Trial by Fire (PART -1)
The ache in Renji's arms lingered long after practice had ended. Each bruise felt like a badge — painful, but proof that he hadn't backed down. He replayed the day's drills in his mind: Yuuto's relentless spikes, Asuka's encouraging smile, and the rare flicker of approval in Coach's voice.
You didn't quit.
That thought kept him steady as he walked home through the quiet streets. The air was cool, and the evening sky bled into hues of deep purple. Despite the soreness in his muscles, Renji felt something unexpected — pride.
But doubt lingered too.
Tomorrow's practice... Will I hold up?
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The Next Day — The Gauntlet Begins
The gym's atmosphere felt heavier the next afternoon. The usual chatter of teammates filling water bottles and joking around seemed distant. Renji kept his head down as he stretched, trying to ignore the lingering soreness in his arms.
"Alright!" Coach's sharp voice cut through the noise. "Today's focus is endurance."
Yuuto's gaze flicked toward Renji. "Good luck surviving."
The warm-up drills felt endless — suicides across the court, rapid footwork exercises, and block jumps that left Renji's calves burning. But that was only the start.
"Libero drill!" Coach barked.
Renji dragged himself to the baseline, stomach twisting. He knew what was coming.
"You've got five minutes," Coach said. "Yuuto, you're spiking. Renji, you're digging. No breaks. If you stop moving — you're out."
The rest of the team murmured quietly. This wasn't a normal drill — it was a challenge.
"You ready?" Yuuto called across the net.
Renji wiped his palms on his shorts, his fingers still tender from the last practice.
"Yeah," he muttered.
Yuuto smirked. "Don't break."
The first spike shot toward Renji like a bullet. His arms stung as he barely managed to deflect it upward.
"Move faster!" Yuuto shouted, grabbing another ball.
The second spike curved wide — Renji dove, twisting mid-air to dig it just before it hit the floor.
Don't stop... Don't stop...
Yuuto fired again — harder this time — and Renji stumbled, sending the ball spiraling out of bounds.
"Out!" Yuuto barked. "Again!"
The minutes blurred together — endless dives, burns on Renji's knees, bruises flaring up across his arms. His muscles ached, and his lungs felt like they were tearing with every breath.
"Pick it up!" Yuuto snapped.
Renji's fingers trembled. His vision blurred.
You can't stop... Not yet...
Another spike. Renji threw himself into the dive, barely skimming the ball with his forearm. The ball floated upward — not perfect, but still playable.
I kept it up... I kept it up...
"Time!" Coach's voice barked.
Renji collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
"That's enough," Coach said. "Good work."
Yuuto turned away without a word.
---
After Practice — A Moment of Doubt
Renji sat alone near the storage room, gently pressing an ice pack against his arms. His fingers still trembled.
"You did great," Asuka's voice said softly.
Renji flinched, startled.
"I don't know about that..." His voice trailed off. "I barely kept up."
"You didn't quit," Asuka countered. "That's all that matters right now."
Renji glanced away. "I think Yuuto's right... I'm just slowing everyone down."
"Don't listen to him," Asuka said firmly. "Yuuto's tough on everyone — even himself."
"I'm not like him," Renji muttered.
"You're not supposed to be," Asuka said. "You're the libero — your job is different. But just because you don't get points doesn't mean you're not important."
Renji clenched his fists. "It doesn't feel that way."
Asuka knelt beside him. "Then let me prove it to you."
He blinked at her. "What do you mean?"
"Tomorrow... meet me here before practice." Her smile softened. "I'll show you what a libero's really capable of."
For the first time that day, Renji's chest felt lighter.
---
The Manager's Promise
The next afternoon, Renji arrived early. The gym was empty except for Asuka, who was waiting near the equipment cart. She held a worn-out volleyball under her arm.
"You ready?" she asked.
Renji nodded.
"Alright," Asuka said. "I've got a drill just for you."
She tossed the ball into the air. "When I hit this," she explained, "I want you to tell me where you'd position yourself."
Renji blinked. "That's it?"
"You'll see."
Asuka smacked the ball softly toward the right corner.
"There," Renji pointed.
"Okay," Asuka said. She hit another ball, this time to the left.
"There."
For several minutes, they repeated the pattern. Asuka's hits became faster, trickier — sometimes she'd fake a hit and send the ball in a completely different direction.
But Renji's answers grew sharper.
"There... Left corner... Close to the net... Back right..."
"You're starting to see it," Asuka said with a grin.
"See what?" Renji asked.
"The pattern."
Renji frowned. "But you're hitting randomly."
"No," Asuka corrected. "I'm moving like a spiker would — shifting my shoulders, planting my feet. If you watch closely... you'll see where the ball's going before I even touch it."
Renji stared down at the court.
"You mean... I can read them?"
"Exactly," Asuka said. "A libero's biggest weapon isn't speed — it's instinct. You can't predict everything, but if you read the attacker... you can be where the ball's going before anyone else."
Renji's fingers flexed.
"You really think I can do that?"
"I know you can," Asuka said. "And I'll help you prove it."
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End of Chapter 3
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To Be Continue