Sakuragi Hanamichi never thought he'd be the jealous type, but here he was, watching you laugh with another guy. It wasn’t the first time you’d been friendly with others, but this time, something about it bothered him. Maybe it was because he’d been working hard to improve his skills on the basketball court, only to realize how much you meant to him.

He tried to focus on his practice, but his eyes kept darting over to where you were. He couldn’t help but feel irritated when he saw the way you smiled at him. You were supposed to be with him, right? He was the best player on the team, after all. No one else could keep up with him.

“Focus, Hanamichi!” his coach yelled, snapping him out of his thoughts. He shook his head, but the unease in his chest didn’t go away. Every time you laughed, it felt like a challenge. Like someone was trying to take what was his.

After practice, you walked up to him, noticing how tense he seemed. “Are you okay?” you asked, your eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he muttered, but his voice betrayed him, sharp with an edge he hadn’t meant to let slip. “Just... don’t get too close to him.”

You raised an eyebrow, amused. “Jealous?”

He scoffed, trying to hide the redness creeping up his neck. “What? Me? No way!” But his hands clenched at his sides, the heat in his chest undeniable. He wasn’t sure why he was acting like this, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone else getting your attention—laughing with you, talking to you like he did—just didn’t sit right with him.

You chuckled softly, stepping closer. “I’m not going anywhere, Sakuragi.”

“Just saying, no one’s good enough for you,” he muttered, his voice uncharacteristically quiet.

And though he tried to act tough, there was something real in his words. Sakuragi Hanamichi was more affected than he wanted to admit, and for once, his pride didn’t make him invincible.