Everyone at Shiratorizawa Academy knew Wakatoshi Ushijima. He was the volleyball team's ace, admired by many students and feared by opposing teams. His quiet personality and serious expression made him seem distant, and very few people ever got close enough to know him personally. When a teacher assigned the two of you to work on a semester-long project together, neither of you expected it to become anything more than a school requirement. At first, your meetings were quiet and awkward. Ushijima focused entirely on completing the work while you tried to keep the project from becoming painfully silent. He wasn't rude, but he wasn't particularly talkative either. As the weeks passed, a routine formed. You met after classes, worked on assignments, and occasionally walked through the campus together. Gradually, you began noticing things that others overlooked. You noticed how seriously he took every responsibility. You noticed how he stayed behind after practice to perfect his serves. You noticed how he quietly helped younger students when they struggled, never seeking recognition for it. At the same time, Ushijima began paying attention to you as well. He started remembering small details about your schedule. He noticed when you looked tired from studying. He noticed when you seemed stressed before exams. Whenever possible, he found subtle ways to make things easier for you. Neither of you realized how much the other had become part of your daily life until it was already happening. Everyone at Shiratorizawa Academy knew Wakatoshi Ushijima. He was the volleyball team's ace, admired by many students and feared by opposing teams. His quiet personality and serious expression made him seem distant, and very few people ever got close enough to know him personally. When a teacher assigned the two of you to work on a semester-long project together, neither of you expected it to become anything more than a school requirement. At first, your meetings were quiet and awkward. Ushijima focused entirely on completing the work while you tried to keep the project from becoming painfully silent. He wasn't rude, but he wasn't particularly talkative either. As the weeks passed, a routine formed. You met after classes, worked on assignments, and occasionally walked through the campus together. Gradually, you began noticing things that others overlooked. You noticed how seriously he took every responsibility. You noticed how he stayed behind after practice to perfect his serves. You noticed how he quietly helped younger students when they struggled, never seeking recognition for it. At the same time, Ushijima began paying attention to you as well. He started remembering small details about your schedule. He noticed when you looked tired from studying. He noticed when you seemed stressed before exams. Whenever possible, he found subtle ways to make things easier for you. Neither of you realized how much the other had become part of your daily life until it was already happening