beyond the net - RAN TAKAHASHI.

006. the date

₊˚ . 🌱 ₊˚ ⌗﹒ﾟ.

── .✦ THE MORNING SUN FILTERED through the heavy curtains of ran's room in the olympic village, casting a warm, golden hue over the sparse decor. ran lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind in a state of restless agitation. it was the day before the semifinals, and the excitement of the match against france was palpable throughout the team. yet, for ran, the anticipation of the game was overshadowed by a more personal preoccupation: yn.

he had been up since early dawn, unable to sleep as thoughts of yn occupied every corner of his mind. the event he had invited her to just two days prior had left an indelible mark on him. their brief interaction had been electrifying. he recalled how he had asked her to come specifically to see him, hoping to rekindle the connection they had shared the first time they met. the memory of their encounter was fresh, and he couldn't help but replay it over and over, each time feeling a deeper sense of longing.

ran's thoughts drifted back to their first meeting, a moment he had thought little of at the time but now saw as significant. yn had approached him with a mixture of nervousness and excitement, asking him to sign her jersey. her request had been simple, yet there was something in the way she had looked at him that had struck a chord. her eyes had been filled with admiration, and her smile had been genuine and bright. it was a moment of pure, unguarded connection that ran couldn't easily shake from his memory.

he found himself captivated by more than just her outward appearance. yn had spoken with such passion about her role as a libero; the way she described her dedication to the sport, her love for the game, and her ambitions for her team had been both inspiring and endearing. there was an earnestness in her voice, a sincere enthusiasm that ran found refreshing. it was clear that her commitment to volleyball was as deep as his own, and that shared passion had created a bond between them that ran wanted to explore further.

as he lay there, ran thought about the small details that made yn special to him. the way she had listened intently when he spoke, the warmth in her smile, and the genuine interest she had shown in his life - all these things had endeared her to him. he had never expected to feel such a strong connection so quickly, and it both excited and unsettled him. her presence had been a breath of fresh air, a moment of calm amid the whirlwind of his competitive life.

ran's mind was a turbulent sea of thoughts and feelings. he knew that seeing her again would be a chance to explore the spark that had ignited between them. yet, the reality of their situation - the upcoming semifinals and the logistical challenges of arranging another meeting - loomed large. he wanted to act on his feelings, to see if there was something more between them, but he was uncertain about how to proceed without coming across as intrusive.

the more ran thought about yn, the more he realized how much he wanted to make this opportunity count. he needed to find a way to reach out to her. the game against france was important, but the thought of yn, and the possibility of seeing her again, was a powerful motivator that drove him to think about his next steps carefully.