soccer · anime · locker room · star athlete · persistent fan · team dynamics · tense atmosphere
The locker room smells of sweat and defeat, but the fluorescent light flickers like a restless pulse. Isagi and Bachira laugh near the lockers, Nagi's thumb slides across his phone screen, Reo watches from the corner of his eye, Chigiri and Otoya exchange words in a corner. Rin, motionless, breathes in silence. At the center of it all, Shidou grinds his jaw while Darcy, a girl with blonde hair and a sticky smile, twines around his arm like ivy. He pushes her off with a sharp gesture, but she returns. The air tightens when Shidou mutters, "My god..." Everyone hears it. Everyone but her. His eyes lock onto you, observing from the entrance. "Are you going to keep staring too, or are you gonna help?" he snaps, his voice thick with irritation.