The early morning sun spilled through the gym windows as Renji stepped onto the court alone.
The rest of the team wouldn't arrive for another thirty minutes—but Renji needed this.
The match against Kawasaki Tech still lingered in his mind. The frustration of the loss… the small victories… the weight of Coach Anzai's words:
> "This team doesn't need shadows. It needs leaders."
Renji had never thought of himself as a leader.
He was the one who blended in. Who followed. Who made sure others shined.
But that had to change.
---
Extra Hours
He tossed a ball up, practiced a jump float serve.
The first one hit the net.
The second soared out of bounds.
By the fifth try, his breath was heavy, sweat beading at his brow.
Still, he kept going.
He didn't notice someone walk in until he heard a voice behind him.
"You're going to burn out before practice even starts."
Renji turned. It was Asuka, leaning against the wall with a water bottle in hand.
"You're here early too," he said, catching his breath.
She shrugged. "Had a feeling I'd find you here."
He offered a sheepish smile.
She walked closer, watching him serve again—this one landing cleanly in the back corner.
"You're pushing yourself a lot lately," she said. "More than usual."
Renji nodded. "Coach told me to stop hiding. I want to be better."
Asuka tilted her head. "You already are. But if you really want to lead… maybe stop doing it alone."
Renji lowered the ball in his hand, her words settling in.
He wasn't just trying to improve.
He was trying to prove something.
But… to who?
---
A New Training Plan
Later that afternoon, Coach Anzai gathered the team.
"We've got a month before the next regional match," he began. "That means time to patch our weak spots."
He tossed a clipboard onto the floor in the center of the circle.
New drills. New pairings.
Renji's eyes widened when he saw his name next to Yuuto's.
And next to them—"Leadership rotation."
Yuuto raised a brow. "What's that?"
Coach crossed his arms. "Every week, different players will take point in organizing warmups, giving feedback, and reading the court. Not just captains. Everyone steps up."
A buzz went through the team.
Shun muttered, "That's new."
Coach's eyes met Renji's. "You're first."
---
A New Kind of Pressure
The next morning, Renji stood in front of the team, whistle in hand.
Everyone waited.
Yuuto gave him a slight nod.
Kazuma, still not fully cleared to play, leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Renji took a deep breath.
"Two laps. Dynamic stretches. Then serve-receive rotation, group A."
He half expected pushback.
But no one moved late. No one rolled their eyes.
They listened.
By the time drills began, Renji found his voice growing louder. More confident.
He called out rotations. Gave quiet feedback. Even challenged Yuuto's positioning once—
And Yuuto didn't argue.
Instead, he adjusted.
And smiled.
---
Facing the Mirror
Later, as practice ended, Renji lingered behind again.
This time, Kazuma approached.
"You did alright today," Kazuma said. "Bit stiff at first. But you're learning."
Renji let out a dry laugh. "Feels weird being the one in charge."
Kazuma leaned on the wall beside him. "It should. Growth always feels weird. Like wearing someone else's shoes."
Renji looked down at his sneakers.
"I still feel like I don't deserve it."
Kazuma glanced at him. "Deserve what?"
"The respect. The role. Everything."
Kazuma's voice was quiet but firm. "You're not here because you deserve anything. You're here because you earned it."
Renji looked up.
And for the first time, he allowed himself to believe it.
---
End of Chapter 58
---
To Be Continued