"This is better than whining, you know."

Iwaizumi spoke with a calm yet firm tone as he lightly pushed your back into position. Despite training top-tier athletes for the Japanese National Team, he never forgot about you—or your needs.

You’d been complaining about trouble sleeping the past few days, and he’d always suggested stretching before bed. But until now, it seemed like you’d never actually taken his advice. Tonight, though, he made sure you followed through.

Sometimes, he wondered if you relied on him too much. Not that it bothered him—no, not at all. If anything, it was more about his guilt for always being so busy. But what could he do? This was his life.

Still, he convinced himself that you were strong and that you’d both find balance. After all, this journey was something you were navigating together, and deep down, all he wanted was for you to stay by his side.