Morning light poured over the campus of Seiwa High, but inside the team bus, the mood was heavy.
Not fearful.
Just focused.
Renji sat near the front, headphones on but no music playing. His eyes watched the city pass by, but his mind was already inside the stadium.
Kenjiro Morita.
Seiyo High.
They weren't the same team they beat in last year's regionals. Renji knew that. Everyone did.
The scars of that five-set war hadn't faded.
And now, Seiyo had come back stronger.
More disciplined.
And more dangerous.
---
Pre-Game Warm-Ups
The arena was fuller than before. Word had spread—"Seiwa vs Seiyo: A Rivalry Rekindled."
Fans packed both sides of the gym, cheering as players took to the court.
Renji tightened the tape on his fingers.
Yuuto rotated his shoulder, eyes locked on Seiyo's bench.
And then—
He appeared.
Kenjiro Morita.
Sharp-eyed. Confident. Walking like he owned the floor.
He met Renji's gaze across the net.
No words.
Just a nod.
Acknowledgment.
And a challenge.
---
Set One: Clash of Captains
From the opening serve, it was clear—this was a different Seiyo.
No more emotional outbursts. No more reckless plays. Every movement was calculated.
Kenjiro had become a conductor.
He controlled the tempo. Dictated the offense. Set traps in the block that baited even Yuuto into attacking the wrong angles.
Renji tried to speed up the play.
Seiyo slowed it down.
Seiwa led 10–6.
Then trailed 11–14.
Then tied again at 17–17.
The rallies weren't just physical—they were psychological.
Kenjiro was testing Renji's patience.
Waiting for a mistake.
When it finally came—a mistimed quick set to Arai—Kenjiro struck back hard with a lightning-fast back attack.
Seiyo took Set One, 25–22.
---
Set Two: Finding the Fire
The Seiwa bench sat in silence during the set break.
Even Yuuto didn't speak.
But Asuka did.
"I've seen this look before," she said quietly, standing in front of the players.
Everyone looked up.
"Last season. Before the final regional match. You were tense. Overthinking. Playing Seiyo's game instead of your own."
She turned to Renji.
"You know how to lead them. So do it."
Renji looked up at the scoreboard.
Then to his teammates.
He stood.
"We're not here to survive," he said. "We're here to win."
Yuuto smirked. "Took you long enough."
---
Set Two Begins
With renewed fire, Seiwa stormed the court.
Renji's tempo shifted.
No more hesitation.
He started pushing aggressive back sets to Yuuto.
Faster middle attacks to Arai.
Even a surprise quick to the libero, Kenta, that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Kenjiro tried to respond—but Seiwa had rhythm now.
They rode the momentum to a dominant 25–18 win.
1–1.
The gym was electric.
---
Set Three: Trading Blows
The third set was war.
Point for point.
Dive after dive.
Every block, every serve, every substitution mattered.
Kenjiro raised his game. He started using feints and misdirections that made even Renji flinch.
But Renji wasn't alone.
Yuuto adjusted on the fly, reading Kenjiro's hits like a book.
Asuka called timeouts at perfect moments, halting Seiyo's surges.
And when it mattered most—at 24–24—Renji took a risk.
A setter dump.
Kenjiro read it.
But slipped.
Ball down.
25–24.
Next serve, Seiyo attacked sharp cross.
Kenta dove.
Dig.
Yuuto finished it.
Set Three: Seiwa. 26–24.
They were one set away.
---
Set Four: Ghosts and Grit
But Seiyo didn't crumble.
They came back harder.
Kenjiro started drawing blocks and setting to the opposite side.
The libero, Tetsuya, made four impossible digs in one rally.
Seiwa struggled to close.
Yuuto got stuffed.
Arai missed a tip.
Renji's arms ached.
But still, they fought.
Down 20–23, Seiwa called timeout.
No speech.
Just hands in the middle.
They all looked to Renji.
He gave a single nod.
"Side out."
They went back.
Yuuto scored.
Then a block from Arai.
22–23.
But on the next play—
A net touch.
Seiyo 24–22.
Then: ace.
Set Four: Seiyo. 25–22.
Tied.
2–2.
It all came down to the fifth.
---
Set Five: For Everything
Fifteen points.
Fifteen brutal points.
It was loud. Blinding. Exhausting.
And perfect.
Renji set every ball like it was the last.
Yuuto crushed two back-to-back kills.
Kenta got a jaw-dropping pancake save that turned into a rally point.
Seiwa led 13–11.
Kenjiro stepped up.
Scored.
Then again.
13–13.
Asuka stood.
No clipboard now.
Just her voice: "Trust the set, Renji."
The next play—Renji faked to Yuuto, dumped it to Arai.
Point.
14–13.
Match point.
Kenjiro served.
Arai passed.
Renji jumped—
Midair—he changed his mind.
He sent it to Yuuto behind the 3-meter line.
Yuuto roared as he hit—
And scored.
15–13.
Match won.
---
Aftermath
Renji collapsed to his knees.
Yuuto pulled him up, laughing breathlessly. "You finally set me that back-row bomb!"
Renji grinned.
Kenjiro walked over.
His face was tired. But he smiled.
He extended a hand.
Renji shook it.
"Hell of a game," Kenjiro said.
"You too."
Then Kenjiro leaned in. "You've changed. You're not the kid from last season."
Renji looked him in the eye. "Neither are you."
They walked off the court as rivals.
But also—equals.
---
End of Chapter 18
---
To Be Continued