Seiryuu served. I locked my eyes on the ball, tracing its arc as it sliced through the air. Straight for Hinata again, I thought. They're targeting him to limit his attacks. My heart raced as I watched Hinata step into position, his face determined despite the relentless pressure. With a sharp smack, he executed a solid receive, sending the ball toward Shigeo. It wasn't perfect—slightly off—but still good enough. Shigeo moved to cover, his movements fluid but weighted with exhaustion.
Ah... my legs... don't fail me now, I thought, the strain in my thighs screaming louder with every step. I had jumped more in this game than in any practice, whether to block or attack, and my body was feeling the toll. But I couldn't stop now. Forcing myself to move, I sprinted to the right, my focus locked on the court. My path inadvertently cut into Daiki's run-up. He looked startled, his confusion written across his face. Unable to adjust, he braced himself for a possible rebound.
The ball soared toward Shigeo, and he set it with precision. My body reacted before my mind could catch up, and I jumped. Time seemed to stretch thin, every heartbeat resounding like a drum in my ears. This is it, I thought. In that suspended moment, I saw everything with perfect clarity—the ball's spin, its trajectory, the way it arced toward me like a perfect offering. My muscles coiled, my brain fired, and with every ounce of strength I could muster, I swung.
Bang! The impact thundered through the gym, the ball streaking toward the floor with a force that left no room for reaction. On the other side of the net, Seiryuu's players froze. Not because they didn't want to move, but because they simply couldn't. The entire gym was swallowed by silence, as if the world itself held its breath.
I stared at my hand, still tingling from the ferocity of the hit. I actually hit that. The sharp blast of the referee's whistle shattered the silence. "Point for Yukigaoka! 18 to 13."
The cheers erupted instantly, our side roaring with renewed energy. I took a moment to soak it in. The first-years were wide-eyed with amazement, their awe almost tangible. Hinata, practically vibrating with excitement, had stars in his eyes as he bounced on the balls of his feet, shouting praises for the attack. Then my gaze landed on Shigeo. He stood motionless, his expression stunned as if trying to process what had just happened.
"You..." he began, but I didn't let him finish. "Whatever you send my way, I'll take. So give me your best, monster."
For a second, Shigeo just blinked, and then a grin broke across his face. That familiar spark reignited in his exhausted eyes. "As you wish, maestro," he said, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and resolve.
Now it was my turn to serve. Standing on the backline, I exhaled slowly, letting the moment settle. That miss from Hinata... it made me realize something. I glanced at Shigeo, watching him as he steadied himself. This guy... he's truly a monster.
I replayed the moments in my head, connecting the dots. All this time, Shigeo had been adjusting his sets to match everyone's strengths and limitations. I had thought we were simply getting used to his sets, but that wasn't it. Back in our early sessions, he had challenged us with every ball, forcing us to grow. But somewhere along the way, he'd started tailoring his sets to fit us perfectly, like a craftsman shaping his tools.
That ball... it took everything I had to hit. That attack just now—it might be on the same level as Hinata and Kageyama's freak quick. But... can I even handle more of those? The doubt whispered in the back of my mind, but I crushed it. Doesn't matter. If he sends it, I'll take it.
I focused on the serve, aiming for the left. My arm swung, sending the ball flying across the net, but exhaustion betrayed me—it veered more to the right, straight toward their libero. Just like before, the player I'd aimed for moved out of the way, leaving the libero to handle it. He got the ball up with ease, but their formation was off. Their setter scrambled into an awkward position and barely managed to set for an attack.
The moment the spike left their hitter's hands, I could see its trajectory as clear as day. I moved quickly, covering the gap left by Hinata and Daiki's block. The ball ricocheted off my arms and went straight to Shigeo. My body screamed in protest, but I forced myself back into motion, sprinting toward the weak spot in their defense. Shigeo, with perfect timing, set the ball, and I swung with everything I had.
But I missed.
The sound of silence was deafening as everyone froze, stunned by what had just happened. My heart sank, but before I could process the mistake, Hinata's wild instincts kicked in. He bolted for the ball, diving with all his might. His body collided with the gym wall, but he adjusted at the last second, twisting to avoid serious injury, and somehow managed to send the ball back over the net.
Cheers erupted from our side as the ball landed safely on the other side. I clenched my fists, not letting the mistake get to me. "One more," I said to Shigeo, my voice firm.
Shigeo nodded, his expression focused. These sets... they're rough, I thought. I misjudged the timing, and my body's struggling to keep up with them.
Seiryuu countered quickly, their ace leading the charge. Hinata, still recovering from his dive, couldn't make it back in time for the block, leaving Daiki alone. The spike came with brutal force, and I saw its trajectory instantly. But my body, weighed down by exhaustion, couldn't react in time. The ball slammed into the floor on our side, earning another point for Seiryuu. 19 to 13.
[Author's Note: Writing is tough, and every bit of support helps. If you enjoyed this, please drop some votes, reviews, or stones to keep me going!]