36 You Can Do It - My Little Sister Is Only Ever Cold to Me, Yet Recently She’s Been Strangely Clingy

Chapter 36: You Can Do It In the morning, I see Ren off as she leaves the house a bit earlier than usual. Clad in her black sports tracksuit for club activities, she looks every bit the sporty girl, giving off a slightly different impression from usual. Yet, among all that, the white scrunchie we bought together is delicately worn around her wrist. That small detail inexplicably fills me with joy. "Take care, and do your best," I say. "Yeah. I'm off," Ren replies calmly as ever. She begins to step out the door, but just before doing so, she turns on her heel and walks back over to me. Enveloped in her tight embrace, Ren whispers in my ear during that fleeting moment. "I'll do my best, so watch over me, okay?" Her words bring back the warmth from our moment last night, brushing softly against my cheek in memory. ◇◇◇ "Wow, it's huge! So this is where Ren will have her match," I remark. "Oh, over there! There's your little sister and Shimamoto-san!" We’re in the spectator seats atop the civic gymnasium, looking down onto the vast expanse of courts. Just as we open the doors directly facing Court A, where Ren’s match is set to take place, Yuka-chan quickly spots Ren and Shimamoto-san. Ren and her teammates are doing their pre-game warm-up, taking turns shooting at the basket. Ren receives a pass from Shimamoto-san and confidently sinks a shot. Her fluid movements and the graceful arc of the ball, sinking straight into the basket, make even a novice like me realize how skilled she is. "So that's the famous Kawai-san." "Wow, she's so cool." I overhear the chatter of uniformed students from other schools sitting around us. I knew she was impressive, but she was quite the talk of the town, it seems. As her older sister, a sense of pride swells within me. At that moment, Ren, having finished her shooting routine, suddenly looks up. In a flash, she spots me, and our eyes meet. A wave of cheers erupts from those around us. Unfazed by the noise, Ren lightly taps her wrist, as if to point out the black scrunchie I had on my wrist. Even though she can't wear it during the game, so she had nothing on her wrist, this gesture makes me feel like we're connected through our matching bands, a secret bond just between the two of us. I grasp my own scrunchie-covered wrist and silently cheer her on, mouthing the words "do your best." Seeming to have caught my encouragement, Ren gives a slight nod before rejoining her team. "Hey, did Kawai-san just make eye contact with me?" someone nearby exclaims. "Wasn't Kawai-san totally looking over here?" There's a buzz among the crowd. "Your little sister is really popular, huh," Yuka-chan comments. "She really is," I reply, sharing a knowing smile. Not long after, a whistle is blown, calling both teams to their benches. The players shed their jackets, revealing their uniforms underneath. Ren's uniform, emphasizing her excellent physique, is both striking and beautiful. The number 7 on her back shone brightly against the black uniform's white border. The whistle blew once more, summoning the players to line up and enter the court. After exchanging handshakes and forming a huddle, the game is about to begin. It started with a jump ball, reminiscent of what you'd see in PE class. Players from each team converge at the center. Shimamoto-san, wearing number 8, seems to be jumping for Ren's team. The ball is tossed into the air by the referee, and the game begins. Shimamoto-san is the first to touch the ball, with Ren quickly collecting it. The ball is passed a few times starting with Ren, and then to Shimamoto-san, who positioned herself under the goal, before it returns to Ren. Dribbling smoothly past one opponent, Ren leaps into the air. Ren's movements are truly beautiful, her shot neatly fell through the net, earning her team three points. From there, the game unfolds at a rapid pace. Basketball, with its brisk transitions between offense and defense, was hard to keep track of with the eyes. Honestly, I don't even understand the difference between two points and three points. But as an amateur observer, one thing is clear: Ren is the heart of her team. The pattern of Shimamoto-san collecting rebounds and Ren scoring repeatedly unfolds before us. It’s not just Shimamoto-san; numerous passes are directed towards Ren, and she reliably sinks them all. "Look only at me." Ren's words from yesterday echo in my mind. Even without them, my gaze is glued firmly to her. While each player on the court shines brightly as they played with all their might, Ren's brilliance stands out remarkably. Even I, who knows nothing about basketball, could sense it. "She's amazing," I whisper in awe. "She really is," Yuka-chan nods in agreement. Not understanding the rules of basketball, I continue to watch Ren intently. Her usual awkwardness seems like a lie as she moves with agility, exuding beauty, running, bouncing the ball, and jumping. It’s hard to believe that I share a roof with this incredible kid, who comes to me for comfort and sleeps by my side. Even as her older sister, it seems unbelievable. Ren’s performance moves me deeply. Ren seemed farther away than the distance between the court and the stands. On the pitch, Ren was just an athlete. That fact brings me happiness and pride. And a tinge of loneliness. With a prayer in my heart, I watch the game and Ren. The scoreboards for both teams shows the game still tied, even as the buzzer sounds several times and the match is interrupted. "These are the last 10 minutes," Yuka-chan informs me. The teams take turns scoring at a balanced pace, and the scoreboard reads 84-85. Five seconds remain. Ren’s team is trailing as they brace for the final play. The ball reaches Ren. Cheers erupt from the audience. The energy of the arena converges solely on Ren. I touch the scrunchie on my wrist, muttering softly. "You can do it." Ren leaps with extraordinary grace. As the buzzer blares loudly, drowning everything out, my heartbeat begins to race. Cutting through it all, the ball arcing gracefully through the air silently shakes the net. In that moment, Ren seizes not just my sight but my very heart and soul.