Epilogue
They said there were two kinds of people in this world. Those who played basketball, and those who didn’t. As a person who falls into the plays basketball category, for some reason, I found myself at the usual street basketball court with Shinji and Satou-kun, who likewise belong to the plays basketball category.
Actually, to say "for some reason" might be misleading.
"I figure it's okay since you already know, but I got a video from Yuuko the other day of Aizawa and you playing street basketball, and I really want to go too. How do I get to join in?"
It was just the other day that I received a message like that.
News of my match against Satou-kun spread like wildfire. Before long, someone had uploaded a smartphone video of it to the school bulletin board. Incidentally, the video also captured the moment when Chinatsu hugged me afterward. Well… that part couldn’t be helped. And as a result of earning the right to never be called ‘number two’ again, I also ended up being relentlessly scouted by the senpais in the basketball club. Whether that trade-off balanced out was anyone’s guess, but it sure was troublesome.
Still, considering how I’d become friendly enough with Satou-kun to casually message each other like this, and how the jealousy over me being with Chinatsu had mostly faded, I figured I was moving forward properly.
Speaking of things that have changed a little, I experienced the event of a girl confessing to me for the first time in my life. Of course I refused, and she said she just wanted to tell me her feelings and left right away, but calming down a pouting Chinatsu afterwards was the harder part. Sure, Chinatsu had probably received way more confessions than I ever had—but apparently, bringing that up was “missing the point.” I was made to promise I’d never go if anyone called me out again. I nodded obediently while Sakurai-san, Toudou-san, and Hojoin-san just laughed and refused to help.
Incidentally, Chinatsu was here today too. And with her was Toudou-san, who was clearly here for Satou-kun, and also Sakurai-san and Hojoin-san, whose complicated relationships I have learned about and have since decided to stop thinking about. Toudou-san seemed frustrated about last time and came wearing clothes that were easy to move in.
Misaki-san had also shown up today. When I introduced her to everyone, including Satou-kun, she looked deeply moved and sighed while glancing between me and Chinatsu. I really had caused her a lot of worry.
“Sheesh, this is amazing! It’s a proper court!”
“Well, of course. What did you expect it to be?”
“I don’t know… since it’s called ‘street basketball,’ I imagined a cracked court with scary guys smoking cigarettes or something?”
“Well… that’s not entirely wrong, but this place is well-managed. You’ll like it here.”
After the greetings, Satou-kun immediately went to check the hoop and the ground, while Shinji, surprisingly patient, explained things to him.
The two of them looked like they’d walked straight out of a sports commercial. Different types of handsome guys, casually talking together.
Since it was the weekend, most of the players today were working adults like Gen-san and Makoto-san. University students usually came on weekdays. Gen-san had brought his wife and daughter today, which was… surprising, to say the least. His wife was stunning, and his daughter quite cute.
"For all his talk, he's actually quite devoted to his family, you know," Makoto-san whispered quietly, having noticed my surprised expression.
"Hey, Hajime."
"...What is it, Gen-san?"
Gen-san had stepped onto the court too, watching Satou-kun with a thoughtful expression. I already had a feeling what he was going to say.
"You really are only surrounded by good-looking people, aren't you?"
"Last time you specified it was just at school, so I denied it. But looking on my current situation, I might not be able to deny it anymore."
Around me were Chinatsu and her friends. As well as Shinji, and Satou-kun, who I'd gotten closer to and exchanged contact info with after that incident the other day. Well, it was no surprise that Gen-san would see it that way.
“Well, whatever. On this court, everyone’s just an individual. Age doesn’t matter.”
“Says the same guy who once complained, ‘What kind of high schooler brings his girlfriend here.’”
“I don’t dwell on the past. That’s just the kind of man I am.”
That wasn't cool at all. I hate to say this in front of his wife and daughter, but that nihilistic act doesn't suit you, Gen-san.
“So, Hajime and Shinji’s friend, what’s your name? People call me Gen, so feel free to call me Gen-san. …But if you ever lay a hand on my daughter, I’ll kill you.”
“Uh, Senpai… your inner thoughts are leaking.”
Yep, this familiar atmosphere really is the best.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Gen-san! I’m… uh, Satou Hajime.”
“Hm…?”
Gen-san reacted with a puzzled expression, looking at Satou-kun, and then at me.
"It's a common name."
"...I see. How should I put it, that's kind of inconvenient, huh."
As I shrugged and answered, Gen-san muttered, Well, it happens sometimes with clients, too... Satou-san from XX Company and Satou-san from XX Trading... and then looked at us both and continued his words.
"...Hmm, so what should we call you then?"
For a moment, my heart skipped a beat. In this place, I was just Satou Hajime, not compared to anyone. But then again, that's how the name ‘number two’ started at school—just as a simple nickname. Even while knowing he wasn't that kind of person, my heart began to beat a little faster. As I braced myself, Gen-san casually continued his words.
"Well, a nickname can be anything, so... Since your name has the number 'one,' how about Icchi? Well, if you don't like it, whatever's fine."
“Icchi…?”
"Sorry, but in my head, this guy is 'Hajime' on a first-come, first-served basis. And calling you both 'Satou' would be confusing, right? ...The funny thing is, Makoto here is also a Satou."
Gen-san pointed at Makoto-san. So now I knew I shared a last name with Makoto-san too. But more than that, I was captivated by the words Gen-san had spoken so matter-of-factly. For some reason, I felt, inescapably, as if I had been incredibly saved.
"What's wrong? You're making a weird face too, Hajime. If there's another guy with the same name, you just change what you call them... They say 'the name reflects the person,' but that just depends on the time and place. In reality, you guys have the same name, but you're completely different, aren't you?"
Gen-san said that with a puzzled look, perhaps sensing that our reactions were strange.
“Yeah… you’re right. I think so too.”
“Ah, I’m fine with Icchi, actually. I kinda prefer it. Being called ‘Hajime’ feels weird, so this actually makes me happy.”
I looked at Satou-kun.
He looked back at me.
And somehow, we couldn’t help but laugh.
It was simple, so, so simple. A name was just a name. Here, we were just Hajime and Icchi. Not number one or number two, but simply as one individual and another, existing.
Those words, spoken as if they were the most obvious thing in the world, planted a seed within me, seeping deep inside. It quickly took root and became an unshakeable trunk.
How could I have forgotten?
Come to think of it, when I was a child, I had once asked my parents about my name for a homework assignment in elementary school. I think the assignment was to learn the origin of your own name.
Written as “一” in kanji and read as Hajime.
The dictionary said it meant “the first number when counting” or “the beginning of something.”
So when I asked my father, “Did you name me Hajime because you wanted me to be number one?” he smiled, shook his head gently, and patted my head.
“Our family name, Satou, is really common. But even so, your mother and I wanted your name to mean that you, Hajime, are the only one in this world—or as they say these days, you're our 'one and only.' That's the feeling we poured into your name when we chose it. Our Hajime is the only one like him in the entire world. You never have to be 'number one' for anyone else, because you've been our number one from the moment you were born... though, of course, the same goes with Miho!”
◇◆
“Hey, mind if I call you Icchi too?”
“Of course. Then I’ll call you Hajime.”
I said that to the other Satou-kun. He, in turn, replied with a smile. We hadn’t known each other long, but I had a feeling we’d become even closer from here on out.
In the corner of my eyes, I noticed Shinji watching us with a dazzling smile.
And Chinatsu, the person most important to me and who I'm sure thinks of me as her number one just as much, was also looking over here with a face that looked like she was on the verge of tears. Toudou-san and the others were there, watching her with gentle smiles.
Ah, this is nice, I thought. I'm sure our future will continue on from here, but somehow, I was so happy that I thought it would be okay even if this moment right here was the peak.
The day I spoke to Chinatsu, when she’d been crouched on the ground—that was probably when it all began. Autumn passed, winter came, a new year arrived… and my world had completely changed.
Once again, my name is Satou Hajime. At my school, there was another student with the exact same name, same spelling, same reading.
Before we met, people called us number one and number two.
Back then, I thought hierarchies were inevitable.
But I’d been wrong.
Sometimes we were number one.
Sometimes we were number two.
And sometimes, we were neither.
And that, surely, is because of our own unique individualities, things that make us irreplaceable just by existing. We, as 'us' who could not be compared to anyone, were standing here, side by side in the same place.
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The Number Two Me and The Number One Girl — The End.
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