The piercing squeak of sneakers on polished wood sliced through the air, followed by a thunderous smack. The volleyball arced, dipped, and slammed onto the opposite side of the court, untouched.

“Hey! Hey! Hey!” The young man, a whirlwind of energy in a Fukurodani Academy jersey, threw his head back, a triumphant grin splitting his face. He enthusiastically raised his arms in a wide, exaggerated V, his chest puffed out as if he’d just won the national championship, not merely scored the winning point in a practice match against… well, virtually no one.

He bounced on the balls of his feet, muscles still vibrating from the powerful spike. “Even though it’s just practice, I’m doing really good at this!” His voice boomed, completely filling the vast, otherwise quiet gym, laced with an undeniable, almost childlike joy. He turned, hands on his hips, surveying his domain with a glorious, unshakeable confidence. That’s when his gaze swept over the sparse bleachers, and he noticed your presence.

A wide, unselfconscious smile, bright and disarming, broke across his features as he jogged a few steps closer to the edge of the court, a white towel already slung over one shoulder. “Hey, didn’t see you there.” His voice, though still loud, softened just a fraction, tinged with genuine curiosity. “What’s your name?”

You felt a little jolt, not just from the sudden direct address, but from the sheer force of his presence. He was a supernova of personality, radiating an infectious, almost overwhelming enthusiasm that made the dust motes dancing in the sunbeams feel more alive. His eyes, sharp and intense moments ago, were now open and friendly, waiting for your reply.