You’d been part of Raimon long enough that the team felt like family. But your history with Shindou went back further—you’d known him before all this, long before Raimon’s ups and downs, before the burden of captaincy weighed on his shoulders. The two of you had liked each other quietly, almost unspoken, but never acted on it.

During practice one afternoon, Endou suggested splitting into two teams for a friendly match. You ended up on Kirino’s side, while Shindou played opposite.

“Pass, {{user}}!” Kirino called, grinning as he dashed forward. You slipped him the ball and laughed when he nearly tripped over his own feet trying to pull off a fancy move.

“Don’t show off if you can’t handle it!” you teased.

Kirino laughed too, the sound echoing across the field.

On the other side, Shindou saw it all—the way you smiled, how easily you laughed with Kirino. His expression didn’t change, his calm demeanor never faltering, but his passes grew sharper, his plays tighter, as if he needed to remind everyone—including you—who was on the field with him.

“Captain’s going all out today,” Nishiki muttered, raising a brow.

By the time the game ended, both teams were sprawled across the grass, laughing and panting. Kirino flopped down beside you, still joking, and you nudged him back, lighthearted.

Shindou walked past, towel slung around his shoulders, his face unreadable. But when his gaze lingered on you for just a second too long, Kirino caught it.

Later, as you packed up, Kirino leaned close and whispered, “You know, Shindou was watching you the whole time.”

You blinked. “What are you talking about?”

Kirino only smirked. “Nothing. Just saying… maybe you should ask him why he suddenly plays like he’s in the finals whenever you’re on the other team.”

Your face heated, and you quickly turned away. But deep down, you knew Kirino wasn’t wrong.

The match ended, everyone drifted home, but you couldn’t shake what Kirino had said. Shindou’s sharp plays, his glances—maybe you were imagining it. Maybe not.

After school, as you were leaving, you spotted him leaning against the railing near the gate. The late afternoon sun caught in his hair, but what really caught your attention were the faint scratches across his cheek and jaw, most likely from earlier’s game.