Suzune unlocked the front door with a faint click, stepping inside and calling out in her usual bright tone.
"Seijirou! You awake?" Her voice echoed faintly through the large, quiet house, but there was no answer.
She sighed, muttering under her breath, "I knew it, he probably hadn't even gotten out of bed yet."
Turning to Rei and Haruka, who stood politely by the entrance, she gestured toward the living room. "You two can wait there for now. He's probably still asleep. I'll go drag him out of bed."
Rei nodded timidly and followed her instruction, glancing around the elegant yet somewhat unkempt house as she sat down on the sofa.
She sat straight, her knees together, clearly nervous about being inside a boy's house for the first time.
Haruka, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. She sat down beside Rei with perfect posture, crossing one leg over the other and calmly observing the surroundings as if she were assessing a new environment.
Her expression didn't change even once.
Suzune climbed the stairs, her steps light but deliberate, already used to this route.
She opened the door to Seijirou's room and immediately frowned when she found it empty.
The bed was a mess though, the blanket crumpled, the sheets half hanging to the floor.
He was clearly awake already.
"So he did wake up early for once," she murmured, shaking her head.
She moved closer, grabbing the sheets and pulling them tight, fixing the pillows as she muttered, "You're hopeless, seriously. If I don't clean this up, no one will."
After finishing, she looked around the tidy but simple room and tried to guess where he might have gone.
The only other place he'd usually spend his mornings was the rooftop. That man was addicted to exercise, as if staying still was some kind of sin.
She let out a soft sigh and made her way up the narrow stairs leading to the upper level.
The rooftop greeted her with a rush of morning air and soft sunlight filtered through a slanted metal roof that shielded the space from rain but allowed the warmth of the sun to seep through.
The place was more like a personal gym than a simple rooftop. Dumbbells and barbells were neatly arranged along the wall, a treadmill stood by the far side, and an entire rack of weights gleamed in the light.
And there, right in the middle, was Seijirou.
He lay on a bench press, a white tank top clinging tightly to his body as sweat ran down the lines of his chest and arms.
His muscles flexed and tightened with each lift, veins standing out slightly against his forearms.
His breathing was steady and controlled, his focus absolute, as though the world around him didn't exist.
Suzune's throat went dry for a moment.
She swallowed unconsciously, her eyes tracing his form for a second longer than she should have before she forced herself to look away.
"Why does he have to look like that this early in the morning…" she muttered under her breath, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
As if sensing her presence, Seijirou smoothly lifted the bar one last time, placed it on the rack, and sat up.
His head turned slightly toward her, his hazel eyes meeting hers with calm familiarity.
"Morning," he said, his voice low and rough from exertion.
He reached for the water bottle beside him and took a long drink before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Suzune walked toward him, picking up a towel from the nearby table and tossing it to him.
"You're drenched. Wipe off before you catch a cold," she said, her tone casual but her eyes soft with concern.
Seijirou caught the towel easily and gave a faint nod.
"Thanks," he said simply, wiping the sweat from his neck and face.
"You've got guests today," Suzune said as she crossed her arms, her hip leaning lightly against a nearby bench.
"Guests?" Seijirou raised an eyebrow, confusion flickering across his face before realization dawned. "Ah. Tachibana and Himejima. Right. We're supposed to finish that group project today."
Suzune smiled faintly. "How rare, you actually invited other people in your home. Not even your past 'girlfriends' have that treatment."
He shrugged, throwing the towel back onto the table. "Yeah, well, only I have a computer out of us three. And I don't like going to internet cafes."
"Well, I don't really mind." Suzune said with a small chuckle. "Just make sure they don't find anything...'suspicious'."
Seijirou let out a small grunt of agreement before standing up, grabbing another bottle of water, and draining half of it in one go.
Suzune tilted her head slightly and asked, "You had breakfast yet?"
He shook his head. "Just coffee."
She clicked her tongue softly and sighed, muttering,
"I knew it." She brushed her hands together, straightening up. "Alright. I'll make something for you first. Can't have you passing out in front of your guests."
Seijirou gave a small nod, glancing at her with a hint of gratitude. "Thanks."
Suzune grinned, turning toward the stairs.
"You don't have to thank me. It's my job to take care of you, remember?" she said, waving a hand as she walked down.
As she disappeared from sight, Seijirou stared at the spot she had stood for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Then he exhaled slowly and leaned back against the bench, muttering under his breath, "She's too used to this."
The sound of clinking dishes soon drifted up from downstairs, and Seijirou ran a hand through his sweat-damp hair, his thoughts already turning toward the two guests waiting in his living room.
He sighed, deciding to rest for about fifteen more minutes, lying back against the cool metal frame of the bench, letting his pulse slow and his breathing even out before he finally stood up, stretched his arms, and made his way downstairs to wash up.
The faint scent of food drifted from the kitchen, a quiet reminder that Suzune was already working on breakfast.
As he reached the first floor, he noticed Rei and Haruka sitting properly in the living room, their postures and demeanors a complete contrast to each other.
Rei was sitting stiffly, both hands clasped tightly on her lap, her legs pressed together as she glanced around nervously, looking every bit like a startled kitten caught somewhere she shouldn't be.
The moment her eyes met his, she let out a soft "Ah!" before quickly bowing her head and saying in a flustered tone, "G-good morning, Kageyama-kun! Sorry for intruding on your home!"
Her voice was small and polite, trembling slightly at the edges, but sincere enough to make him smile faintly.
Haruka, sitting beside her, was as composed as ever. She leaned back slightly, legs crossed, her crimson eyes observing Seijirou from top to bottom in a cool, analytical manner that reminded him of someone assessing a subject rather than greeting a person.
After a brief silence, she nodded once, her tone calm and factual as she spoke. "Morning exercise is good for your health. It keeps the mind sharp and the body balanced."
Seijirou blinked, slightly amused by her matter-of-fact remark, before giving a quiet nod of acknowledgment.
"Yeah, I try to keep the habit," he replied evenly. He gestured toward the couch and added, "Make yourselves comfortable. I'll take a quick shower, then eat before we start working."
He started to walk away, then paused mid-step and turned his head slightly. "You two had breakfast already?"
Rei nodded quickly, her pink hair bouncing slightly as she replied, "Y-yes! I already ate before coming here."
Haruka followed with a short nod of confirmation, her face as impassive as ever.
"Alright," Seijirou said simply, giving another nod before continuing toward the bathroom.
He closed the door behind him and turned the shower, letting the cold water rush out for a moment before switching to warm.
Steam began to rise slowly, fogging the mirror, and he exhaled softly, stripping off his tank top.
He stepped into the shower, feeling the hot water wash away the sweat clinging to his body, relaxing the tension in his muscles.
The sound of the water filled the small space, and for a few minutes, his mind drifted blankly until a sudden realization hit him like a brick.
He froze, staring at the tiled wall in disbelief before smacking his forehead hard enough to echo faintly in the small bathroom.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath.
He had completely forgotten to bring a change of clothes. Not even a towel.
He was still mentally debating whether he should wrap himself in toilet paper and make a desperate dash to his room when a familiar voice spoke from just beyond the shower curtain.
"I already brought your clothes and a towel," Suzune said, her tone light but edged with amusement, clearly aware of his forgetfulness.
Seijirou blinked, lowering his hand slowly, half embarrassed and half impressed.
"You're a lifesaver," he said, reaching out to grab the bundle she had placed on the small counter beside the shower. "Thanks."
On the other side of the curtain, Suzune chuckled softly, her voice carrying that effortless warmth that always made the air feel a bit lighter.
"For someone so smart, I feel like you'd forget your head if it wasn't attached," she teased before her footsteps receded, the sound fading down the hall.
Seijirou stared at the towel and clothes in his hands for a moment, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Top-tier wife material," he muttered quietly, shaking his head as he resumed his shower.
The thought slipped out unconsciously, but he didn't bother to deny it.