Hearts on The Court

The gym buzzed with tension. The crowd murmured in anticipation as the referee signaled for play to resume. Misaki High was down in the second set, and Seiyo High was dictating the pace.

Renji exhaled, steadying his breath. I need to slow down.

He clenched his fists, forcing himself to ignore the ball. Watch them, not it.

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Renji's Adaptation

Seiyo's setter tossed the ball up.

Kenjiro exploded into action, his approach full of raw power.

Renji's instincts screamed at him to dive, to react, to do something—but he fought the urge.

Instead, he focused on the details.

Kenjiro's shoulders were squared aggressively.

His grip on the ball was firm but not tense.

His wrist hesitated for a fraction of a second.

That hesitation told Renji everything.

He's faking it again.

Instead of diving, Renji held his ground. Wait. Wait…

At the last possible moment, Kenjiro tipped the ball—just as expected.

Renji launched forward, arms perfectly positioned—and the ball popped up cleanly into the air.

The crowd erupted.

Yuuto reacted instantly, setting a high pass to Asuka, who slammed it down the sideline for a point.

Misaki High's bench exploded with cheers.

Renji stayed on his knees for a moment, heart pounding. I did it.

Asuka grinned, jogging up to him. "Nice read, Renji!"

He let out a shaky breath and nodded.

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Yuuto's Growing Trust

Renji's dig wasn't a fluke.

Over the next few plays, he began reading Kenjiro's attack patterns more clearly. Each time Kenjiro went up for a spike, Renji didn't just react—he anticipated.

Seiyo High's offensive rhythm was starting to slow down.

Yuuto, who had been skeptical all match, was starting to notice.

On a key play, Seiyo's setter positioned the ball perfectly for Kenjiro.

Yuuto began shifting left, expecting a cross-court spike.

But Renji saw something different.

Kenjiro's plant foot was too stiff. His weight was leaning slightly—he was going down the line instead.

Renji called out, "Right!"

Yuuto hesitated.

Then, for the first time, he followed Renji's call without questioning it.

Kenjiro slammed the ball exactly where Renji had predicted—and Yuuto was there, blocking it cleanly.

The ball deflected off Yuuto's hands, landing inside Seiyo's court.

Point, Misaki High.

Yuuto turned, eyes sharp.

For a moment, Renji thought he might say nothing.

Then, a small smirk. "Not bad."

Renji's breath caught in his throat.

Yuuto is trusting me.

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Momentum Shift

With Renji reading the game and Yuuto adjusting based on his calls, Misaki High began closing the gap.

They weren't just reacting anymore.

They were controlling the flow of the match.

As the second set neared its climax, Renji glanced across the net at Kenjiro.

For the first time all game—Kenjiro looked frustrated.

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Final Scene: The Real Test Ahead

The set ended in a 25-22 victory for Misaki High, tying the match at one set each.

Their teammates cheered, but Renji wasn't celebrating yet.

He knew what was coming.

Kenjiro wouldn't accept being outplayed so easily.

As the teams gathered for the third and deciding set, Kenjiro locked eyes with Renji—his smirk returning.

The real battle was about to begin.

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End of Chapter 25

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To Be Continue