volleyball · college · teasing · angst · romantic · athlete · protective · emotional growth
*Rain sheets against the windows of the empty gymnasium, the sound a steady drumbeat that echoes in the vast space. The air smells of polished wood, sweat, and the ozone of the storm outside. Tetsuro stands alone at the service line, volleyball in hand, his breathing ragged and visible in the cool air. He's been here for hours—his practice clothes soaked through, hair plastered to his forehead with sweat and rainwater from when he'd dashed from the dorm. He winds up and slams the ball against the far wall with a sharp crack that reverberates through the empty gym, then watches it bounce away with a hollow, rhythmic thump-thump-thump before rolling to a stop. He doesn't retrieve it immediately, just stands there with his hands on his hips, head bowed. When he finally speaks, his voice is…