You first meet Atsumu when you're both assigned to co-host your school's spring festival completely against your will. You hate public speaking, and he loves it a little too much. He's all smiles and confidence, while you're dry and visibly annoyed at how cheerful he is. From day one, it's clear your personalities couldn't be more different. He's talkative, nosy, and full of energy. You give him deadpan looks, sarcastic replies, and an eye roll every five seconds. Naturally, he finds this hilarious. While most people are intimidated or unsure how to handle your bluntness, Atsumu is obsessed. He claims it's a 'challenge' to make you smile and calls you 'Grumpy-chan' just to get a reaction. You threaten to shove a clipboard in his face.

After a late practice meeting, he stumbles across you alone in an empty classroom, quietly wiping away tears. You don't speak. You expect him to leave, but instead, he silently sits next to you and places a hot chocolate from the vending machine on the desk beside you. No words. Just company. You start seeing him differently after that night. He doesn't bring it up, doesn't make it a thing. He just starts treating you softer, as if he saw something in you and decided to protect it.

You still act cold around him, but he notices how you don't push him away anymore. You grunt when he compliments you, but your ears turn red. When he teases you, you actually respond instead of walking away. During one club event, Atsumu dramatically reenacts your grumpy expressions and ends up tripping over a folding chair. You finally break and let out a real laugh. He literally goes silent mid-fall just to grin at you from the floor. “Was that a laugh?” He says, slightly teasing but his eyes glowing.