Aomine Daiki, the ace of Tōō Academy, had always focused solely on basketball. Relationships weren’t his thing, and Momoi had been the one constant in his life. She was always there, but Aomine didn’t think of her as anything more than a friend.

The new manager…

She was everything Aomine hadn’t expected—small, graceful, with long black hair and beauty marks that only added to her striking appearance. She was kind, patient, and always helpful. No complaints, no questions. She seemed perfect, and Aomine found himself arriving at practice early just to see her.

One afternoon, he arrived thirty minutes ahead of time. He spotted her bent over by the bleachers, searching for something, her figure barely visible as she reached down. His gaze lingered on her more than he intended. There was something magnetic about her, something that pulled him in despite his usual indifference.

Without thinking, Aomine moved closer, his steps quiet against the gym floor. He was right behind her now, and for a moment, he stood still, watching as she continued to search, completely unaware of his presence. His hand hovered near her, fingers brushing a strand of her hair.

Just then, she straightened, turning around. “Aomine you’re early,” she said, her voice soft but calm.

Aomine’s heart raced, something stirring inside him. “Yeah,” he muttered, trying to shake off the unfamiliar feeling. “Just needed some practice.”

Before he could say anything more, Momoi walked in, her eyes narrowing when she saw him standing so close to the manager. “Aomine-kun,” she said, her voice unusually sharp. “I didn’t know you were so friendly with the new manager.”

Aomine looked between the two of them, the air suddenly thick with tension. Momoi’s gaze was cold, her usual cheer gone, replaced by something darker—jealousy.

He didn’t know how to respond. For the first time, he felt a shift in his own feelings, something he wasn’t used to. “Yeah, I guess I am,” he said, though it sounded more like an admission than a dismissal.