Just Another Day in Life

Kazuki let out a long breath as he dropped onto the couch in Yami no Kiba's common room. His muscles still ached from the match, but the exhaustion was nothing compared to the rush of victory. The dorm was buzzing with energy—some guys were still talking about the game, replaying key moments in exaggerated detail, while others had already moved on to random conversations and the usual chaos.

Across from him, Kyouya was setting up the console, his sharp eyes focused on the screen. Reo and Naoto were sprawled on the floor, arguing over something stupid, as usual. Meanwhile, Daiki, despite being from Raijin, had somehow made his way into their dorm without issue and was currently raiding their snack stash.

"Oi, Kazuki," Daiki called, mouth half-full. "You still alive?"

Kazuki, resting his head against the couch, cracked open one eye. "Barely. If I die, I want my will to state that you're banned from all my funeral snacks."

Daiki snorted. "Tch. Selfish even in death."

Reo leaned back, stretching. "Man, that match was insane. I thought Raijin had us buried at one point."

"Yeah, until Kazuki pulled that buzzer-beater," Naoto added. "I swear, it felt like an anime moment."

Kazuki smirked. "I do have a flair for the dramatic."

Kyouya, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "It was impressive, sure. But the real question is…" He turned to Kazuki with a serious expression. "Did she see it?"

Kazuki froze for a split second before schooling his face into a neutral expression. "Who?"

Daiki grinned. "Don't play dumb. Miyuki."

Reo and Naoto immediately perked up. "Ohhh?"

Kazuki sighed, rubbing his temple. "You guys are unbelievable."

"Not denying it though," Daiki pointed out.

Kyouya, smirking slightly, leaned forward. "Well? Did she say anything?"

Kazuki hesitated for a fraction of a second—just long enough for his friends to notice.

"Busted," Reo said, grinning like an idiot.

Kazuki sighed again, knowing there was no escaping this. "...She congratulated me after the match."

A moment of silence.

Then—

"OH SHIT, IT'S HAPPENING!" Reo shouted, shaking Naoto by the shoulders.

Daiki wiped a fake tear. "Our little Kazuki is finally growing up."

"He can casually talk to a girl without short-circuiting," Naoto mused. "I'm proud."

Kazuki groaned. "You guys are acting like I just proposed."

Kyouya chuckled. "Not yet, but you're heading there."

Kazuki shook his head, but deep down, he couldn't deny it. The moment Miyuki had smiled at him after the game, he had felt… something. Something he wasn't sure how to handle just yet.

Before he could dwell on it too much, Daiki tossed him a controller. "Alright, enough romance talk. Time for the real competition—gaming."

Kazuki caught it with one hand, rolling his shoulders. "You sure you want to lose right after already losing to me once today?"

Daiki's eye twitched. "Tch. That was basketball. This is different."

Reo smirked. "Is it though? I seem to remember you getting your ass kicked last time too."

"Shut up, Reo."

As the game started, the atmosphere in the room shifted back to its usual chaotic energy. Controllers clicked rapidly, insults and taunts flew, and any attempt at serious strategy dissolved into pure madness.

Naoto, despite being the 'smartest' in the group, was absolute trash at gaming, and it showed when he repeatedly walked off the stage like a clueless NPC.

Reo played aggressively but made dumb mistakes, Daiki was unpredictable but too reckless, and Kyouya—annoyingly calm and calculated—was the silent killer in every match.

Kazuki, of course, was in his element.

"Bruh, STOP TARGETING ME!" Reo yelled as Kazuki comboed him off the screen.

"It's called skill," Kazuki replied smoothly.

"More like bullying," Naoto grumbled as he got knocked out again.

"Then get better," Daiki shot back.

Despite the chaos, the night was comfortable. These moments, the ones filled with dumb jokes and friendly competition, were what made the dorm feel like home.

After several rounds, they finally called a truce, with Kyouya somehow coming out on top (again).

As the room settled into a calmer state, Daiki leaned back against the couch, arms crossed. "Alright, but seriously, Kazuki. What's your plan?"

Kazuki blinked. "For what?"

Daiki gave him a deadpan look. "For Miyuki, dumbass."

Kazuki opened his mouth to argue, but Kyouya beat him to it. "You like her. She seems to like you too. So, what now?"

The room was quiet for a moment, all eyes on Kazuki.

He sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "I don't know. I mean, yeah… I like her, but I'm not exactly good at this kind of thing."

Reo grinned. "Dude, we know."

Kazuki rolled his eyes. "I just—" He paused, exhaling. "I don't want to rush things and mess it up. I like the way things are right now."

Kyouya nodded. "Fair. But if you wait too long, you might regret it."

Daiki smirked. "Yeah, what if some other dude confesses first?"

Kazuki immediately sat up. "That's not happening."

The room erupted into laughter.

Reo wiped an imaginary tear. "Oh man, you so like her."

Kazuki groaned, sinking back into the couch. Maybe he did need to start thinking about this more seriously.

For now, though…

He closed his eyes, listening to his friends argue over the next game.

For now, this was enough.

But deep down, a part of him knew—

It wouldn't be for long.