Hearts on The Court

The days after training camp should have felt like a return to normal, but for Renji, nothing felt the same. The tension with Yuuto still lingered, and now, there was something else weighing on his mind—something that made his chest tighten whenever Asuka was near.

He had always seen her as a friend, a teammate. But now? Every small moment with her felt different.

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Subtle Tension

Practice should have been an escape, a place where Renji could lose himself in the rhythm of drills and plays. But Yuuto's presence beside him made everything feel heavier.

Yuuto wasn't outright ignoring him, but something had shifted. He still passed the ball when necessary, still called out plays, still interacted. Yet, the energy was different. He wasn't joking around as much, wasn't nudging Renji after a good dig, wasn't challenging him the way he used to.

Renji caught himself watching Yuuto between drills, trying to figure out if he was imagining things. But he wasn't. Yuuto had put up a wall, and Renji didn't know how to break through it.

Finally, after practice, he worked up the nerve to ask.

"Yuuto." He hesitated before adding, "Are we good?"

Yuuto didn't even look at him when he responded. "Just focus on the game." Then he grabbed his towel and walked off, leaving Renji standing there, frustration bubbling beneath his skin.

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Awkward Moments

Asuka, oblivious to the undercurrents, noticed something was off between them.

"Did something happen between you and Yuuto?" she asked one afternoon as they walked to the gym.

Renji nearly tripped over his own feet. "What? No! Why would you think that?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Because you two have been acting weird ever since the training camp. You're not fighting again, are you?"

Renji forced a laugh. "No. Just… tired, I guess."

If Asuka saw through the lie, she didn't press. Instead, she made it her mission to fix things.

During lunch the next day, she dragged Renji toward Yuuto's usual table, determined to smooth things over.

"Come on," she said cheerfully. "You two need to eat together again. I'm tired of watching you sulk across the room from each other."

Yuuto barely glanced up from his tray. "I have to go over some plays. I'll eat later."

Renji knew it was an excuse. Asuka must have realized it, too, because she frowned but didn't stop him as he stood and left.

Renji watched him go, his chest tightening. The distance between them wasn't just growing—it was turning into something permanent.

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The Hesitation Creeps In

On the court, Renji started hesitating. It wasn't intentional, but he found himself second-guessing plays, overthinking his movements.

When a spike came toward him, he still reacted, still got the ball up, but there was a split-second delay that hadn't been there before. A small hesitation that could make the difference in a game.

It didn't go unnoticed.

"Renji." Coach Fujimoto's voice was sharp as a whistle. "What's with you today?"

Renji stiffened. "I—" He didn't have an answer.

"Don't hesitate," Coach continued. "You're not just reacting. You should be controlling the game. A libero's job is to guide the defense, not wait for things to happen."

Renji nodded, but he still felt unsteady. Because right now, it wasn't just the game that felt out of his control.

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The Realization

Later that evening, as he sat alone on the outdoor benches, staring up at the darkening sky, the truth finally hit him.

This wasn't just about volleyball.

This wasn't just about Yuuto.

His feelings for Asuka—his awareness of her—were complicating everything.

And worst of all, he didn't know what to do about it.

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End of chapter 19

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To Be Continue