Hearts on The Court

The tension had been simmering for days, but now, with the upcoming practice match looming over them, it was threatening to boil over.

Coach Fujimoto wasn't letting up. His voice rang through the gym, sharp and commanding as he pushed them harder than ever.

"This isn't just about endurance," he reminded them. "It's about precision. Trust. If you can't rely on your teammates in training, you won't be able to rely on them in a game."

Renji knew the words were directed at him and Yuuto. And he knew Yuuto heard it, too. But instead of addressing it, the setter kept his focus on the drills, acting as if nothing was wrong.

The problem was, everything was wrong.

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Training Struggles

The first sign of trouble came when Yuuto's set landed slightly off-target. It wasn't a bad toss—Renji could have adjusted, could have reached it in time. But his hesitation cost them the point.

He clenched his fists, frustrated at himself. He knew better than this.

Yuuto, however, didn't let it slide.

"You were too slow," he said bluntly.

Renji bristled. "The set was different from usual."

Yuuto narrowed his eyes. "You should've adjusted."

Renji wanted to argue, but Coach's whistle cut through their conversation. "Again!"

They reset. Yuuto tossed another set—this one fast, sharp. Renji dove, arms outstretched—

And missed.

He barely kept his expression neutral as the ball hit the floor.

Yuuto exhaled sharply through his nose and turned away. From that moment on, he started setting to other players more, barely giving Renji any looks.

The rest of the team noticed, but no one called it out. They were too focused on their own plays, too busy trying to keep up with Coach's intense pace.

But Asuka noticed.

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Emotional Beat

After practice, Renji was the last one left on the court, lingering as he replayed every mistake in his head. He didn't hear Asuka approaching until she plopped down on the bench beside him.

"You and Yuuto are acting weird," she said casually, but her tone was anything but light.

Renji stiffened. "It's nothing."

Asuka crossed her arms. "It's obviously something."

Renji stared down at the floor. He wanted to tell her—wanted to let everything out. The frustration, the confusion, the way Yuuto's words had stuck with him since that night.

If you like her, just say it.

But he couldn't.

Instead, he forced a weak chuckle. "We're just... adjusting."

Asuka sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't get you guys. You're supposed to be a team."

Her words hit harder than she probably realized.

Renji bit the inside of his cheek. He wanted to tell her the truth. That his feelings were getting in the way, that he wasn't sure how to fix things with Yuuto, that everything felt more complicated than it should be.

But in the end, the words wouldn't come out.

So he just nodded.

"Yeah."

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End of chapter 20

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To Be Continue