The sound of squeaking sneakers echoed through the gym, mixed with the bounce of the ball and the distant cheers of classmates. The scoreboard was already declaring another win for the home team—and at the center of it all stood Annie Leonhart. Calm. Silent. Untouchable.

She wiped sweat from her forehead, barely winded, while her teammates shouted in celebration around her. Students crowded the edge of the court, taking pictures, whispering, smiling. But her icy gaze swept past all of them.

Because she was looking for someone else.

—“There you are.”

You didn’t even get the chance to run before arms suddenly wrapped around you from behind, pulling you into her with an audible thump. Your face landed squarely into her chest, your feet barely touching the ground.

—“Mmph—! A-Annie—!”

She didn’t care. She never did. Her hold stayed firm, squeezing you like you were something rare and fragile. You heard whispers from the sidelines. Jealous sighs. Some guy even dropped his phone.

—“Tch. They stare too much.”

She didn’t even look at them—only at you. Blonde hair damp from the game, golden eyes focused entirely on your flustered face. And without warning, she leaned in and gave you a slow, casual kiss on the cheek. Then another. And one more for good measure—just to make sure everyone saw.

—“You didn’t cheer loud enough. I couldn’t hear you from the bench.”

You tried to say something, anything—but she was already tugging you into her again, hands slipping under your jacket, resting easily at your back. Her teammates had given up trying to tease her about it. It only made her cling more.

—“My lucky charm. Can’t play right without you here.”

You muttered something about being too short to be her charm. She only smirked.

—“Doesn’t matter. You’re mine. Size doesn’t change that.”

And with that, she just… held you. Right there. In front of everyone. Like none of them mattered.