The box on the kitchen table caught Connor's eye before he fully woke up. Its plain brown wrapping and neat ribbon suggested something important, even before he tore it open.
"Morning," his mom said softly from the counter. "We thought you might need these."
Inside lay a pair of volleyball shoes, white with blue accents, gleaming as if they'd been waiting for him. He lifted them carefully, tracing the stitching with his fingers.
His dad leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, a small smile on his lips. "Can't show up for tryouts with your old shoes. Thought you might like a fresh start."
Connor nodded, slipping them on. They fit snugly, comfortable yet sturdy, and for the first time in months, he felt ready.
"Just promise me something," his dad said. "Don't push too fast. Let yourself adjust."
"I will," Connor said, though the knot of nerves in his stomach didn't entirely loosen.
By the time the last class of the day rolled around, Connor's thoughts were miles away from grammar rules or algebraic equations. Dylan leaned over from the row behind him.
"You even paying attention?" he whispered.
"Mostly thinking about the gym," Connor admitted.
Harper smirked from the back of the classroom. "You're jittery. Admit it."
Connor shrugged. "Maybe a little."
When the bell finally rang, they grabbed their things in a rush, spilling into the hallway. The air outside was crisp, carrying the faint scent of polished gym floors and early hints of fall.
"I can't believe it's finally happening," Dylan said, practically bouncing in place.
"You'll see," Connor replied quietly, though nerves mixed with excitement tightened his chest.
The gym loomed ahead, its large doors reflecting the late afternoon sun. Inside, the sounds of bouncing balls and sneakers squeaking off the polished floor filled the air. Some returning players were already warming up, tossing balls back and forth with practiced ease.
Connor was looking up at the blue screen above his head.
[Mission Progress: 2% — "Earn a varsity spot."]
[Partial System Unlock: Reflex Adaptation / Predictive Assist Lvl. 1]
[Reward: Reconditioning Elixir — active. Muscular stabilization increased 5%.]
Coach Reynolds stood at center court, clipboard in hand, whistle hanging from his neck. He radiated calm authority.
"All right, everyone," he called, voice carrying easily across the gym. "Before we start, I want to introduce the returning players from last season. These are the ones you'll see most on the court."
The first player stepped forward. "I'm Elias Monroe, captain and setter," he said, his posture confident but relaxed.
Next came a tall, muscular player. "Jordan Hale, opposite hitter. I talk louder than I probably should." A few chuckles from around the room.
"Mason Lee, middle blocker. I cover the net," said another, adjusting his sleeves.
"Liam Carter, libero. I'm fast and I read the other team, so watch the ball," a shorter player added, bouncing lightly on his feet.
Ryan Brooks stepped forward, grinning. "Outside hitter. I like to mix things up and keep you guessing."
"Noah Fields, setter, trying to keep up with Elias," said a boy with tousled hair.
"Caleb Rivera, opposite hitter. Loud, energetic, sometimes clashing with Jordan," another added.
Sophie Nguyen, a tall middle blocker and lanky, stepped forward. "Nguyen Middle Blocker."
Connor scanned the gym, noticing differences in height, posture, and presence. The returning players moved with ease, while the newcomers shifted nervously, introducing themselves in turn. Connor gave his name, position, and a quick note about previous experience, keeping his voice calm despite racing thoughts.
"Good," Coach Reynolds said. "Now that introductions are out of the way, here's how tryouts will work: two weeks, four days a week, plus Saturday mornings. We'll start with fundamental drills, then move to scrimmages, agility tests, and teamwork exercises. I want to see effort, growth, and consistency more than anything else. After the First Week, we will select a few players to starting the selection to Varsity, the other will be played at Junior Varsity. Questions?"
A few heads shook; Dylan whispered to Connor, "Sounds intense."
Connor simply nodded.
The first drill began. Connor paired with Liam Carter for passing and receiving. The veteran moved fluidly, his hands almost predicting the ball's path. Connor adjusted instinctively, sending each pass cleanly back.
SetterOS flickered briefly at the edge of his vision:
[Real-Time Feedback: Active]
[Balance Stability: 86%]
Connor ignored it for now, focusing on rhythm, letting his body remember patterns it had almost forgotten.
Next came serve-and-set rotations. Connor's pulse quickened as he readied himself. The first ball came fast, slightly off-center. He moved instinctively, hands forming the triangle, landing lightly, sending the ball perfectly to the spiker.
Jordan received it and smashed it down hard, eliciting cheers from the sidelines. Elias watched from across the court, nodding once, approvingly. Connor felt a flicker of confidence, the fear lingering only at the edges.
Water break. Dylan leaned against the wall. "You're a natural. Didn't know you could set that clean."
Connor shook his head. "Been a while."
Harper, notebook in hand, teased. "Documenting every move for posterity."
Connor laughed. The energy of the gym was infectious, blending nerves with exhilaration.
The next drill moved into scrimmage rotations. Newcomers and veterans mixed, calling positions, running plays, adjusting to each other's timing. Connor found himself paired with Elias.
"Call everything," Elias said quietly. "Even if it seems obvious. Setters lead the flow."
The first few rallies were messy miscommunication, balls falling unexpectedly but with each repetition, Connor's confidence grew. Hands steady, eyes scanning the court, he anticipated movements, landed carefully, and trusted his instincts.
By the final rally of the session, a clean set landed perfectly for the spiker. Dylan cheered. Elias gave a faint nod, acknowledging Connor's growing steadiness.
Coach Reynolds blew the final whistle. "Good work today. Tryouts are about growth, not just skill. Keep showing up, improving, and trusting yourselves."
Connor packed up slowly, thinking about the returning players' presence, their positions, and the rhythm of the court. His new shoes were slightly scuffed, but it felt earned.
Outside, the sun slanted gold across the parking lot. Dylan clapped him on the shoulder. "You did well. Those guys aren't easy to keep up with."
Connor smiled faintly. "We'll see how the rest of the week goes."
His phone buzzed softly:
[Tryout Performance: Above Baseline]
[Unlocked: Reflex Calibration Module]
[Next Objective: Maintain Performance Consistency — 3 Sessions]
He didn't need to fully understand it. For the first time in a long time, he wanted to return tomorrow.
The rhythm, the one that had been silent for months, was waking again.
And Connor knew he was ready to follow it.