The gym was alive with energy as the team gathered around me. I glanced at each of them, gauging their expressions. Hinata practically buzzed with excitement, his grin stretching from ear to ear. The first-years, Daiki, Minato, and Riku, looked equally eager, their anticipation clear despite their varying levels of composure. Shigeo, on the other hand, leaned against the wall with his usual air of disinterest, spinning a volleyball lazily in his hand.
"Alright, everyone," I began, clapping my hands to get their attention. "We've been working on the basics for a while now. Today, it's time to put that training into actual practice. We're going to have a match."
Hinata's eyes lit up, and he practically jumped in place. "A match? Yes! Finally!" he exclaimed, pumping his fist into the air.
The enthusiasm was contagious. Riku's cheerful grin widened, and Daiki gave an approving nod. Even Minato, usually quiet, looked more animated than usual. Shigeo, however, rolled his eyes and muttered, "Great. Just what I needed."
I ignored his sarcasm and started outlining the setup. "We'll split into two teams. Team Shigeo will have Shigeo as the setter, Hinata as the spiker, and Riku focusing on receiving. On my team, Minato will set, Daiki will block and spike, and I'll handle whatever needs handling."
Hinata's excitement only grew as I explained the rules. "First to 12 points wins, but you need a 2-point lead to take it."
"Let's do this!" Hinata shouted, already jogging to his side of the court. His boundless energy was impressive, but I could see Shigeo's calm demeanor countering it as he walked to his position with deliberate, measured steps. He was clearly the anchor of his team, whether he liked it or not.
As we took our positions, I glanced across the net. Shigeo was spinning the ball in his hands, his gaze sweeping over the court in that calculating way of his. Hinata, meanwhile, stood practically vibrating with anticipation. I couldn't help but smile. This was going to be interesting.
Hinata was the first to serve. He stepped up, gripping the ball tightly. The gym fell silent except for the sound of sneakers squeaking on the floor. With a deep breath, he tossed the ball into the air and swung his arm with all his might. The ball slammed into the net with a resounding thud.
"1-0, Team Keiji," I announced, trying to suppress a chuckle as Hinata's face turned bright red.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Hinata blurted out frantically, bowing repeatedly toward his team. "I messed up!"
Shigeo let out a long sigh, walking up to Hinata. "Calm down, Hinata," he said, his tone level but firm. "Focus. Don't just hit the ball; think about where you want it to go."
Hinata nodded furiously, his determination rekindling. "Got it! I'll get it right next time!"
The game continued, with points exchanged back and forth. Minato's consistent sets gave Daiki plenty of chances to spike, though his clumsiness sometimes sent the ball out of bounds. On the other side, Hinata's speed and unpredictability caught us off guard more than once, while Shigeo's tactical sets ensured that every play had a purpose. Riku, despite his own clumsiness, managed a few solid receives, his enthusiasm making up for his lack of experience.
By the time the score reached 11-10 in favor of my team, the match had become a battle of wits and endurance. I found myself in a strange state of focus, my eyes watching their movements closely, inputting and analyzing every detail. Shigeo's posture, Hinata's approach, Riku's positioning—it all clicked in my head like the notes of a symphony coming together. Their body language, the way they shifted their weight, even the direction they were looking—it was as if the entire court was laid out before me in perfect clarity.
"This... feels amazing," I muttered under my breath, a grin creeping onto my face. Whatever this sensation was, it made every moment exhilarating.
On the other side of the net, Shigeo's expression shifted. His usual nonchalance gave way to something sharper, more focused. He hated losing, and it showed. Even though he was clearly getting tired, his low stamina threatening to slow him down, his sheer refusal to lose kept him going. His eyes narrowed, the gears in his head clearly turning.
Minato stepped up to serve, his basic overhead serve landing cleanly in Riku's hands. To my surprise, Riku executed a perfect receive, the ball flying straight to Shigeo.
"Nice receive, Riku!" I called out, though my attention quickly snapped back to Shigeo. Something about his posture caught my eye. Minato muttered an apology for the serve, but I waved it off with a quick, "Don't worry about it."
I watched as Hinata and Riku both sprinted toward the net, preparing for a spike. Shigeo's body language suggested he was going to set for Hinata—a logical choice, given Hinata's explosiveness. Daiki seemed to think the same, moving to block Hinata's path.
But then I saw it. Just for a split second, Shigeo turned his head toward Riku, as if to reaffirm his position. My instincts screamed at me to move. "I can hear your rhythm... it's to predictable..." I said, louder than I realized.
I shifted toward Riku, ready to intercept the play. Shigeo, in full concentration, made a slight jump as if preparing to set. But at the last second, he dumped the ball directly over the net, catching all of us off guard.
The ball hit the floor. "11-11," I announced, my voice tinged with surprise.
Shigeo straightened up, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Think again, idiot," he taunted, his tone light but laced with satisfaction.
For a moment, I stood there, stunned. The way he read the court, anticipated our movements, and executed that play—it was brilliant. Annoying, but brilliant. I had never taught him that was possible, yet he managed to figure it out on his own. A grin of my own tugged at the corners of my mouth, equal parts surprise and excitement. Shigeo was full of surprises, and for once, I couldn't wait to see what he'd do next.
"Fucking monster," I muttered, the words escaping before I could stop them. Then, louder, I added, "Bring it. This is getting interesting."