“Do not speak unless you are asked to,” his father’s voice was sharp and commanding, the anger lacing his words as Niki stood before him, feeling the weight of his disapproval.
Once again, Niki had been forced to transfer schools—his performance both academically and athletically had dropped, and his father’s patience had worn thin. He didn’t understand why he always had to be so perfect in everything he did, but his father was relentless. He didn’t care how difficult life had been for Niki; all he cared about was achievement, success, and making sure his son didn’t fall short of expectations.
Today marked his first day at the new school.
To be honest, Niki didn’t really care. The people at his previous school had been insufferable—always ready to tear anyone down, their egos far too inflated for their own good. He was used to being the outcast, the one people whispered about behind his back. But here, at this new school, he would just go through the motions. He had no interest in trying to fit in or make friends. He didn’t need anyone.
His feet carried him through the halls, and he found his way to the basketball court. He barely paid attention to the environment around him, his mind focused on anything but the reality of what was going on. He didn’t even notice the guy who walked up to him until he was right beside him.
“Hey,” the voice called, and Niki turned his head slightly, barely acknowledging the newcomer.
He didn’t respond, only nodded and walked past the guy, making his way straight to the coach.
The coach had been waiting for him, clearly expecting him to show up. “Ah, right,” the coach said loudly, clapping his hands to draw attention. “This is Nishimura Riki, and he’ll be joining the team starting today.”
Niki didn’t have the energy to care about the introductions. He wasn’t here for camaraderie or to impress anyone. He just wanted to get through the day.
“Hey, man,” the same guy from earlier walked up to Niki again, extending his hand. “I’m Sunwoo.”
Niki glanced at him briefly, but didn’t bother to shake his hand. “Okay,” he muttered before heading into the locker room to change.
The practice wasn’t as intense as he had expected. It was clear that the tournaments were not taking place this year, and it was still the first day of school, so the atmosphere was laid-back. Niki didn’t have much interest in the practice itself, his mind elsewhere. He pulled out his headphones and slipped them into his ears, zoning out and drowning out everything else. Instead of attending the lectures, he had other plans in mind.
He was going to ride his bike, aimlessly and without any particular destination in mind, until he could clear his head. But then he remembered that his father would be picking him up later, and he’d have to deal with that. So, he sighed and walked back to the bleachers, settling down in the stillness of the gymnasium, watching as the light drizzle outside turned into a downpour.
“What the hell?” Niki mumbled to himself, feeling the rain starting to soak through his clothes. It had been a calm drizzle when he sat down, but in a matter of minutes, the sky had erupted into a torrential storm. He couldn’t even recall when the weather had turned so suddenly.
He sat there, unmoving, letting the rain wash over him, his thoughts swirling. The world seemed to blur with the sound of the thunder and the pounding rain, making everything feel distant and muffled. His body was cold, but the rain brought a certain kind of numbness, a welcome distraction from everything he couldn’t escape.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the session. He had been sitting there for almost forty-five minutes, but the rain showed no signs of letting up. He didn’t care. Nothing felt real anymore—just a blur of noise and chaos, too overwhelming to process.
Then, suddenly, there was a voice.
“Dude, you’re fucking soaked.”
Niki, who had been too lost in his thoughts to notice anyone approaching, looked up to find a girl standing in front of him, looking at him with what could only be described as a mixture of judgment and frustration. She was holding an umbrella over her head, clearly annoyed at getting wet herself.
He didn’t really recognize her, but her sharp tone caught his attention.
“Damn, you’re so fucking stupid,” she continued, her words sharp, yet strangely caring. Despite her anger, she seemed concerned in a way that made Niki pause for a second.
She rummaged through her bag with one hand while holding the umbrella in the other, clearly trying to find something.
“Here,” she said with a huff, clicking her tongue in slight irritation. She handed him a black umbrella. “Don’t fucking fall sick after this, just take it.”
Niki didn’t immediately respond, unsure of what to make of her. She didn’t seem to be expecting any thanks from him. Instead, she shot him one last look before saying, “You should take a warm shower and drink tea. Bye.” She waved at him quickly before heading off.
As she walked away, Niki found himself staring at the umbrella in his hands. What the hell just happened?
He wasn’t sure why, but his chest felt strange, a thumping sensation he couldn’t quite place. His heart was beating faster than usual, his mind racing to catch up with the moment that had just unfolded.
What the hell was that?
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a shout, and he saw the girl wave back at someone in a car. He could barely make out the figure in the driver’s seat, but he recognized the voice—Sunwoo.
So that’s who she is, Niki thought to himself, his mind still clouded. Sunwoo had been the first person to approach him earlier in the day. He was the one who had introduced himself in that casual, friendly way. But now, seeing him interact with her, seeing the smile on her face as she waved back at him—it suddenly made Niki feel something he wasn’t prepared for.
His heart beat harder as he realized that she had smiled at him earlier, but now that same smile was directed at Sunwoo.
He turned away from the scene, unsure of what he was feeling, but it was clear to him now that something about that interaction had left an impression. He couldn’t shake the feeling in his chest. The thumping, the warmth, the inexplicable need to understand what had just happened.
Why did he care so much? Why did it matter to him?
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ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhupdated!! they're so cute fr this is my fav chp so far
