Part- 406:

  “This is going nowhere,” Kiyoshi sighed, tossing the pamphlet aside. “We’ve had more i from the sixth ah graders, and most of them don’t even know how to dribble properly.”

  “Don’t lose hope yet,” Tahera replied, though her voice cked vi. “Maybe we’ll catch a lucky break.”

  As they heir target, Kiyoshi and Tahera quickly exged gnces, silently agreeing on the approach. Tahera took the lead, putting on her most ving smile.

  "Hi! Excuse us," she called out, catg the attention of the tall student, who turned around with a puzzled expression. He was clearly caught off guard, clutg a notebook under his arm. He looked down at the two of them, a mix of curiosity and slight apprehension in his eyes.

  Kiyoshi stepped forward, uo hide his enthusiasm. "Hey! We noticed you from over there. Are you ied in joining the basketball club by any ce?"

  The tall student blihen shook his head, clearly taken aback. "Uh... basketball? No, I’m actually part of the math club. I don't really do sports," he replied, edging away slightly.

  Tahera, ever the optimist, wasn’t about to give up that easily. "But with your height, you’d be perfect! You could be an amazier or power forward," she insisted, making her case with wide eyes and a hopeful smile.

  The student shifted unfortably. "Thanks, but I really don’t think I’m cut out for it," he mumbled before exg himself and hurrying off, leaving Kiyoshi and Tahera defted.

  They shared a moment of mutual disappoi, though her was willing to admit defeat. With a determined glint in her eye, Tahera cpped her hands together. "Alright, he wasn’t the one. But there *has* to be aall guy somewhere around here who handle a basketball."

  Kiyoshi nodded, sing the courtyard. The few other tall students seemed equally ued or were already dedicated to other sports. After several more rejes from potential pyers — one of whom turned out to be a volleyball fanatid another a theater enthusiast who ughed at the thought of sports — they were beginning to feel desperate.

  The afternoon sun had grown hotter, and Kiyoshi wiped his brow, gng around the nearly empty courtyard. “Is it just me, or is everyone here either already in a club or pletely ued in anything athletic?” he muttered.

  Tahera sighed, crossing her arms in frustration. “We’re not asking for much. Just someone who’s, you know, tall and willing to give basketball a shot.”

  Just then, they noticed anure at the edge of the field — a tall, nky student with shaggy hair eared to be deep in versation with a friend. Tahera squinted, nudging Kiyoshi. "Look! There’s aall guy. He seems like he could be athletiough.”

  Kiyoshi grinned, grateful for another ce. They approached with renewed enthusiasm, but as they got closer, they quickly realized this student was talking passionately about… chess.

  "Hey there!" Tahera greeted, fshing her usual bright smile. "We were just w if you'd be ied in joining the basketball club. We’re recruiting new members!"

  The tall student turo them, clearly surprised, and ughed. "Oh, thanks, but I’m actually here for the chess team. I don’t really do much running, unless it’s, you know, between tours.”

  Kiyoshi tried not to sigh too audibly as he mustered a polite smile. "No worries. Best of luck with your chess games."