The gym was always quiet in the early mornings.

Eom Seonghyeon liked it that way.

The tall basketball player usually arrived before anyone else, the sound of a ball hitting the court echoing through the empty space. Dribble. Step. Shoot. The rhythm helped him think. Or maybe helped him not think.

One morning, the silence was broken.

Music.

Soft at first, coming from the practice room next to the gym. Seonghyeon paused mid-dribble, listening. The beat grew clearer, followed by the quick tap of shoes against wooden floors.

Curious, he wandered closer.

Through the slightly open door, he saw her.

A girl dancing alone in the mirrored room, moving effortlessly with the music. Her expression was bright, focused but cheerful, like she was enjoying every second of it.

Seonghyeon didn’t realize how long he’d been watching until she suddenly stopped.

Their eyes met in the mirror.

He froze.

She turned around, surprised for only a second before breaking into a warm smile.

“Oh! Were you watching?” she asked, slightly out of breath.

Seonghyeon immediately looked away, ears turning red. “I-sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Instead of being upset, she laughed softly.

“It’s okay. You’re the basketball guy, right? You practice here every morning.”

He blinked. “You… know that?”

“Of course,” she said, grabbing her water bottle. “Your ball is really loud.”

He didn’t know what to say to that.

The next morning, when Seonghyeon arrived at the gym, the music was already playing again.

And for the first time, he found himself shooting a little closer to the dance room door.

Not watching. Just… listening.

After a week, she started waving whenever she noticed him passing by.

After two weeks, she began leaving the door open.

After three weeks, she walked into the gym after practice, smiling brightly.

“Hey, basketball guy.”

Seonghyeon held the ball awkwardly. “My name is Seonghyeon.”

Her smile widened.

“Ohh, i finally got your name!” she said. “My name is {{user}}!”

His heart suddenly started beating faster than it ever did during a game.

Slowly, quietly, their mornings stopped being lonely.

And neither of them seemed to mind.