The gym felt unfamiliar.
Same wooden floor. Same net. Same banners hanging from the walls. Still, something fundamental had shifted. The air carried a sense of reset, as if the court itself understood that the people who once anchored it were gone.
Graduation had done its work.
Kazuki stood near the sideline, wearing a practice jersey that still felt stiff against his shoulders. Number 4 rested on his back. Clean. Unblemished. Heavy in a way fabric shouldn't be.
'So this is what it feels like'
Around him, voices overlapped. First-years lined up awkwardly, some too stiff, others too loose. Second-years filled the gaps naturally, instinctively taking spots they had earned last season.
Ren was already on court he stood near the net, ball tucked under one arm, speaking quietly to a first-year about foot placement during serve receive. His movements were unhurried, familiar. The court still moved to his rhythm without anyone consciously noticing.
Kazuki saw it and felt something settle.
'Good'
Ryuusei stretched near the antenna, glancing over.
"…Looks weird on you"
Kazuki raised an eyebrow.
"Weird good or weird bad"
"Weird serious" Ryuusei said
"Like you finally stopped pretending"
Kazuki huffed quietly.
Footsteps echoed sharply as Coach Aoyama stepped into the gym, whistle hanging loose around his neck.
Conversations died instantly. Players moved into formation on instinct alone.
"Line up"
No ceremony. No wasted motion.
Kazuki stepped forward without thinking.
Only after did he realize no one questioned it.
Coach Aoyama's gaze swept across the court. It paused briefly on the unfamiliar first-years, then moved on. Ren received no special attention. He didn't need it.
"New year" Coach Aoyama said
"New expectations"
Silence held.
"The third-years are gone"
The words landed heavier than expected.
"This team lost experience. Stability. Defense"
No names were spoken. They didn't need to be.
"We rebuild" he continued
"And we rebuild properly"
He turned toward the first-years.
"Introduce yourselves"
One by one, voices filled the gym.
Nervous. Uneven. Honest.
"Yamada Souta"
"Wing spiker"
The boy stood straight. Broad shoulders. Calm eyes. There was something steady in the way he held himself.
Kazuki studied him.
'Anchor type'
Coach Aoyama tilted his head.
"What's your strength"
"Receive" Souta answered immediately
"And endurance"
A quiet murmur rippled.
Kazuki nodded once.
"Next!" said Coach Aoyama
"Kaito Fujimori"
"Middle blocker"
Tall. Raw. His hands rose naturally when he spoke, fingers spread as if already forming a block.
"I close space" Kaito said
"I don't chase points"
Coach Aoyama's eyes lingered for half a second longer.
"Good"
The rest followed quickly, but the structure had already begun to form.
Coach Aoyama turned back toward the court.
"Kazuki"
Kazuki stepped forward.
"You'll serve as team captain this year"
No applause.
No resistance.
Just acceptance.
Ryuusei clicked his tongue softly.
"About time"
Kazuki bowed.
"I'll do what's needed"
Coach Aoyama nodded.
"You won't control every ball"
"You won't fix every mistake"
His gaze sharpened.
"You make this team function"
Kazuki straightened.
"Yes, Coach"
Practice began immediately.
Ren took the setter position without discussion. His tosses were steady. His sets favored clarity over speed, giving first-years time to adjust and second-years room to refine timing.
Kazuki watched from the wing.
'Same tempo'
Hitting drills followed.
Kazuki didn't rush. He adjusted his approach subtly. His eyes stayed on the block longer than before.
The set came.
His swing slipped through the seam.
Clean.
Ren glanced over.
Kazuki nodded once.
The serve receive tightened and communication sharpened.
"Left"
"Hold"
"Now"
Kazuki spoke sparingly, precisely.
Ren adjusted instantly, scrimmage followed.
Kazuki stayed in his lane. No overreach. No correction through action.
Still the game felt clearer.
Blocks committed earlier than they should have. Coverage shifted predictably. The court seemed to explain itself.
The set came.
Kazuki waited.
Jumped.
The ball landed just inside the line.
Souta exhaled.
"…I was there"
"You were early" Ren said calmly
"Next one's yours"
Coach Aoyama said nothing.
He didn't interrupt the rhythm.
Practice ended with exhaustion settling deep into muscles.
Kazuki gathered them.
"Nationals isn't a dream" he said
"It's a direction"
Eyes lifted.
"You'll mess up"
"So will I"
A pause.
"But if we go"
He looked at each of them.
"We go as a team"
No cheers.
Just nods.
The gym emptied slowly.
Kazuki stayed behind again.
Ren paused near the exit, glanced back once, then left without comment.
The court stretched empty.
Kazuki sat on the bench, elbows resting on his knees, staring at the net.
'Nationals'
Images surfaced.
A left-handed ace.
A silent blocker.
A laughing setter.
A king chasing perfection.
'Monsters'
Real ones.
'I don't want to watch them'
The system interface flickered faintly.
No alerts.
No numbers.
Just quiet presence.
Kazuki closed his eyes.
'I want to stand across the net'
His fingers tightened around the ball.
'The weight of being a captain and an ace isn't pressure'
He stood.
'It's responsibility'
And this time he was ready to carry it.