Sean slams the ball across the net. Diego receives it and it flies back over the net. Kurai turning as the arena returns to the void state, Kurai's eyes glowing.
"Tyler!" Tyler steps back a bit.
"Got it!" Tyler brings the ball up as he runs up to the net. 'Process it, process everything…' Luca runs up to the net with a calm confidence, Kurai exhales and jumps up to set. 'Move in such a way that makes it look like I'm going to set to the right… he'll see it, based on his previous notion of setting right like Mateo did, he'll overcommit' Luca slides his foot to the right and leans a bit. 'Perfect' Kurai sets the ball left last second, shocking Luca.
"Hector! Hector rushes over and jumps to block, Sean spiking the ball past as Diego brings it up. Luca rushes to the net and jumps. The Arena turns white as tons of information fills his mind; he exhales. 'He probably predicted I'd focus too much on the right side! UGH… fine then, predict this!' Luca sets to the left. Hector jumps to spike as the ball hits the court behind him, having been blocked by Sean. USA 4-1 Arg.
Coach Copley leaned forward on the bench; his arms crossed as his sharp eyes followed Kurai's every move on the court. Kurai bolted forward and delivered a fast serve over the net, scoring a powerful ace. 'This kid is too calm for someone his age… especially against Argentina's adaptable Monster setter' He exhaled and watched Kurai casually redirect the blockers, allowing Saun a spike without any blockers. 'Yet here he is, controlling the game like some veteran Hall of Fame player'
"It's almost unfair," Copley thought to himself.
"What Kurai has… it's not just raw talent. It's something far deeper, something you don't see every day—even in professionals twice his age." He shifted his weight and watched as Kurai subtly flicked his wrist as the receivers stepped back, the ball dropping in front of the net before they could realize. Movements so small that most wouldn't even notice.
"That's the thing about him," Copley mused.
"He doesn't just play volleyball—he plays everyone… The court isn't just a place to score points for him; it's a puzzle, and every player is a piece. Every step, every jump, every spike… to Kurai, it's data… And he processes it faster than anyone else I've ever seen. It's like the game is happening in slow motion for him while everyone else is scrambling to keep up." Copley glanced at the scoreboard; The US was in the lead against Argentina; 6-5.
"Most setters react to what's in front of them," he continued in his thoughts.
"They see the ball, they see their teammates, and they make a decision based on what's happening at that moment… But Kurai? He doesn't wait for the moment to come to him… He sees the play before it even starts. He reads patterns—player positioning, body language, momentum. And then he manipulates everything around him to fit what he wants to happen. It's not instinct. It's a calculation." A faint smile tugged at Copley's lips as he watched Kurai set the ball so seamlessly it was as if the entire rally had been choreographed beforehand.
"It's why he's so dangerous, even at his age. Most players rely on years of experience to develop this kind of court awareness, but Kurai has it now. That's what sets him apart. He doesn't just understand the game—he's shaping it, bending it to his will." His eyes narrowed as the rally continued, the ball flying back and forth like a pendulum.
"But it's not just intelligence. It's the confidence to trust what he sees. There's no hesitation in his movements because he knows… he knows… what's coming next. And the scary part? He makes everyone else play his game. You try to outthink him, and he's already anticipated your counter. It's why so many players crack under the pressure when they face him. He forces them to second-guess everything." Copley glanced at Luca, who stood on the other side of the net, his body tense but his expression eerily calm, but his exhaustion was evident.
"Still… Luca Menendez's the kind of player who could throw a wrench into all of that. Adaptability versus control. Prediction versus evolution. If anyone can disrupt Kurai's rhythm, it's him. But even then…" Copley's gaze returned to Kurai, who was already setting up for the next play, his every movement deliberate and precise.
"…you can't underestimate someone who sees the future before it happens." A whistle blew as the arena shook. USA 8-6 Arg.