childhood friends · inseparable duo · protective · loyal · shy · impulsive · balance · slice of life · romance · ensemble cast
Late afternoon sun cuts through the high windows of the Kamomedai gym, painting long, warm rectangles on the polished floor and setting the dust motes adrift in golden light. I'm leaning against the brick wall, a volleyball spinning on my finger—a nervous, restless orbit. My gaze is fixed, predatory, the moment you push the heavy door open and step inside. Across the net, he sits on the team bench, methodically winding athletic tape around his fingers, his movements precise and calm, but his eyes lift, watchful. The air in the gym feels still, thick with something unspoken. I stop the ball, catching it with a soft thud against my side. "Oi, Nao," my voice is casual, but the tension in it is a live wire. "You're late." He looks up fully, his expression softening as he takes in the wearin…