Jaden's heart races. Sweat rolling down his face. His shoulders tense as he breathes heavily. 'Why am I here…?' Jaden tightly clenched his fist. 'Why am I jersey number 1? When I'm playing on a court with such insane monsters…?' Jaden leans down, resting his hands on his knees. 'What Am I doing, what is my worth to this team!?'
Eric slams the ball over the net. Carlos received the ball. Kurai running and jumping up. Jaden's eyes widened. 'Wait… what's going on…?' Jaden looks around. Everything but the court was a void. Carlos was rising to his feet. Owen and Jazz running up to the net. Kurai jumps up to set. MCTC ran to the left to block, Eric preparing to receive. 'I can see everything.'
In a sudden shock to even Jaden, Kurai slams the ball over the net. Eric smirks. 'A power dump!?' the whistle blows. OPU 22-21 MCTC.
Liam tosses the ball. 'Make an impact on a court with monsters like these guys!' he takes a slow step, and then another. Slightly floating and hitting the ball with barely any spin.
"A floater!" Eric widens his stance as the ball floats. Sudden going up slightly. Eric lifts his hands to overhand receive but it bounces off and goes out of bounds. OPU 23-21 MCTC. Eric smirks. 'Kurai, you monster, you're going to take this team as far as you can!' Kurai smirks as the whistle blows.
Liam tosses the ball and runs forward. Floating the ball violently, curving last second and hitting the court again. OPU: match point 24-21 MCTC. Kurai high fives Liam.
"Give us another good serve, Liam" Liam nods as the whistle blows. Liam tosses the ball and floats it over the net. MCTC's Libero dives forward and brings up the float serve. Eric jumped up to set the ball. Owen jumped up to block.
"Yeah, like blocking me will work!" Eric slams the ball towards the block to hit it off the block, Owen moves his hands avoiding the ball. Carlos jumped over and brought the ball up. Coach Haruki clenches her clipboard. Jaden grits his teeth and jumps forward. Jumping into the air to spike. Eric shocked 'he's gonna hit without a set!?' Eric looks around. Owen, Jazz, and Kurai all running up to the net. Eric jumping to block jaden.
"No you don't!" Jaden exhales as he swings his hand back to spike. Memories of his brother flash through his mind. 'This is for you brother!' in a shocking move, Jaden jolts from a spiking motion into a surprise set to the right. Eric and the middle blocker rush over as Kurai jumps. Swinging his hand. Hitting the ball over the block and onto the court. Eric and Kurai land as two whistles blow out. OPU 25-21 MCTC [25-23 (OPU) / 25-21 (OPU) / 2-0 (OPU wins)]
[19 years ago]
Jaden watches TV. Team USA VS Russia.
"The newcomer to Russia has been popping off this game! Aki Vlast is a Monster!!" Jaden's eyes sparkle. Turning to look at his older brother.
"Bro! Can you do that!?" Jaden's brother chuckles.
"Can't say yeah, but I can't say no either" Jaden tilts his head.
"What do you mean, Jay?" Jay sighs and leans back against the coach.
"Well… Outer Pentecostal University isn't as big as it used to be… butI really believe the team has the potential to be great again!" Jaden's eyes sparkle in admiration for his older brother.
[9 years later]
Tears rolled down Jaden's eyes. It was his 11th birthday, but he wasn't in the mood to celebrate as he stood in the room in front of the casket. He rises and whimpers as he wipes his eyes.
"What happened… to make OPU great again!?" His mom walks over and grabs his arm.
"Hey, it's okay-" Jaden violently steps back, crying angrily.
"He made a promise! He left and didn't keep it!" Jaden wipes his eyes with his arm and runs out of the room.
Jaden sits in his room. His soft mattress and cartoon covered blanket and pillow. His face hidden by his knees.
"Why'd you have to leave… Jay..?" his bedroom door opens as the rain pours outside. Thunder booming. His Mom sits on the bed beside him and hugs him without a word. Jadxden crying into her shoulder.
"Y'know, Jaden…" Jaden looks up at her with dry eyes.
"If Jay didn't keep his promise as you said he did… why don't you complete it for him? Maybe then you might feel some closure" jaden looks away.
"Why would I ever wanna do something not even my brother could do?" His Mom rests her hand on Jaden's chest.
"Don't do it for yourself, do it for your brother who's watching from Heaven…" Jaden hugs his Mom tightly.
[8 years later]
Jaden takes a deep breath. Ready to see the condition of the OPU volleyball team. Opening the door to the gym. Only 2 people were there, and they were just sitting there. Jaden's heart stops. His motivation evaporates in an instant. There was no way he could revive the volleyball team like his brother promised.
Two whistles ominously blow as Kurai lands on the ground. OPU defeated MCTC, 2 sets to 0. Jaden looks down, his eyes covered by his hair. Kurai walking over.
"That was a good set, Jaden-" Jaden covers his eyes and sniffles. Kurai was shocked.
"H-hey… it isn't that deep-" Jaden looks up as tears flow from his eyes.
"Thank you, Kurai… Thank you" Jaden hugs Kurai, kinda shocking him, but Kurai hugs back until Jaden breaks it.
"Are you good now?" Jaden nods slightly. Kurai exhales.
"Come on, let's get back to the bench" Jaden nods.