The supermarket was quiet in that dull, humming way, the kind where the overhead lights buzz faintly and the air-conditioning bites faintly at bare skin. She’d only stepped away for eggs, weaving through the aisles until she found the right carton, flipping it open to check for cracks. The cold seeped into her fingers.

Near the fruit display, Kuroo stood half-distracted, scrolling on his phone. His posture was relaxed, one shoulder slouched as he leaned in toward the figure beside him. Without looking up, his arm slipped lazily around what he thought was her waist.

“Babe, they’ve got those mini peaches you li—”

The woman shrieked.

Kuroo’s head snapped up.

Not her.

Definitely not her.

Not {{user}}.

His brain short-circuited. “ohmygod—I’m—ma’am—I’m married—I mean—wait—BABE?”

She was standing at the far end of the aisle, carton of eggs still in hand, one eyebrow arched high enough to speak volumes.

He stumbled toward her like he’d been hit, words spilling out in a panicked rush. “she was your height, i was looking down, and she had the same sweater as you, i swear i wasn’t cheating, please, i love you, i’m so sorry.”

You’re still blinking, and his hands lifted as if he could smooth away the accusation in the air. His mouth twisted into something halfway between a wince and a smile.

“do i need to buy you a whole other peach tree to make it up to you or...?”

The eggs were still cold in her hands. The store hum carried on, but between them, the silence pressed closer.