Chinatsu Kano/Synopsis

## History

Before playing youth basketball, Chinatsu used to play basketball with her mum, an alumni and former member of Eimei's Basketball Club.

One year prior to the start of the series, Chinatsu's school's basketball team failed to make it to nationals, barely missing the chance. She was seen practicing in the gym with tears in her eyes by Taiki. But eventually, she forgot about the emotions she felt that day.

## Plot

    Chinatsu is practicing in the school's gymnasium when she accidentally hits Taiki in the face with her basketball. She apologizes to him and asks to see his head. She comments that the bruise must hurt, but Taiki tells her that he is fine. Before leaving, she decides to give him a chocolate bar as a way of saying sorry. The next day, Chinatsu is sitting outside the gym waiting for it to be open. When Taiki sees her sniffle, he immediately offers his scarf. He continues by offering different things from inside his bag. She smiles at him, which causes him to ask what is wrong. She jokingly tells him that she is waiting to see what he will pull out of his bag next. Chinatsu laughs and tells him that she appreciated the gesture. When Taiki sneezes, she takes the scarf and wrap it around him. She tells him not to catch a cold and calls him by his name. Shocked, he asks her how she knows his name. She tells him that is a good question and responds by saying he has a good mom. With those words, she heads inside of the gym. Some time during practice, she is talking outside with the basketball coach.

After practice, she stays behind to practice some more. Taiki asks her why she is still practicing. She tells him that she wasn't satisfied with how she played earlier. He tells that it's not good to overwork herself. She agrees with but tells him that she wanted to feel the ball longer. When Chinatsu sees him staring at her, she throws the basketball at him and asks for a game. After some time, Chinatsu says they should take five as Taiki is exhausted. He apologizes for not being good, but she tells that he played as she expected for a badminton player. He tells about his mom being on the basketball team and how they played together sometimes. She also tells him that her mom was a basketball player and played with her as well. She asks if ever thought about joining the basketball team, but he tells he wouldn't be good with the team aspect. He goes on about how he loves playing badminton and likes the feeling of responsibility falling on him. Chinatsu says that he's masochistic but understands why he practices so hard.

Taiki tells her he can say the same about her as he remembers her practicing in the gym the day after graduating from junior high. He says he heard how the team barely made it to nationals at the time. When he saw how hard she was working, it made him realize that he should work just as hard. Hearing that story, Chinatsu looks down to the floor as she says she forgot about it. A coach comes into the gym telling them that it is time to go home. Chinatsu goes to put all of the basketballs back until she drops one. She and Taiki both grab the ball with their fingers touching. She thanks him for helping and leaves the gym.

The next day, she is practicing in the gym when Taiki comes rushing in. He tells her that she has to go to Nationals as she worked so hard for it. When he brings up her and her family moving overseas, she tells him that she's not going with them. This causes Taiki to be embarrassed, and he tries to leave. She explains to him that even though she will miss her family, she realized that she wanted to go to nationals. She says that it is all because of him and thanks him for it. She tosses the ball towards him and asks for another game. Taiki says they should try playing badminton as well, which she agrees to. On Sunday, Chinatsu and her mom are at Taiki's house which shocks him. Taiki's mother explains how Chinatsu will be living with them starting in the spring.

In the spring, she moves in with Inomata family who all greet her with affection. After unpacking, eating, and taking a bath, she enters Taiki's room to let him know that the bath is available for him. She sees him reading the new issue of Shonen Jump and tells him she hasn't had the chance to read it yet. He decides to let her borrow it which makes her happy. Chinatsu tells him that she is very lucky to know him as it makes her feel at ease living with his family.

At home after practice, she comes into Taiki's room wondering what he was watching. He says he was watching a recording of him from practice. Chinatsu asks if she could see it as she always watch him in the gym. She compliments him on shuttlecock and how fast he is. However, Taiki thinks the opposite and says he needs to improve. When he mentions Nationals, she asks what did he mean by that. He tries to deflect, but Chinatsu reminds him on telling her to go to Nationals. Taiki says that he is going. Chinatsu leaves the room and comes back gifting him a wish ribbon. She ties it around his ankle and tells him that she hopes his goal of making it to Nationals comes true. She wishes him a good night and goes to bed.

One morning during spring break, she comes downstairs to see Taiki heading out. He tells her that he wants to get in some practice as he's the lowest ranked member on his team. She bids him a farewell. At the gym, she tries to give Taiki his wallet, but he quickly snatches it and treats her like a complete stranger. She smiles and says he's welcome as she walks off. Later on, one of the coaches asks for her and the others help to move chairs. As they're helping with chairs, Hina decides to asks Chinatsu if she has a boyfriend. Chinatsu explains that she only wants to focus on the basketball team.

During spring break, she comes downstairs to find Taiki leaving. He tells her is getting in some more practice at the gym as he's the lowest ranking member of his team. She bids him a farewell. Later, at the gym, she tries to give him his wallet. However, Taiki quickly snatches it and treats her like a stranger. Chinatsu smiles and says he's welcome as she walks away. One of the coaches asks for her and the others helps moving chairs. Hina decides to asks Chinatsu if she has a boyfriend. Chinatsu tells her that she only wants to focus on the team.

While practicing, Chinatsu falls on the court which Taiki notices. She heads to go get herself some water. Taiki comes in and asks if she's okay from the fall. She tells him that she is fine, but asks him about pretending not to know her. Taiki explains that he is embarrassed by them living together. He thought people would start making up rumors about them if they found out, which could possibly affect their team activities. Chinatsu interrupts him by asking if that was the reason his behavior earlier. He asks her what she thought it was. She tells him that she thought he was treating her like a stranger because he had a crush on Hina. Taiki calls her dummy and begins to laugh. Chinatsu gets a little mad and slightly elbows him as Hina is watching the two from outside.

After the first day of the new school year, Chinatsu is practicing in the gym as many guys are watching her with awe. She and another team member are complimenting the rhythm gymnastics team after seeing Hina practice. Later on after practice, Taiki and Hina see her walking and laughing with Haryu.

The next day, Chinatsu is talking with Haryu at practice as Taiki secretly watches. Later on, when she runs into Taiki, she asks him what time will he be leaving practice as she forgot her key at home. He tells her he will be done at 7 just as Haryu interrupts their conversation. Taiki watches in silence as they converse in front of him. At home, Chinatsu comes home and notes how fast Taiki got there. She wonders if he raced home to prevent her from waiting outside the house. He lies that he did it as part of his training and watches as he leaves to go run some more.

The badminton club matches have began and Chinatsu is with her friends talking to Haryu about his performance so far. Before leaving, she wishes him good luck on his upcoming match. Later on, Chinatsu watches the first half of Taiki's match with Haryu before rejoining her team. The second half of the match begins. Both boys are playing their hardest which gathers everyone's attention including Chinatsu. After gym, she catches up to Taiki and tells him to follow her to the park. She shows him two rackets as she reminds about how he said they should play sometime. Plus, she thought he would want to practice some more, which he agrees with. Chinatsu has a hard time serving the shuttlecock, so Taiki gives her tips on how to do so.

As they play, she brings up his match with Haryu; but, Taiki is disappointed with the results. Chinatsu tells him how he scored 11 of the 21 points in the second half which stuns him. However, Taiki says that a loss is still a loss. Chinatsu smiles as he is very competitive. She compliments him on he works to improve any criticism of his performance and says he will be okay. They continue to play with each other until Yukiko texts wondering when will they be home. Taiki says he will stay a while longer to practice more. Besides, he tells her how embarrassing it is for him to be seen going to the same house a girl. Hearing those words, Chinatsu leaves as she thinks about what he said.

One day after school, Chinatsu is talking with Haryu and their classmates. Haryu calls Taiki over and starts discussing his skills as a badminton player. As they all converse, Chinatsu mouths to Taiki that he is doing a good job. A month has passed by since Chinatsu has moved in with the Inomata family. She greets him at breakfast and watches as he heads out. Later on at school, she texts him that he grabbed her uniform by mistake. They agree to meet each other in the AV room to swap uniforms. However, due it to being preoccupied, Chinatsu texts Taiki to meet her on the roof. When he makes it to the roof, she expresses relief that he made it. The bell rings and Chinatsu decides to get dressed on the roof. This freaks Taiki out as he turns around while listening to her change clothes. Chinatsu thanks him for waiting while she changed. She tells him that they should leave for class, but he tells her to go ahead. She thanks him again and heads to her gym class.

Chinatsu comes outside wondering why Taiki is practicing late at night. She tells him that his shirt is inside out. Taiki fixes his shirt and notices Chinatsu is blushing at him. She comments on him having abs now from his training. However, Taiki says it doesn't mean he has improved his skills in badminton. Hearing his words, Chinatsu presses a pressure point on his head as a way to relax him. She tells him not to think about anything else and just show others how well he plays. Chinatsu says he two more years left, which causes him to think about her leaving in two years as well. He frowns and bids her a good night. This confused Chinatsu as she watches him go inside.

The next day, she is at home talking with Yukiko about Taiki. They both talk about how hard Taiki is practicing at badminton. Chinatsu brings up how her last conversation with him probably gave him the wrong idea. She explains how envious she feels of Taiki as he has two years of school left compared to her one. She realizes that she was just broadcasting her insecurities instead of cheering him up. At that moment, Taiki comes into the room pretending he didn't overhear their conversation. He declares that he will win the singles tournament before going to his room. Chinatsu and Yukiko talk about his sudden confidence with Chinatsu saying she could learn from him.

The next week, Chinatsu and her teammate arrive to the singles tournament. She asks who is playing and feigns ignorance about knowing Taiki. When everyone moves down closer to the match, Kyo asks if she will come too. Chinatsu tells him no as she wants to stay where she is. Kyo informs her that he knows about her and Taiki's living situation. He explains what the stakes are in the current match between Taiki and Ichiro. Because there is nothing in it for Taiki if he wins, he asks if Chinatsu would take him to the aquarium or somewhere else. Kyo tells her how she has become a big influence on Taiki. As she hears these words and watches the match, she agrees to take Taiki to the aquarium.