Hearts on The Court

The final morning of the training camp arrived, but the usual excitement before practice was replaced by an unshakable tension. The rift between Renji and Yuuto had only grown over the past few days, and their teammates could feel it. Even Asuka, who had tried to stay hopeful, found herself glancing between them more often than usual, silently urging them to talk.

Coach Fujimoto, however, seemed unfazed. If anything, he had expected this conflict. He stood before the team with his arms crossed, his usual commanding presence radiating authority.

"Today's focus is refining our Umbrella Formation," he announced. "But before we get into team drills, I have a special exercise for two of you."

His gaze settled on Renji and Yuuto, making it clear that this wasn't just about strategy—it was about fixing their fractured communication.

"You two are going to work together in a one-on-one transition drill," Coach continued. "Renji, your job is to read Yuuto's spikes and receive them cleanly. Yuuto, you're going to attack based on Renji's positioning. No blockers, no distractions—just the two of you learning to anticipate each other's movements."

The gym fell into a hushed silence.

Renji swallowed hard. A part of him was relieved—he wanted to fix things with Yuuto. But another part of him, the one weighed down by frustration and doubt, feared this would only make things worse.

Yuuto let out a short breath, looking equally displeased. "Fine."

Coach clapped his hands. "Let's go."

The Drill Begins

The drill started with simple attacks. Yuuto was given a variety of tosses, allowing him to spike freely. Renji had to react, adjusting his positioning and controlling his first touch to set up an ideal counterattack.

At first, it was rough.

Yuuto's spikes came in fast, testing Renji's reflexes. Renji, trying to prove himself, dove for every ball, but his movements were slightly delayed. A few landed just outside his reach, skidding across the polished floor.

"You're too slow," Yuuto muttered.

Renji gritted his teeth and forced himself to focus. He knew Yuuto's attack patterns—he had studied them for months. He just had to trust himself.

With each repetition, he started noticing details—Yuuto's foot placement, the angle of his arm swing, the way his eyes tracked the court before striking.

By the tenth attempt, Renji was already moving before Yuuto even hit the ball.

He lunged forward, his arms steady, and absorbed the spike perfectly. The ball popped up with the ideal height and spin, setting up a flawless counterattack.

Yuuto's expression shifted, surprise flashing across his face. He didn't say anything, but the slight nod he gave spoke volumes.

For the first time in days, they were truly playing together.

The Rift Remains

Despite their progress on the court, the underlying tension hadn't disappeared.

After practice, the team gathered for their final meeting of the camp. Coach Fujimoto praised their improvements but warned them that their biggest challenge wasn't technical—it was trust.

Renji barely listened. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the brief moments of understanding he and Yuuto had shared. They had connected, if only for a second. But the moment the practice ended, so did their unspoken truce.

As the team dispersed, Asuka approached him.

"You should talk to him," she urged, her tone gentle yet firm.

Renji hesitated. "What if he doesn't want to listen?"

Asuka sighed. "Yuuto's stubborn, but so are you. You both need to stop acting like you don't care."

Renji exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew she was right.

A Conversation in the Hallway

That night, Renji found Yuuto standing alone in the dorm hallway, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall.

Renji's heart pounded. He wasn't good at these kinds of conversations—he wasn't Asuka, who always knew the right words. But he had to try.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward. "Hey—"

Yuuto cut him off with a tired sigh. "If this is another apology, don't bother."

Renji clenched his fists. "I want to talk, Yuuto."

For the first time, Yuuto looked directly at him, his gaze sharp. "Why do you care what I think?"

Renji opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. Why did he care so much? Why did Yuuto's frustration feel heavier than anyone else's?

And then, without thinking, he blurted out the truth.

"Because…it feels like I'm stealing Asuka's attention from you."

The hallway fell into complete silence.

Yuuto's expression froze, his eyes narrowing slightly.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, with a quiet scoff, Yuuto crossed his arms.

"If you like her," he said, voice unreadable, "just say it."

Renji's breath caught. He felt like he had been punched in the gut, not by anger or hostility—but by the sheer bluntness of Yuuto's words.

His mind scrambled for a response, but before he could form one, Yuuto turned away.

"Goodnight, Renji."

And with that, he walked off, leaving Renji standing there, heart racing, mind spinning.

He had no idea what to say.

Or what to do next.

End of Chapter 17

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To Be Continue