The air in Seiwa's gym felt different when they returned.
It wasn't just cleaner or cooler—it buzzed.
After the mountain retreat, something had shifted. The weight of the Saitama West loss had melted into a deeper determination.
Coach Anzai noticed it instantly.
"Let's get to work," he said that Monday, no warmups, no speeches.
The team responded in sync—feet pounding, volleyballs snapping off the floor, commands echoing sharp and confident.
The retreat had rekindled their trust in each other.
But trust wasn't enough. The Mid-Season League was about to begin.
And their first opponent?
Kaisei High—ranked second in the region.
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The Shadow of Reputation
"They've got a monster ace," Yuuto said during film study. "Takeshi Koga. 6'3", all power, no mercy."
Renji studied the footage. The guy looked like he was born spiking through walls.
Asuka narrowed her eyes. "We'll need to stop him at the source. Cut off the setter's rhythm."
Coach nodded. "Good. If you can disrupt their system, Koga becomes easier to read. If not… he'll rip us apart."
For Renji, this would be his first major game where he was setting the tone.
Last year, he'd been supporting the team from the shadows.
Now he was in the spotlight—and it was blinding.
---
Game Day Tension
The gym at Kaisei was already packed when Seiwa walked in. Their school's banners hung high, and the crowd buzzed with anticipation.
"First game sets the tone for the whole league," Yuuto muttered, bouncing a ball off his forearm.
Renji nodded. "Then we make it count."
Arai grinned. "Let's give 'em a wake-up call."
But beneath the jokes and pre-game jitters, Renji could feel it—
The pressure.
Eyes were on him now in ways they hadn't been before. Teammates looked to him for calls. Asuka watched him closely. Even Coach stood back, saying less and letting Renji lead.
This wasn't just about execution anymore.
It was about ownership.
---
The Match Begins
Kaisei struck first.
And fast.
Their attacks were clean, aggressive, punishing. Within minutes, Seiwa was down 4–1.
Koga hadn't even started serving yet.
Renji swallowed his nerves. "Stack left. Arai, drop back slightly. Yuuto, press higher on block."
He called the play mid-rally, trusting the rhythm he'd learned at the retreat.
Yuuto jumped—block.
Arai dug the ball.
Renji sprinted to it and back-set to Asuka, who flew in from the opposite.
Kill.
Seiwa's bench erupted.
And just like that, the fire returned.
---
Momentum and Missteps
The match rolled into a slugfest. Seiwa clawed their way back, trading points, matching Kaisei's energy. The first set came down to a single rally.
Match point. 24–23 Kaisei.
Renji called for a pipe to Yuuto.
The set was perfect.
Yuuto soared—but Koga read it.
Block. Set over.
25–23.
Kaisei.
Renji clenched his jaw. He'd trusted the read. He'd taken a risk.
And it had cost them.
As the team huddled, Asuka leaned toward him. "Don't second guess. We're reading the game better than ever. Just keep going."
Her words grounded him.
---
Breaking the Pattern
In the second set, Renji adjusted. He began baiting Kaisei's blockers, faking tosses, forcing their ace to shift before committing.
A quick to Arai.
A sharp float serve that disrupted Koga's pass.
Then a back-row kill from Yuuto.
Seiwa won the second set, 26–24.
The gym was alive now—cheers, gasps, feet stomping. The game was balanced on a knife's edge.
Coach said nothing. Just nodded from the sideline.
He was letting them grow on their own.
---
The Final Set
The third set began in chaos. Missed serves, wild rallies, and Koga throwing down kills like thunder.
At 10–12, Seiwa was down.
Then Renji saw it.
Kaisei's setter was starting to panic—rushing sets to Koga even when off-balance.
He smirked.
Now or never.
"Stack on Koga!" he shouted. "Force them to use their second line!"
Asuka read his cue perfectly.
The next ball flew to Koga—Renji had already shifted the triple block.
Stuff block.
Even the Kaisei fans gasped.
And from there, Seiwa surged.
Yuuto delivered three points in a row.
Arai scraped the floor for a ridiculous dig.
Asuka sealed the final point with a tip right over the middle.
Final score: 15–13 Seiwa.
---
Post-Match Reverberations
The gym was silent for a beat. Then Seiwa's bench exploded.
They'd beaten a regional powerhouse.
Renji exhaled as he walked off court. Sweat dripping, knees burning, heart pounding.
Yuuto slapped his back. "You owned that match."
Renji smiled. "We all did."
Asuka walked past, brushing his hand with hers, subtle but electric.
And in the stands, a few scouts had started whispering to each other—taking notes, eyeing Seiwa's new setter.
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The League Had Just Begun
But Seiwa was no longer in the shadows.
They were here.
And the fire within them had only just been lit.
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End of Chapter 62
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To Be Continued