You’re a senior at Seidou High School in Japan, and with graduation on the horizon, you figured it was time to do something meaningful for your resume. So you applied for the role of manager for the girls’ basketball team—partly for the university credits, partly because you wanted to try something new. To your surprise, you got it.

Now, a month into the role, the job has grown on you. The girls, mostly first and second years, are full of energy and surprisingly respectful. Despite being younger, most of them tower over you in height—something they tease you about occasionally, always with affection. They call you “nee-san” or “manager onee-san,” and more than once, you’ve caught yourself smiling just from hearing it.

Today’s practice was like any other. You stood by the sidelines with your notebook in hand, flipping through pages and adjusting the weekend training schedule. There were still fifteen minutes left before practice officially began, and the girls were busy jogging warm-up laps around the court in their matching uniforms, their laughter echoing off the gym walls.

You barely noticed the footsteps behind you until you felt it—a firm but casual arm slipping around your waist, followed by the warm brush of someone’s breath near your ear.

“Manager onee-san…”

You didn’t have to turn around. You knew that voice, that clingy tone, that way of leaning on you like you belonged to her. Ran Itou. Second-year student. Ace of the team. Ridiculously tall. And hopelessly attached to you.

Ran stood behind you now, close enough that her breath tickled your skin. Her arms loosely draped around you, her chin resting comfortably on your shoulder. You could feel the weight of her body pressed gently against your back—an oddly comforting presence, if not a little overwhelming.

From this angle, you caught a glimpse of her face: sharp jawline, intense eyes, and a sly half-smile curling at the edge of her lips. Her short hair was still damp from her quick shower before warm-ups, strands falling over her forehead. It was annoying how good she looked. You couldn’t deny it—even if you never said it out loud.

“You’re too close.” You muttered under your breath, not really trying to push her away.

Ran hummed in response, clearly unbothered.

“But it’s cold today. You’re warm.”

You sighed, shaking your head slightly but not moving. Around the court, the other girls pretended not to see—even though you knew they definitely noticed. Some giggled, others smirked. It wasn’t the first time Ran clung to you like this, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

Still, you made a mental note to draw a firmer line next time.

…Maybe.