"Everyone's eyes are all focused." Ushijima Wakatoshi commented from above.
Indeed, it is. After that last attack by Kouha, Itachiyama called again for their final time out. Shiroshikata also seized the moment to get themselves a breather before the climax of the final set.
But even from there, Ushijima can clearly see the intense focus on every players' eyes. Without a doubt, they are about to give their all in the last few minutes of the game – the victor of which is still not guaranteed seeing the deuce between the teams' scores.
Action is still going on in Court B, while the teams in Court A and C are already wrapping up. Shiratorizawa won against Iwatobi and the close game between Haganezuka Tech and Mirayuki Gakuen ended up with a win for the team from Aichi. Now, everyone's attention is currently on the match that's still ongoing, and the players remaining couldn't care less about them.
"Honestly, Hijikata-san, I never thought I'll get to see such an incredible match for the capping off of this Golden Week Camp. Sure, the games between the other teams were exciting and fun, but this one between Itachiyama and Shiroshikata is a class of their own. It's like I'm already watching the advanced phase of the Inter-High Summer Cup Tournament Play-offs. There are a lot of promising players on that court, I'm telling you." Coach Hibaraki suddenly said, looking so amused at the recent exchange.
"True. Both teams have grown and developed so much in the past 8 months. They've both got interesting new bloods in their team and their myriad of attacks are way beyond expectations for high school level volleyball. I'm sure we'll have an amazing season ahead, Coach." Juichiro replied.
"That new spiker from Shiroshikata is someone to look out for. I don't know why, but it seems like he can improve even more the more games he will play. I'm sure Shiroshikata thinks the same." Ushijima added.
"Oh, the headache Itachiyama must be having from that little one. Perhaps the same headache your team had before right, against that Karasuno High School?" Hibaraki teased.
"It takes one to know one, athlete Ushijima." Juichiro joined the teasing.
While the gentlemen were laughing, Ushijima decided to open another topic – one that he's been curious about. "Back to the game, I'm quite disappointed to not see Sakusa playing here. Is he injured?"
"That would be a shame if we can't see him this season. That Sakusa." Hibaraki shook his head, he too was not pleased by the absence of the ace.
Juichiro chuckled and replied lightly to the other two. "I've talked to Coach Hondo about it earlier today when I noticed he wasn't around during the seminar. He's not injured. Apparently, Sakusa Kiyoomi is currently not feeling well. But the coach just said it might also improve the team so that they won't rely only to him. Or something along those lines."
The whistle blew, signalling the end of the timeout. Here we go, the climax of Itachiyama vs Shiroshikata.
--
Kouha stepped back to the service line and lined his focus to the net and team across from him. He took five steps, dribbled the ball twice, and spun it in his hand, before he tossed it to the air and jumped to send it over to Mitsuki Shinya of Itachiyama.
It took Shinya everything he's got just to get that speedy ball, because no one else got in time to receive it for him. 'Damn, what a disgusting serve!'
The ball returned directly to Shiroshikata's court and Gaito got it up. "Chance ball!"
"LEEEFT!"
"CENTER!!"
It was Genji and Hiro who were calling for the toss, and it made Kouen really amused.
'Hold on beggars, ye'll get yours soon.' And when he got the ball, he tossed it to Maki who also went in for the jump without calling him out. Maki was in spiking form, but in the last second, he changed his attack to a light push, confusing Itachiyama's blockers.
"A feint?!" Garuma and Jao said in unison as veins were also popping from their heads. The ball landed with a soft thud on their side.
[Feint: An attack that looks like a spike was coming when the ball was in front of the hitter, only to be pushed over lightly to confuse the opponent blockers. Also called a light push or dink]
"NICE FEINT, MAKI!" Kayo shouted from the bench along with the other members of the team.
"Maki-san, nice kill! Yoshaaaa!" Genji bumped the sides of their captain. Shiroshikata now leads at 24 – 25.
Kouha served once more but Garuma got it up this time. "Shinya!"
"Got it, Boichi-san!" Shinya called for their opposite hitter. The spike by Boichi was extremely powerful that even if Hiro got a clean hand on that one, the ball was still able to grind its way forward and made contact with the floor before it went out of bounds. The crowd went into a frenzy when they saw that toss coming.
"YEAH! TAKE THAT, DEERS!" He said as he pumped his fists into the air. Deuce at 25 �� 25.
"Nice kill, captain!" Shinya high-fived with him.
This made it their turn next to serve. Garuma sent it across and Gaito received it cleanly and arced the ball to Kouen. He tossed to Maki again but his spike was raised this time by Jao. Shinya got in next and he tossed once more to Boichi. The captain scored them another power move that demolished the block of Hiro, Maki and Kouen. "Alright!"
'Crap, we're in check.' Hiro thought to himself. 'This won't do.'
Garuma's next serve was received by Maki who got the ball to Kouen. He tossed the ball to Genji and the little spiker scored them another blockout.
"YEAH! GEEEEENJIIIIIII!!!" They celebrated as they forced another tie. 26 – 26. The spectators inside the gym went even wilder. The players from the other teams can't help but glue their eyes to the ongoing match as well.
Now, Hiro is in the service line and he looked murderous out there. He took a deep breath and dribbled the ball several times before he got it up and hit it with full power of his hand. 'Full throttle.'
Shinya braced himself for the receive but Suki bumped it for him. Unfortunately, the ball flew to the sides. 'It's the spin! Damn Hiro's disgusting southpaw spin!' The setter internally cursed.
Break for Shiroshikata. 26 – 27.
'YUS!' Hiro didn't say it out loud, but he pumped his fist after scoring that ace.
"GIVE US ANOTHER NICE SERVE, HIRO!" The bench cheered on, loudly.
Hiro delivered another nasty jumper but Boichi raised it this time, though in a very bad angle. Suki dived for it and successfully got a hand under it, getting the ball up to Shinya, who was also in a tight spot, and he had no choice but to just send the ball over.
"Chance ball!" Maki said as he got the receive. Kouen then went for the next touch and tossed to ball to his brother for the finish.
"WAAAAAAAHH!" Kouha hit it so hard that the ball knocked down Suki, it's receiver.
"Good bump, Suki!" Shinya chased after the ball's trajectory and shot a look at their captain. 'All up to you now, Boichi-san.'
Boichi got the message and spiked another hard one towards Shiroshikata's side. It hit Genji's shoulders and bounced awkwardly, but Kouen bent so low to get it via overhand. In his peripheral vision, he can clearly see his brother wanting to hit it. But at the same time, Maki was also in the right side for a perfect opportunity.
'My, my, my....look at these beggars.'
He can't ignore the fire in Hiro's eyes from their captain's back. It was saying - no, it was commanding, something very, very obvious. 'Lemme try hitting that pipe.'
'Again, ask and ye shall receive.' Kouen smiled wickedly out of satisfaction.
Itachiyama's blockers jumped to deflect Maki, but when their forms were starting to go down, he released the ball, just in time for Hiro to launch his back attack – lefty edition.
No one was there to block the cross. The ball painted the side lines of Itachiyama's court, before it flew to the upper box, where Ushijima Wakatoshi caught it.
Silence…..and then, the sound of the whistle.
"YOSHAAAAAA!!!" Everyone from Shiroshikata celebrated. "NICE KILL, HIRO-SENPAI!!!" Genji awaited for him to return the high-five he was offering. Hiro did, with a rather bland expression on his face.
Shiroshikata won the third set at 26 – 28. They were the victors of the game at 1 – 2, set score.
--
"Arakata Hiroaki." Coach Hibaraki said in his slightly serious tone and expression, while eyeing the middle blocker who scored the winning point of the game. "He was in last December's training pool in the NYTC. But he never stood out when he was there. Well, he was still a first year that time, though."
"Is something the matter with that blocker, coach?" Ushijima asked.
"No – not really. It's just that he really got some impressive techniques and unique spike form, similar to yours since both of you are left-handed. Have you played with them before?"
"No, I haven't." Ushijima didn't speak for a few more moments before finishing, "But I would like to."
"Haha, we all got a busy season ahead, I see!"