The Training Camp Begins

The bus rumbled to a stop, its engine humming softly as the team members stirred from their seats. Outside the window, a sprawling sports complex stood against a backdrop of towering mountains, the late afternoon sun casting golden hues over the courts and training halls.

Renji took a deep breath as he stepped off the bus, adjusting the straps of his duffel bag. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine. The training camp had officially begun.

"Alright, everyone, gather up!" Coach Fujimoto's voice rang across the open space. The team quickly assembled, standing in a loose semi-circle.

"This week will be the toughest training you've faced yet," Fujimoto continued, his sharp gaze sweeping over them. "We'll be refining your skills, pushing your endurance, and most importantly—learning a new formation."

A murmur rippled through the players. New formations meant new strategies, which meant new challenges.

Coach Fujimoto smirked at their unease. "It's called the Umbrella Formation. This strategy forces opponents into predictable attack angles, allowing our defense to take control of the court." He turned to Renji. "And at the heart of it all is you, our libero."

Renji's stomach twisted into knots.

"W-Wait," he stammered. "Me?"

Fujimoto nodded. "Yes. The blockers will channel spikes toward you. That means your ability to read the play, react quickly, and keep the ball in play will determine our success. Can you handle it?"

Renji swallowed hard. Every eye was on him. He clenched his fists and forced himself to nod. "Yes, sir."

"Good. Let's get started."

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Drills & Struggles

The first training session began with positioning drills. The middle blockers worked on adjusting their jumps, setting up a defensive shield to funnel spikes toward Renji. But the execution wasn't smooth.

"Too slow!" Coach Fujimoto barked as another ball sailed past the formation. "You need to guide the ball into Renji's range, not just throw your hands up randomly!"

Renji, too, was struggling. He misread a powerful cross-court spike from their ace, Yuuto, and the ball shot past him before he could react.

"Damn it…" Renji muttered under his breath.

Yuuto groaned in frustration. "Renji, you've got to be quicker! The whole formation depends on you being there!"

Renji flinched at the sharpness in Yuuto's tone. He knew his best friend wasn't trying to be cruel, but the pressure was getting to both of them.

"I know, okay?" Renji snapped back. "I'm trying!"

"Try harder."

The rest of the team exchanged uneasy glances. They had never seen Renji and Yuuto argue like this before.

Coach Fujimoto let the tension simmer before stepping in. "Enough. We're here to improve, not bicker. Take five minutes to reset, then we go again."

Renji exhaled shakily and walked to the bench, gripping his water bottle tightly. He could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. Was he really ready for this?

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Asuka's Encouragement

As he sat on the sidelines, staring at the court, Asuka plopped down beside him.

"You know," she said casually, "when my brother played setter, he always said the libero was like a lighthouse—quiet, steady, and always guiding the team."

Renji glanced at her. "A lighthouse, huh?"

Asuka nodded. "Even when no one notices it, it's the reason ships don't crash."

Renji was silent for a moment. Then, he chuckled softly. "That's… kind of poetic."

She nudged him. "Point is, you don't have to be flashy. You just have to be there when it counts."

Renji took a deep breath. "Yeah. You're right."

He stood up, stretching his arms. The session wasn't over yet. He still had time to improve.

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Rebuilding the Formation

The next round of drills showed improvement. The blockers began anticipating the attacks better, and Renji focused on reading the spiker's movements.

Yuuto set up for a fast, deceptive spike, but this time, Renji caught the slight shift in Yuuto's posture. He dashed to his left—just in time. The ball smacked against his forearms and popped up perfectly.

A successful dig.

Coach Fujimoto clapped once. "That's more like it!"

Renji exhaled, a triumphant smile forming. Maybe—just maybe—he could do this.

But as the day came to an end, exhaustion settled over them. The tension between him and Yuuto still lingered, unspoken but heavy.

And as they walked away from the court, for the first time in a long while, they didn't walk together.

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End of Chapter 15

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To Be Continue