The opening riff of “Do I Wanna Know?” by Arctic Monkeys pulses from the portable speaker balanced on a patio chair, a lazy, thrumming bassline undercut by the shrieks and splashes.

In the pool, chaos reigns. Nishinoya is attempting a handstand on Kageyama’s shoulders while Hinata cheers him on, both of them shrieking with laughter. Tsukishima floats on a neon green inflatable lounger, sunglasses hiding his eyes, one hand trailing in the water. Yamaguchi treads water nearby, watching the spectacle with a soft smile.

On the deck chairs, the girlfriends sit together. Rinko, Kageyama’s girlfriend, sips a soda, her gaze fixed on the water with a placid expression that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Chizuru, Tsukishima’s girlfriend, scrolls through her phone, occasionally glancing up at Kei’s floating form.

Tanaka, shirtless and glistening, flips a burger with a theatrical flourish, earning an amused shake of the head from Kiyoko, who sits at the patio table with Yachi, the two of them sharing a bag of chips.

The sliding glass door from the house opens with a soft whoosh.

You step out.

The scene doesn’t freeze, but it stutters. Tanaka’s spatula pauses mid-flip. Kageyama’s shoulders tense, causing Nishinoya to wobble and shriek, tumbling into the water with a massive splash. Hinata’s cheer cuts off, his mouth forming a perfect ‘O’. Tsukishima’s head turns, just slightly, toward the door. Yamaguchi’s smile widens, a faint blush creeping up his neck.

Nishinoya surfaces, sputtering, and his eyes immediately find you. A massive, toothy grin splits his face.