Ace of the Bench

The night air was cool against their skin when Yuuto and Marcus finally stepped out of the locker room. The court's echoes still clung to their minds sneakers squeaking, the roar of the crowd, the hum of adrenaline that refused to fade.

Outside, under the glow of the streetlights, two figures were waiting.

Kana and Ayaka waved as they spotted them. Kana leaned casually against the fence, backpack slung over one shoulder, while Ayaka bounced slightly on her toes, her long hair tied up in a high ponytail.

"There you guys are!" Ayaka said brightly. "We were wondering if you'd ever come out."

Marcus grinned. "Had to clean up after the war. You know how it goes."

Kana smirked. "Yeah, I could hear Coach's voice echoing down the hall. Thought he was giving you extra drills."

Yuuto chuckled softly. "He gave us a day off instead. Miracles exist."

Ayaka folded her arms. "Well, you both earned it. That was an amazing match even if you didn't win. The way you guys held your ground against Shikoku was insane."

"Especially you," Kana added, looking at Yuuto. "That full-court pass at the buzzer? Wild."

Yuuto rubbed the back of his neck, smiling awkwardly. "Thanks. I just… followed instinct."

Marcus smirked. "Instinct, my ass. You're built different, bro."

Ayaka laughed. "You two sound like an old married couple."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Says the one walking home with Kana. Didn't know you two got so close."

Kana grinned. "Guess we found some… shared interests."

Ayaka elbowed him lightly. "Yeah like how to mock people who can't take compliments."

The four of them burst into laughter. The tension of the day finally melted away as they started walking down the quiet street, streetlights flickering overhead.

For a moment, it was peaceful just the sound of sneakers on pavement, easy conversation, the occasional breeze rustling through the trees.

After a few blocks, Kana's street came up.

"This is me," he said. "Good game today, both of you. Rest up tournament's week after next week."

She waved and disappeared down the corner.

A little while later, Ayaka stopped too. "I turn here," she said softly. "See you guys at Monday?"

"Yeah," Yuuto said, smiling faintly.

She hesitated for a moment, then grinned. "Yuuto don't forget your towel next time. I found it on the bench again."

"Wait, what" Yuuto started, but she was already walking away, laughing.

Marcus smirked. "Smooth."

"Shut up," Yuuto muttered, hiding a grin.

The two of them continued walking, the streets quieter now. Neon lights from distant stores flickered across the wet pavement, casting long shadows that trailed behind them. Their sneakers scraped lightly against the pavement; the echo of the game still pulsed in their ears.

"Yo," Yuuto said, hands behind his head, his usual grin back on his face. "You really had to dunk that, huh? From full court? You trying to make us trend before the season even starts?"

Marcus chuckled, a low tired sound. "You were the one who threw it."

"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd actually catch it."

Marcus smiled faintly. "Neither did I."

They both laughed softly, the sound fading with the wind.

Yuuto kicked a pebble ahead of him, hands buried deep in his pockets. "Still… we should've won," he muttered.

Marcus smiled faintly, his voice low. "Yeah… but we learned something today."

Yuuto glanced sideways. "Learned what?"

"That we're not done yet."

For a moment, Yuuto just stared at him then smirked, shaking his head. "You sound like coach now."

"So… back there, when you said you'd slay them all five of those monsters were you bluffing?"

Yuuto glanced at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

"The Kings of the Court" said Marcus.

"Yea of course I mean every word" said yuuto.

"You said you know Renji's weakness," Marcus said. "That you'd use it to beat him. You serious about that? Or were you just talking big?"

Yuuto's eyes narrowed slightly. "I meant what I said."

Marcus looked at him curiously. "So what is it? His weakness?"

Yuuto shoved his hands into his pockets, staring at the road ahead. "I've been watching his matches every single one I could find. And after facing him up close today, I noticed something."

Marcus leaned in, intrigued. "Go on."

"Renji's a physical monster," Yuuto began. "His strength, his vertical, his explosion it's all designed for one thing: domination inside the paint. That's his kingdom. He crashes through defenders, breaks formations, and crushes momentum with dunks."

Marcus nodded. "Yeah. We saw that firsthand."

"But here's the thing," Yuuto continued, his tone sharpening. "What happens when the King of the Court is forced to leave his throne?"

Marcus blinked. "Meaning?"

"Renji's not good at long-range shots. Three-pointers, mid-range pull-ups — he doesn't trust them. Did you notice he only took one today? And that was because Shunjin hit one before him. He was copying it, not relying on it."

Marcus frowned thoughtfully. "You sure? Maybe he just didn't need to. His team's stacked with shooters."

Yuuto nodded. "Exactly. That's the point. He doesn't need to because he can't. He hides his weakness behind his team's strengths. But it's there."

Marcus crossed his arms. "So, his weakness is distance."

"Not just distance," Yuuto said quietly. "Control. When he's far from the basket, his rhythm breaks. His timing, his confidence it all slips."

Marcus tilted his head. "So your plan is to keep him out of the paint?"

Yuuto sighed. "That's the idea. But doing it is the hard part. He's physically dominant. Boxing him out won't be easy. Still… every king has a point where his crown tilts."

Marcus grinned. "You really think you can find that point?"

Yuuto's eyes glowed faintly under the streetlight, the same faint star-pattern that flickered during the match. "No," he said, voice low. "I already found it. I just don't know how to reach it yet."

Marcus stared at him for a moment, then laughed. "Man… sometimes you scare me, Yuuto."

Yuuto smiled. "Good."

They reached the intersection where their paths split. Marcus lifted a hand. "See you tomorrow, Ace."

Yuuto shook his head, smirking. "I'm not the Ace."

Marcus turned away, waving. "Not yet."

Yuuto watched him go. Then he looked up at the night sky, the faint hum of the streetlights blending with the whisper of the wind.

Renji… the King of the Court, he thought.

Your reign ends soon.

Yuuto walked the last few blocks home alone, his shoes scuffing lightly against the pavement. The cool night air brushed against his skin, carrying the faint scent of rain. The streets were quiet just the hum of streetlights and the soft rustle of wind through the trees.

When he finally reached his house, he took a slow breath before pulling open the door.

The warm light of the living room greeted him, along with two familiar faces his mother and father sitting together on the couch. His mom looked up immediately, eyes soft with concern.

"Yuuto! Welcome home, how was the game? Did you guys win?"

He set his bag down by the door, offering a tired smile. "It was good… but no, we didn't win. It was close, though."

His father let out a small sigh. "Sorry we couldn't make it. Work ran late again."

"I know, Dad," Yuuto replied, shaking his head. "It's fine. It was just a practice match nothing serious. Save it for the real tournament, alright? You don't have to beat yourselves up over it."

His mother stood, her hands gently brushing her apron. "Did you play?"

Yuuto hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. I played in the second half."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, that familiar blend of love and worry. "I hope you didn't do anything drastic."

He laughed softly, waving his hands. "No, Mom. I didn't. I promise."

She folded her arms. "Remember what the doctor said about overusing your knee during checkup? He said you need to come back in three months for a check-up. That's November."

"I know," Yuuto said quietly. "I didn't push it. I was careful."

Her expression softened, though the concern lingered in her tone. "Alright, son. Go shower and get changed. Dinner's almost ready."

"Got it."

As he turned to head upstairs, his father placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to worry about him so much. He's a strong, responsible boy. We raised him right."

She sighed. "I know… but he's still my son. I can't help worrying."

"And he's my son too," his father said with a faint smile. "We both know Yuuto's smart enough not to make the same mistake twice. He's seventeen now. We've got to trust him to make his own choices."

"I know," she whispered. "We're both trying our best."

Upstairs, Yuuto shut his door behind him and exhaled deeply. The quiet of his room felt heavier than usual. He peeled off his sweat-soaked clothes, tossed them in the hamper, and stepped into the shower.

Warm water cascaded down his skin, washing away the tension, the sweat, and the faint ache of defeat. But the moment he turned the water off and stepped out, he could feel it that dull pressure creeping back behind his kneecap.

He dressed in loose shorts and a plain t-shirt, sat on the edge of his bed, and leaned forward, rubbing his towel through his hair.

Then it came.

A sharp, sudden sting like a needle of fire shooting through his knee.

"Ah!" he hissed, gripping it tightly, teeth clenched. The pain pulsed for a few seconds, strong enough to make his vision blur, before finally easing into a throbbing ache.

He looked down at his leg, the faint mark of strain still visible under the skin.

For a moment, the silence pressed in no crowd, no cheers, no light. Just him… and the weight of what it would take to keep playing.

He leaned back slowly, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The reflection of the moonlight caught the side of his face, glinting faintly against the dark of his hair.

His breathing steadied.

"…Guess I still have a long way to go," he murmured.

Outside, the wind carried the soft echo of the court sneakers squeaking, the slap of the ball, the roar of the crowd fading into the night.

And Yuuto closed his eyes, letting it all drift away.