The gym lights buzzed faintly above the empty court, their hum blending with the sound of shoes squeaking somewhere down the hallway. Practice had ended earlier than usual. No one complained. The prefectural qualifiers were over. The season, for all intents and purposes, had closed.
Kazuki remained on the court, not training, not serving.
Just standing near the end line, towel draped over his shoulders, eyes fixed on the net.
The silence felt different now.
'This year is over'
The thought didn't come with relief. It came with weight.
Behind him, the gym door creaked open.
Ryuusei stepped in first, ball tucked under one arm. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes immediately flicked toward Kazuki. He didn't say anything right away. He bounced the ball once, twice, letting the sound echo.
"You always stay behind"
Kazuki didn't turn.
"You noticed"
Ryuusei snorted lightly.
"Hard not to. Everyone's already gone"
Another presence entered. Slower footsteps. Heavier.
Captain Daichi closed the door behind him, arms crossed, gaze sweeping the quiet gym before settling on Kazuki's back.
"Coach locked his office already" he said
"So if you're planning on extra reps, make it quick"
Kazuki finally turned, offering a small nod.
"Wasn't planning on hitting"
That earned him a look from both of them.
Ryuusei tilted his head.
"Then what"
Kazuki hesitated.
Words didn't come easily when it wasn't volleyball.
"Thinking"
Daichi exhaled through his nose, walking closer until he stood beside Kazuki at the end line. He followed Kazuki's gaze to the net.
"About the season"
Kazuki nodded.
Ryuusei clicked his tongue.
"You sound like a second-year already"
Silence stretched again.
Then Daichi spoke, quieter this time.
"You know… when you joined, I didn't think much of you"
Kazuki blinked, surprised.
"That's honest"
Daichi didn't smile.
"You were good. Clearly trained. But first-years always look good in drills. Matches are different"
Ryuusei leaned against the wall, listening now instead of joking.
"But then matches happened" Daichi continued
"And something felt off. Not wrong. Just… different"
Kazuki waited.
"You made us better" Daichi said
"Not because you scored the most. Not even because you saved broken plays"
Ryuusei straightened slightly.
"It was the way the court felt when you were there"
Kazuki's fingers curled slowly around the towel.
'So they noticed after all'
Ryuusei pushed off the wall.
"At first, I thought it was annoying" he said
"You set sometimes. You don't force it, but you do it when it matters. Made me feel like I had to sharpen up"
He grinned, sharp and competitive.
"But then I realized something"
Kazuki looked at him.
"When I play next to you, I see more options"
The words landed heavier than praise.
Daichi nodded.
"That's what I meant"
Another pause.
Then footsteps echoed again, this time, lighter and familiar.
Coach Aoyama stepped inside the gym, clipboard under his arm. He stopped short when he saw the three of them still there.
"…I figured as much"
Daichi straightened.
"Sorry, Coach"
Aoyama waved it off.
"Season's over. I won't pretend I didn't expect lingering thoughts"
His eyes moved to Kazuki.
"You too"
Kazuki bowed slightly.
"Yes, Coach"
Aoyama approached the court, shoes clicking softly.
"You know" he said
"I didn't call you here to say this earlier because I didn't want it to affect how you played"
Kazuki's posture stiffened.
Aoyama looked out at the empty stands.
"Calls came in"
Ryuusei's eyes widened slightly.
"Calls"
"Not official" Aoyama added
"No offers. No papers"
Daichi frowned.
"But...but people asked questions"
Aoyama finally turned toward Kazuki.
"Your name came up more than once"
The gym felt smaller.
'So it's started'
"They asked what position you played" Aoyama continued
"I told them the truth"
Ryuusei snorted.
"That he's a pain"
Aoyama smiled faintly.
"I said you were a wing spiker"
Kazuki relaxed slightly.
"And then I said you could set"
That made Ryuusei's grin vanish.
"They didn't believe me"
Daichi let out a quiet laugh.
"I wouldn't either"
Aoyama's expression grew serious.
"I didn't tell them numbers. Stats. Rankings"
He tapped the clipboard against his palm.
"I told them that when rallies break, our team doesn't"
Kazuki swallowed.
"That's all"
The silence after that was deep.
Aoyama adjusted his glasses.
"Second year starts soon"
The words carried promise and pressure.
"The gap between first and second year is bigger than people think" he continued
"Your body changes. Expectations change"
His gaze sharpened.
"And so does the level you'll be judged at"
Kazuki nodded.
"I understand"
Aoyama studied him for a moment longer, then smiled.
"Good because from next year on, people won't be watching to see if you're good"
He turned toward the door.
"They'll be watching to see if you can carry it"
The door closed behind him.
Ryuusei let out a long breath.
"…Told you"
Kazuki looked at him.
"Told me what"
"That this year wasn't the end"
Daichi chuckled softly.
"More like the warning"
They stood there a while longer. Eventually, Ryuusei tossed the ball lightly toward Kazuki. He caught it on instinct.
"One more thing" Ryuusei said
"You better not slow down next year"
Kazuki met his gaze.
"I won't"
Ryuusei grinned.
"Good because neither will I"
Daichi turned toward the exit.
"Lock up when you're done"
Footsteps faded.
Kazuki remained alone again. He bounced the ball once. The sound echoed.
'So my name reached further than I thought'
The system interface flickered into view, dim and unobtrusive.
No alerts.
No rewards.
Just his profile, steady.
He didn't open it instead, Kazuki looked at the net one last time.
'Second year'
The court no longer felt quiet, it felt like it was waiting.