Hearts on The Court

The gym was quiet after the match, but the tension still clung to the air like a storm that had yet to fully pass. The argument between Renji and Yuuto lingered, affecting everyone on the team. Even during cool-down exercises, there was an undeniable shift in energy.

Renji sat on the bench, staring at his hands, the sting of the lost set and the heated words replaying in his mind. Across the court, Yuuto stood by the water station, his back turned to the team.

No one said it out loud, but everyone felt it—the rift between their setter and libero was widening.

---

A Heavy Atmosphere

Practice continued the next day, but the team was off-balance. Their usual rhythm wasn't there.

Yuuto set with precision, but there was a stiffness to his movements. Renji read the court, but his reactions weren't as sharp.

During a defensive drill, a spike came barreling toward Renji. He was in position, ready to dig it, but at the last second, Yuuto's voice rang out.

"Mine!"

Instinctively, Renji stepped aside, expecting Yuuto to redirect it—but the ball slammed onto the floor between them.

Silence.

Coach Fujimoto sighed, rubbing his temple. "Again."

They reset, but the same hesitation haunted their plays.

The once-fluid connection between Renji and Yuuto had been replaced with uncertainty.

---

Asuka's Breaking Point

That evening, as the team gathered in the dorm's common area, Asuka finally had enough.

She watched as Renji sat alone on one side of the room, and Yuuto leaned against the wall on the other, neither acknowledging the other's presence. The divide between them was impossible to ignore.

Slamming her hands on the table, she stood up, startling everyone.

"Alright, that's it."

Renji looked up, confused. "What?"

Asuka crossed her arms, eyes narrowing. "You two. We need to talk."

Yuuto scoffed. "There's nothing to talk about."

Asuka shot him a glare. "Oh, really? Because the way you two are acting, it's like you're playing on different teams."

Renji shifted uncomfortably. "It's not that simple."

"Yes, it is." Asuka turned to him first. "You're not just playing for yourself, you know. You're part of a team."

Renji's mouth opened, but no words came out.

Then, she spun to Yuuto. "And you—why do you keep acting like it's just you against the world?"

Yuuto's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.

The room fell into silence. The other teammates exchanged glances, unsure whether to step in or let Asuka handle it.

Neither Renji nor Yuuto answered right away.

"Figures," Asuka muttered, shaking her head before walking out.

Renji stared at the spot where she had stood, her words sinking in.

Yuuto, arms crossed, let out a quiet sigh. "She's mad."

Renji exhaled. "Yeah."

Neither of them moved.

---

Turning Point

Later that night, after everyone had gone to their rooms, Renji and Yuuto found themselves alone in the locker room.

The silence stretched between them, heavy with everything left unsaid.

Renji, gripping his towel, finally muttered, "I don't want us to play like this."

Yuuto leaned against the lockers, letting out a breath. "Me neither."

They didn't apologize outright, but the weight of their argument had lessened.

It wasn't a perfect resolution, but it was a start.

---

Final Scene: A New Understanding

The next day, before their next match, the team huddled together.

Coach Fujimoto stood in front of them, his voice steady.

"Volleyball isn't about rivalry," he said. "It's about trust."

Renji and Yuuto exchanged a glance.

And this time, instead of looking away, they nodded.

A silent agreement.

The first step toward rebuilding what they had lost.

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End of chapter 22

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To Be Continue