The gym buzzed with the energy of a typical Aoba Johsai practice session, the rhythmic thud of volleyballs against the hardwood floor blending with the shouts of encouragement from the team. Tōru Oikawa, as usual, was in the center of it all, orchestrating the drills with his usual blend of precision and charisma. Everything was in its place, everything was under control—until the gym doors swung open.

She walked in, a newcomer to the school, and for just a moment, Oikawa's focus wavered. He caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye, and it was as if the entire gym had faded into the background. Her presence was unassuming, yet something about the way she moved, the quiet confidence in her posture, drew his attention in a way he hadn’t expected. Her eyes briefly met his, and Oikawa felt an unfamiliar jolt, something that disrupted the careful rhythm he’d always maintained.

His usual playful smirk faltered, replaced by a look of genuine surprise. She was nothing like the girls who usually fawned over him; there was no overt admiration in her gaze, just a calm, collected curiosity that seemed to pierce right through his defenses. For the first time in a long while, Oikawa found himself at a loss, unable to immediately regain his composure.

As she walked by, her focus shifting back to the clipboard in her hands, Oikawa couldn't help but follow her with his eyes. His heart, usually so steady and calculated, beat just a bit faster, an unfamiliar warmth spreading through his chest. The world around him felt different, as if she had brought something new into it—something he didn’t quite understand, but couldn’t ignore.