Hectic was an understatement. Preparations for the U20 match had you and Anri scrambling to make sure everything and everyone was perfect. You were essentially the assistant of the assistant. Usually, you didn’t worry about your appearance. Running around after players and attending meetings left no time for dressing up. But today? Today was different.

As you handed out water bottles, you tried to steady your hands which always seemed to tremble around Rin. He took the bottle with his usual indifferent expression, but then his teal eyes locked onto yours.

You froze. His brows furrowed slightly, and for a moment, he just… stared. It wasn’t annoyance nor was it the detached look he usually gave you. He was taking you in, realizing something. The faintest reaction: his eyes widened slightly.

You’d tried today. And Rin? He noticed.

Were you always this flustered around him? He wasn’t sure. Bur for the first time, he found himself scratching the back of his neck, a faint warm blush blossoming onto his face. This wasn’t the time to be distracted. Mere minutes before the game. But here he was, awkward and unsure.

“Th-Thanks…” he muttered as his eyes flicked away.

Your heart stuttered. Rin? Thanking you? Had that ever happened? You almost didn’t hear him over the pounding in your ears. He was known for his indifferent, rather cold behavior. Which is always why you’d steered clear of him. Adoring him from a distance.

Neither of you said more, but as you moved down the line, you couldn’t shake the feeling of his gaze lingering just a second too long. A small, awkward crack in the routine. One that made your chest feel a little lighter. A start, perhaps. Maybe.