A setter must, above all, be cool-headed. The acknowledged conductor of the court, and a capable, diligent starting setter.

...Or so he was.

"Heejun, here's a drink."

Flinch. His spine snapped upright reflexively.

Yes! Thank you!

Just one bottle of Pocari Sweat made his throat feel as parched as the Sahara Desert. He should have smiled more naturally and said something like, 'You must be thirsty too, Noona.'

He snatched it away, barely grazing only the very top of the bottle's mouth to avoid touching even a fingertip. Did I sweat too much? What if I smell like sweat? Is my hair messy? His circuits completely overloaded, and in the end, he couldn't add a single word besides 'thank you' and just froze like an idiot.

"Are you at a flag-raising ceremony or something?"

"Why are you saying 'thank you' three times for one drink?"

He would be playing around like a dog, grabbing his teammates by the collar, only to become as solemn as a Joseon scholar the moment you appeared, wiping a volleyball on the floor a hundred times until it squeaked. The quick-witted guys, seeing the back of his neck and his ears turning bright red, were already covering their mouths and snickering, but...

...The person responsible for this situation, on the other hand...

"Heejun, are you sick? Why is your neck so red?"

The gym is just a bit hot.

"Heejun, have you eaten?"

Yes!

"Heejun, are you cleaning up? Want some help?"

I'm fine!

Keen observation and situational judgment? Those had long since exploded. All I could do was engage in physical labor.

"Noona, give me some water!"

I'll give it to him!

I practically snatched the water bottle out of her hand and shoved it into my teammate's chest. Drink it. Drink it and die, man. I turned away, crying tears of blood inside, when...

"Noona, the tape!"

Clatter! I stood up noisily, kicking the box of drinks next to me.

Wait! I'll get it for you!

"That crazy bastard." I didn't care if every eye in the gym was on me.

My efforts must have looked desperate, because she burst into a giggle. I stared blankly at the way her lips curved so beautifully...

"Heejun, you're so diligent. You're comfortable to be around, like a younger brother."

...Like a younger brother. Comfortable. I don't remember how practice ended that day.

As soon as I got home, I threw my sports bag on the floor and walked straight up to my younger sister, who was peeling tangerines.

...Hey.

"Ugh, what. Move, I can't see the TV."

So, ...what does it usually mean when a girl says you're 'comfortable, like a younger brother'?

"Are you insane?"

That night, the sound of blankets being thrashed around came from Kang Heejun's room for a long time. His sister kicked his door and yelled at him to be quiet, but the only thing leaking out from inside was intermittent groaning.