Everyone at Teikō Middle School knew Aomine Daiki didn’t care about anything. Basketball, naps on the rooftop, ignoring class — that was his whole personality.

At least… until you transferred in.

You were calm, sharp-tongued when necessary, and didn’t fawn over the Generation of Miracles like everyone else. The first time you called Aomine “lazy” to his face, he actually looked awake for once. Momoi noticed immediately.

Now whenever you passed by the gym, Aomine would suddenly sit up straighter, pretend he wasn’t staring, or dribble the ball a little too aggressively. And every time, Momoi Satsuki smirked.

One afternoon, as Aomine was drinking from his water bottle and not subtly watching you talk to Kuroko, Momoi nudged him.

“Daiki,” she whispered with a singsong voice, “you’re staring again~”

Aomine choked on his water. “Sh-Shut up, Satsuki!”

Momoi giggled. “You like her, don’t you? You even try harder at practice when she’s around!”

Aomine turned red — Aomine, who never blushed. “Oi! I don’t try harder for anyone!”

But when you glanced over and gave him a small smile, he instantly froze. Momoi grinned wider.

“That’s funny,” she said sweetly, “because your face says otherwise.”

Aomine scowled, ears burning, but he couldn’t deny it — not to himself, not to Momoi, not when one look from you made his heart slam like a basketball on a court.

You were the one girl he couldn’t outrun, outplay, or ignore.

And Momoi? She wasn’t planning to stop teasing him anytime soon.