The stadium was well-lit. The court was centered. The media set up their things and equipments. The award committee was prepared. Everything was readied for the Prefectural Finals showdown between the Stags of Shiroshikata Gakuen and the Hawks of Takano High School.
There are two games set for today. For the morning, it will be the men's volleyball finals, in the afternoon, the women's. Hoardes of students and casual sports fans alike began to fill in the venue, excited to witness the battle between two powerhouses who brought Nara volleyball to a higher level in the last couple of years. The game will be on telecast, and this fact didn't fail to escape from Asuma Genji's current concerns.
"We're gonna be on TV, Megumi-san." He was jittery all over, similar to what he appeared to be during his first tournament appearance.
"Do you need anything, Asuma-kun? Is your stomach upset again?" Their assistant manager also began to worry.
"It's just his nerves, don't mind. He just needs a warm up to get his body going." Gai said, making her relax.
"Oi, Asuma. You better not puke or something, got it?" Hiro looked down at his junior, who shivered at the cold and intimidating tone he used on that one.
Kakuzo, who noticed that recent exchange, just snickered in the corner. "Noob."
"I heard that, Kakuzo konoyaru!!" Somehow, the way Kakuzo dissed on the redhead returned him to his usual demeanor.
"We're here." Kouen muttered softly to no one in particular.
"Hell yeah, we are, brother mine. And this time, we'll get that ticket to the Inter-High nationals." His brother said this in a more enthusiastic fashion.
"They're aiming for the same thing too." Maki looked across, and there, on the other side of the court, the Hawks were gathering, their calculating eyes meeting theirs as well.
"Nebuya sure looks ready to rumble." Hiro commented, meeting the concerned player's intense gaze.
"You'll be matched up with him more often, Hiro. But the one we really don't wanna get into a roll is their captain and ace, Mibuchi Reo. Keeping him unchecked will not do us any good." Coach Soma said as he also glanced a look at their opponents. "You all know how troublesome that guy is when he's in his A-game."
Yesterday, the whole team watched the recorded semi-final game that the Hawks played in the current tournament. They also rewatched the video of their inter-high finals game last year against them, where they lost in a heartbreaking 3-2 set score. They also replayed the final game they had for the spring qualifiers.
[For the finals, the game will be composed of at most five sets. Three set wins are needed to clinch the victory. If the game reaches the fifth set, the deuce will be counted starting at the 14th point. Only a minimum of 15 points are needed to win the final set.]
"I know you boys wanna get back that stolen win. If you do, Shiroshikata will enter the Inter-High Nationals for the first time in ten years. About time to get our school out of that drought, don't ya think?"
"Hai!" All the members said in unison.
"I know you guys can do it. Let's get that championship before we graduate!" Kayo joined in from the bench.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the court, the Hawks were beginning to study their opponent even before the game begins. Their coach, Mibuchi Yusuke, the father of Mibuchi Reo, clenched his fist as he remembered the upset they took from the Stags in the previous spring tournament. "Time to reclaim what is ours, boys."
"Osu!" His players replied in chorus.
"Reo," He called on to his son. "Keep an eye on that nasty blocker number 5. The rest of you, do the same. Also, beware of the redhead. He's got a good spring, and the setter makes an awful lot of use of his decoys. I trust you not to get easily fooled by it."
"Anything else, coach?" Nebuya asked.
"Mark the ace. It seems that lots of tosses are going to him."
"Consider it done."
--
[All of the dialogues here in /--/ are by the commentators]
/All right folks, this is the showdown that's been hyping us up ever since last year. Nara's two powerhouses are once again competing to get that coveted spot in the nationals! Presenting to you all, the Stags of Shiroshikata Gakuen vs the Hawks of Takano High School!/
The commentators called in the players from Takano first, and introduced them one by one for the live telecast.
/For the Hawks, feast your eyes upon their captain and main artillery, #1 Mibuchi Reo!/
/Delivering quality tosses to his spikers, be wary of his tricks, #2 Kimura Kazuto!/
/Spikers are also wary of his commanding presence and solid wall, #3 Nebuya Eikichi!/
/The Hawks rely on his ground support, libero #4 Riko Katsuyoshi!/
/Guarding the center with his solid blocks, #5 Obara Ren!/
/A promising rookie earning the admiration of many during this tournament, #10 Hodaka Junpei!/
/Another reliable hitter from the left, make way for #11 Takenaga Akito!/
The Hawks looked forbidding in their dark crimson colored uniform, and as they entered the orange court, one can see the look of pure determination to win in their eyes. Needless to say, they promise an intense battle.
Now, the commentators began to address the stags. Similar to what they did before, they introduced the starting line up one by one for the live telecast.
/For the Stags, first we have the bedrock of their team, wing spiker and team captain, #1 Sukiyata Maki!/
/Then we have their vice captain and right side hitter, main cannon #2 Ginoza Kouha!/
/Of course, we have the guardian who ups their floor defense, #3 Hiyorin Gaito!/
/Now we have Nara's center ace flagging the middle, the bane of many spikers, #5 Arakata Hiroaki!/
/Here comes the other half of the Ginoza siblings, the control tower of the Stags, #6 Ginoza Kouen!/
/The other pillar supporting the middle, a solid rookie, #13 Kakuzo Ryohei!/
/Last but not the least, the springy little spiker of the Stags, don't be fooled by #14 Asuma Genji!/
The starting players from Shiroshikata entered the court, and resumed their formation. Their tenacity matched that of Takano's, and they looked prepared to take on whatever it is that will be thrown at them in this game.
--
Shiroshikata Gakuen Silver Stags
S – Ginoza Kouen (2nd Year) 183cm
OPP – Ginoza Kouha (3rd Year) 186cm
OH – Sukiyata Maki (3rd Year, Captain) 178cm
OH – Asuma Genji (1st Year) 168cm
MB – Arakata Hiroaki (2nd Year) 188cm
MB – Kakuzo Ryohei (1st Year) 191cm
L – Hiyorin Gaito (3rd Year) 167cm
vs
Takano High School Red Hawks
S – Kimura Kazuto (3rd Year) 180cm
OPP – Takenaga Akito (1st Year) 180cm
OH – Mibuchi Reo (3rd Year, Captain) 189cm
OH – Hodaka Junpei (1st Year) 181cm
MB – Nebuya Eikichi (3rd Year) 193cm
MB – Obara Ren (3rd Year) 190cm
L – Riko Katsuyoshi (2nd Year) 170cm
--
Now that everything was set, the captains both approached the umpire to make the coin toss. Takano got the head, and so they called for the shots.
"We will receive first." Mibuchi said to Maki.
"Then we'll gladly serve you a nasty one right off the bat." Maki replied with a confident tone.