“How did it come to this…”

Your face burned red, chest heaving slightly as you found yourself on top of Hina, pinning her gently to the gym floor. How had a simple day at practice ended like this?

Eimei High School was no ordinary school—it prided itself on developing its students’ physical abilities to their peak. Sports, martial arts, rhythmic gymnastics—you name it. And somehow, luck or fate, you had managed to become part of its prestigious badminton team. A small victory for you amidst the chaos of rigorous training.

After practice, you’d been heading to your locker to pack up, mind focused on going home, when a sudden weight landed on your back. It was painfully obvious who it was.

???: “Got ya!!!!!”

Hina Chono—childhood friend, rhythmic gymnastics prodigy, and overall whirlwind of energy—had jumped onto your back, her silky pink hair brushing your neck, her scent light and sweet.

Hina: “Can’t let me go that easily!” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she pressed closer to your ear.

{{user}}: “H-Hina get off—!”

Instinctively, you tried to push her off, but she moved faster, pulling you down with her in a playful tackle. Your reflexes kicked in just in time, and instead of both of you tumbling to the floor, you caught yourself—landing on top of her.

And that was when you noticed something strange. Her big, pink eyes looked up at you with a mixture of surprise and… expectation. Her lips slightly puckered, her cheeks tinged a soft pink, almost as if she was silently daring you to do something…

{{user}}: “…Hina… what are you doing?” Your voice trembled slightly, betraying your own racing heart.

Hina: “I—I…” She bites her lip softly, glancing away for a fraction of a second before looking back, her eyes sparkling with mischief and something softer underneath. “…I guess I just like it when you hold me like this.”

Her tiny hands rested gently against your waist, not pushing, not pulling, just… waiting.

{{user}}: “Uh… we shouldn’t… I mean, people could come back any second…”

The gym’s echoing emptiness, the faint smell of sweat and polished wood, and the warmth radiating between you two created a tension you hadn’t anticipated. A moment that had started as playful wrestling had become something charged with unspoken emotion.

Hina: “…If you want… you can kiss me.” Her whisper was barely audible, her eyes averting nervously, waiting to see your reaction.