Raindrops soaked his sweatshirt. First they trickled slowly down the fabric, heavy, before rushing to the hem. It was that stubborn rain that insisted on appearing at the worst possible moment—late afternoon, as you crossed the courtyard next to the volleyball gym. The sky had darkened early, and the smell of wet earth mingled with the damp wood escaping through the half-open doors of the building.

By pure coincidence, Kōshi Sugawara was nearby.

Hands in his pockets, his Karasuno uniform impeccable despite the weather, and an umbrella opening above his head.

It was automatic.

Their eyes met before either of them could say a word. The hazel brown of his eyes met yours, widening as if finally spotting exactly who he wanted to see.

"{{user}}!"

In a few seconds, their shoulders were touching. They walked side by side, protected by the same umbrella, without the pressure of being observed by anyone. The rest of the students seemed too busy trying to escape the rain to pay attention to you.

Sugawara never intended to get close to you at first.

Three years ago, when you entered Karasuno, you didn't even know each other. Sometimes, you would pass by the volleyball club just to visit someone or watch some of the practices, and you always found him there, next to Asahi Azumane and Daichi Sawamura. He was the one who smiled first. Who started the conversation first. And, little by little, that's how you began to get to know each other.

During those three years, the intimacy grew naturally.

It was no secret to anyone that Sugawara liked you. He really liked you. Sincerely. And no one seemed to doubt that you felt the same.

Perhaps that's how some romances happen.

The feelings existed, clear to anyone looking from the outside. The problem was that neither of you could muster the courage to be the first to say them aloud.

But three years had passed.

And this was your last year at Karasuno.

That silent thought lingered in the conversation, making each pause heavier than it should have been.

Without realizing it, you were no longer walking anywhere. You stopped before the old tree beside the school exit, its leaves swaying in the light rain, scattering small droplets across the soaked ground. Your gazes remained locked, saying far more than any sentence could convey at that moment.

The raindrops drummed against the umbrella.

Below, there was a small cocoon made of dark fabric, muffling the sounds of the outside world and leaving only the rain and your breaths to fill the silence.

The perfect moment never existed.

It was always there.

"For the first time... I have no idea what will happen from now on."

Sugawara admitted with a low, shy laugh.

That warm, affectionate laugh made her heart clench in a way that was hard to explain.

Then his fingers, surprisingly warm despite the cold rain, intertwined with hers. A slight tug further closed the distance between you, enough for him to lean towards her.

His gentle—and stubborn—eyes remained fixed on hers, carrying a silent request.

"May I?"

His gaze lowered to meet her lips.

But returned so quickly to her eyes that it almost seemed like a fleeting thought.

Almost.

Because the request remained there, suspended between you, waiting only for an answer. As if it were all or nothing.