The halls of Seiwa High felt smaller now.
Not because they had shrunk, but because everywhere Renji walked, he was seen.
"Nice game yesterday!"
"You're that new setter, right?"
"Dude, that block on Koga? Insane."
The praise came from classmates who hadn't even known his name last season. Teachers nodded at him with subtle pride. Even the third-years, preparing for exams, paused to offer encouragement.
Renji should've felt proud.
Instead, he felt… exposed.
---
Weight of the Spotlight
"Now you know how it feels," Yuuto said, throwing his arm around Renji's shoulders as they left class.
Renji looked up, puzzled. "What?"
Yuuto smirked. "To be the guy everyone watches. You're not in the shadows anymore, Renji."
Renji didn't answer.
He wasn't sure if he liked it.
At practice, Coach Anzai was pushing harder than ever.
"More speed on that transition!"
"Renji, your spacing on the quicks is too tight!"
He wasn't angry—but he was expecting more.
Because now, Seiwa was expected to win.
Their next opponent, Fukuhara Tech, had crushed them last season. But this year? Everyone thought Seiwa would steamroll them.
That belief came with pressure.
And pressure, Renji was learning, could twist confidence into fear.
---
The Whisper Campaign
After practice, Asuka caught up with Renji outside the gym.
"You're stiff," she said bluntly.
Renji raised a brow. "Thanks for the honesty."
"I mean it," she replied. "Your sets are fine, but your rhythm's off. You're thinking too much."
He hesitated. "Maybe I'm just… trying not to mess up."
She stopped walking and turned to face him.
"You will mess up," she said. "So will I. So will Yuuto. That's not what defines us."
Her eyes softened. "What matters is how we respond."
Renji took a breath, trying to let that sink in.
Then Asuka added, more gently, "You're not alone, okay?"
He nodded, grateful—but something still tugged at him.
---
Noise from the Outside
Later that night, Renji scrolled through his phone.
Social media was buzzing with clips from the Kaisei match. A slow-motion block of Koga. A back-set to Asuka. A shot of Renji calling out plays mid-rally.
And the comments…
> "Seiwa's new setter is underrated. He's surgical."
"Finally, someone other than Yuuto shining."
"Renji x Asuka chemistry is FIRE"
Most of it was positive.
Until it wasn't.
> "He's only good because of Asuka's reads."
"Still not as dynamic as their old captain."
"Let's see how he handles pressure next game…"
Renji's thumb hovered. He knew he should stop reading.
But the words stuck anyway.
Not all eyes watching you are kind.
---
Behind Closed Doors
The next morning, Coach Anzai pulled him aside.
"Walk with me," he said, motioning out toward the track.
They walked in silence for a while, until Coach finally spoke.
"You're growing," he said. "But growth comes with discomfort."
Renji kept his eyes on the ground.
"You're hearing the noise now, aren't you?"
Renji didn't deny it.
Coach nodded. "Here's the truth, Renji. When no one talks about you, it's because you don't matter. But when everyone does—good or bad—that's when you're making an impact."
He turned to face Renji. "So you have two choices: Let the noise shake you… or let it sharpen you."
Renji looked up, feeling the words settle into his chest.
"I want to get stronger," he said.
Coach smirked. "Then let's start by beating Fukuhara Tech."
---
The Fire Beneath
That afternoon, at practice, something shifted again.
Renji didn't try to be perfect.
He just played.
He started experimenting with tempo—speeding up sets to Asuka, slowing down tosses to Arai, drawing out blockers to give Yuuto clean angles.
The team responded instantly.
Yuuto grinned mid-rally. "There you are."
Even Coach cracked a rare smile.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
By the time they wrapped up, the tension in Renji's chest had eased.
Not disappeared—but eased.
---
The Calm Before
As the sun dipped below the school rooftop, Renji sat outside with his water bottle beside him.
Asuka joined him, no words at first.
Just silence.
The good kind.
After a few minutes, she asked, "You okay?"
He nodded. "Better now."
She leaned back, looking at the orange sky. "They're gonna talk, no matter what. But you're the one on the court. You get to write the story."
Renji looked at her and smiled.
"For the first time," he said softly, "I think I want that spotlight."
---
End of Chapter 62
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To Be Continued