Hearts on The Court

Renji barely got any sleep.

After Yuuto's blunt words the night before—"If you like her, just say it"—his thoughts had spiraled into chaos. It wasn't just Yuuto's tone, which had been unreadable, or the way he had walked away without another word. It was the fact that, for the first time, Renji had been forced to acknowledge something he had been avoiding.

He did like Asuka.

The realization hit him harder than any spike he had ever received.

Liking Asuka wasn't a problem—she was kind, smart, and had always been there for him. But now that he was aware of it, he felt like every interaction between them was magnified. Every glance, every touch, every casual joke she threw his way suddenly carried weight.

So when he arrived at morning practice, determined to act normal, it didn't go as planned.

An Awkward Change in Attitude

Coach Fujimoto had given the team a lighter schedule for the final day of training camp. The morning was dedicated to positional drills, and in the afternoon, they'd have a final scrimmage before heading home.

Renji decided that today would be different. He had spent too much time in his own head, doubting himself. If he wanted to be a better player—and maybe, just maybe, stand beside Asuka with confidence—he needed to start acting like it.

So he tried to be more assertive.

The results were… mixed.

During a passing drill, he called out loud and clear for a ball—only to trip over his own feet and barely manage to recover the receive.

During a team huddle, he attempted to speak up with strategy suggestions—only to second-guess himself midway, causing Yuuto to raise an eyebrow.

And during a break, when Asuka casually leaned against the bench next to him, he straightened up so stiffly that he nearly dropped his water bottle.

Asuka, of course, noticed.

"You good, Renji?" she asked, biting back a grin.

"Yeah," he said quickly. Too quickly.

She tilted her head. "You're acting… different."

Renji coughed. "No, I'm not."

She squinted at him. "You definitely are."

Yuuto, passing by at that moment, snorted. "He's trying to be cool. It's not working."

Renji shot him a glare, but Asuka just laughed. "Is that it? Renji, you don't have to try to be cool. Just be yourself."

That should have been reassuring. But somehow, it just made Renji's face heat up even more.

The Scrimmage: A Moment of Growth

That afternoon, the team played their final scrimmage. Renji forced himself to focus. If he wanted to prove that he was more than just a background player, now was the time.

The match was intense, but Renji found himself moving with newfound confidence. He wasn't hesitating. He wasn't overthinking.

He was just playing.

And when he successfully dug a near-impossible spike and turned it into a perfect counterattack, he heard Asuka cheer from the sidelines.

"Nice save, Renji!"

It shouldn't have meant as much as it did.

But it did.

A Quiet Conversation

After the match, as the sun began to set over the training facility, Renji found himself walking beside Asuka. The rest of the team was ahead, chatting excitedly, but they had fallen into a quieter rhythm.

"You played really well today," Asuka said.

Renji shrugged. "I just… stopped doubting myself, I guess."

She smiled. "That's good. You should trust yourself more."

A pause. Then, with a softness in her voice, she added, "You know… you're someone I can always rely on."

Renji stopped walking.

The words weren't dramatic. They weren't overly sentimental. But they hit—right in the center of his chest.

Asuka turned to him, blinking. "Renji?"

He quickly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nothing. Just… thanks."

She studied him for a moment before smiling again. "Come on. Let's catch up with the others."

Renji nodded, following her. His heart was still racing.

Someone she can always rely on.

It wasn't a confession. But for now, it was enough.

And maybe, just maybe, he was starting to understand what Yuuto had meant.

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End of Chapter 18

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To Be Continue