah. Ikaruga-san, Taichi, and Kumon helped us play a few games.
	Once I actually tried it, I got surprisingly into it...
	It's nice to play something other than soccer once in a while.
Izumi	Hehe, oh yeah? Then this might come in handy for you.
Tsuzuru	A coupon for SportCha?
Izumi	It seems like a pretty good deal you can use alongside an all-day-access pass to the other attractions.
Tsuzuru	SportCha would definitely have 3x3 courts, so this is great, thanks.
	But why do you even have all these coupons?
Izumi	A friend gave them to me since they're about to expire and they can't use them all.
	And with so many of them, I was thinking I'd hand them out to everybody.
Tsuzuru	I see. If that's the case, then...
	Since it's technically your coupon, why don't we use it together tomorrow? If you're free, that is.
Izumi	You want to go with me? But you can't play basketball with only two people...
Tsuzuru	They have those free throw games there too, right? That might be a nice change of pace for me after practicing so much.
Izumi	That's true, it's good to take a break sometimes... Alright then, let's go tomorrow!
Tsuzuru	So this is the free throw area, huh?
Izumi	Why don't you go first, Tsuzuru-kun?
Tsuzuru	Sure.
	*throw*
Izumi	Wow, nothing but net! You're so good at this!
Tsuzuru	It's just because there aren't any obstacles in the way. Your turn, Director.
Izumi	Alright, here goes nothing...!
Tsuzuru	Do your best.
Izumi	That was fun! Your advice really helped, Tsuzuru-kun!
Tsuzuru	Nah, that was all you, Director.
Izumi	Hehe, thanks.
CHOICE 1: That was a good way to unwind [+] Izumi That was a pretty good way to unwind, huh? Tsuzuru Yeah, I feel really refreshed. It might be good for when I get writer's block over a script. Izumi Then why don't we come here again the next time that happens? Tsuzuru Sure! Oh... But I probably won't be much of a shot when I'm in a rut. Izumi That's fine! It's not about getting points, it's about having fun, right? Tsuzuru Haha, yeah, you're right.
CHOICE 2: That was fun [+] Izumi It's fun to just do some free throws sometimes, huh? Tsuzuru Yeah. And after practicing so much these past few days, I've been starting to think that doing some sports other soccer might not be so bad. Izumi You've definitely got the skills for it, Tsuzuru-kun. Tsuzuru No way. I mean, you got pretty good at shooting too, right? It's all just a matter of practice.
Izumi	By the way, when even is the game?
Tsuzuru	It's this weekend.
Izumi	Can I come watch, then?
Tsuzuru	Of course.
	...But you being there might really put the pressure on.
Izumi	Huh? I'm not trying to, though!
	How about this? Since I'm going anyway, why don't I bring some drinks and towels for you guys?
Tsuzuru	That'd be amazing, thanks!
Izumi	Hehe, it feels like I'm the manager of a sports club. I'm looking forward to it!
	Oh yeah, since you guys are taking this game so seriously, are you going to wear team uniforms too?
Tsuzuru	...Ah.

Kazunari	Ta-da! These are our uniforms for "Team PICO"✰ Aren't they cute?
Tasuku	...
Tsuzuru	These...suck! Why is that our team name!?
Tasuku	We got so wrapped up in practice that we completely forgot about the name thing...
Izumi	(Nah, I think it's a pretty cute name.)
Kazunari	You guys practiced so hard for this, so I took it upon myself to come up with it✰
	Besides, wouldn't it be so cool if we beat an actual basketball team with this team name?
Tsuzuru	As if you chose it with that in mind! You just did whatever you wanted!
	...But yeah, of course we're playing to win.
Tasuku	Yeah. I haven't been practicing so much these past few days just to lose.
Kazunari	I knew I could count on you guys! I'm with you all the way!
Izumi	Good luck, guys! I'll be cheering for you!
Referee	Now, it's the Amabi Shooters versus Team PICO.
Club Members	Let's have a good game.
Referee	Let's begin! Amabi Shooters get first possession!
	*whistle*
Amabi Shooter A	Hm...!
	*whoosh*
Tasuku	What!?
Izumi	(That was fast! Despite Team PICO's defense, he easily made the shot.)
Tasuku	...I guess that's to be expected.
Tsuzuru	We'll have to watch them carefully...
Kazunari	We're really gonna have to up our defense!
Izumi	(Now Team PICO's on the offensive. Tasuku-san's trying to dribble, but the Amabi Shooters are playing some aggressive defense!)
Kazunari	...
Tsuzuru	!
	*run*
Izumi	(Kazunari-kun locked eyes with Tsuzuru-kun, and now he's running up the court...?)
Kazunari	Tax, pass!
	*pass*
Tasuku	It's all you!
Izumi	(Tasuku-kun passed the ball to Kazunari-kun, who passed it to Tsuzuru-kun, who's at the basket...!)
	(That must've been why they were making eye contact!)
Tsuzuru	...!
	*jump*
	*thunk*
Izumi	(A beautiful layup!)
Amabi Shooter B	Hey, not bad!
Tsuzuru	We're just getting started!
Izumi	(It's 16 to 14, with the Amabi Shooters in the lead... Now it's Team PICO's turn to play defense.)
Tasuku	Number 3's been scoring all the points... I'd better be vigilant.
	*block*
Izumi	(Tasuku-san intercepted the pass to Number 3! Team PICO gets the ball!)
Tsuzuru	Nice!
Tasuku	Minagi!
Tsuzuru	No, you go for it, Takato-san!
Izumi	(Tasuku-san's taking the shot!)
Amabi Shooter C	Not so fast!
	*thud*
	*whistle*
Referee	Foul! Team PICO gets two free throws!
Kazunari	Can you do it, Tsuzuroon?
Tsuzuru	'Kay!
	*jump*
	*whoosh*
	*whoosh*
Izumi	(That's one...and two! Now they're tied 16 to 16!)
Kazunari	Time-out! 30 second break, please!
Izumi	Nice work out there! I've got some towels and water for you.
Tsuzuru	Thank you.
	There's still three minutes left, huh...
Tasuku	They must be getting nervous if they're willing to foul. I'm guessing they'll keep surrounding us whenever we try to shoot.
Kazunari	True! ...In that case, should we start doing the thing?
Izumi	(The game's back on! Team PICO's on the offensive!)
Tsuzuru	Takato-san!
Tasuku	Yeah!
	*dribble*
Izumi	(Huh? Tasuku-san kept dribbling even though Tsuzuru-kun asked for the ball?)
Tasuku	Here, Minagi!
Tsuzuru	Got it!
	*pass*
Kazunari	Woah! Gotcha! Nice pass, Tax!
Izumi	(What's going on? He passed it to Kazunari-kun instead of Tsuzuru-kun?)
Kazunari	I'm taking the shot!
Izumi	(Or so he says, but he's passing the ball back to Tasuku-san!)
Tasuku	...
	*jump*
	*whoosh*
Tsuzuru	Nice shot, Takato-san!
Izumi	(So those were all feints to confuse the opposing team...! You really thought of everything, Kazunari-kun!)
Izumi	(It's 19 to 18 with Team PICO in the lead— Oh no!)
Amabi Shooter A	Hup!
	*whoosh*
Tasuku	Damn, they got two points in one shot.
Kazunari	It's still just a one point difference! We can catch up!
Tsuzuru	There's not much time left, though...
Kazunari	It's all up to you, Tsuzuroon!
Tasuku	Go for it, Minagi!
Tsuzuru	Guess I've got no other choice... It's now or never!
Izumi	(Looks like Tsuzuru-kun's going for a 2-pointer!)
Tsuzuru	...!
	*jump*
	*whoosh*
Izumi	(It went in!!)
	*whistle*
Referee	21 to 20! Team PICO wins!
Amabi Shooter A	Good game!
Amabi Shooter B	Who would've thought this game would be just as exciting as a real one!
Amabi Shooter C	Can we play each other again before the actual tournament?
Izumi	Wow, you must've really impressed them if they're asking for a rematch!
Tasuku	Well, if our schedules line up then sure, I don't mind.
Tsuzuru	I'd be down, too. But I'd like to change our uniforms first...
Tasuku	Yeah, and we need to come up with a new team name.
Kazunari	Oh, come on! Do you guys really hate it that much!?

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