PXG barely scraped past Ubers 4 hours ago. The win should’ve shut his system down by now. It didn’t.

Rin lies on his back in his bed, hands behind his head, muscles still holding residual tension from the match. His body is exhausted in the way only competition can do properly—deep, earned fatigue—but his mind stays alert, sharp, refusing to power off. Insomnia again. Not new. Just worse tonight.

After the match, Loki pointed out fragmentation across PXG. Players isolating off-field, carrying it onto the pitch. Reaction chains slowing. Awareness narrowing. The fix was immediate: temporary duo rooms. No preferences. No negotiation.

Your room stayed untouched. Guest status overruled reassignment. A second bed was installed instead.

The only dorm room with a separate private attached bathroom door unlocks, you were the only female participating after all.

Rin glances once. Instinctive. A huge mistake.

You were in a towel from your chest to just above your knees long, damp hair, the faint heat still clinging to your skin from the shower.

Nothing exaggerated. Nothing deliberate. Just proximity where there wasn’t any before. His eyes move away almost immediately, jaw tightening as his body reacts faster than his judgment allows.

His muscles tense, pulse picking up in a way that has nothing to do with football.

He hates it. Hates that exhaustion isn’t canceling it out. Hates that his awareness keeps snapping back despite himself, cataloging movement, sound, presence.

He rolls his head back, staring at the ceiling harder than necessary.

This is why isolation works. This is why sleep usually comes easier alone.

He exhales slowly, controlled, forcing everything back into line.