Hearts on The Court

The crisp morning air inside the training facility carried a tense energy. After the rocky first day of camp, the entire team could feel the strain between Renji and Yuuto. They were supposed to be the backbone of the Umbrella Formation, but their lack of trust was throwing everything off.

Coach Fujimoto wasted no time. "Back on the court! We'll start with formation drills." His voice was sharp, his patience thinner than yesterday.

Renji adjusted his knee pads and stepped onto the polished floor. Yuuto was already there, bouncing the ball in his hands, his eyes locked straight ahead. No greetings, no small talk—just the weight of unspoken frustration between them.

As practice began, the cycle of mistakes continued. The blockers misread the attackers, leaving gaps, and Renji struggled to track the ball's movement. When Yuuto went for a receive, Renji hesitated, and the ball dropped between them.

A sharp whistle cut through the gym.

"Miscommunication again," Coach Fujimoto barked. "You two need to figure this out. A defensive system means nothing if its key players don't trust each other."

Yuuto exhaled sharply, hands on his hips. "Maybe if someone actually took control instead of just waiting for things to happen," he muttered loud enough for Renji to hear.

Renji stiffened. He clenched his fists but held his tongue.

Another round began. This time, when an opposing spiker sent the ball toward the gap, Renji lunged for it. He managed to dig it, but it wasn't clean—Yuuto had to scramble to keep the ball in play.

"That was too low," Yuuto snapped.

"That was playable," Renji shot back.

"Playable doesn't win games."

The tension thickened, filling every inch of the gym. Their teammates exchanged uneasy glances, knowing this wasn't just about the game anymore.

Scrimmage Against Seiyo High

By the afternoon, things only got worse. The team faced Seiyo High in a scrimmage, and Seiyo's ace, Kenjiro Morita, wasted no time getting under Renji's skin.

Kenjiro smirked across the net. "So, you're the libero they're counting on?" His voice dripped with mockery. "Didn't look that impressive yesterday."

Renji forced himself to ignore the taunt, but his grip on his knees tightened.

When the match started, Seiyo High targeted Renji immediately. Their spikes came at sharp angles, testing his reaction time. He managed a few solid receives, but each time the ball wobbled even slightly, Yuuto's glare burned into him.

Then it happened.

Seiyo's setter set a high ball to Kenjiro, and Renji read the play perfectly. He dove into position, arms firm—only for Yuuto to suddenly step in front of him, attempting the receive himself. Their bodies collided. The ball bounced off Yuuto's forearm and out of bounds.

The whistle blew.

"What are you doing?" Renji hissed as he pushed himself up.

"What am I doing?" Yuuto barked back. "I had it!"

"If you had it, why did the ball fly out?"

Yuuto's jaw tightened, and for a second, it looked like he would shove Renji back. Their teammates stood frozen, unsure if they should step in.

Kenjiro chuckled from the other side of the net. "Wow. That was embarrassing."

Renji's breath came fast, his frustration mixing with the heat of the moment. Yuuto turned away, gripping his jersey.

The game resumed, but the damage was done.

That Night: The Conversation with Asuka

Hours later, after dinner, Renji sat alone outside the dormitory. His arms rested on his knees as he stared at the dimly lit volleyball courts.

A quiet rustling of footsteps signaled someone approaching.

"You and Yuuto were awful today."

Renji glanced up to find Asuka standing beside him, arms crossed.

He sighed. "Thanks for the reminder."

She sat down next to him. "What's going on with you two? This isn't like you."

Renji hesitated before answering. "It's not just volleyball. I feel like... he doesn't trust me at all. No matter what I do, he's always doubting me."

Asuka exhaled. "Yuuto isn't your enemy, Renji. He's frustrated because he wants to win—just like you."

Renji remained silent.

Asuka nudged his arm. "You know, my brother was a setter too. He told me once that a libero is like a lighthouse. The whole court looks to them when things get stormy."

Renji let the words settle. A lighthouse, huh?

"I don't know if I can be that for this team," he admitted.

Asuka smiled faintly. "Then you better figure it out soon."

Renji closed his eyes, feeling the weight of his role settle on his shoulders.

Tomorrow, he had to be better.

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End of chapter 16

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To Be Continue