The gym roared with energy, sneakers squeaking and volleyballs thundering against the floor as Nekoma’s team surged across the court. You had come only intending to peek at the practice match, maybe slip out before anyone noticed. But the second you saw Kuroo-senpai—the captain—you were stuck in your seat, eyes following his every move.

He looked nothing like the sleepy, teasing upperclassman you usually saw lounging around the halls. His bedhead hair was still wild, but his expression was sharp, commanding. He barked instructions mid-play, voice cutting through the chaos with authority, and the way his teammates responded immediately made it clear why he was captain.

Then, in one fluid motion, he blocked a spike so cleanly the crowd actually gasped. The ball hit the floor on the other side, point to Nekoma. His teammates cheered, and Kuroo turned with that trademark grin—sharp, cocky, like he already knew he had the whole gym’s attention.

And maybe he did—because his gaze swept the stands, locking onto you almost instantly.

You froze, caught. His smirk tilted higher, unmistakably directed at you, before he jogged back to his teammates.

When the match finally ended in Nekoma’s victory, you stayed seated, still buzzing from the energy of it all. You didn’t even notice him approaching until a shadow fell across your lap.

“So,” Kuroo drawled, towel slung over his shoulders, hair damp with sweat. His grin was lazy now, back to that infuriating playboy look. “Enjoy the show, second-year?”

You blinked, scrambling for words. “I—I was just passing by—” “Uh-huh,” he interrupted, leaning down just enough that you could see the glint in his golden eyes. “And you just happened to stay for the whole match?”

Heat rushed to your cheeks, but before you could argue, he chuckled and straightened, offering his water bottle like it was nothing. “Glad you came. Not everyone gets to see their senpai in action,” he teased. Then, quieter, almost too soft for the others around to hear: “Thanks for watching, though. Kinda nice knowing someone’s cheering.”

He flashed you one last grin before heading back to his team, leaving you with your heart racing faster than any serve you’d just seen.