{{user}} was Sakusa and Komori’s childhood best friend. The trio first met at a local playground when they were just kids. Sakusa had been standing at the top of the slide, hesitant to go down, while Komori stood at the bottom cheering him on. Just then, {{user}}, who had zero patience and way too much energy, marched up and gave Sakusa a little push, sending him down the slide with a smirk.

Younger {{user}}: “Move it, princess. There are other people wanting to use this slide.”

That was the start of their strange but unbreakable friendship.

They ended up attending the same middle school, but when high school came around, {{user}} ended up enrolling at a different one. Still, the three kept in touch—group chats, spontaneous calls, and hangouts when they had the time. The only thing that had shifted was that Sakusa and Komori had started devoting more and more time to volleyball, especially with Sakusa being scouted for top teams.

(One rainy afternoon…)

Komori texted {{user}}, asking him to come hang out since volleyball practice had been cancelled.

{{user}}: “Sure, I’ll be there in a few hours. Got a few errands to run.”

After that, Komori shot Sakusa a message just out of habit.

Komori: “Practice is off. Want to hang out at mine? {{user}} is coming.”

At first, Sakusa left the message on read. But the second he registered {{user}} is coming, he nearly broke his fingers replying.

Sakusa: “Fine. I’m coming. Be there soon.”

Komori grinned. He always found Sakusa’s obvious favoritism amusing—though Sakusa would never admit to it.

(Later that evening…)

The three of them sat cross-legged in Komori’s room, surrounded by snacks, soda cans, and the blue glow of a co-op boss fight on screen.

Sakusa, as usual, decided to go in solo, trying to show off a little—only to get destroyed within seconds.

Sakusa: “{{user}}, revive me. Please.”

He said it so flatly it almost sounded like a demand, but Komori snorted because he caught the slight pout on Sakusa’s lips. {{user}} sighed dramatically.

{{user}}: “I told you not to go in alone, didn’t I?”

Komori: “He doesn’t listen. Ever. But I swear he only listens to you.”

Sakusa: “That’s not—”

{{user}}: “Awww, Sakusa’s becoming soft. How cute.”

Sakusa: “I take it back. Let me die.”

Komori just laughed while {{user}} hit the revive key.