1 Chapter 1 - The Stoic Prodigy

In the bustling halls of Teiko Junior High, a school known for its prestigious basketball program. Students excitedly discuss the upcoming inter-high volleyball tournament and a certain someone that caught their attention.

A tall, enigmatic teenager with piercing eyes and a stoic demeanor. Yū moves through the crowd with an air of mystery surrounding him, as if he exists on the fringes of everyone's attention.

Yūsuke "Yū" Takahashi, standing at an imposing 6'5" with a striking shock of white hair and piercing eyes that held a mysterious glimmer, possessed a physique sculpted by lean muscles that hinted at untapped power and skill, drawing the attention and admiration of countless onlookers who were captivated by his enigmatic presence on and off the court.

As the discussion grows louder, Yū is questioning himself.

When did playing volleyball become so dull? He asked himself.

When was it that I...

He looks up, noticing he bumped into someone. The first thing he noticed was her cascading locks of lustrous pink hair framed her delicate features, complementing her expressive, mesmerizing eyes that held a hint of mischievousness and fun.

Yū is stunned that he bumped into such a beautiful girl, but it doesn't show on his face.

"I'm sorry!" the beautiful girl said.

"My apologies as well," Yū said.

Yū bowed almost 90 degrees, but with his height, he almost smacked her with his bow. Thankfully Yū realized this and stopped himself from doing any more harm to the girl.

The girl was amused by the bow and giggles.

Yū looks puzzled about why she is giggling. Before he was able to question her, the girl introduced herself.

"I'm Momoi Satsuki! A second-year student." She asked cheerfully.

"I'm Yūsu-

"No, I already know your name. You're Yūsuke Takahashi, The ace of our volleyball club. The one nicknamed stoic prince, the player of our school who dominated the volleyball scene ever since his second-year playing for Teiko Junior High. And most importantly, a senpai!" Satsuki said while at some point now holding a notebook.

"Nice to meet you?" Yū unsurely replied.

"I'm sorry! I sounded like a stalker just now, but I'm not. I am the basketball's club manager." She said panicking while explaining why she knows him so much.

"You see, I scout our club's opponent in advance and had built a habit of looking up strong players so I can relay them to my team, not to brag but I'm pretty good at it. One day, I just came up across you playing and I thought "Wow, he plays so good!" and researched about you." She explained herself.

"Ok," Yū said. And went his way to the teacher's office.

"Only Ok?" A confused Satsuki repeated.

-

"I would like to quit the club"

"Huh?"

"I repeat, I would like to quit the club."

"I heard you the first time but why?"

"I am getting-

"Anyways you can't!"

"I am quitting."

Inside the teacher's office, A teacher is seen rubbing his forehead. With him is Yū, who is trying to quit the volleyball club for reasons unknown. Yū came up to their club adviser and went saying he is quitting; with that, the club adviser is trying to convince him not to quit as it would be detrimental to the club as he is a pillar that helped get their club to great heights.

"Wha"

Before the teacher knew it, Yū is nowhere to be seen. The only indicator that he left is that Yū closed the door.

Walking through the halls again, Yū prepares his mind to only study the remaining half a year.

-

Going home, Yū passed by the basketball gym. The sun was setting, he was surprised that he still hears balls bouncing and running noises. Curiosity took over him and went to see who is still practicing late at night. Yū entered the gym and found a teal-haired boy running back and forth rebounding and shooting balls from a perimeter. Watching the boy stoically, the boy missed every shot.

Yū thought the boy sucks at basketball.

Yū made a step forward intending to talk to the boy.

"You" Yū said.

The teal-haired boy looks where the voice came from and said. "Yes?"

"Go home, practicing is good but it's already night."

The teal-haired boy nods. Before he was given a chance to pick up the balls he used for practice, Yū spoke. "What is the point of you practicing when you can't improve at what you are practicing?"

The teal-haired boy froze but quickly composed himself and look at Yū.

"I practice because I made a promise with my friend that we will face each other in a match and" The teal-haired boy spoke stoically like Yū.

"I love basketball."

Yū nods and decided to go home for the day.

Walking in the streets, Yū thought of what the teal-haired boy said.

"I love basketball."

"Love?" Yū said.

I loved volleyball.