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The gym hums with the steady rhythm of practice, shoes squeaking and balls snapping against palms. Megumi stands near the net, fingers flexing as he watches the play reset, his expression as composed as ever while his eyes track every movement with quiet precision. Across the court, Yuuji is impossible to miss, all energy and motion, laughing as he dives for a ball he definitely could have let go, popping back up like it didn’t sting at all.
“Again!” He calls, already jogging back into position, bright and insistent as always.
Megumi exhales softly, stepping into place to set. He’s used to this, used to Yuuji’s relentless pace, the way he fills every corner of the gym with warmth and noise even with others all around practising like them. It’s distracting in a way Megumi doesn’t particularly want to examine too closely.
The next rally is clean; receive, pass, set. Megumi sends the ball up in a perfect arc, and Yuuji spikes it hard, grinning when it lands just inside the line. Someone whistles from the stands and someone else groans. Yuuji beams anyway, like the entire moment belongs to him.
“Nice one, Megumi!” He calls, jogging closer, all bright eyes and easy closeness, like standing this near is the most natural thing in the world for him.
Megumi nods once. “Your timing was better.”
Yuuji lights up at that, like praise from him means more than it should. It probably does, if the way he looks like he’s pure sunshine any time he says something semi-complimentary is any indicator. Megumi turns away before he can think about that too much.
Practice winds down slower after that, drills loosening into casual play, teammates rotating in and out until it’s less about structure and more about staying on the court a little longer. Someone suggests one last round, serves only, aiming for the back corners and Megumi heads off court to get his water bottle. Yuuji immediately volunteers, of course.
“Watch this!” He says, spinning the ball in his finger as he backs up to the service line, then glancing over his shoulder at Megumi with a grin that feels just a little more deliberate than usual. “This is for you.”
Unsure what that’s supposed to mean, Megumi frowns but before he can ask, Yuuji tosses the ball into the air.
For a split second, everything lines up, the toss is clean, his form solid, his focus sharp, and then, somehow, spectacularly, it all falls apart. His hand clips the ball at the wrong angle, sending it spinning off course in a pathetic, wobbling arc that veers completely sideways and smacks Yuuta walking by with Toge, right at his head.
There’s a beat of stunned silence before the gym erupts again.
“YUUJI!” Todo shouts, already laughing.
“That was awful.” Maki taunts.
Nobara shakes her head beside her. “‘This is for you’ he says..”
Yuuji freezes in place, staring at where the ball has landed like it personally betrayed him, then slowly lowers his arm. “Okay..” He says, voice cracking just slightly, “So maybe that one didn't count. Sorry, Yuuta!”
Toge is checking Yuuta’s head, forcefully bowing forward for Inumaki’s silent demands, but he’s clearly alright and Okkotsu gives Yuuji an understanding nod
Megumi presses his lips together, but it’s useless. A quiet, rare laugh slips out before he can stop it.
Yuuji turns immediately, eyes zeroing in on him seemingly half offended, half delighted. “You’re laughing!”
“You said it was for me.” Megumi replies, tone dry even as the faintest hint of a smile lingers. “I didn’t realize that included public humiliation.”
“That was not supposed to happen.” Yuuji insists, jogging over, a little flushed now but still smiling like he can’t help it. “I was trying to do something cool.”
Megumi glances past him at the ball someone’s rolled back towards them. “You failed.”
“Wow, brutal.” Yuuji huffs, but he’s laughing again, softer this time. He nudges the ball with his foot, then looks back at Megumi, expression shifting just slightly, something more earnest threading through the embarrassment. “I’ll get it right next time.”
Megumi meets his gaze for a moment, steady and unreadable, though his voice comes out quieter than before. “You don’t have to.”
Yuuji blinks. “Huh?”
“It doesn’t need to be impressive.” Megumi says, then after a brief pause he adds. “If it’s for me.”
For once, Yuuji doesn’t have an immediate response. His ears go a little red instead, and he rubs the back of his neck, laughing under his breath like he’s trying to shake it off. “Okay, then I guess I already nailed it.”
Megumi doesn’t answer, but when they head back toward the locker rooms, the hallway is quieter, footsteps echoing softer against the floor. They walk close without really thinking about it, shoulders nearly brushing, until their hands swing just a little too near each other.
For a second it’s nothing, just the faintest graze of knuckles before Yuuji’s pinky catches on his, it’s tentative, like he might pull away at any second.
Megumi doesn’t.
He lets his hand shift just enough for it to settle, a small, almost absent adjustment, like it wasn’t a choice at all. They keep walking like that and his heart ticks a little faster.