"Left!"
"Tanaka! All you!" Kageyama yelled, tossing the ball with perfect accuracy towards Tanaka who approached the net at a rapid pace.
"Give it to me BABY!! RAAAAHHHH!" Tanaka roared, slamming the ball past Kindaichi who didn't close down on the line shot enough.
"Damn! My bad!" Kindaichi called out.
"Hey take it easy, I was too close to the middle on that one, I'll take the blame," Maki told him.
"Still, I'll get it next time!" Kindaichi promised, earning a nod from the third year.
"19-18 Karasuno! Their serve!" Takeda announced without stuttering this time, that he had finally gotten into the swing of things and didn't make any mistakes so far like he had done so earlier in the day.
Bodhi, who was watching from the sidelines this match, could only stare in awe of what he was witnessing. The ginger and the new setter really revamped Karasuno's entire offence, alleviating some of the pressure on their defence, something that didn't happen in the previous sets he had played against them.
And although he knew just how lethal that quick was, having seen the video of it, seeing it in person was completely different, and he had to applaud Matsukawa for shutting down the ones he could get to, it was happening more frequently too. Truly, a read blocker only gets better as the match goes on and Matsukawa was at the top of his game.
"Hey, pipsqueak! Get yer head outta the clouds, your rotating out!" Ukai yelled from the bench.
"R-r-right!" Hinata said.
That was another thing Bodhi noticed about the ginger. All he had was speed and if that was shut down, he was more of a liability on the court than anything else. The other players had to overcompensate for him, more so when he was in the back. And while that's to be expected being a middle blocker and all, being a short middle blocker means he takes up less space in the court, giving our hitters a bigger target. Unlike the previous matches where the number 8, Kazu-whatever could receive a spike, ginger couldn't.
"Chance ball!" Oikawa announced.
"DAMN ITTTT!" Nishinoya yelled.
Bodhi could confidently say he was the best libero he'd seen since coming to Japan, no question. Even the best make mistakes, after all, not Bodhi though…Definitely not…
*BLAM*
"YEAH!" Mad Dog cheered, as the ball he contacted slammed into the floor past their ace.
"Nice kill Mad Dog," Oikawa told him, getting a miniscule nod of respect and thanks in return.
"Kyotani surely has changed, wouldn't you say Mizoguchi?" Coach Irihata said from the bench, Bodhi overhearing the conversation.
"Yeah, it's a nice change compared to the unruly brat he was before. What do you think brought the change on? Do you think Iwaizumi finally snapped and put down the dog once and for all?" Mizoguchi questioned back.
Coach Irihata thought for a moment, before locking eyes with Bodhi, who promptly turned his attention back to the game in front of him, which had started a rally at that point.
"While Iwaizumi surely has made an impact, I believe it has something to do with another player outshining him, even more so than Iwaizumi did," Irihata said.
Mizoguchi looked over to where the culprit was standing. "You're probably right, as always sir."
Coach Irihata only replied with an all-knowing smirk as his team managed to break the deadlock making it 20-19.
The whole of Seijo and Karasuno continued to watch the game unfold, going back and forth, but Seijo was always in the lead. Karasuno would always manage to get points through the maximum amount of effort possible, and while that can be good in certain moments when you have to exert that throughout the entire set, it clearly shows who the superior team was.
Karasuno, who like Aoba Johsai had played multiple sets throughout the day, looked absolutely winded, huffing and puffing as they all rested their hands on their knees, even Hinata and Kageyama who had only come then, were in one, as they were breathing heavily. While Seijo was just as tired as Karasuno, all their players were standing tall, their backs straight, and their breathing controlled. Completely unbothered by just how close the game was, it was as if a King was staring down unto the world, completely assured of his power and authority, and standing even above the kings, the Great King took the ball.
Bouncing it a couple of times, before he met the gaze of his protégé across the net. The height difference grew between the two as one was donned in regal attire, the other dressed in rags and filth.
*FWEE!*
*SMACK!*
*BOOOOOM*
"Point Seijo! Game! 26-24 Aoba Johsai!" Takeda declared, looking a little disheartened as he took in his teams' faces, none of them had been able to react to Oikawa's serve. Like a rocket, it soared over the net and crashed onto their side.
"Nice serve!" Bodhi cheered, joining the cheers from the other reserves.
Both teams huddled around their benches as their respective coaches gave them a rundown on the match. Irihata was proud of the way they played, noting minor things to which they can improve, mainly stating how happy he was the Mad Dog somehow didn't blow his top. Ukai on the other hand had a very different conversation with his team, he highlighted what they did well, but mainly focused on what they could improve upon. Safe to say it was a double-decker bad news sandwich.
Once both debriefs were done, Fukurodani's head coach made an announcement. "Alright! That marks the end of the first day, we will now break for dinner and if you so choose, individual practice, note that the facilities this school has is only this gym. That means no fighting over space!" Takeyuki stated.
All of the teams filed out of the gym, heading back to their rooms so that they could grab whatever it was that they needed and head on over to the cafeteria where the food would be served.
"You remember, right Bodhi?"
Bodhi heard the soft, angelic voice from behind him as he zipped up the water bottle bag.
"You bet, rooftop garden, 11?" Bodhi asked.
"Mmm, see you then," Kiyoko replied, turning around and rushing off, she had to help the other managers make dinner and she couldn't be late.
Bodhi watched her go, noting how the air around her just seemed to shine as she ran off.
"Damn…Fallen that hard eh Bodhi?" he berated himself, although half-heartedly. Before he could add any more comments, his stomach made itself known, growling with a fierce hunger.
"Right, food first."
Author Note:
Hey...Been a while no? My bad...
I do apologize for taking so long to update this story of mine. I hit a pretty gnarly writer's block and then personal shit happened, then Christmas and New Year, yeah...stuff just kept happening and writing wasn't the first thing on my mind, I did update some of my other stories but even the burnout and writer's block was still a bitch and a half.
So with the New Year and all, I plan on making a proper schedule of which I will write and post once a week, barring any IRL problems.
With that said, the stories I've got going right now are this one, Pokemon Journey of Grey, Heroes Gamble (posted on W-A-T-T-P-A-D), and Young Justice (Which will be updated later on in the week).
So plate a little full ain't gone lie. But I'll do better, you can believe that!
All that in mind, this chapter is short I am very well aware, but I just needed to get over the hump and speed up the timeline a lil bit. I've got a rough outline of a training camp that will happen between this one and the big training camp held at Shinzen? I think that's it...Correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyhow, till next time!
-Daedalus19