Inner match [Boylove]

Chapter 1: New Recruit

Julien stood in front of the tennis club doors, his bag slung over his shoulder, his heart racing. It was his first day, and although he had dreamed for a long time of joining a competitive team, he couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety in his stomach.

Inside, Alex, the team captain, was leading the warm-up with confidence. The other members seemed focused, each executing their movements with precision. When Julien entered, the eyes turned toward him—some curious, others wary.

— "You must be Julien," Alex said, stepping forward with a friendly smile.

— "Yes, that's me. Nice to meet you."

— "Welcome. I'm Alex, the captain. Feel free to ask me any questions if you need help."

Julien nodded, reassured by the warm welcome. But in the back, Théo, tall and imposing, crossed his arms and scrutinized him with a cold stare.

— "A new guy, huh? Hope you're ready to keep up," Théo said, his voice tinged with sarcasm.

Julien blushed, unsure how to respond.

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Chapter 2: First Training

Julien's first training session didn't go as planned. The pressure to prove himself, Théo's critical glances, and Alex's encouragements—which inexplicably made him more nervous—all worked against him.

During a serving drill, Julien missed the ball several times in a row, drawing exasperated sighs from Théo.

— "You want us to bring you a manual on how to serve?" Théo joked, causing a slight chuckle among the other players.

Julien gritted his teeth, embarrassed. But before he could lose all confidence, Alex intervened:

— "Théo, enough. Julien is a beginner, give him time to adjust."

— "This is a competitive team, not a daycare," Théo retorted before walking away.

Alex turned to Julien with a reassuring smile.

— "Don't worry about Théo. He's like that with everyone. Come on, I'll show you something to improve your serve."

These few words were enough to give Julien a little more courage.

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Chapter 3: Invisible Tensions

Léo, Alex's close friend, was watching everything from the edge of the court. He wasn't the type to intervene directly, but he couldn't help but notice the strange dynamic forming. Alex seemed particularly attentive to Julien, maybe more so than he was with the other new members.

When the training session ended, Léo approached Alex.

— "You seem to be taking good care of him," he remarked in a neutral tone.

— "It's my job as captain, right?" Alex shrugged.

— "Maybe. But I know you, Alex. Be careful not to lose yourself."

Alex frowned but didn't respond.

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Chapter 4: The Accident

During an intense training session, Julien, stressed and eager to prove himself, hit the ball with too much force and not enough accuracy. The ball bounced and hit Alex directly on the shoulder, causing him to wince in pain.

— "Oh no! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!" Julien exclaimed, rushing toward him.

Alex raised a hand to calm him, but his face showed visible pain.

— "It's nothing. It happens," he said, though his voice lacked assurance.

Julien insisted on helping him up, and in that moment, their eyes met. Despite the pain, Alex smiled faintly.

— "See? You've got power. Now you just need to learn how to control it."

That moment unsettled Julien, who felt a strange warmth rising inside him. But before he could analyze the feeling, Théo stormed over, furious.

— "Seriously? This kid's dangerous! He doesn't belong here."

— "Théo, that's enough," Alex replied firmly.

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Chapter 5: An Evening of Tension

After training, Alex and Julien were the last to leave the locker room. The pain in Alex's shoulder seemed worse than he had let on, and Julien insisted on helping him carry his bag.

— "You don't need to do that," Alex said, a little embarrassed.

— "It's my fault you're hurt. It's the least I can do."

As they walked together, the silence between them became almost tangible. Julien, usually reserved, found the courage to speak.

— "Why are you being so nice to me? I've just been messing up my shots since I got here."

Alex stopped, his gaze locked with his.

— "Because I see something in you. You might not realize it yet, but you have potential."

Julien blushed, but before he could respond, Alex added, almost as a whisper:

— "And… you're more than just a teammate to me."

The words hung in the air. Julien, frozen, didn't know what to say. Alex, realizing what he had just said, looked away.

— "Forget that. I'll see you tomorrow at practice," he said, quickening his pace, leaving Julien alone with his thoughts.

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End of Volume 1: The Beginning