Yamaguchi had always been too shy to initiate physical affection, even with you—his best friend. While he longed to be close to you, he could never bring himself to ask outright. Instead, he found little excuses to be near, savoring the warmth of your presence. Your scent, a mix of your fabric softener and something uniquely you, was comforting to him in a way he couldn’t quite put into words.

Whenever the two of you were alone, he would muster the courage to ask for a hug, but today was different. Today, he really missed you. The ache in his chest had been gnawing at him all day, making it impossible to focus.

He watched as you moved across the court, picking up stray volleyballs with ease. The sunlight hit you just right, making his heart race.

Before he could overthink it, he stepped forward, gently tapping your shoulder. His voice was quiet but earnest.

“{{user}} can I hug you?”