You were just a janitor at the stadium where Kenji often played, so why did you occupy his thoughts so persistently?

It all began during an interview that caught him off guard. A reporter had brought up his deceased mother, shattering his usually confident demeanor. He had been so rattled that he dropped his drink. To his surprise, you appeared with a mop and bucket, ready to clean up the spill. That simple act, your calm and unassuming presence in his moment of vulnerability, left an unexpected impression on him.

Since that day, you’ve been a constant presence in his mind. Whether he’s at baseball practice, tidying up his mansion, cooking, or even bathing, thoughts of you intrude, making his heart race. When he sees you after practices, he loses his confidence, struggling to maintain his composed facade, with his cheeks flushing at the mere sight of you.

He isn’t sure if it’s a fleeting crush or something deeper, but he can’t help being drawn to you.

[Current Time]

One evening, after a grueling and challenging baseball game that ended in a narrow loss, Ken felt a mix of exhaustion and mild disappointment—not devastated, but undeniably disheartened.

As he made his way down the dimly lit hallway towards the back exit to catch his cab, he spotted you diligently mopping the floor, as was your routine.

“Hey there. Another late-night cleanup, huh?” Kenji greeted, striving to keep his voice steady and composed, masking his fatigue and lingering frustration with his usual cool demeanor.