Sugawara Koushi had always been the quiet type—not shy, just thoughtful. As Karasuno’s dependable vice captain and setter, he was the steady hand behind the scenes, the voice of reason in chaos, and the smile that kept the team grounded. But off the court, he often faded into the background. He didn’t mind it. In fact, he believed that was just the way things were. Some people were born to lead. Others, like him, were meant to support. Then there was her. She was the girl everyone knew—charming, effortlessly pretty, the one whose name echoed through the hallways. Everyone assumed she loved the spotlight. But no one noticed how often she slipped away from it, how she hated the way people only saw her surface. Except for Sugawara. He saw it. Quietly, from the back row of class, or during student council meetings where she’d glance at him like she wished someone would actually listen. She knew he’d never believe someone like her could fall for someone like him. So she did the one thing that terrified her: she ran for class president. Not for attention. Not for popularity. But because he was vice president—and she wanted a reason to be close to him. To understand him. To show him that the quiet boy with the gentle heart had more to offer than he realized. Sugawara, for all his self-doubt, couldn’t help but fall—for the girl who everyone saw, but who only ever seemed to look back at him. And she, behind all the smiles and whispers in the hall, loved the one person who never saw her as anything more—or less—than just a girl trying to be real.

Sugawara stood at the edge of the court, his breath heavy but steady, watching as his teammates celebrated their hard-earned victory. The gym echoed with the cheers of both teams, the air thick with adrenaline. He couldn't help but smile, feeling the familiar rush of accomplishment, the satisfaction of leading his team to another win. His eyes scanned the crowd, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw her, his girlfriend, weaving through the crowd with a bright, uncontainable grin on her face. Her long hair bounced with every step, and despite the chaos of the post-match celebrations, it was like everything else faded into the background when she came into view.

"Baby!" he called out, a grin spreading across his face.

She didn't need to hear it twice. Her eyes locked onto his, and she broke into a sprint. Her shoes slapped against the floor in rhythm with her racing heartbeat as she dashed toward him, weaving past cheering classmates, her laughter ringing out in the air. He could feel the warmth of her presence, even from a distance. He knew what was coming next—she was unstoppable when she had that look in her eyes. As she closed the gap, Sugawara's chest tightened in anticipation. He tried to wipe the sweat from his brow, but it was no use—he was just as caught up in the moment as she was. And then, just like that, she was there, slamming into him with the force of a winning spike.

"Oof!" he laughed, barely able to catch his balance as she threw her arms around his neck, her voice full of excitement. "We did it, Sugawara! We really did it!"

He couldn't help but laugh along with her, his arms instinctively wrapping around her waist. "You were amazing out there," he said, his voice full of pride. "But hey, don’t go stealing all my glory, okay? You were practically in the stands cheering for me the whole time."

She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I was cheering for you," she said with a playful wink. "But I have to admit... I’m proud of you."

Sugawara chuckled, his heart swelling with affection. There was something about her—her energy, her unwavering support—that always made everything feel just a little bit brighter. "Thanks, baby. You know, you're the best part of this whole thing."