A New Challenge on the Horizon
The gym at Seiyo High was larger than Midori Academy's, with polished floors that gleamed under bright overhead lights. The air carried the faint scent of sweat and fresh varnish, a mix of tension and anticipation as Midori's team stepped inside. This wasn't just another practice match—this was a joint training session against one of the strongest schools in the region.
Renji adjusted the band on his wrist, his fingers tightening around the material as he glanced at his teammates. Yuuto and the others were stretching, but there was an undeniable stiffness in the way they moved. Even Asuka, usually full of energy, had a focused expression. The Seiyo players had been warming up for the past twenty minutes, their movements sharp and precise.
Then there was Kenjiro Morita.
The moment Renji's eyes landed on him, a small shiver ran down his spine. Kenjiro wasn't just tall—he carried himself like a predator, his sharp gaze scanning Midori's team with a mixture of amusement and scrutiny. His dark hair was slicked back, and he wore a confident smirk as he exchanged a few words with his teammates before walking toward the net.
"Yo," Kenjiro called out, directing his attention to Yuuto first. "So, you guys are Midori Academy, huh? Heard you were a decent team."
Yuuto didn't react immediately, simply nodding as he finished stretching his arms. "We're here to train, not talk."
Kenjiro chuckled, his eyes flicking past Yuuto until they settled on Renji. "And you must be the libero."
Renji tensed, already sensing where this conversation was going.
Kenjiro tilted his head. "You know, I've always wondered something. How does it feel to be the guy who never scores?"
A few of the Seiyo players snickered. Renji forced himself to remain still, but his heart pounded in his chest.
"Libero's job isn't about scoring," he replied, his voice controlled.
Kenjiro smirked. "Right, right. You're supposed to be the 'defensive backbone' and all that. But let's be real. What's a wall if it can be broken?"
The taunt hit deeper than Renji expected. His grip tightened on the hem of his jersey as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.
Asuka stepped forward before he could respond. "A wall isn't weak," she said firmly. "It's what keeps everything standing."
Kenjiro raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Got yourself a defender, huh?" He turned back to Renji. "Well, I hope your wall holds up today. Let's see if you can stop me."
With that, he turned and jogged back to his side of the court.
Renji exhaled slowly, his thoughts a storm of self-doubt.
The First Test
The training match began with Seiyo serving first. Their setter, a sharp-eyed player named Riku Tanaka, sent a clean jump float serve over the net.
Renji moved into position, tracking the ball. He took a steady breath, crouched low, and dug it perfectly to Yuuto, who set it up for Ryusei. Their ace swung hard, sending the ball to the back corner—only for Kenjiro to receive it effortlessly.
Seiyo transitioned into an attack almost instantly. Riku set the ball high to Kenjiro on the left side, and before Midori could fully react, Kenjiro launched himself into the air.
Renji barely had time to process the speed before the ball came rocketing toward him. He reacted on instinct, diving low with his arms outstretched. The impact stung as he absorbed the power, but the ball rebounded upward—too high, too wild. Yuuto had to scramble to adjust the set, and the result was a weak attack that Seiyo easily countered.
The rally ended with another spike from Kenjiro, this time blasting through their block.
The scoreboard clicked. 1-0, Seiyo.
Kenjiro gave Renji a pointed look. "Better keep that wall up, libero."
Renji clenched his jaw, standing up quickly. His hands burned from the last dig. He needed to be sharper, faster.
The next few points followed a brutal pattern. Seiyo's speed and power overwhelmed Midori at first. Kenjiro in particular was relentless, aiming his spikes at Renji's zone repeatedly. Each time, Renji did his best to read the attack, but the impact sent vibrations up his arms, making his movements sluggish.
It wasn't long before the score was 7-2 in Seiyo's favor.
Coach Nishiyama called a timeout.
The team gathered, sweat dripping from their brows. Renji wiped his face with his sleeve, his breaths uneven.
"Renji," the coach said, his voice steady. "You're letting him dictate the game."
Renji frowned. "I… I'm trying to react, but he's too fast."
"You're thinking about it the wrong way," Coach Nishiyama said. "A libero doesn't just react—they anticipate. Read the flow of the game. Control the tempo."
Renji swallowed hard.
Yuuto, who had been silent for most of the match, finally spoke. "We need to focus on the basics. Renji, I'll cover more of the quick plays so you can focus on Kenjiro's line shots."
Renji looked up in surprise. Yuuto was actually adjusting his playstyle to help him?
Asuka smiled encouragingly. "You've already stopped some of his shots. You just need to trust yourself more."
Renji exhaled. Trust himself. Right.
Turning the Tide
The next rally started with Seiyo's serve once again. Renji focused on Kenjiro's posture, watching the way his hands twitched before each approach.
This time, when Riku set up Kenjiro for another spike, Renji saw it coming. He adjusted a split second earlier, shifting his stance. The spike came hard and fast—but Renji was ready.
Boom!
The impact rattled through his arms, but this time, his dig was clean. The ball soared perfectly toward Yuuto, who quickly set it up for Ryusei. Their ace swung with all his strength, slamming the ball past Seiyo's blockers for the point.
The team erupted into cheers. Renji let out a relieved breath.
Kenjiro's smirk faltered slightly. "Huh. Not bad."
As the game progressed, Renji's confidence grew. He wasn't just reacting anymore—he was predicting. Seiyo still scored, but Midori was pushing back. Renji found himself calling out defensive shifts, alerting his teammates before Kenjiro could strike.
By the final point of the match, Midori was only behind by three. Kenjiro went for one last spike, but this time, Renji was completely in sync. He moved before the ball even left Kenjiro's hand, positioning himself perfectly for the receive.
The impact was heavy—but his dig was precise. Yuuto set it up, and Ryusei slammed the ball home.
The game ended 25-22.
Seiyo won, but the gap had closed significantly.
A Silent Frustration
As Midori gathered their things after the match, Yuuto found himself watching Asuka. She was talking to Renji again, her expression warm as she patted his shoulder.
Yuuto exhaled slowly.
Renji had played well. He deserved the praise. But a small part of Yuuto couldn't ignore the way Asuka always seemed to focus on Renji first.
Kenjiro, passing by, chuckled. "Man, you've got it rough, huh?"
Yuuto frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Kenjiro smirked. "That girl. She's always looking at him."
Yuuto clenched his fists.
He knew that. And for the first time, he wondered if it was bothering him more than he wanted to admit.
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End of Chapter 14
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To Be Continue