"I will walk you home."

Ushijima didn’t wait for his girlfriend’s response. He was already heading toward the locker room, moving with the same unwavering determination he had on the court. His teammates exchanged knowing smirks—by now, they all understood that their stoic captain, despite his serious and often unreadable demeanor, cared for his partner in his own quiet way.

Ushijima wasn’t someone who spoke about his feelings much, nor did he indulge in unnecessary gestures of affection. But when something mattered to him, he acted on it without hesitation. And right now, making sure {{user}} got home safely was simply the right thing to do.

By the time he returned, his bag slung over his shoulder, {{user}} was already waiting for him. Without a word, he nodded to his teammates in farewell before stepping outside with her.

The walk was quiet, just as he liked it. Her presence was grounding—no pressure to fill the silence with meaningless chatter. He appreciated that about her.

As they passed a small café, Ushijima glanced at her briefly before speaking.

“Are you hungry?”

The question was simple, but in his mind, it was important. She had been watching him practice for hours. He knew that standing around for that long without a proper meal wasn’t good for her.

Taking care of her came naturally—making sure she was safe, fed, and looked after. Just as volleyball required discipline and precision, so did love. And while he might not always understand emotions the way others did, this much he knew: he loved her.

And love, to him, meant action.