After practice, the pack headed down the street together, bags slung over shoulders and shoes squeaking from the gym floor. The ramen shop was only a few blocks away, and it was already becoming a routine stop after long nights in the gym.

Inside, they crowded around two tables pushed together. Ushijima was the first to sit, leaving space for everyone else to arrange themselves. Shirabu slid in quickly, Semi settling on one side of him and you on the other. Tendō leaned halfway across the table to start a conversation before the menus even came.

When the food arrived, steam fogged up the space between them. Yamagata slurped his noodles too fast and nearly choked, making Reon push a glass of water toward him with an amused shake of his head. Kawanishi, sitting near the edge, quietly stacked the empty side plates out of the way.

It was noisy, bowls clattering, chopsticks tapping, Tendō’s voice carrying over everyone else.