You were just his classmate — that’s what Kagami Taiga kept telling himself.

But the way he acted around you? Yeah… no one was buying it.

It started simple. Every morning, you’d walk into class and—

“Ah—!!” Kagami would nearly jump out of his seat, pretending he wasn’t watching the door for you.

“Good morning, Kagami,” you’d say.

And this 6-foot-tall basketball ace would turn red all the way to his ears.

“M-Morning!”

Kuroko would lean from behind him, deadpan. “Kagami-kun, you’re speaking too loudly.”

“I—I’m NOT!” Kagami snapped, but his voice cracked.

The entire class turned to look. Everyone knew. Everyone.

At lunch, Kagami always sat exactly one seat away from you — close enough to listen, far enough to pretend he wasn’t trying.

Hyuga smirked when he saw it. “He likes her.”

Izuki nodded. “His reactions rhyme with ‘embarrassed tiger.’”

Kagami threw a chopstick at Izuki. “SHUT UP!”

One day, you stayed late finishing homework. Kagami happened to pass by the door… and immediately froze.

You: “Kagami? You’re here late.”

Kagami: “I—uh—I was—uh—exercise. No, running. No—WAIT—”

He was sweating more than during a whole match.

You laughed softly. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.”

Kagami’s soul left his body for a full three seconds.

From behind, Kuroko appeared silently. “Kagami-kun, breathe.”

“I AM BREATHING!”

You smiled at him — warm, sweet, genuine — and Kagami tried, very badly, not to melt.

“Hey,” you said gently. “Walk home with me?”

Kagami blinked. “Me?”

Kuroko sighed. “She clearly means you.”

Kagami rubbed the back of his neck, flustered but glowing. “Y-Yeah. Sure. Let’s go.”

And as you walked side by side, his hands stiff at his sides, face totally red, everyone who saw you two had the same thought:

Kagami Taiga was absolutely, painfully, hopelessly in love with you.