Opening Scene – A Fragile Beginning
The sun crept slowly over the horizon, painting the school grounds in gold. The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and blooming flowers.
Akio stood just outside the gymnasium, staring at the racket in his trembling hands.
His heart pounded like a war drum.
This was his first official practice as a member of the badminton club.
"I chose this," he reminded himself, breathing deeply.
"No one forced me. This is my decision... my dream."
But that reminder did little to quiet the doubts swirling in his mind.
"What if I'm not good enough? What if everyone laughs again?
Yukiko believes in me, but what if I let him down?"
The gym doors slid open with a clack, and Yukiko's cheerful voice burst through.
"Akio! Come on in! You ready to get those wings flapping?"
Akio startled, nearly dropping his racket.
"R-Ready," he lied, forcing a shaky smile.
Yukiko didn't notice his anxiety—or maybe he did, and simply chose to shield him with that boundless enthusiasm.
Either way, he clapped Akio on the back and guided him inside.
The gym was alive with motion and sound. The rhythmic thwip-thwip of shuttle's filled the air, mingling with the squeak of sneakers on polished wood and the occasional shout of encouragement.
The club members, all experienced players, moved with a grace Akio couldn't begin to match. Their rallies were fast, precise, and almost artistic.
Akio froze at the sight.
They were so far ahead of him.
He was a child standing at the base of a mountain, staring up at a peak shrouded in mist.
"I don't belong here," he thought bitterly.
"What was I thinking, saying I could do this?"
As if sensing his despair, Yukiko leaned close and whispered, "Hey. Don't compare yourself to them. Everyone starts somewhere. Today, we just focus on one step forward. That's all."
Akio swallowed hard and nodded.
"One step... okay."
Early Struggles
The first half of practice was brutal.
Akio's footwork was clumsy, his grip on the racket awkward.
He swung too late or too early, missing the shuttle entirely. When he did manage to hit it, the shot went wild, soaring far out of bounds or falling pathetically short of the net.
The other players tried to hide their amusement, but Akio saw the smirks and exchanged glances.
Each mistake felt like a dagger, tearing open old wounds.
"They're laughing at me... just like before.
Just like the academy, just like the bullies here.
I'm a failure, no matter the world."
His stomach tightened, vision blurring with unshed tears.
He wanted to run. To disappear.
But then Yukiko's voice rang out like a lifeline.
"Nice try, Akio! You're getting the hang of it!"
Yukiko grinned at him, eyes shining with genuine encouragement.
"Remember, it's not about being perfect. It's about trying again."
Akio stared at him, stunned.
No mockery.
No disappointment.
Just belief.
Something inside him stirred. A fragile ember, flickering against the cold wind of his self-loathing.
"If he believes in me... maybe I can believe in myself, too."
He wiped his tears roughly and nodded.
"Again," he said, voice trembling but determined.
"Let me try again."
Montage – Growth Through Pain
The next few weeks unfolded in a grueling rhythm of practice and perseverance.
Day 1:
Akio tripped over his own feet while trying to lunge for a low shot.
He fell hard, palms scraping against the wooden floor.
The sting of pain almost made him quit—but Yukiko was there, extending a hand.
"Get up, Akio. Falling just means you tried."
Day 3:
Akio spent hours practicing his serve.
Most of the shuttle hit the net or went flying off to the side.
But on the 87th attempt, he finally sent one cleanly over.
He screamed in surprise, then laughed—a raw, joyous sound he hadn't made in years.
Day 10:
The bullies from before showed up to sneer at his clumsy playing.
Their words were venomous:
"Still pretending to be someone you're not, Ukio? Pathetic."
Akio's hands shook, but this time, instead of fleeing, he tightened his grip on the racket and whispered,
"I'm not Ukio. I'm Akio."
Then he turned his back on them and kept practicing.
Day 20:
Sweat drenched his shirt, his muscles screamed in protest, but his footwork began to smooth out.
He started anticipating the shuttle's path instead of reacting late.
The first time he executed a proper drop shot, Yukiko whooped so loudly the entire gym looked over.
The Turning Point – Finding Flow
One evening, as the sun set in streaks of orange and violet, Akio stayed late to practice alone.
The gym was silent except for the rhythmic thwip of his racket striking the shuttle.
His body moved almost on instinct, each motion flowing into the next.
For the first time, he wasn't thinking about failure or comparison.
He was simply playing.
The world narrowed to the shuttle's arc, the feel of the wooden floor beneath his feet, the rush of air as he leapt.
His heart pounded not with fear, but exhilaration.
"Is this... fun?"
The realization hit him like a tidal wave.
He laughed breathlessly, swinging again.
"It's fun! I... I love this!"
At that exact moment, Yukiko appeared in the doorway, watching silently.
A proud, almost wistful smile curved his lips.
"That's it, Akio," he whispered.
"That's what I wanted you to find."
First Match – Awakening of Talent
The next day, the coach announced that the club would hold practice matches to prepare for an upcoming tournament.
Akio's stomach twisted in knots.
He wasn't ready. He couldn't possibly compete yet!
But Yukiko placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.
"You don't have to win," he said gently.
"Just show them who you are."
Akio swallowed his fear and stepped onto the court.
At first, it went as expected—he stumbled, missed shots, and quickly fell behind.
The other player smirked, clearly underestimating him.
But then... something shifted.
Akio remembered the feeling from the night before, that state of flow where the world faded away.
He took a deep breath and let go of his fear.
The next rally was different.
His feet moved with surprising speed, his racket striking true.
The shuttle soared, dipped, and danced across the court like a living thing.
Gasps filled the gym as Akio executed a perfect smash, the shuttle hitting the ground before his opponent could react.
"Wh-What was that?!" someone exclaimed.
Even Akio was stunned, staring at his own hands.
"I... did that?"
Yukiko laughed, pumping his fist.
"YES! That's my pal!"
From there, Akio's playing only improved.
It was as if all his weeks of effort had suddenly crystallized into instinct.
His movements were sharp, precise, almost beautiful.
He didn't just play the game—he commanded it.
Emotional Climax – The Voice Within
Mid-match, as the crowd's cheers faded into the background, Akio heard a whisper deep inside his mind.
It was his old self—the kid who had failed at magic, who had been abandoned and scorned.
"You'll never be enough," the voice sneered.
"This isn't really yours. You're just borrowing someone else's life, someone else's dream."
Akio froze, nearly dropping his racket.
But then another voice rose to meet it—his own, strong and clear.
"No," he whispered.
"This is my choice.
Badminton isn't Ukio's dream.
It isn't yours.
It's mine."
With a fierce cry, he launched himself into the final play, smashing the shuttle so hard it seemed to pierce the very air.
The crowd erupted as the match ended in his victory.
Akio fell to his knees, panting, tears streaming down his face.
For the first time in either world, he wasn't crying from pain or despair.
He was crying because he was proud.
Ending Scene – A Promise to Soar
After the match, Yukiko found him sitting alone outside, staring at the night sky.
"You were amazing today," Yukiko said softly, sitting beside him.
Akio shook his head, still dazed.
"I... I didn't think I could do it."
Yukiko chuckled.
"You've been doing it all along. You just needed to see it for yourself."
Akio turned to him, eyes shining with determination.
"I want to get even better. I want to keep playing, keep flying higher.
Not because anyone expects it of me, but because I love it."
Yukiko extended his fist, grinning.
"Then let's do it together. Partners?"
Akio smiled through his tears and bumped his fist against Yukiko's.
"Partners."
As the camera panned up to the stars, Akio's voice narrated the closing line:
"For the first time, I'm not running from the past or chasing someone else's dream.
I'm chasing my own wings... and I won't stop until I soar."
TO BE CONTINUED...