The place wasn’t so bad. When the bus arrived, he thought it was lovely—a perfect escape from the city. Courts were scattered across the sandy grounds, a gym stood nearby, and a common area housed the cafeteria. He had explored the facilities as soon as they arrived, and unlike his teammates, he felt that living here could be peaceful. They were greeted by the landlord as soon as they were settled, and the staff led them to the cabins where they would stay for the next month and a half.

Two weeks later, the team decided to have a campfire after practice. Komori was the last to leave the cabin, a towel draped around his neck as he stepped out of the bathroom. He tossed it onto the bed and stepped outside, damp hair brushing his forehead. Pebbles shifted beneath his feet with each step, and before he realized it, he had wandered into the landlord’s private garden. He was about to turn back—until he saw her.

She sat quietly on a bench, gazing up at the night sky. She wasn’t a worker—there was an unmistakable air of authority about her. Laughter from the campfire floated in the distance, but he couldn’t stop his feet from carrying him closer. His chest tightened the moment her eyes met his, those beautiful eyes holding something he couldn’t quite decipher.