The rhythmic sound of a volleyball striking the pavement echoed through the empty park. The dim glow of the streetlights cast long shadows across the cracked asphalt court. Renji Takahashi stood alone, gripping the ball tightly in his hands.
One more time... Just one more.
He tossed the ball upward and dropped into a low stance. His eyes locked on the descending sphere, calculating its trajectory. As the ball hit the ground, Renji lunged forward, arms outstretched. His palms met the ball with precision, guiding it back into the air. He shifted positions, spinning to track its arc before diving again.
Dig. Recover. Position.
His body moved instinctively — each dive was crisp, his reactions fluid. The burn in his legs and the sting of scraped palms didn't bother him. Out here, no one was watching. Out here, no one was judging.
Renji stood up, sweat clinging to his shirt. He tossed the ball high again and whispered under his breath:
"Last one... Focus..."
The ball dropped fast. He darted right, planted his foot, and dove. His forearms struck the ball cleanly, sending it soaring upward. It spun back toward him, perfectly placed. Without thinking, he shifted again — low stance, arms extended — and saved it a second time.
Perfect... Almost like I'm playing with a setter...
For a fleeting moment, Renji allowed himself a rare smile.
Then he heard voices.
Laughter — loud and careless — carried from the street beyond the park. Renji froze mid-movement, heartbeat thudding in his ears. He turned his head to see a group of students passing by the fence.
"Yo, check him out!" one of them called out.
Renji's stomach twisted. His fingers trembled, and the volleyball rolled from his hands.
"He's just... playing by himself?" another voice sneered.
Renji's chest tightened.
Don't look at them... Don't...
But he did. For one split second, his eyes met theirs — and all at once, his mind spiraled back to memories he couldn't outrun.
Whispers in the hallway. Stifled laughter when he walked into class. Faces turning away when he tried to speak...
Renji snatched his volleyball off the ground and bolted from the court.
---
The next morning, Renji sat alone at his desk, gaze fixed on his notebook. The dull hum of conversation filled the classroom, but Renji barely registered it. He kept his head low, scribbling random lines across the page — anything to appear occupied.
Just blend in...
But then...
"Hey... you're the guy from the park last night, right?"
Renji froze. He recognized the voice instantly — warm, cheerful, and... uncomfortably close.
He turned his head slowly.
Asuka Fujisawa smiled down at him, her chestnut hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. A faint scent of citrus shampoo lingered in the air. She was leaning casually against his desk, arms crossed.
"I saw you practicing," she continued. "You're... really good."
Renji's mind raced.
Why is she talking to me? Does she think I'm weird? Is she making fun of me?
"I... I don't..." His voice faltered. He clenched his fingers beneath the desk, hating how his hands shook.
Asuka's smile softened. "I mean it. Your reflexes were insane. Are you on a team?"
Renji shook his head quickly.
"Really?" Asuka's eyes widened. "You should be."
He stared at his notebook. "I... don't think so."
"You should at least try." She paused. "The Misaki High team is holding tryouts this week... you should come."
Tryouts?
Renji swallowed hard. The idea of standing in front of a crowd — of being judged, criticized — felt suffocating.
"I... I can't."
"Why not?"
"I just..." He gripped his pen tighter. "I don't... fit in with stuff like that."
For a moment, Asuka didn't speak. When she finally did, her voice was softer.
"You know... I've seen players with talent before. But the way you read the ball... that's not just skill. That's instinct."
Renji kept his head down.
"I'm the team manager," Asuka added. "So... if you do show up, I'll make sure you're not alone."
For the first time, Renji looked at her directly. Her smile wasn't teasing or condescending — it was... genuine.
"I... I'll think about it," he mumbled.
"That's good enough for me!" Asuka grinned and tapped his notebook lightly before walking off.
Renji stared at the page, noticing her faint fingerprint smudge where she'd touched it.
---
That night, Renji stood outside the park's volleyball court once again. He gripped the chain-link fence tightly, staring at the dimly lit space where he'd practiced alone so many nights before.
You should go...
His mind churned with doubts. What if he froze again? What if Yuuto — the team captain — called him out? What if... what if everyone stared at him?
But then he remembered Asuka's words.
"I'll make sure you're not alone."
Taking a shaky breath, Renji stepped inside the court. He placed his ball on the ground and lowered himself into his familiar stance. His pulse still pounded, but this time... this time, he pushed the panic down.
He tossed the ball up and dove — fast, smooth, instinctive. His arms struck cleanly, and the ball soared upward.
Dig. Recover. Position.
This time, Renji didn't feel invisible.
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End of Chapter 1
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To Be Continue