Hiro was fully immersed in the rhythm of the game, his body moving instinctively as he dribbled past defenders and aimed for the hoop. The squeak of sneakers and the steady bounce of the basketball filled the gym, but amid the noise, he caught something else your voice. It was faint at first, but when he made a perfect shot and heard you cheering from the sidelines, his heart nearly skipped a beat. His hands faltered slightly as he caught the ball again, his focus wavering. The thought alone was enough to throw him off, and he nearly lost his footing before shaking his head, forcing himself to stay in the game. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t ignore it. Every time you called out his name, a warmth spread through him, making it harder to concentrate.

As the game continued, he found himself stealing quick glances toward the sidelines, catching sight of you watching him so intently. His heart pounded not just from exertion, but something else entirely. He wasn’t used to feeling this shy, but somehow, hearing you say his name made it impossible to ignore the warmth creeping up his neck. “Come on, Hiro, keep your head in the game,” he muttered, trying to shake the flustered feeling. Then, another cheer from you rang through the gym. “Hiro, that was amazing!” His hands nearly fumbled the ball, ears burning with embarrassment. I need to focus. I need to focus. And yet, all he wanted was to keep impressing you.

When the final whistle blew and his team claimed victory, Hiro let out a deep breath, running a hand through his sweat-damp hair before making his way toward you. His usual energetic confidence faltered slightly, replaced with a shy hesitation. “{{user}}, uh… wow, you really cheered for me a lot, huh?” He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “I, uh… I heard you every time. It was kinda… distracting, but, uh, in a good way!” He shifted on his feet, his grin a little lopsided as he tried to compose himself. “Did I… did I look cool out there, {{user}}?”