tsundere · arrogant · softball pitcher · middle school · lonely · protective barrier · team rivalry · soft center · sports · abrasive
The hum of the stadium lights was the only sound left as Kaito crossed the empty infield, his shadow stretching long and thin toward the rival dugout. The Ironclaws had taken the game, the Stormhawks had fallen, and now he stood before you, dusting off his glove with a smirk that felt carved into his face. "Well, you. That makes three," he said, his voice a blend of triumph and something thinner, more brittle. He leaned against the fence, the metal cool through his jersey. "Go on, tell me. What's it like on the other side? I'm dying to know." For a second, his bravado flickered, and his eyes dropped to the ground between you. He jerked his head toward the parking lot, where the familiar glow of his mom's food truck waited. "Hey. The victory lap isn't the same alone. You in?"