The morning after his conversation with Asuka, Renji woke up feeling lighter—but that feeling didn't last long.
Practice was tougher than usual.
Not physically. Emotionally.
Because the moment Renji stepped into the gym, he noticed it.
Yuuto's glare.
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A Shift in the Air
It wasn't open hostility. Yuuto was too composed for that. But Renji could feel it—subtle tension, the way Yuuto didn't acknowledge him, the way he passed him the ball a little too hard, the way he avoided eye contact whenever Asuka called out a drill.
Everyone else was in high spirits, still riding the wave of their regional victory, but Renji felt like he was walking on broken glass.
Even Coach Anzai noticed.
"Teamwork looks off today," he barked during a time-out. "Sort it out, or we'll be running laps 'til dinner."
Renji exhaled sharply and glanced at Yuuto, who stood with arms crossed, looking away.
The air between them used to be electric—competitive, fiery, but respectful.
Now, it just felt cold.
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A Moment Between Leaders
Later, in the locker room, Renji decided he couldn't let it go on any longer.
Yuuto was alone, sitting on the bench, unwrapping tape from his fingers. The silence stretched too long, and Renji cleared his throat.
"Yuuto," he said.
Yuuto didn't look up. "What."
Renji stepped forward. "Look… if this is about Asuka—"
Yuuto's hand stopped mid-motion. His jaw tightened.
"You don't have to explain," he said flatly.
"But I want to."
Yuuto looked up then, his expression unreadable. "You don't owe me anything, Renji. It's not like we were—" He stopped himself, then looked away again. "Whatever. It's not about that."
Renji frowned. "Then what is it about?"
Yuuto stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "You wouldn't get it."
"Try me."
Yuuto hesitated, then turned to face him. "It's not just about her. It's about you. About all of this."
Renji blinked. "What do you mean?"
Yuuto's voice was low, frustrated. "You weren't supposed to be the one who changed everything."
There it was. The truth hidden under layers of pride.
Renji stayed quiet.
"I've always worked harder. Fought harder. Tried to carry this team. But suddenly… it's you everyone looks to. It's you she believes in. I guess I wasn't ready for that."
Renji stepped forward, choosing his words carefully. "You're still our captain, Yuuto. And you're still the one who pulls us forward. Nothing's changed that."
Yuuto looked away. "Feels like everything has."
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The Unseen Wounds
Later that evening, Asuka found Renji leaning against the back fence behind the gym, staring into the fading sunset.
"You talked to him?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. Didn't fix much."
She walked up beside him. "It's not your job to fix him, Renji."
"I know. But I still care."
Asuka tilted her head. "About him?"
Renji gave a weak smile. "He's not just a rival. He's been pushing me to be better since the first day I joined. And even if he doesn't say it, I think I've been pushing him too."
Asuka sighed. "It's complicated."
"Yeah," Renji said. "Everything is."
They stood in silence, watching as the last sliver of sun dipped below the horizon.
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Building Something New
The next day, the team returned to drills and strategy sessions. The focus was on the state tournament. Coach Anzai ramped up the intensity, pushing them harder with every passing day.
Renji and Yuuto still didn't talk much, but something had changed—just slightly.
There was less coldness. Less anger.
Maybe honesty had cracked open the surface.
And maybe that was enough—for now.
But Renji knew this was only the beginning.
The road to state wasn't going to be easy.
Not just on the court, but off it, too.
Because this team?
It wasn't just a collection of players.
It was a tangle of hearts.
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End of Chapter 55
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To Be Continue