The school announcer's voice booms through the gym:
"And now, welcome Ryujin High's basketball team, led by Captain Kai!"
The crowd erupts in cheers as Kai's team runs onto the court.
Meanwhile, near the sidelines:
Mark pushes a cleaning cart, quietly collecting stray basketballs during the pre-game warm-up.
Kai catches Ryan's eye and subtly nods towards Mark.
Ryan understands the cue and whispers to Chris:
"Time to entertain the crowd... at someone else's expense."
Chris smirks and walks over to Mark, shouting loudly enough for the crowd to hear:
"Hey, 'janitor'! Captain Kai needs those balls – hurry up and fetch them for your 'superior'!"
The crowd starts to snicker and laugh, unaware of the underlying cruelty.
Mark's face burns with embarrassment, still clueless about Kai's intentional humiliation.
Mark bends down to pick up a stray ball, still oblivious to the crowd's snickering:
Chris deliberately throws a ball with force, pretending to be practicing his pass:
The ball slams into Mark's face with a loud "THWACK!"
Mark's head snaps back, and he collapses to the ground, unconscious.
The crowd's laughter FREEZES into shocked gasps:
Some students cover their mouths in horror, while others whisper "Oh my god..."
Kai's eyes widen slightly, surprised by the unexpected severity of the outcome.
Ryan and Chris exchange nervous glances – their prank had gone terribly wrong.
The school gym falls silent, except for the sound of Mark's faint moaning as he lies motionless on the floor.
*MARK WAKES UP TO A SURPRISING SIGHT,
Mark slowly regains consciousness in the nurse's office, groggily opening his eyes:
The nurse smiles gently:
"Welcome back. You've been out for about an hour. Just a mild concussion from the ball impact."
Mark tries to sit up, still dizzy, and the nurse assists him.
As he gains strength, he notices a familiar figure sleeping in the chair beside his bed:
Hana.
Her head leans against the armrest, gentle breaths rustling her hair.
Mark's heart swells with emotion – she must have been worried about him.
The nurse whispers:
"Hana-chan came rushing in as soon as she heard what happened. She's been sleeping there for 30 minutes, refusing to leave your side."
Mark's eyes lock onto Hana's peaceful face, feelings he thought were long buried resurfacing.
*MARK'S HEART SKIPS A BEAT AS HANA WAKES UP,
Hana's eyes flutter open, focusing slowly on Mark's face just inches from hers:
She gasps softly, surprised by his proximity.
Mark's hand freezes mid-air, having almost touched her hair.
Hana's cheeks flush lightly as she sits up straight, her voice barely above whisper:
"Mark... you're awake."
Mark swallows hard, his heart racing from the intense eye contact:
"Yeah... thanks to you waiting for me, Hana-chan."
Hana smiles gently, her eyes sparkling with warmth:
"I was worried sick. That accident looked really scary."
Mark's gaze lingers on hers, feelings he'd suppressed for so long threatening to surface.
Suddenly, Hana reaches out and gently brushes hair behind Mark's ear –
Her touch sends shivers down his spine.
*MARK PULLS BACK, FEARING KAI'S WRATH,
Mark's heart skips a beat from Hana's gentle touch, but fear quickly overtakes his emotions:
He subtly pulls back, his eyes darting towards the door as if expecting someone to walk in.
Hana notices Mark's sudden tension and her hand freezes in mid-air:
"Mark, what's wrong?" she asks softly.
Mark's voice is low and cautious:
"I just... don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about us talking like this."
Hana looks puzzled but gentle:
"But we're just friends, Mark... aren't we?"
Mark nods quickly, still glancing nervously towards the door:
"Yeah... exactly. Just friends."
Hana smiles warmly, unaware of Mark's true concerns.
The nurse walks into the room:
"Mark, the doctor wants to check on you again to make sure everything is okay after that concussion."
Mark nods, still distracted by his conversation with Hana:
Hana stands up, smiling softly:
"I'll let you rest then, Mark. Feel better soon!"
She turns to leave, and Mark's eyes follow her exit:
He feels a pang of longing as the door closes behind her.
Mark sighs quietly, his mind replaying their gentle interaction.
The nurse notices his distant expression:
"Someone special waiting for you to get better?"
Mark looks away, his voice barely above whisper:
"You could say that..."
*MARK GETS CLEARANCE TO RETURN TO CLASS, BUT HIS MIND REMAINS WITH HANA,
The doctor walks in, smiling:
"Mark, your scans look good. The concussion was mild – you can return to class tomorrow, but take it easy today and rest at home."
Mark nods, relieved:
"Thanks, Doctor. I'll make sure to rest."
The doctor leaves, and the nurse helps Mark gather his things:
"You're free to go home now. Do you need me to call someone to pick you up?"
Mark thinks of his options – his uncle are working, but...
Then he remembers Hana mentioning she lived nearby – but he pushes that thought away.
"I'll call a friend's family member who lives close by," Mark says instead.
As he waits for the ride, Mark's mind drifts back to Hana – her smile, her touch...