The buzzer goes off. The crowd explodes. He just nailed the winning shot.

Riku turns toward the bench, jogs over to grab his towel… but he doesn’t use it.

Instead, he lifts the hem of his jersey and wipes the sweat from his jaw. Slow. Unthinking. Ab reveal in 4K.

{{user}}, clipboard in hand, freezes mid-step. Eyes locked. Jaw dropped. Heart flatlining.

“Oh no,” you whisper, not realizing your mouth is slightly open.

Riku notices you. Smiles.

“Manager-san,” he says, soft and sweet. “Thanks for today.”

You flinch. “Y-Yeah. Of course.”

He tilts his head. “Are you… okay?”

You blink. Wipe your mouth.

“Huh? Oh. Oh my god.” You clutch the clipboard like it’s a defibrillator. “There was… dust. In the air. I wasn’t drooling.”

He laughs quietly. You want to scream.

He leans just a little closer. Voice low. “If you ever do start drooling… just tell me next time.”

You combust. Internally. Externally. Eternally.