The stadium wasn't enormous, but to the players, it felt like an arena.
Banners from competing schools lined the rafters. A low hum of chatter buzzed through the air. Camera flashes. Reporters. Students from every corner of the prefecture.
Seiwa High sat in the locker room, lacing their shoes, taping their fingers, bouncing their knees to shake out nerves.
Renji sat in the corner, staring at the stat sheet one last time.
Oshima High.
Slow pace.
No standout aces.
But relentless defense.
The kind of team that didn't win by dominance—but by wearing their opponents down.
"I hate teams like this," Yuuto muttered, cracking his knuckles.
"They don't break," Arai added, "but they make you break."
Renji exhaled through his nose.
"Then we don't break."
---
Walking Onto the Court
As Seiwa emerged from the tunnel, the overhead lights were almost blinding.
The polished floor gleamed. The net was strung tight and high. Across the court, Oshima's players warmed up silently—no banter, no emotion.
Just sharp movements and mechanical efficiency.
Renji scanned their faces.
None looked nervous.
None looked overconfident either.
They were focused.
That made them dangerous.
Coach Anzai gathered Seiwa into a huddle. "Play your game. Keep tempo under your control. Don't let them drag you into a grind."
He looked at Renji. "Lead from the first whistle."
Renji nodded. "Yes, Coach."
---
Set One Begins
Oshima served first.
The ball floated over, deceptively gentle—but dipped just short of Arai's reach.
An ace.
Yuuto growled under his breath. "You've got to be kidding me."
Second serve.
Perfect pass by Asuka.
Renji moved in, set the tempo, and Yuuto smashed the ball down the line.
Kill.
Cheers erupted from the Seiwa section.
1–1.
The game settled into rhythm—long, punishing rallies. Oshima didn't score fast—but they never gave up on a single ball. Diving saves. Pancake digs. Off-speed shots.
Seiwa got the first 4 points quickly.
Then they stayed locked between 6 and 11 for what felt like forever.
By the time they won Set One, 25–23, everyone was sweating buckets.
---
Set Two: The Trap
Coach Anzai warned them: "This is the set where they take risks."
And he was right.
Oshima changed their pace.
More jump serves.
Shorter sets.
They even brought in a second setter mid-rotation—a surprise substitution that disrupted Seiwa's rhythm.
Renji misread one play.
Then another.
Yuuto spiked wide.
Arai got blocked.
Suddenly, it was 12–19.
The gym felt cold.
Coach Anzai called timeout.
But this time, it was Renji who spoke.
"We're rushing," he said. "Trying to end points too fast. That's what they want."
He looked at Yuuto. "Don't force it."
Then to Arai. "Use more tips. Keep them moving."
Yuuto scowled. "They're eating us alive."
Renji looked him in the eye.
"Then let's starve them."
---
The Turnaround
It wasn't flashy.
It wasn't explosive.
But slowly—inch by inch—Seiwa clawed back.
Yuuto mixed power with feints.
Arai dropped a perfect roll shot that landed on the line.
Even the libero, Kenta, got in on the attack with a diving save that transitioned into a perfect back-row spike by Shun.
24–24.
Match point.
Oshima served.
Asuka passed it just off-target.
Renji had to sprint to the edge of the court.
One step.
Two.
He jumped.
Set it blind.
Yuuto saw it.
Took off.
And crushed it.
Straight through the double block.
25–24.
Renji's heart raced.
One more.
One more point.
Oshima served again—this time, a risky jump float.
Arai passed it clean.
Renji took a breath.
Set.
Yuuto.
Spike.
Block!
But it deflected out.
Seiwa 26 – Oshima 24.
Match won.
---
After the Whistle
The players collapsed to their knees. Some panted. Some cheered. Yuuto screamed to the ceiling.
But Renji?
He smiled quietly.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was earned.
Across the net, Oshima's captain approached and bowed. "You adapted well."
Renji bowed back. "You made us work for every point."
---
Later That Night
In the hallway outside the gym, Asuka met him with a bottle of water and a raised brow.
"You set that last ball without even looking."
"I trusted him," Renji said.
Asuka grinned. "You're growing."
He looked down at his hands, still shaking slightly from adrenaline.
"Feels like we all are."
As they walked down the corridor, a loud voice called out—
"Well, well… didn't think you'd survive round one."
Renji turned.
Kenjiro Morita.
Captain of Seiyo High.
Smirking.
Arms crossed.
Eyes locked.
"Let's see if you've still got that magic," he said. "Because next match… I'm taking everything back."
---
End of Chapter 69
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To Be Continued