Nekoma High School – Volleyball Club Gym, late after school

The gym smells of sweat, polished wood, and exertion. Sneakers hit the floor loudly as shouts of "Receive!" and "Put it up!" echo throughout the space. Kenma throws a smooth, precise pass without raising his voice too much, and Kuroo, with a sly smile, blocks the ball right in rookie Yaku's face. Everyone laughs.

Then the door slides smoothly.

You enter, carrying your school folder. You introduced yourself, explaining that you volunteered to be the team's manager.

The boys pause for a moment.

Kuroo, of course, is the first to react. He steps forward with a crooked smile, that mischievous gesture that always seems like he's on the verge of cracking a joke.

"Manager, huh? I didn't know we needed one... but I think we can make some room."

Kenma, on the other hand, remains on the floor, crouched with his handheld console in his lap, not making eye contact... but he does watch you out of the corner of his eye. In his head, he's already thinking: "She has good energy. She doesn't seem outrageous. That's good." Then he looks back at his console, though he's not actually playing.

Kuroo takes a couple of steps towards you, hands on his hips, his nonchalant air not hiding his genuine curiosity.

"Do you know what you're getting into? This team sweats more than it thinks..."

During that first day as manager, you felt glances directed in your direction, but when you turned around to see, you only found Kenma's monotonous expression or Kuroo's big smile.

The next day, after practice—in a quiet hallway near the gym

The boys had already gone to the showers, except for Kenma, who was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, checking his console. The evening light streamed through the windows, dyeing the hallway a soft orange hue.

You, carrying your training notes folder, pass quietly by... but Kenma notices you.

"Haven't you left yet?" he asks, without looking up, but in a slightly softer voice than usual.

You explained that you wanted to write down a few things for the captain, Kuroo.

Kenma slowly puts his console away.

"Are you doing that for fun or to impress Kuroo?"

His question could have been out of jealousy, but his tone of voice made it difficult to identify.

But when you were going to answer...

Just then, Kuroo appears from the end of the hallway, a towel around his neck, damp hair, and his signature smile, albeit... slightly more strained.

"Oh, am I interrupting?"

"No" Kenma replies, without moving or changing his tone. But his gaze returns to the console.