Y/N's POV

The sound of cleats crunching against the gravel path echoed in the warm afternoon air as you made your way to the team clubhouse. You'd spent the entire night tossing and turning, unable to shake the growing storm of thoughts about Yuwen. No matter how much you tried to ignore it, your feelings for him refused to go away.

You couldn't talk to him about it—obviously. And no one else on the team felt like the right person to confide in. Except maybe...

You hesitated at the door to the clubhouse, letting out a sigh before pushing it open. Inside, Kai was sitting cross-legged on one of the benches, scrolling through her phone.

Kai had always been the calm one, the voice of reason in a team full of chaos. Despite her sharp tongue and no-nonsense attitude, she had a way of making you feel like she actually listened—and right now, you needed someone to listen.

"Hey," you said, leaning against the doorframe.

Kai looked up, raising an eyebrow. "You're here late. Practice ended hours ago."

"Yeah, well... I needed to clear my head. And, uh, I was hoping you could help me with something."

Kai uncrossed her legs and sat forward, her curiosity piqued. "Help, huh? This sounds serious."

You winced. "It's... kind of complicated."

Kai's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Let me guess," she said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "This is about Yuwen."

Your stomach dropped. "What? How—how did you know that?"

Kai chuckled, leaning back with an amused look. "Because I'm not blind, that's how. You and Yuwen have been weirdly... I don't know, magnetic lately. It's painfully obvious to anyone with a brain."

You groaned, covering your face with your hands. "That obvious, huh?"

"Relax," she said, her tone softening. "It's not like you're shouting it from the dugout. But yeah, I've noticed. So, what's the problem? Did he do something?"

"No, it's not that," you said, lowering your hands. "It's just... I think I might like him. Really like him. And I don't know what to do about it."

Kai didn't react right away, letting the silence stretch out for a moment. Finally, she tilted her head and said, "Do you think he feels the same way?"

You hesitated, your mind flashing back to all the little moments—the way Yuwen looked at you when he thought you weren't paying attention, the way his teasing had softened lately, the way he seemed to always be there when you needed him.

"I don't know," you admitted. "Maybe? But what if I'm wrong? What if it ruins everything?"

Kai swung her legs over the bench, sitting up straighter. "Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it—there's always a risk. But ask yourself this: would you rather take that chance, or spend the rest of the season wondering what could've happened?"

You bit your lip, turning her words over in your mind. The idea of taking that leap terrified you—but the thought of keeping your feelings bottled up forever wasn't much better.

"I'll think about it," you said finally.

Kai gave you a small smile, her voice soft but firm. "That's all I'm saying. Just... don't let it eat you alive, okay? Sometimes, the best plays happen when you stop overthinking."

You nodded, the tension in your chest easing ever so slightly. "Thanks, Kai."

"Anytime."

Yuwen's POV

The clubhouse was quiet when Yuwen arrived, which was exactly what he'd been hoping for. He needed advice—real advice, not the kind of half-baked suggestions his teammates usually threw his way—and he knew there was only one person on the team he could count on for that.

"Kai," he said, spotting her sitting on the bench, scrolling through her phone.

Kai glanced up, mildly surprised. "Yuwen? What are you doing here?"

Yuwen shrugged, trying to play it cool even as his chest felt tight with nerves. "Needed to talk to you about something. Got a minute?"

Kai raised an eyebrow but set her phone aside. "Sure. What's on your mind?"

Yuwen hesitated, shoving his hands into his pockets. He wasn't used to asking for help—especially not about something like this. But after spending the past week trying (and failing) to figure it out on his own, he knew he didn't have much of a choice.

"It's about..." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's about Y/N."

Kai's expression didn't change, but Yuwen caught the faint flicker of amusement in her eyes. "I was wondering when you'd finally admit it," she said with a smirk.

Yuwen frowned. "Admit what?"

"That you like them," Kai said, her tone matter-of-fact. "It's been painfully obvious for weeks."

"Great," Yuwen muttered, flopping onto the bench beside her. "So everyone knows?"

"Not everyone," Kai said. "Just me. I pay attention."

Yuwen let out a heavy sigh, leaning back against the wall. "It's so stupid," he said, staring at the ceiling. "I can't stop thinking about them. And I don't know what to do about it."

Kai tilted her head, studying him. "Why don't you just tell them?"

Yuwen shot her a look. "Yeah, because that's such a great idea. 'Hey, Reader, I like you. Wanna go out sometime?' That's not exactly my style."

"Maybe it should be," Kai said, her voice calm but firm. "You're not the same guy you were a few months ago, Yuwen. If you're serious about them, maybe it's time to be honest—with them and with yourself."

Yuwen didn't respond right away, his mind racing. The thought of putting himself out there, of risking rejection—it scared him in a way he wasn't used to.

But at the same time, he couldn't shake the feeling that Kai was right.

"I don't know," he said finally. "I'll think about it."

Kai gave him a knowing smile. "That's all I'm saying. But don't wait too long, okay? Life's too short to keep running in circles."

Yuwen nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Thanks, Coach."

Kai rolled her eyes, her smirk matching his. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get all sentimental on me now."

As Yuwen left the clubhouse, he couldn't help but feel like something had shifted. He didn't have all the answers yet, but for the first time in weeks, he felt like he was moving in the right direction.

And maybe—just maybe—he was ready to take the risk.