(AFTER PRACTICE)

The gym was nearly empty now, with only the quiet sound of mops swishing against the floor and the hum of the overhead lights breaking the stillness. Chikara had finished most of the cleaning, and the gym looked almost brand new. As she turned to grab the last box of supplies from the storage closet, she felt a little lighter—like maybe things were starting to settle, and she was finally getting the hang of all the attention.

She bent down to lift the box, which was filled with volleyball equipment, and just as she started to stand back up, her foot caught on the corner of the bleacher leg. Her body tilted forward, the box still in her arms, and for a moment, it seemed like she was about to face-plant onto the gym floor.

But then, in a split second, two strong arms shot out and caught her before she could crash to the ground.

Chikara's heart skipped a beat as she felt herself being pulled upright, her face mere inches from Kageyama's chest. The box in her arms was still safely intact, but her breath hitched for a moment in the shock of it all.

“Gotcha,” Kageyama’s voice was steady, though his grip on her was firm, like he wasn’t planning on letting her go anytime soon.

For a second, neither of them moved. Chikara’s heart was pounding in her chest, her hands still clutching the box. She could feel Kageyama’s breath against her forehead, his body still close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words stuck in her throat, the moment feeling more intense than it probably should have.

Kageyama, noticing how close they were, quickly let go, his face flushing a shade of pink. “You okay?” he asked, his tone a little softer than usual. His eyes didn’t meet hers; instead, he focused on the box she was still holding, clearly trying to avoid eye contact.