"Up to serve first is the challengers, OPU, with Jaden Ramirez at the serve, ESU better prepare themselves!"
Jaden takes a deep breath and tosses the ball. Bolting forward with grace, slamming the ball over the net. Daisuke dives forward and brings it up. Jaden smirks. 'He's definitely a championship level Libero-' Kurai shouts.
"Jaden-!" Jaden snaps back to reality as the ball lands in front of him. OPU 0-1 ESU. Jaden pauses.
"Sorry!" Kurai waves his hand.
"Don't mind it"
-----
The arena hums with excitement, the lights buzz as Kaito steps up to the back of the court.
"After an amazing block by Ryusuke Fujita of Everest State University, the scores are tied with 2 to 2… Kaito Sato is up to serve!"
Kaito tosses the ball upon the whistle. Slightly hopping forward and floating the ball over the net. Kurai smirks.
"Carlos!" Carlos nods.
"On it!" Carlos jumps forward and brings the ball up. The arena shakes as Carlos smirks.
"It's just right!" Kurai takes several steps forward, jumping into the air. 'Their blockers are focused on Jaden after his first spike in the second rally, let's prove to them why they should be blocking him!' Kurai quickly spins and sets the ball to Jaden. Jaden slamming his feet onto the court and flying over the net with a smirk. A massive wall appears but Jaden swings his hand, warping the ball like water. Carving completely through the block and hitting the court. A whistle blows as Jaden lands on the court, fist bumping Kurai. OPU 3-2 ESU.
"An impressive spike by OPU team Captain Jaden Ramirez!"
"Up to serve steps up Jazz King!"
Jazz exhales as his eyes begin to glow as he tosses the ball. Jumping forward and flying into the air, in front of the lights. Warping the ball in the palm of his hand, sending it flying across the net.
"Not on my watch!" Daisuke appears under the ball, holding his breath, sending the ball into the sky.
"HIGH BALL!!" Kaito runs up to the net and jumps to set. Jazz tugging Jaden and Kurai's shirt, dragging them right. Kaito smirks, quickly setting the ball to the left instead. Kurai grits his teeth, at the last second changing direction. Ryusuke bolting forward from the back court and flying like an eagle in front of the sun. Spiking the ball onto the court with no blockers. OPU 3-3 ESU.
"This match has only just begun, and the game is escalating beyond expectations! This is truly a battle of Titans!"
Kurai smirks as Fujita tosses the ball, slamming it quickly over the net. Carlos diving forward and bringing the ball up. Kurai runs and jumps to spike. Two blockers appear as Kurai smirks. Last second setting the ball to the left as Jaden jumps high. Slamming the ball over the net with no blockers.
"Got it!" Daisuke appears under the ball, saving it with his foot. Fujita jumping from the back court. Carlos was shocked. 'They're skipping the set!?' Fujita spikes the ball over the net, landing it in front of the 3-meter line as he lands. OPU 3-4 ESU.
"The match is a monstrous back and forth!"
"This is an amazing match!"
Fujita lands as ESU glares at OPU with pure pressure. Carlos gritting his teeth. Coach Haruki shouted from the sidelines.
"Don't let it bog you don, Carlos! It's early in the first set, we have the rest to go! We can't fall now!" Carlos smirks. 'Coach is right! I can't succumb this early!' Carlos's eyes begin to glow, entering a state of flow.
Kurai exhales as the ball floats in front of the lights. 'Set their main focus to Jaden… Jaden has his moment to shine if I set the ball perfectly within the gap between the blockers… they'll see him as a threat and will be too slow when I suddenly start randomly choosing who exactly to set too…' Kurai's eyes glow as Carlos brings up the ball in a flow state. 'The extended silence without being able to spike will make everyone desire to play and make better plays… that's when I start landing setter dumps… it's…' Kurai jumps u[p, setting the ball forwards, jaden jumping up, the ball floating perfectly between the two blockers. Jaden smirking 'Kurai, you monster' Jaden threads the ball between the two blockers as Kurai smirks. 'The perfect ploy!'
"Got it!" Daisuke appears and reaches for the ball, the ball hitting his elbow and flying into the bleachers. OPU 4-4 ESU. Kurai clenches his fist and fist bumps Jacob, backlit by the Stadium lights. The arena shook with stomps, cheers, and jeers.
"What an amazing spike by Jaden to thread that needle, the match is a nail biter right now!"
Haruki smirks, looking at Kurai who has glowing eyes, in a state of flow.
"They don't see what really happened… Kurai truly manipulating the court completely differently than last game… something inside him has changed"
Kurai steps up to serve, exhaling and death glaring ESU. tossing the ball high and bolting forward. Warping the ball as it bolts over the net like Lightning. Daisuke appears, receiving the ball with a hitched breath.
"Daisuke Tanaka brings up Kurai's monster Jump serve!"
Kaito quickly jumps forward, licking his lips and setting the ball to Hiruto. Hiruto jumps into the air as Jazz and Jaden appear. Hiruto tipping the ball over the block. Carlos diving forward and bringing the ball up. Kurai and Jaden instantly lock eyes. Jaden jumps as soon as he lands, hitting a quick set ball before the blockers could react. The arena goes silent as Jaden lands. OPU 5-4 ESU.
"An amazing quick set and spike by Emperor of the Court Kurai Vlast and OPU Team Captain Jaden Ramirez!!"
Kurai fist bumps Jaden as they lock eyes with ESU.