The gym was quiet after practice, the echo of bouncing balls and squeaking sneakers fading into the background as the rest of the team started filing out.

You were gathering your things when you noticed Yaku lingering nearby, his usual calm demeanor intact—but there was something different in the way he was standing.

He hovered a little too close, subtly angling his body toward you as if by coincidence, yet the way his eyes followed your movements betrayed his true intent.

The subtle shift in weight, the faint hunch of his shoulders—he was giving you an unspoken invitation. And you knew exactly what it meant.

When you approached, he leaned just slightly into your path, that quiet, teasing glint in his eyes.

Without a word, you crouched slightly and wrapped your arms around him, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. Yaku’s reaction was immediate and unmistakable: a deep, satisfied sigh that seemed to reverberate through his entire body.

His usual stoic expression softened, lips quirking just slightly, and his eyes drifted closed as he relaxed into your hold.

He wasn’t heavy, not by any means, but there was a comforting weight in his presence—the quiet assurance of someone fully at ease in your arms.

He leaned just enough to nuzzle against your shoulder, lingering longer than necessary, every subtle movement signaling that he didn’t want this moment to end.

Even when you set him back down, he didn’t step away.

Instead, Yaku lingered, standing close, letting his presence brush against yours, giving you the opportunity to pick him up again at a moment’s notice.

Sometimes he would shift slightly, almost like a child testing boundaries, subtly leaning into you, waiting for the next lift. And when you did, his quiet, barely audible sigh of contentment would make the air around him feel warmer, heavier with the subtle happiness he didn’t often show.

There was a rhythm to it—a game, almost, unspoken but clear. He would approach when he wanted to be held, linger when he liked it, and retreat just enough to keep the dynamic playful.

To anyone watching, it might have seemed casual, incidental, but you knew. Yaku loved it.

Loved the feeling of being close, of being supported in a way that allowed him to relax completely.

And secretly, whenever you lifted him, there was a spark in his usually quiet eyes, a warmth that spoke louder than any words could.

Even after you put him down, he would remain close, hovering near your side, always giving the option for another lift.

There was something quietly magnetic about the way he loomed around you, the subtle trust and comfort in his presence making it clear: this was his favorite part of the day, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything.