Three victories were already secured for our class, and I felt incredibly happy with the progress we had made. As the events passed, I saw that winning the upcoming competitions wouldn't be difficult. The difference between Class A and Class B was more than evident, both physically and academically. Class B, no doubt, was very competent academically, but overall, there was no way they could outperform us.
That difference became even clearer as the fourth event unfolded: the women's volleyball match. It was about to begin, and I had already selected the participants for my team. All that was left was to wait for the signal from the official to start the competition.
I was convinced that our class would win this event, and with that, the victory in this special exam would be practically sealed. After all, we would only compete in seven events, and if we won four, the victory would be ours, even if we lost the remaining three. Of course, that wasn't going to happen, as we were determined not to leave anything to chance.
I looked through the cameras where my teammates were already aligned, prepared, and ready to start the women's volleyball game. The emotion and concentration on their faces filled me with confidence. This event would be just another step toward our victory.
....
The gym was far from full. Only a few classmates had gathered around the court: the teammates of the players and a couple of teachers watching closely. It wasn't a large-scale event, but the atmosphere was still charged, each point felt like a small battle, and the voices of the classmates in the stands echoed with force, filling the air with support and nervousness.
The Class A players lined up on their side of the court, their breaths heavy but controlled. The Class B players, equally focused, were preparing to receive the first serve. The referee raised his hand, signaling the start of the first set. Class B served, and the ball flew over the net, marking the beginning of a match that would be much closer than anyone had anticipated.
First Set:
The first rally was quick. Class B, with their captain Anna leading, started strong. A powerful serve caused our reception to be a bit out of control, but Mako, our captain, stepped up to organize the attack. The first point went to them, but that only sparked determination in our team.
The points kept coming, one after another. Class A played with speed and precision, and with each point we won, the pressure in the air was palpable. But the Class B players didn't give up; they stayed strong. Every time we took the lead, they countered, and the tension built with each exchange.
"Come on, A! Don't give up!" one of our teammates shouted from the corner of the court, while Class B responded with their own cheers. There weren't many spectators, but the shouts of support rang out among the few classmates who were the most passionate.
As the set progressed, the plays became more intense. The scoreboard kept climbing. Suddenly, with a perfectly placed spike from Ichiji, one of our tallest players, Class A took the lead at 12-10. Class B, now just three points away from losing the set, called a timeout, trying to regroup.
In the silence that followed, the coach of Class B quickly gave instructions that helped them reassemble. But the Class A team was already determined. The atmosphere was electric when the timeout ended, and the game continued.
With Mako's serve, the game started again. Class B made an error, a serve out, which gave us the 14th point. And with the next play, after a long and exhausting rally, Mako, with a spike from the center of the court, put us at 15-13. First set won.
A brief sigh ran through the Class A team, but there was no relaxation. The match was far from over.
Second Set:
The second set began with an unexpected turn. Despite our victory in the previous set, Class B came onto the court with renewed energy, something we hadn't seen before. From the very first serve, Class B was more aggressive, their players more coordinated, and their defense stronger. We, on the other hand, couldn't find the rhythm we had in the first set.
From the start, the score was tight, but little by little, Class B began to take the lead. Anna, their captain, dominated the serves with impressive precision, placing the ball in difficult-to-reach spots. We responded, but we made some errors that, in such a tight set, were costly. A serve out, a poor reception, and a series of blocked spikes made Class B pull ahead at 8-6.
"Come on, girls, don't let them catch up!" Mako yelled, trying to lift the team's spirits, but the pressure was palpable. Every time we got closer to the score, Class B responded with a stronger strike.
At 10 points, Class B was already leading at 11-9, and the gap began to feel like an uphill climb. We made another crucial mistake, a lack of synchronization in a block, and the score went up to 12-9 in favor of Class B. The coach of Class A shouted quick instructions from the corner, but it was clear that Class B had found a way to counter our game.
The crowd, though small, made its presence felt at that moment, with some of our classmates cheering and others holding their breath. Class A tried to narrow the gap, but Class B was unstoppable. Another well-executed serve by Ana put the score at 13-10, and at that point, we knew the set was slipping away.
With the score at 14-12 in favor of Class B, the Class A players were visibly exhausted, struggling to stay focused, but the pressure was too much. Class B, with a quick play, managed a spike that slipped just over the net. The referee blew the whistle, and the set ended with a 15-13 score for Class B.
Class A stood in silence for a moment, breathing deeply as they recovered from the shock. We knew this second set would be a battle, but we didn't expect to lose it that way, especially after such a hard-fought first set. Class B had shown they weren't going to be easy.
Third Set - Tiebreaker
The referee raised his hand and blew the whistle to signal the start of the third set. We knew it was only played up to 10 points, and every point was crucial. There was no margin for error; every play had to be perfect. The teams lined up, the Class A players with tense shoulders, and the Class B players with a challenging look in their eyes.
Class B began the serve, and the ball quickly flew toward our side. The first exchange was fast, with both teams trying to establish their dominance. Anna's serves, the captain of Class B, continued to be a threat. But our reception improved. With a precise serve from Sachi, we scored the first point, a good start, but we knew it was just the first step.
Class B responded quickly, tying the score at 1-1 with a powerful spike from Anna that crossed the net and landed right in our zone. The pace of the game was relentless, the ball flying back and forth without a break. Each play, each reception, felt more intense than the last. The scoreboard moved quickly, and the exchange of points between the two teams seemed endless.
3-3. We were tied, but the weight of every point was starting to be felt. We couldn't let Class B take the lead, not after everything we had fought for in the first two sets. The stands, though small, vibrated with the cheers of our classmates. Their encouraging words felt like an extra push, a renewed energy that drove us to keep going.
With a stunning block by Ichiji, Class A managed to take the lead at 4-3. Class B tried to tie again, but a communication error cost them a point, and the score went up to 5-3 in favor of Class A.
The Class B players, though a bit discouraged, didn't give up. Soon enough, Anna made a spike that left us with no response, and the score was once again tied at 5-4. The crowd in the stands remained on edge, the voices of our classmates filling the air, and each serve felt heavier than the last.
It was then that Mako, our captain, took the lead in a decisive way. With an unexpected calmness, despite the pressure, she executed a serve that surprised Class B's defense, putting the score at 6-4. Class B was starting to feel the pressure, and that gave us the opportunity we needed.
The Class A players didn't let up. We coordinated perfectly. With a spike from Mako and an incredible block by Ichiji, we managed to put the score at 8-5, a three-point lead, and now victory was within reach.
Class B, knowing the margin for error was getting smaller, tried everything they could to stop us. But Class A was unstoppable. In the next exchange, Sachi, with impressive precision, placed a serve that, after a quick rally, ended in a point for us. 9-5, now we were just one point away from winning.
Class B tried to resist, but the fatigue was starting to take its toll. On the next serve, a spike from Mako flew just above Class B's block and landed in their court. The referee blew the whistle, and with that final point, the score read 10-5.
The gym, though almost empty, erupted in cheers and applause. The Class A players hugged each other, exhaling in relief. The effort had been worth it. We had lost the second set, but we didn't give up. The third set had been our chance to show what we were truly capable of.
We looked at each other, breathing heavily but with a sense of triumph. We had won the women's volleyball event, and with that, our class had taken another step toward total victory in the special exam. Three events were still left, but now the path felt just a little bit closer.