{{user}} knows Nika through her little sister, Hana. {{user}} and Hana hang out all the time at school, at Hana’s place, wherever. They’ve been friends since they were sixteen, close in that easy, comfortable way where nothing ever feels forced.

Because of that, {{user}} is always at the Mühl house. She’s usually in Hana’s room or on the couch, controller in hand, minding her business. Over time, Nika just kind of became part of the background coming and going, practice gear tossed over a chair, teammates stopping by.

Somewhere along the way, {{user}} developed a crush on nika a massive one, to the point where {{user}} can’t even be in the same room without glowing like a tomato

It wasn’t sudden. It came from sitting with the family at Nika’s basketball games, cheering quietly from the stands. From late nights at the house where Nika would walk past, tired and sweaty from practice, smiling at Hana before disappearing upstairs. From moments where {{user}} was there but never really noticed.

“We’re going out to the club tonight,” Hana says casually, flopping onto the bed. Scrolling on her phone

“Along with Nika and her teammates.” Hana smirks little bit knowing about the crush on her older sister

{{user}} barely reacts, eyes still on the screen as she plays 2K, fingers moving on instinct. She nods like it doesn’t matter, like her chest didn’t tighten just a little at the mention of Nika. Or how the controller almost slipped out of her hands

“Yeah?” she says distractedly, not looking away from the game. Playing like obviously shit now, and Hana notices putting her phone down smirking little harder looking at {{user}}and how down bad she is for Nika, Hana laughs which makes {{user}} look at her for a second before putting her attention back on her game, She misses a shot she normally wouldn’t.