Taiki flopped face-first onto the couch, trying to muffle another ear-piercing shriek coming through the wall. Their apartment's supposedly soundproof walls were proving about as effective as tissue paper against Maki's vocal range.

  "AHHHHHHHHH!"

  "Oh my god," he groaned into a cushion. "Can she just... not?"

  Even Shiori was starting to show signs of cracking. Her right eye twitched as she attempted to read her textbook, her finger tapping an increasingly aggressive rhythm against the page.

  "I mean, I get being nervous," Taiki muttered, rolling onto his back. "But this is what, the fifth meltdown today?"

  "Sixth," Shiori corrected, not looking up from her book. "There was one during lunch break too."

  Another wail pierced through their wall, this one somehow even higher pitched than the last. Taiki wondered if dogs in the neighborhood were starting to gather.

  "What's her deal anyway?" he asked, sitting up. "It's not like she's-"

  "First match is this weekend," Shiori cut in, finally setting her book down with a sigh. "Coach mentioned she might get some court time if things go well." She rubbed her temples. "She's been having panic attacks about it since yesterday. Something about everyone watching her fail."

  As if on cue, they heard a thud from next door, followed by what sounded like Sato trying to talk Maki down from whatever furniture she'd climbed onto.

  Taiki dragged himself off the couch with an exaggerated groan, his joints popping in protest. Another screech from next door made him wince. At this rate, the entire dorm would need therapy before the weekend.

  "Where are you going?" Shiori asked, eyeing him curiously as he shuffled toward the door.

  Taiki jabbed his thumb at the wall, where muffled sounds of Sato's increasingly desperate attempts at comfort filtered through. "Special operation. Goal: take down a growing nerve-wracking tornado before she breaks the sound barrier." He cracked his neck. "Or before Sato runs out of motivational speeches. Whichever comes first."

  "You sure that's wise?" Shiori's lips twitched. "Last time someone tried to calm her down during a panic spiral, she threw her water bottle at them."

  "Yeah, well." Taiki shrugged, already reaching for the door handle. "At least getting knocked out by projectile hydration would be quieter than this."

  Another shriek pierced the air, followed by what sounded suspiciously like someone trying to barricade themselves in a closet. Shiori's eye twitched again.

  "Good luck," she muttered, returning to her textbook. "Try not to die. Blood's hard to get out of the carpet."

  "Your concern is touching," Taiki deadpanned, stepping into the hallway. He could hear Maki's muffled "BUT WHAT IF I TRIP AND THE BALL HITS THE REFEREE" through the door of room 204.

  Shiori stared at the wall where Maki's wails had been reaching glass-shattering levels just moments before. She waited for the inevitable next round of screaming, but seconds ticked by in blessed silence. Her textbook lay forgotten on her lap as she tilted her head, straining to hear anything from next door.

  A muffled laugh filtered through instead of a shriek.

  That couldn't be right.

  She checked her phone - no emergency alerts about the apocalypse starting. The world hadn't ended. Yet somehow, the human equivalent of a panic-powered air raid siren had gone quiet.

  "No way," Shiori muttered, tossing her textbook aside. In three years of knowing Maki, she'd seen the girl work herself into such spectacular meltdowns that even professional therapists had thrown in the towel. Once Maki got going, she was like a runaway train of anxiety - unstoppable, loud, and likely to cause property damage.

  But the silence stretched on, broken only by occasional quiet murmurs and - was that actually giggling?

  Shiori's curiosity finally got the better of her. She padded to their front door, poked her head into the hallway, and crept toward 204. Pressing her ear against the door, she heard something that made her jaw drop: Maki's normal voice, calm and steady, discussing with... Taiki?

  "This is impossible," Shiori whispered to herself, reaching for the door handle. She had to see this miracle with her own eyes. What kind of black magic had Taiki pulled off? Had he secretly been some kind of anxiety whisperer this whole time?

  She eased the door open, peering inside their apartment, and froze at the sight that greeted her.

  Shiori stared at the scene before her, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Sato lay spread-eagled on the floor, his usual boundless energy completely drained. His chest rose and fell with deep breaths, like he'd just finished running a marathon instead of attempting to calm down one panicking basketball player.

  On the couch, Maki sat cross-legged, methodically working her way through what looked like an entire convenience store's worth of snacks. Her earlier hysteria had vanished without a trace, replaced by the serene expression of someone who'd found enlightenment through processed sugar.

  And there was Taiki, looking far too pleased with himself as he caught Shiori's bewildered stare. He pulled one hand from his pocket, flashing her a thumbs up with all the smugness of someone who'd just solved world peace.

  "Mission complete," he said, as if that explained everything.

  Shiori opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. The questions piled up: How had he managed this? What sort of dark arts had he employed?

  Shiori watched as Taiki settled onto the floor next to the couch, snagging one of Maki's many snacks. The way he'd defused an atomic-level meltdown with nothing but junk food and his usual deadpan humor was... honestly kind of impressive.

  "How did you..." Shiori gestured vaguely at the now-calm Maki, who was demolishing a bag of chips with remarkable focus.

  "Simple," Taiki said, unwrapping a chocolate bar. "I just reminded her that literally everyone's going to be watching me fail at volleyball after her."

  Maki nodded sagely, mouth full of chips. "He's gonna be like my partner for public humiliation," she managed between bites. "Can't be as bad as whatever he does."

  "Thanks for the vote of confidence," Taiki drawled. He'd apparently accepted his role as the designated disaster preview.

  "I still can't believe you calmed her down with... snacks and self-deprecation," Shiori said, stepping fully into the apartment.

  Sato finally stirred from his position on the floor. "I tried everything," he groaned. "Pep talks, breathing exercises, positive visualization..." He lifted his head just enough to give Taiki an accusing look. "How was I supposed to know the secret was just... being more pathetic?"

  "It's my superpower," Taiki replied dryly. "Years of practice."

  Maki tossed him another candy bar in solidarity. "My hero," she said, somehow making it sound both genuine and like she was roasting him at the same time.

  Taiki first noticed it during morning practice. The sidelong glances, the hushed conversations that died when he walked past, the way some students from other clubs lingered by the gym doors just to... watch. Not his terrible volleyball attempts - him.

  "Did you hear?" A whisper caught his ear as he bent to retrieve a stray ball. "He's actually living with Fujisawa."

  "No way. How'd someone like him get that lucky?"

  "Right? She deserves better than some random nobody."

  Taiki's grip tightened on the volleyball. He'd expected some reaction to the co-ed dorm situation, but this was different. These weren't the usual jabs about his athletic incompetence. These were personal.

  During lunch, it got worse. The cafeteria buzzed with barely concealed gossip. A group of second-years actually glared at him as he passed their table.

  "Can't believe they stuck Shiori with that loser."

  "Have you seen him try to play sports? It's embarrassing."

  "She's probably too nice to complain, but imagine having to live with someone so... basic."

  Taiki stabbed at his lunch, appetite gone. He'd gotten pretty good at brushing off comments about his lack of coordination, but this? This felt like acid in his stomach. Every whisper, every judgmental look reminded him of what he already knew - he didn't belong in Shiori's world. She was the school's golden girl, and he was... well, just Taiki.

  "Hey, you're holding that chopstick like you're planning to murder someone," Maki's voice cut through his thoughts as she dropped into the seat across from him. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing," Taiki muttered, but another wave of whispers swept through the cafeteria. A cluster of girls - probably from one of Shiori's fan clubs - were pointing in his direction and shaking their heads disapprovingly.

  Maki followed his gaze and her eyes narrowed.

  Taiki's eyes widened as Maki shot up from her seat. Despite being barely five feet tall, she somehow managed to look intimidating as she marched straight toward the group of gossiping girls.

  "Oh god," Taiki muttered, half-rising from his seat. "Maki, don't-"

  But she was already halfway there, her ponytail swinging with determined purpose. The group of girls hadn't noticed her approach yet, still huddled in their little circle of judgment. One of them - a tall second-year with perfectly styled hair - was in the middle of what looked like a particularly nasty comment when Maki reached their table.

  "Hey!" Maki's voice carried across the room. "If you've got something to say about my friend, say it to his face."

  The tall second-year blinked, clearly thrown off by this tiny first-year confronting her. "Excuse me?"

  "Oh, sorry, was I not clear enough?" Maki's smile was pure danger. "I said, if you're gonna talk trash about Taiki, do it where he can hear you. At least have the guts to be honest about being jerks."

  "This doesn't concern you," another girl said, flipping her hair. "We're just stating facts. Someone like him shouldn't-"

  "Someone like him?" Maki cut in. "You mean someone who gets up at 4 AM every day to practice? Someone who keeps trying even when things are hard? Someone who's actually decent enough not to judge people based on stupid rumors?"

  Taiki wanted to sink into the floor. Or possibly evaporate entirely. The entire cafeteria was watching now, and he could feel his ears burning red.

  "Do you even know Taiki?" Maki continued, her voice getting louder. "Because I do. And I know Shiori too. And let me tell you something - Shiori's lucky to have him as a roommate. He's considerate, he actually listens when people talk, and he doesn't spread garbage about people he doesn't know."

  The second-years shifted uncomfortably, but Maki wasn't done. She leaned forward, dropping her voice to a stage whisper that somehow carried even further than her shouts.

  "But hey, if you're so concerned about Shiori's living situation, why don't you ask her about it? I'm sure she'd love to hear how you're defending her honor by bullying her roommate."

  The mention of actually talking to Shiori seemed to drain the color from their faces.

  Just as Taiki contemplated the logistics of crawling under the table and army-crawling his way to freedom, he spotted two familiar figures entering the cafeteria. His stomach dropped. Because of course. Of course this had to get worse.

  Maki's eyes lit up with unholy glee as she spotted them too. "Oh perfect! Hey, Shiori! Over here!"

  Taiki wondered if it was possible to die from embarrassment. He'd read somewhere that some animals could just shut down their organs at will. That seemed like a really useful evolutionary trait right about now.

  Shiori and Sato made their way over. The group of second-years had gone absolutely rigid, their faces cycling through various shades of panic.

  "Shiori!" Maki's voice was pure sugar and spite. "These nice girls were just sharing some thoughts about your living situation. I'm sure they'd love to tell you all about their concerns."

  The tall second-year looked like she wanted to evaporate on the spot. "We... we were just..."

  "Oh?" Shiori tilted her head, her expression neutral but something sharp glinting in her eyes. "What kind of concerns?"

  Sato, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly grinned. "Yeah, I'd love to hear about these concerns too."

  The second-years stumbled over their words, trying to soften the edges of their earlier comments. "We just thought... well, given your position in the school, Fujisawa... maybe the living arrangements weren't ideal..."

  "Not ideal?" Shiori's voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. "And what exactly makes you qualified to decide what's ideal for me?"

  The girls shifted uncomfortably. Even Maki found herself taking a small step back, not used to this side of the usually easy-going basketball star.

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  "We were only thinking of your reputation-" one of them started.

  "My reputation?" Shiori cut in, raising an eyebrow. "Let me be very clear. My living situation is exactly that - mine. I don't need a committee to approve my roommate, and I certainly don't need anyone spreading rumors about someone they don't know."

  She took a step forward, and despite being shorter than the tall second-year, somehow seemed to tower over her. "I'm perfectly capable of handling my own affairs. So unless you'd like to explain to Coach why I'm distracted during practice dealing with pointless drama, I suggest you stop concerning yourselves with my living arrangements."

  The cafeteria had gone dead silent. Even Maki stood there with her mouth slightly open, snack halfway to her lips, forgotten. She'd been ready for a fight, for more heated words, maybe even some tears. But this? This calm, authoritative dismissal? It was like watching a tiger decide you weren't even worth pouncing on.

  "Now," Shiori said pleasantly, though her eyes remained sharp, "I believe you have somewhere else to be?"

  The second-years practically tripped over themselves leaving the cafeteria.

  The silence lasted approximately two more seconds before Sato burst out laughing, doubling over and clutching his stomach.

  "That was AMAZING!" Maki bounced around Shiori like an overexcited puppy. "You just - and they just - and that thing with your eyebrow! I didn't know you could be scary! Can you teach me how to do that? The whole 'I'm not even raising my voice but you should probably run' thing?"

  Shiori's stern expression melted into her usual gentle smile. "I just don't like bullies."

  "Don't like bullies? You destroyed them!" Maki was practically vibrating with excitement. "They looked like they were going to cry! Or faint! Or cry while fainting!"

  "Please stop," Taiki mumbled into his hands, which were currently doing their best to hide his entire face. "Can we pretend this never happened? Better yet, can we pretend I never existed? I'm thinking of becoming a hermit. Do hermits need athletic ability? Because I could probably manage that."

  "Dude," Sato wiped tears from his eyes, still chuckling, "that was better than any drama on TV. Did you see their faces when Shiori mentioned the coach?"

  "I'm serious about the hermit thing," Taiki continued from behind his hands. "I hear mountains are nice this time of year. Very quiet. No gossip. No sports. Just me and some nice rocks that won't judge my setting abilities or my roommate situation."

  "Oh no," Maki grabbed his arm. "You don't get to run away after I just defended your honor. Besides, now everyone knows you're under the protection of not just me, but the great Fujisawa-sama herself!"

  "Please don't call me that," Shiori sighed.

  "The legendary basketball princess! The queen of the court! The-"

  "I will leave," Shiori threatened.

  Taiki slumped back in his chair. "I really don't get what the big deal is," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "So Shiori's good at basketball. Great. But this whole 'queen of the court' thing is basically a cult at this point."

  He gestured vaguely at the cafeteria, where students were still stealing glances at their table. "Like, no offense Shiori, you're obviously talented and everything, but you're just... you know, you. Maki's friend who happens to be really good at throwing balls through hoops and apparently terrifying second-years."

  Something flickered across Shiori's face - a quick, subtle shift that most people would have missed. But Maki caught it. She recognized that look. It was a mixture of relief and something else, something softer.

  She knew better than most how much Shiori struggled with being put on a pedestal, how exhausting it was to constantly be "The Basketball Princess" instead of just Shiori. And here was Taiki, completely unimpressed by all of it, treating her like any other friend.

  The one person who actually shared living space with "The Great Fujisawa" was probably the only person in school who couldn't care less about her athletic achievements.

  Maki cleared her throat, noticing how Shiori seemed to be struggling to maintain her composure after Taiki's casual dismissal of her status.

  "So!" Maki clapped her hands together, maybe a bit too loudly. "Speaking of basketball and throwing balls through hoops - you guys are coming to watch tomorrow's game, right?"

  "You have a game tomorrow?" Taiki blinked.

  "How do you not know this?" Maki groaned. "I've only been having anxiety attacks about it for the past week! You literally talked me down from one yesterday!"

  "Oh right, the one where you convinced yourself you'd somehow manage to score in your own team's basket while simultaneously setting the court on fire?"

  "That was a legitimate concern!" Maki protested. "The fire part, anyway. Coach still hasn't forgiven me for the coffee incident."

  Sato's face lit up. "Of course we'll be there! I already got permission from volleyball coach to end practice early so the whole team can watch. We made signs!"

  "You what?" Maki squeaked.

  "They're really good!" Sato continued enthusiastically. "Roku did this amazing drawing of you, though he might have made you a bit taller-"

  "How much taller?" Maki's eyes narrowed.

  "Like... normal person height?"

  "I am normal person height!"

  "For a middle schooler, maybe," Taiki muttered into his drink.

  Maki pointed her chopsticks at him threateningly. "I just defended you in front of the whole cafeteria. Don't make me take it back."

  "Yeah, I guess if the whole volleyball team's going to be there anyway, I'll come watch you and Shiori play," Taiki muttered, poking at his remaining lunch. "Not like I have much choice with Sato's enthusiasm level."

  "Your support is overwhelming," Maki said dryly. "Really, try to contain yourself."

  "What? I said I'd come." Taiki shrugged. "Want me to make a sign too? 'Go Maki, try not to set anything on fire?' Though maybe we should laminate it, just in case."

  Shiori covered her mouth, clearly trying not to laugh, while Sato looked genuinely excited about the sign suggestion.

  "Oh! We could totally add that to the other signs!" Sato pulled out his phone, presumably to text the team about emergency sign modifications. "Though maybe we should make it waterproof too, remember that time Maki knocked over the whole water cooler?"

  "That was ONE TIME!" Maki protested, her face flushing. "And it wasn't even my fault! Who puts a water cooler right next to the bench anyway?"

  "Pretty much every sports team ever?" Taiki offered helpfully.

  "I don't need this kind of negativity before my first game," Maki huffed, but her lips twitched upward. "Just try not to sit too close to the court. I can't guarantee the safety of anyone in the splash zone."

  "Noted," Taiki said. "I'll bring an umbrella."

  The volleyball team's energy made a rock concert look tame by comparison. Taiki winced as Jin bellowed another cheer right next to his ear, while Daichi's massive frame practically vibrated with enthusiasm on his other side. He was starting to understand why they'd been relegated to the very back row of the bleachers.

  "GO SHIORI!" Jin roared, punching the air as she sank another three-pointer. "THAT'S OUR ROOKIE'S ROOMMATE!"

  "Pretty sure that's not a thing," Taiki muttered, but his voice was lost in the chaos as the rest of the team joined in.

  Daichi elbowed him, nearly knocking him into Jin's lap. "Come on, Grumpy, show some spirit! Your bestie's going to get subbed in any minute now."

  Taiki glanced at the bench where Maki sat, practically vibrating with nervous energy. She'd been warming up periodically throughout the first half, but kept getting waved back to sit down. The score difference wasn't helping - their team was up by twenty points already, largely thanks to Shiori's seemingly endless string of successful shots.

  "MAKI!" The team suddenly erupted, holding up their collection of signs. Roku's stood out particularly, featuring a suspiciously tall stick figure that was supposedly Maki. "GET READY!"

  "She's literally just standing up to get water," Taiki pointed out, watching Maki freeze mid-reach for the water cooler. She shot them a panicked look.

  "DON'T KNOCK IT OVER!" Jin helpfully added at full volume.

  "You guys are the worst," Taiki groaned, sliding down in his seat as Maki carefully - very carefully - got her water while half the gym stared at her. "She's nervous enough without-"

  "THAT'S OUR MANAGER'S ROOMMATE!" Daichi bellowed, drowning out Taiki's protests. "HYDRATE OR DIE-DRATE!"

  The opposing team's point guard actually stopped mid-dribble to watch the volleyball team's antics, resulting in a turnover that Shiori smoothly converted into another basket. The referee was pressing his lips together so hard they'd practically disappeared, shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter.

  "This is a basketball game, not a circus," Taiki muttered, but even he had to admit the atmosphere was infectious. The tension that usually filled tournament games had evaporated completely.

  A player from the other team missed a free throw and started giggling when Jin yelled, "THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T RESPECT MAKI'S WATER-DRINKING SKILLS!"

  Even their coach was struggling to maintain his stern expression, especially when Daichi started an impromptu "We believe in proper hydration" chant that half the crowd joined in on.

  Taiki expected Maki to be a nervous wreck, but when he glanced at the bench, he saw something different. She was still bouncing her leg anxiously, but there was a hint of a smile playing at her corners of her mouth. Each ridiculous cheer from the volleyball team seemed to relax her shoulders a bit more.

  The score gap widened to twenty-five points. Their coach glanced at the bench, then made a rotating gesture with his hand.

  The whistle blew.

  "Number 14, substituting in!"

  Maki shot to her feet so fast she nearly tripped over the water cooler. The volleyball team erupted like they'd just won nationals.

  "THAT'S IT MAKI SHOW THEM!" Jin's voice cracked with excitement.

  "Go for it, Short Stack!" Daichi added, waving his sign with enough force to endanger everyone within a three-seat radius.

  Maki jogged onto the court, and for the first time since Taiki had known her, she wasn't shaking.

  Her first touch of the ball slipped right through her fingers, bouncing off her forehead before rolling out of bounds. The opposing team tried to hide their smirks, but Maki's face burned red anyway.

  "GOOD HUSTLE!" Jin's voice boomed from the stands. No joke, no teasing - just pure encouragement.

  "You got the next one!" Daichi added, his usual smirk replaced with genuine support.

  The next pass came her way, and Maki's hands trembled so badly she couldn't even make contact. But instead of the expected groans, the volleyball team started a new chant.

  "MA-KI! MA-KI!"

  Shiori jogged past, giving her a quick high five. "Keep moving, you're in the right spots."

  Another missed catch. Another fumbled pass. Each time, Maki's teammates on the court would rush over with encouragement.

  The volleyball team's energy shifted completely. Gone were the silly chants about hydration and roommate connections. Instead, they cheered every time she got into position, celebrated when she managed to touch the ball at all, and kept up a steady stream of genuine support.

  "Great hustle on defense!" Hiro's voice had lost its teasing edge entirely.

  Even when Maki accidentally passed the ball directly to the opposing team, her teammates rushed to high five her for trying. The basketball captain gave her a thumbs up, and Shiori made a point to pass to her again immediately after.

  The final buzzer blared through the gym, and Taiki barely had time to process their team's victory before chaos erupted. But instead of swarming their star player, the entire basketball team converged on Maki like a tidal wave of sweaty jerseys and excited screams.

  "You did it!" One wrapped Maki in a bear hug that lifted her clear off the ground. "Your first real game minutes!"

  "B-but I didn't score or anything," Maki stammered, looking dazed as more teammates piled on.

  "Are you kidding?" Another player ruffled her hair. "Did you see how you got into position for that last play? Two months ago you wouldn't have known where to stand!"

  Shiori shouldered her way through the crowd to give Maki a high five. "Those were some solid defensive rotations. You stayed exactly where you needed to be."

  "Even when I dropped the ball?" Maki's voice cracked.

  "Especially then," Shiori grinned. "You didn't let it stop you from trying again."

  The volleyball team's thunderous cheering from the stands only added to the chaos. Taiki watched as Jin nearly toppled over the railing trying to wave his "MAKI IS OUR QUEEN" sign.

  "Group hug!" someone shouted, and before Maki could escape, she disappeared into a mass of celebrating teammates.

  When she finally emerged, her ponytail was completely disheveled and her face was flushed bright red, but she was grinning wider than Taiki had ever seen. The tears in her eyes looked suspiciously happy.

  "I played," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "I actually played in a real game."

  The volleyball team huddled outside the gym entrance, still buzzing with leftover energy from their enthusiastic cheering session. Taiki couldn't help but notice how natural it felt, the way they'd supported Maki throughout the game.

  "Since when are we so tight with the basketball team?" Taiki asked, genuinely confused.

  Roku looked up from adjusting his wristband, raising a single eyebrow. "We're not."

  "What?"

  "We're not particularly close with the basketball team," Roku clarified, his expression unchanged.

  Taiki blinked. "But... all the cheering? The signs? Jin almost diving off the bleachers?"

  "What were you expecting?" Roku's tone remained matter-of-fact. "For us to be jerks about it? We see a fellow athlete struggling, we cheer them on. Simple as that." He paused, then added with the ghost of a smile, "Though I suppose her being Sato's roommate gives us extra incentive to be supportive."

  "But-"

  "Athletes support athletes," Roku cut him off with a shrug. "Doesn't matter what sport. We've all been there."

  Hiro leaned against the wall, popping his ever-present gum with a thoughtful expression. "You know, having Shiori and Maki around has kind of changed things. Maybe we're getting soft."

  "Definitely soft," Jin agreed, punching his palm out of habit. "But hey, maybe it's time someone broke down those invisible walls between clubs."

  Sato nodded enthusiastically. "It's weird when you think about it. This school's always had these... unspoken rules. Like, volleyball stays with volleyball, basketball with basketball. Everyone just does their own thing, keeps to themselves."

  "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Taiki said, frowning. "Why wouldn't you cheer for your friends? What kind of backwards logic is that?"

  Jin's usual intense expression softened as he looked at Taiki. "That's just it, though. Other clubs aren't friends. Or weren't, I guess." He shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. "Like Roku said earlier - they're just fellow athletes. That's how it's always been."

  "Until now, maybe," Hiro added, blowing a bubble and letting it pop with a snap.

  Daichi cracked his knuckles, drawing everyone's attention. "Look, Shortie," he said, using his favorite nickname for Taiki despite the latter's eye roll, "this kind of thing just didn't happen before. Different clubs stayed in their lanes."

  "But that's-" Taiki started.

  "Stupid? Yeah, probably," Daichi agreed with a laugh. "But traditions are like that sometimes. The volleyball team cheered for volleyball, basketball for basketball. The most interaction you'd get was a polite nod in the hallway."

  Sato continued "That's why I thought we should go all out! Show everyone it's okay to support other teams!"

  "Of course it was your idea," Taiki muttered.

  Daichi's expression turned thoughtful. "You know, this whole dormitory program... mixing players from different sports together..." He gestured between Taiki and Sato. "Getting you two paired with basketball players? I'm starting to think that was the point all along."

  "What do you mean?" Taiki asked.

  "Breaking down those invisible walls," Daichi explained. "Getting clubs to actually interact for once. I mean, look at us - we just spent an hour screaming our lungs out for a basketball game, all because Maki's your friend and Sato's roommate. That wouldn't have happened last year, or the years before."

  Sato's eyes widened. "You think the school planned this?"

  "The mixed dorms? The mandatory sports requirement?" Daichi nodded. "Has to be. They're forcing us to actually get to know each other instead of staying in our comfortable little club bubbles."

  The gym doors burst open with a bang, and the basketball team spilled out into the hallway. Maki led the charge, practically vibrating with leftover adrenaline from her first real game. Taiki watched as the two teams naturally merged together.

  Jin and Hiro immediately found themselves surrounded by three girls from the basketball team, all of them talking animatedly about the game's highlights. Taiki caught fragments about "that amazing three-pointer" and "did you see when she faked left?"

  Shiori made her way straight to Sato. Meanwhile, Maki bounced between the volleyball players. Standing next to Daichi and Roku, she looked almost comically small - her five-foot frame barely reaching their chests. The sight of her trying to high-five Roku, who had to bend down significantly just to reach her hand, made Taiki bite back a laugh.

  "Did you see me? I mean, I know I dropped the ball that one time - okay, maybe three times - but I actually played! In a real game!" Maki's voice carried over the general chatter, her excitement infectious as she darted between the towering volleyball players.

  "And did you notice?" Maki grabbed Hiro's sleeve, practically vibrating with excitement. "I didn't fall down once! Not even when I was running backward! Zero trips, zero face-plants, zero embarrassing moments where I needed someone to help me up!"

  Hiro's usual easy smile widened as he reached down to ruffle Maki's already messy hair. "Look at you, defying gravity and everything. Our little disaster child is growing up."

  "Hey!" Maki protested, but she was beaming under the pat. "I'll have you know I'm evolving. Soon I'll be able to walk and chew gum at the same time."

  "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Hiro laughed, giving her hair one final ruffle before pulling his hand back. "Baby steps. First walking without falling, then we'll tackle the advanced stuff."

  "You're just jealous because I'm clearly on track to becoming a basketball legend," Maki stuck out her tongue. "They'll write songs about me. 'The Girl Who Learned to Stand.'"

  Back in their apartment, Taiki collapsed onto the couch like a marionette with cut strings. Meanwhile, Shiori breezed past him to the kitchen, somehow looking fresh as a daisy despite having just played a full basketball game.

  "How?" Taiki groaned into a throw pillow. "How do you look less tired than me? I just sat there and yelled. You were the one actually running around and... you know, sports-ing."

  Shiori's laugh echoed from the kitchen, followed by the sound of the fridge opening. "Sports-ing? Is that the technical term?"

  "You know what I mean," Taiki waved a limp hand in her general direction, not bothering to lift his face from the pillow. "You scored like... a million points or something. I just exercised my vocal cords. And maybe my arms from all the sign-waving Sato made us do."

  "Twenty-two points," Shiori corrected, returning with two water bottles. She tossed one at Taiki, who barely managed to catch it before it hit his head. "And you'd be surprised how much energy you can have when you're actually conditioned for the sport you're playing."

  "Is that a dig at my volleyball skills?" Taiki squinted at her suspiciously.

  "More like motivation to keep at those morning practices," Shiori grinned, dropping onto the other end of the couch. "Though maybe next time invite the rest of your team instead of sneaking around with Maki at dawn?"

  "Never gonna live that down, am I?"

  "Nope!" Shiori popped the 'p' cheerfully.