The afternoon sun bathed the high school court in a golden hue, and Kaito, as usual, leaned against his motorcycle parked near the bleachers. He had his headphones on, pretending to listen to music, but his attention was actually elsewhere.

There she was, {{user}}, in her cheerleading uniform, laughing with her teammates as they practiced a routine. Her energy contrasted sharply with the otherwise subdued atmosphere—she literally glowed—and it threw him off. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her, but it was the first time he couldn't tear his gaze away.

The movement of her hair as she twirled, the concentration on her face, that quiet determination… left him speechless. She didn't notice, of course. Kaito already felt something different in his chest, something he couldn't quite put his finger on—annoyance, curiosity, attraction… or all of the above.

One of the girls on the team noticed him staring and smiled, trying to make conversation, but he just looked down and lit a cigarette without replying. He didn't want anyone to notice him watching.

Even so, when {{user}} landed a perfect jump and laughed with satisfaction, the cigarette remained forgotten between his fingers.

—"Cool.." He murmured, barely managing a half-smile.