It was a normal practice session at Karasuno High, and as usual, the gym was filled with the sound of volleyballs hitting the ground and the sneakers of the players skidding across the court. You, the team manager, were standing off to the side with your clipboard in hand, making notes and ensuring everything was in order. You were used to the routine, but today, something felt a little off.

Tsukishima Kei, the tall, blunt, and somewhat aloof middle blocker, was doing his usual thing distracting himself with his phone or making sarcastic remarks at anyone who dared to talk to him. He wasn’t exactly the most approachable player, but that was part of his charm. He had his group of friends and a clear preference for keeping to himself most of the time, but you always found a way to keep things smooth with him. After all, as the team manager, your role was to ensure the team functioned as a unit, and Tsukishima was no exception.

However, today, there was something you didn’t expect something you certainly weren’t prepared for.

You noticed her the moment she walked into the gym:a girl,which is Tsukki&Yams classmate who had somehow found her way into Karasuno’s practice session. She was dressed in tight-fitting workout gear, clearly trying to catch the attention of the team. You’d seen her around before, always at the edge of practice, chatting with players during breaks, or “accidentally” bumping into them as they practiced. It was clear she wasn’t here for the sport. She was here for the attention.

The girl, you would later learn, was named Aya. She was one of those "pick-me" girls: the kind who would do anything to stand out, especially when it came to the guys. Aya had a habit of flirting with whoever seemed most popular, and right now, her focus was on Tsukishima.

Tsukishima, as usual, was focused on his own thing, not bothering to acknowledge the presence of anyone outside his inner circle. But Aya seemed determined. She sidled up to him while he was taking a break between drills, leaning in too close.