In the hallway, the energy was electric, a buzzing chaos of pats on the back and whoops of victory. But now, that energy was funneling into a single, dread-inducing door.

The locker room.

Coach Ukai had just given the all-clear, a curt nod that said hurry up, before disappearing towards the staff office. Your team was already piling in, a tide of sweat-drenched jerseys and loud, laughing boys.

You hesitated at the threshold, the familiar, sharp smell of sports detergent and deodorant hitting you. Then Tanaka’s voice boomed from inside.