The hum of chatter and the clink of equipment filled the backstage area as the team gathered, still buzzing with energy after their victories. But the atmosphere felt different now, heavier somehow. You couldn't shake the memory of the girl who had approached Sitetampo earlier—so confident, so familiar with him in a way that left you with an uncomfortable knot in your stomach.

You leaned against the wall, trying to keep your distance from the group, but your gaze kept drifting back to Sitetampo. He was laughing with Relyh and Tensai, but there was a noticeable tension in his posture that hadn't been there before. It was subtle, but you noticed it.

Moya was next to you, giving you an odd look as he watched you fidget. "You okay?" he asked, his voice low, his eyes scanning the room as if he could spot trouble from a mile away.

You hesitated before answering. "Yeah, just... thinking."

Moya raised an eyebrow. "About that girl?"

You stiffened, surprised by his perceptiveness. "What do you mean?"

"I see the way you are looking at him," Moya said, glancing over at Sitetampo. "Something's bothering you."

You frowned, but before you could respond, Moya's protective side came out full force. He stood straighter, his gaze hardening as he turned back to Sitetampo. "You know, I don't trust people like that. She seemed too comfortable around him."

You wanted to brush it off, but you couldn't deny the truth in his words. Something about the way the girl had clung to Sitetampo and called him "Tampo" had rubbed you the wrong way. And now, with Moya's overprotective instincts kicking in, you felt more conflicted than ever.

"I'll keep an eye on him," Moya muttered, clearly not caring if Sitetampo or anyone else overheard. "He's my teammate, but you're my sister. No one's going to hurt you, got it?"

You sighed, nodding. Moya always did this—he was always there for you, but sometimes his protective nature felt stifling. "I know, Moya. You don't have to worry."

"I do," he said, turning toward you. "I'm your brother. I've got your back, always."

Before you could respond, the sound of Sitetampo's voice cut through the tension between you and Moya. "Hey, Y/N. You good?"

You looked up, meeting his eyes. His expression softened, but there was still something distant about him, like a part of him was somewhere else. You forced a smile.

"Yeah," you said, doing your best to sound casual. "Just... tired, I guess."

He nodded, glancing briefly at Moya before turning his attention back to you. "We're about to start the final practice before tomorrow's match."

You nodded, but before you could walk away, Moya cleared his throat.

"Actually, I think I'll come with you guys," Moya said, his tone sharp and protective. He didn't even wait for an answer before turning toward Sitetampo and the others, clearly wanting to stay close.

You groaned inwardly, knowing what was coming next.

"Uh, sure," Sitetampo said, his voice unsure as he looked between you and Moya. "We can all practice together, I guess."

As the team moved toward the training area, you stayed close to Moya, trying to ignore the way Sitetampo's gaze lingered on you, almost like he was debating whether to say something.

The practice room was larger than usual, echoing with the sound of quick footsteps and the soft hum of strategy discussions. The team was moving through their drills with intensity, clearly focused on the challenge ahead. But you couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between you and Sitetampo since the girl had shown up.

You watched from the side, observing as Sitetampo worked through his routine. Every move was fluid, precise—his confidence was back, but there was still something about his energy that felt slightly... off. The lingering tension from the earlier encounter was still there, though he was doing his best to hide it.

Moya noticed it too. He had a hawk's eye when it came to anyone getting too close to you, his gaze flickering between Sitetampo and you with a sense of suspicion.

"Hey," Moya said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "You good?"

You glanced up at him, unsure of how to respond.

"Yeah," you said quickly, not wanting to worry him further. "I'm fine."

Moya didn't look convinced, but he didn't push it. Instead, he turned his attention back to the practice, keeping a watchful eye on everything around him.

Meanwhile, you couldn't help but notice that Sitetampo seemed to be staying a little farther away from you than usual. It wasn't obvious, but you could tell he was deliberately creating space between you. He was always kind, always protective in his own quiet way, but now... it was like he was keeping something to himself.

The practice continued, and though you tried to focus, your thoughts kept drifting back to the girl. Why did she act like she knew him so well? And why was Sitetampo acting like it was no big deal?

Just then, you caught him looking at you again, his eyes briefly meeting yours before he quickly turned away. You frowned, confused and a little hurt. You'd never seen him like this before—not with you.

But before you could dwell on it further, Relyh's voice broke through the thickening tension.

"Alright, everyone, enough with the staring contests! We've got one last round of drills before we head out. Let's go!"

You were grateful for the distraction. As the team moved into position, you took a deep breath, trying to clear your mind. Moya stayed close to you, as always, but you felt Sitetampo's absence more than you expected.

It was as if the distance between you two had grown without either of you realizing it.

By the time practice ended, you were exhausted—physically and emotionally. The day had drained you, still the lingering thoughts about Sitetampo and the girl kept nagging at the back of your mind.

As the team Left the locker room to head home, Moya fell into step beside you. He didn't say anything at first, but the look on his face said everything.

"You know," Moya said, his voice suddenly quieter, "I'm just looking out for you. I don't trust that girl, and I don't like the way Sitetampo's acting."

You shot him a pointed look. "You don't have to keep saying that. I can handle it, Moya."

He paused, as if weighing his words carefully. "I know you can handle yourself. But when it comes to people like that—people who have too much access to your personal space—I can't just sit back and watch."

You sighed. "I get it. But don't make it worse by hovering all the time. I'm fine."

Moya didn't respond immediately, but he didn't need to. You both knew he'd always watch over you, no matter how old you got.

Just as you reached the exit doors, you heard a voice call your name.

"Y/N!"

You turned to see Sitetampo walking toward you, his expression unreadable.

"Hey," he said, stopping in front of you. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "We need to talk."

Your heart skipped a beat. There was something in his voice that made you stop in your tracks. Something serious.

Moya, sensing the tension, looked between you and Sitetampo, then gave a short nod. "I'll be outside."

As Moya walked off, you and Sitetampo stood in the quiet hallway, the weight of his words hanging between you.

"What's going on, Sitetampo?" you asked, your voice barely a whisper, heart pounding in your chest.

His eyes locked onto yours, and for a moment, everything around you seemed to fade. He opened his mouth to speak, but then stopped, glancing down the hallway toward the locker room doors.

It felt like a lifetime before he finally spoke again.

"There's something you need to know... about the girl."