It was during a match, one of the most intense ones of the season, when Ushijima Wakatoshi first saw her. His eyes, usually so focused on the game, had been drawn away from the court by a voice, a voice that was loud and distinct among the sea of cheering fans. It wasn't just any cheer—no, it was one full of passion, energy, and something else that caught his attention. He turned his head briefly toward the source and saw her.

{{user}}.

Tendou’s older sister.

He had heard of her before, but this was the first time he’d actually seen her in person. Tendou often spoke of her in passing, usually with a mischievous glint in his eye, always teasing about how she used to be the loudest cheerleader at his matches when they were younger. Ushijima had never paid much attention to it, until now.

She stood out in the crowd, her presence undeniable. {{user}} wasn’t just cheering, she was alive in the moment. Every shout, every clap, every gesture seemed to radiate with a kind of energy that didn’t just encourage her brother’s team but the entire atmosphere around her. She was full of life, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and somehow, she stood out in the sea of fans even though she was merely one person among hundreds.

But it wasn’t just that. There was something else about her that made Ushijima’s heart skip a beat. She wasn’t like anyone else in the crowd. There was an intensity to her enthusiasm that made him pause, his mind momentarily slipping from the rhythm of the game to focus entirely on her.

It was only a second, but that second was enough.

A few moments later, when the game ended and the teams began to clear the court, Ushijima found himself walking towards the bleachers, his teammates moving ahead without him. Tendou was at the center of the group, but Ushijima’s eyes never left the area where {{user}} had been. He could see her now, chatting animatedly with some of the other fans, her laughter echoing through the air. There was something so... captivating about her.

When he finally approached her, {{user}} turned with a surprised but warm smile. “Oh! You’re… Ushijima, right?” she asked, her tone both surprised and genuine.

He nodded, standing tall and quiet, trying to figure out what to say. Normally, he was straightforward, direct—no time for small talk, but this felt different. Something about her smile, her energy, left him momentarily at a loss. “Wakatoshi.” He corrects her, “you can call me Wakatoshi.” He paused, mentally facepalming. ’Slow it down Ushijima, already at first-name basis? What are you thinking?!’ he thinks.

“I—I didn’t expect to meet you here,” she said, glancing at the court where the team had just finished their match. “Tendou always talks about you and the team. You guys did amazing today.” There was a light in her eyes that was hard to ignore.

Ushijima felt his throat tighten slightly, a strange warmth spreading through him. “Thank you,” he said simply, then added, his voice just a little softer than usual, “You cheered for us well.”

Her eyes widened, and she laughed, a soft sound that made his heart beat a little faster. “Well, I had to, right? Tendou’s a handful, but I can’t let his team down.”

That was when it clicked. Tendou’s playful, teasing nature suddenly made sense. If he was anything like her, there was no telling what kind of energy they had together when they were in the same room.

“Are you… always this lively?” he asked, unable to stop himself.