The next few days blurred together with practices, team meetings, and late nights spent studying. Yet, Akira found herself replaying her brief interaction with Nelson over and over. She hadn't expected to think about him so much, but something about his energy stuck with her. The intensity in his eyes, the way he focused on her...she couldn't shake it.
After practice one evening, Akira was packing up her gear when she noticed a message notification.
Unknown Number: "How's the Rod Wave Elite MVP? Hope you're not too sore from killing it out there."
Akira blinked in surprise, her heart speeding up. Only one person could've sent that message.
Akira: "Guess I owe you a thanks for the support. How'd you get my number?"
A few seconds later, her phone pinged again.
Nelson: "I have my ways. Plus, Coach Roberts was eager to help. She said you needed a new training partner."
Akira grinned at her phone, rolling her eyes. Coach Roberts wasn't exactly the matchmaker type, but maybe she had a soft spot for building new bonds between her teams. Either way, she wasn't complaining.
A few days later, Nelson showed up early to one of her practices. He leaned against the gym wall, arms crossed, watching as she went through warm-ups. He looked relaxed, but his gaze never left her. When she finally got a break, she grabbed her water and walked over, feeling a jolt of excitement.
"Ready to show me what you got?" he asked, his eyes sparking with challenge.
Akira smirked. "You think you can keep up?"
They spent the next hour practicing together. Nelson was quick on his feet, pushing her to be faster, more focused. And he was relentless, challenging every shot she made, blocking her whenever he could. The energy between them grew, both of them locked into the game as if nothing else mattered. Akira could feel the heat in his stare, especially when she landed a shot he hadn't seen coming.
"Impressive," he said, slightly out of breath, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I think you're holding back."
Akira laughed, raising an eyebrow. "Holding back? You're the one looking winded."
His eyes flashed with competitive fire, and he stepped closer, his voice low. "I'll remember that, Akira."
As they packed up, he walked her to the parking lot, the cool evening air swirling around them. For a moment, they walked in comfortable silence, the weight of their shared moments lingering.
"Good practice tonight," he said, his voice softer than before. But as she turned to thank him, a group of guys from the boys' team walked by, shooting curious glances at them. One of them let out a low whistle, nudging Nelson playfully.
Akira felt the shift in Nelson's demeanor instantly. His gaze turned cold as he shot the guys a glare. "Keep walking," he muttered, his tone leaving no room for argument. The guys chuckled but backed off, throwing her an amused look as they moved away.
Akira was taken aback by his sudden protectiveness. "You don't have to scare off your own team, you know," she teased.
Nelson relaxed a bit, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just don't like the way they were looking at you," he muttered, his cheeks slightly flushed.
She smiled, touched by his protectiveness. "Guess I'll have to get used to you being around."
"Yeah," he replied, his voice soft but certain. "You will."
