The First Encounter

On the end of the first week of high school, the men's handball team had practice before the classes. 

The rhythmic pounding of sneakers against the polished wooden floor filled the gymnasium. Ken Kujou exhaled sharply, sweat dripping from his forehead as he sprinted across the court. The handball soared toward him, a perfect pass from his teammate. With a swift motion, he leaped, twisting his body mid-air, and launched a powerful shot toward the goal.

Thud!

The goalkeeper barely reacted before the ball slammed into the net. A whistle blew, signaling the end of practice.

“Nice shot, Ken! You’re getting better,” called out Ryo, his teammate.

Ken wiped his forehead with his wristband, catching his breath. “The nationals might still be far away, but i should start focus”

He slung his bag over his shoulder and stepped outside the gym, inhaling the fresh spring air. Just as he turned the corner

BAM!

Ken felt his shoulder collide with someone at full speed. He saw a sports bag in the air Stumbling back, Ken’s eyes widened as he saw her. He grabbed the bag before it fell on the ground.

Blonde hair, tied neatly into two pigtails. Bright, brown eyes. The girl every guy of the men's team talks about—Akane Nakamura.

She rubbed her forehead, groaning softly. “Ow… What was that?”

Ken panicked. “S-Sorry! I wasn’t looking.” He quickly bent down to help her get up.

Akane blinked at him, then tilted her head. “Oh, you’re Kujou from the handball team, right?”

“You… know me?” Ken blurted before he could stop himself.

Akane chuckled. “I saw you and your middle school team on district finals last year. Plus, I see you guys practicing all the time. You’re pretty good.”

Ken’s face heated up. Compliments were rare, especially from a girl like Akane.

“Uh, thanks…” He scratched the back of his head. “You’re from the girls team, right? You guys are strong.”

She beamed. “Of course! We’re aiming for nationals this year.”

Ken clenched his fists. Nationals… that’s what I want too.

Before he could say more, Akane glanced at the sky. “Ah, I gotta go. See you around, Kujou!” She enters in the gym, to start the girls practice. 

Ken stood frozen for a moment, his heart pounding.

Akane… saw the final?

Ryo appears after that encounter. "So Ken, I see that you get to know Nakamura... So what are you going to do now".

Without hesitating Ken put his arm around Ryo and leand over his shoulder. "Wanna watch the girls practice, Natsume is there"

Ryo laughs "Don't throw that at me, but sure why not"

 They went together to the spectator stand to watch the girls practice. While they are watching the practice the girls coach saw them "Hey, you to come help me with the practice?"

They got scared because of the coach's shout. Natsume stare to Ryo and laugh at is face and waved to call him over, Ryo blushed and said to Ken "Let's go Nakamura its there".

Ken laugh at him "Now you're the one throwing it at me", both laugh while getting downstairs.

They went to the locker room to changes clothes, Ken trying to calm down "Bro there is nothing to worried about we are just helping them, Only the girls we like are there, let's go!".  Those words help Ryo calm down "Ok, we're already taking too long, let's go"

As soon as they enter the court, the coach called them to come quickly "Hey come i need you to defend them!"

Ken surprised said "I don't want to accidentally hurt someone" 

Akane heard him and with an angry face said "no worries you weren't strong enough, to hurt anyone" She blink to him some of the girls laugh and the others were a bit scared, because they never was defended by a man, on top of that, Ken is one of the best defenders on the men's team and he has a strong body.

None of girls were able to pass through Ken and Ryo, even though they were playing three against two. Akane started to get upset, made a cross with her teammate, and when Akane was ready to shoot Ken was already on her front, while he goes to close her arms, so there is no finish, she stumble and hits her face on his belly. 

BAM!

Ken fell on the ground and Akane fell over him. As she raises her head, he notices that Akane is bleeding from her nose.  Ken helps Akane get up and puts his hand under her nose. He looked to the coach and without hesitate the coach nodded for Ken to go to the locker and help her with the blood. 

While going to the locker she ask "Why are u helping me? I could go to the locker by myself", Ken surprised with that question "You are not alone laugh, at least while I'm here", she sighed "Thanks Kujou... I'm dirtying yours with blood! surprised", Ken laugh and said "Don't worry, If you get yours hands dirty it would get mixed with the resin. fake vomit" Akane is relieved to have someone who cares about her "Are you ok?" he laugh "Yeah I was joking with you"

In the locker sinks, Ken tilted Akane's head and pinched her nose above her nostrils with his thumb and forefinger "tell me if it's hurting you". While Ken leans her head to his chest and with his other hand pulls the loose strands of hair back, Akane blushes "It's ok, i can do that by myself!", Ken nodded no "And what? dirty that beautiful face with resin", Akane blushes again "Oh! I stained your clothes! I'm so sorry", Ken was relieved because the bleeding had stopped "Don't worry with that! I have more clothes Ken clean the blood of Akane face, the bleeding stop, go to the practice, me and Ryo need to go, we have handball tactics training in 20 minutes".

Going to classes

Ken notices that Akane was from the same class as him. When Akane realize she blinks at him, saying only with the lips "thank you".

After classes Ken and Ryo walk home together, Ryo "SOOOoooo you get close to Nakamura", Ken blushes "I could say so. laugh". Ryo suprised "Don't waste that opportunity, she's seems to be a good girl, and better... she plays handball!"

Arriving at Ken's house, Ken says goodbye to Ryo and went inside. 

When Ken enters the house he sees a girl who looks his age and a little smaller and Ken doesn't know who she is.

Ken yelled "who are you?"