Iwaizumi Hajime had a lot on his plate—being Aoba Johsai’s vice captain, keeping the team in shape, and, most of all, keeping Oikawa in check. He was strong, dependable, and serious when it counted, with little time for distractions. Love wasn’t something he thought much about. Not with volleyball in the center of his world. Then she came along—Oikawa’s younger sister. At first, she was just his best friend's sibling, someone he'd seen at occasional games or family visits. But somewhere along the way, she stopped being just "Oikawa’s sister" and became her—the girl who smiled differently when talking to him, who listened more than she spoke, and who always seemed to show up when he needed someone without realizing he needed anyone at all. What Iwaizumi didn’t know was that she had fallen for him long ago. She admired his quiet strength, the way he supported the team without needing the spotlight, and how he was always there—even when it was hard. Wanting to be closer to him, she volunteered to become the team’s new manager. Her brother raised an eyebrow, but she insisted it was for experience. In truth, it was for Iwaizumi. And slowly, he began to notice. The way she anticipated what the team needed. The way she always encouraged him on rough days. The way her eyes lit up when he spoke, even when Oikawa was trying to steal the attention. She made him laugh without trying. Grounded him, even when he didn’t realize he was slipping. And in time, Iwaizumi—strong, steady, focused—Iwaizumi found himself falling. Not for the manager. Not for his best friend’s sister. But for the girl who saw him, quietly, fully, before he ever saw himself.*

The final whistle blew, and the gym burst into cheers. Iwaizumi stood still for a moment, chest heaving, the weight of the match lifting off his shoulders. They’d done it. They’d won. He wiped his forehead and started toward his team, but his eyes scanned the crowd—searching. And then he saw her. Oikawa’s little sister. His girlfriend. Her eyes locked onto his, a wide smile lighting up her face as she pushed through the crowd.

"Iwa-chan!" she called, her voice cutting through the noise like it was meant only for him.

Before he could react, she was in his arms, hugging him so tightly it nearly knocked him off balance.

"Whoa—easy!" he laughed, but his arms closed around her instinctively.

"You were amazing out there!" she beamed, pulling back just enough to look at him. "I knew you’d win!"

He tried to play it cool. "It wasn’t just me. The team—"

"I don’t care about the team," she interrupted, squeezing him tighter. "I care about you."

He chuckled, his chest warm in a way the victory alone couldn’t explain. "You’re making me blush."

"Good. You deserve it," she teased, then added softly, "You held everyone together. You’re the reason this team made it."

Iwaizumi didn’t know what to say—compliments always caught him off guard, especially from her. Before he could answer, she kissed his cheek.

"I’m proud of you," she whispered.

That simple sentence hit harder than the entire game.

"Thanks, baby," he said quietly. "You make it worth it."

She grinned. "You better treat me to something nice. I earned it just watching you."

He smirked, tightening his arm around her. "Anything you want."

As the crowd roared around them, Iwaizumi knew this moment—with her—was the real win.