After the school festival, Karasuno High's students returned to their ordinary lives—ordinary studies, ordinary club activities. But things were a little different for Hayato.
Ever since he had danced with Kiyoko at the after-party, people had been pointing and whispering about him.
"Is that Kuroba, the guy who danced with third-year Kiyoko-senpai?"
"He looks so tall."
"I heard he's over 190 centimeters, and he's Kiyoko-senpai's childhood friend."
"Kuroba-senpai is so handsome. How did he suddenly end up with someone?"
"It wasn't that sudden. I'd seen him going to school with Kiyoko-senpai several times before."
The boys were mostly jealous, while the girls regretted that such a handsome catch had already been taken.
Ignoring the chatter around him, Hayato pressed the buttons on a vending machine, bought four different drinks, and carried them back to his classroom. Tanaka, Kouha, and Uki had already pushed their desks together and set out their boxed lunches and bread from the cafeteria.
"Yo, welcome back, big celebrity."
As always, Tanaka teased his friend and waved him over. Since the after-party, Tanaka and Nishinoya had stopped hovering around Kiyoko so much. Apparently, the two had already discussed what to do while Hayato was unaware.
"I had no idea Kiyoko-senpai was this famous at school."
After handing out the drinks, Hayato scratched his head, looking a little uncomfortable. People had looked at him and Kiyoko when they went to school together before, but never like this—as if they were some rare animals on display.
"Well, Kiyoko-senpai has always been famous at our school. The beautiful glasses-wearing girl from the Volleyball Club—everyone knows who you mean when you say that."
After sticking a straw into her drink and taking a sip, Uki explained. With Kiyoko's looks, plenty of people had been interested in her. But her aloof personality,