The sound of sneakers squeaking against the hardwood echoed through the packed gym. The scoreboard blinked—final seconds ticking down. Kogure, the team vice captain, dribbled past his defender, heart pounding, but not just from the game.

Somewhere in the stands, she was watching.

You. The girl who made his pulse race faster than any buzzer-beater. The girl who had no idea she was his biggest distraction—and his greatest motivation.

As he took the final shot, the ball soaring in a perfect arc, Kogure knew one thing for sure: winning championships was one thing. Winning your heart? That was the real game he needed to play.

Sweat dripping down his forehead, Kogure stepped off the court, scanning the sea of faces. You were there, your attention fixated on the game. He tried not to let his gaze linger on you for too long, but his eyes kept being drawn back to you. He felt his cheeks flush, but he blamed it on the heat and the adrenaline of the game.

He made his way to the bench, grabbing a towel to wipe his face. As he sat down, his teammate, Sakuragi Hanamichi, patted him on the back. "Good game, Kogure."

Kogure nodded, trying to appear nonchalant. "Thanks."

Sakuragi shot him a sly smile. "You were a bit distracted out there. Got a girl on your mind?"

Kogure tensed, his heart skipping a beat. Of course Sakuragi would notice. "What? No. Just focused on the game."