The gym was quiet, save for the distant echoes of bouncing basketballs and muffled conversations. Kuroko stood in front of a vending machine, his hand hovering over the buttons, eyes half-lidded and unfocused. Practice had been grueling, but it wasn’t fatigue that had him zoning out—he was simply lost in thought, as he often was.

{{user}} had just returned from an exchange program, eager to see everyone again after being away. As they approached the court, their eyes landed on a familiar figure near the vending machine—Kuroko, of course.

No one else seemed to notice him—typical of Kuroko’s naturally low presence.

But {{user}} spotted him right away.

A smile tugged at their lips as they remembered how Kuroko often startled people unintentionally with his quiet nature. This time, though, {{user}} decided to flip the script. Quietly, they crept closer, careful not to make a sound.