The echoes of sneakers squeaking against the polished wooden floor filled the Misaki High gym. The faint thud of volleyballs bouncing against the court seemed to pulse like a steady heartbeat. Renji stood near the baseline, palms on his knees, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His breathing was heavy, but his focus was razor-sharp.
Today's practice was relentless — and Yuuto was making sure of that.
"Again!" Yuuto barked, slamming a ball down hard against the net. "No hesitation this time!"
Renji barely had a second to wipe his face before the next spike came flying at him — fast, sharp, and wickedly angled. His instincts kicked in, and he lunged to his right, his fingertips grazing the ball just enough to soften its impact. The ball shot upward, wobbling but staying in play.
"That's still too slow!" Yuuto snapped.
Renji swallowed the frustration bubbling inside him. He knew Yuuto's harshness wasn't personal — not entirely. It was the captain's way of pushing the team, pushing him.
But no matter how many spikes Renji dug, Yuuto's glare remained sharp, as if he was waiting for Renji to mess up.
"Why does it always feel like I'm not good enough?" Renji thought.
---
Scene 1: Learning the Art of Silent Defense
After practice, Renji sat slumped against the gym wall, gulping water like it was the only thing tethering him to reality. His arms ached from countless dives, and his palms stung from deflecting Yuuto's relentless spikes.
"Rough day?"
Renji glanced up to see Asuka kneeling beside him, her warm smile disarming him in an instant.
"More like a normal one," Renji muttered.
Asuka chuckled, sitting beside him. "You know... you're improving."
Renji exhaled sharply. "Doesn't feel like it."
"That's because you're still trying to be loud like everyone else," Asuka said thoughtfully. "But that's not your strength."
Renji turned his head. "What do you mean?"
"You read the game better than anyone," Asuka explained. "But you're always second-guessing yourself because you're not yelling calls or giving orders like Yuuto." She paused. "You don't have to be loud to be a leader."
Renji frowned. "Then what should I do?"
"Play to your strengths," Asuka said. "Focus on positioning. Trust your instincts. Move before anyone needs to shout at you."
Renji mulled over her words. Could he really guide the team without speaking up?
"I'll help you," Asuka added with a smile. "We'll make you the kind of libero who controls the court... without saying a word."
---
Scene 2: Training in Silence
The next morning, Asuka's drill began.
"Focus on movement," she instructed, standing by the sideline. "Forget shouting. Just... read."
The players lined up on the opposite side of the court, alternating between soft tips, hard spikes, and feints. Renji focused on their footwork, watching for subtle tells — a shift in weight, a turn of the shoulder, a slight adjustment of the wrist.
There!
Renji bolted to his left before the spiker even jumped. The ball zipped down the sideline — and landed directly in his waiting arms.
"Nice read!" Asuka called out.
For the next hour, Renji moved silently — no words, no signals — just instinct. His teammates didn't always notice, but time and time again, Renji was exactly where he needed to be.
---
Scene 3: Conflict with Yuuto
Later that week, Renji's newfound strategy faced its biggest test.
During a heated practice match, Misaki's blockers fumbled a read, and the ball shot toward Renji's zone. He moved instinctively — no shout, no warning — just positioning himself to cover the gap.
He dug the ball, but one of his teammates misread the play and crashed into him. The ball spiraled out of control and hit the floor.
"What the hell, Renji?" Yuuto snapped. "You're invisible out there!"
"I was where I was supposed to be," Renji shot back, his voice firmer than usual.
"Well, maybe if you'd actually said something, they'd know that!" Yuuto barked.
Renji clenched his fists. "You don't trust me," he muttered.
Yuuto stepped closer, his glare fierce. "I trust people who know how to play as a team."
Renji's frustration boiled over. "Defense wins games too!" he snapped.
"Not if you play like a ghost," Yuuto shot back.
The tension crackled between them.
"Enough!" Asuka's voice cut through the air. She stepped between them, her expression serious. "You're both right," she said firmly. "Renji's silent reads work — but only if the team knows what to expect." She turned to Renji. "You don't have to yell... but you can't just disappear either."
Renji nodded reluctantly.
"Same goes for you, Yuuto," Asuka added. "If you don't trust Renji's instincts, you're the one messing up."
Yuuto clicked his tongue but didn't argue.
---
Scene 4: A Moment of Comfort
That evening, Renji found himself lingering in the gym long after practice had ended. He sat on the bench, absently bouncing a volleyball against the floor.
"You okay?" Asuka's voice broke the silence.
Renji managed a weak smile. "I'm... trying."
Asuka sat beside him. "Yuuto's stubborn, but he's not heartless. He sees your potential."
Renji sighed. "I just... don't want to mess things up."
"You won't," Asuka said softly. "You're stronger than you think."
For a moment, Renji forgot about volleyball, about Yuuto, about everything. He only noticed the warmth in Asuka's eyes — and how her presence always seemed to steady his nerves.
"You're always... helping me," Renji said quietly.
Asuka smiled. "That's what teammates are for."
---
Scene 5: Redemption in Practice
The next practice match felt different.
This time, Renji didn't focus on saying the right things — he focused on doing the right things.
Instead of shouting, he made subtle gestures — a hand signal, a head nod — quiet cues that let his teammates know where to cover. Bit by bit, they adjusted.
When a sharp spike tore toward the backline, Renji sprinted forward, dug the ball with perfect timing, and flicked his hand toward Yuuto.
"Got it!" Yuuto shouted, setting the ball to their outside spiker.
Smash!
The ball crashed to the floor on the other side of the net — point Misaki.
For a moment, the gym was silent.
Then Yuuto turned to Renji. "Nice read," he said, his voice quieter than usual.
Renji nodded. "Thanks."
For the first time, it felt like progress.
---
Final Scene: Growing Confidence
As practice ended, Asuka approached Renji with a grin. "See?" she teased. "You're starting to believe in yourself."
Renji chuckled — something rare for him. "I guess I am."
As they walked toward the exit, Renji hesitated. "Hey... Asuka?"
"Hm?"
"I... I just wanted to say... thanks," Renji muttered. "For everything."
Asuka smiled, her eyes soft. "Anytime."
For once, Renji didn't feel like the invisible player in the background.
He felt like someone who mattered — both on the court... and to Asuka.
---
End of Chapter 8
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To Be Continue