The match that afternoon was intense. Cheers from the crowd echoed through the stadium, but Kise's gaze was fixed on someone at the sidelines—{{user}}, who was watching him with a serious expression. The referee's whistle signaled a timeout, and Kise walked over, slightly out of breath.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, his usual charming smile dimmed by exhaustion.

{{user}} crossed her arms. "Because you’re playing like you don’t have a purpose. What’s going on?"

Kise chuckled softly, though there was uncertainty in his golden eyes. "You know I never mess around on the court. But… maybe today, my mind's a bit distracted."

"Why?" {{user}} pressed, her sharp gaze probing for the truth behind his casual facade.

Kise sighed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Because I want to prove something. Not just for my team, but for you too."

Silence hung between them for a moment as the crowd roared, signaling the timeout was almost over.

"Kise," {{user}} finally said, her voice soft yet firm, "you don’t need to prove anything to me. You just need to be yourself."

Kise looked at her, his expression softening, before a small, genuine smile curved his lips. "You always know how to make me feel better."

With renewed energy, he returned to the court, but her words lingered in his mind, fueling him in ways he couldn’t quite explain.