The whistle shrilled.
Nao Yamasaki tossed the ball once, twice—then served.
The ball cut through the air like a blade.
Renji dropped low, arms steady.
Dig.
The impact rattled his bones, but the ball floated cleanly into the air.
"Mine!" the backup setter called, voice tight.
Renji watched him hesitate for half a heartbeat.
"Now!" Renji shouted.
The set came—high, safe.
Arai jumped and hammered it straight into Arakawa's block.
Blocked.
But it didn't end.
---
The Rally Begins
The ball ricocheted backward.
Kenta dove, sliding across the floor, barely popping it up with the edge of his palm.
Nao was already moving.
He sprinted, twisted mid-air, and sent a one-handed set behind his head.
Their ace swung.
Renji reacted on instinct—stepping before thought, body moving on memory.
Dig.
The crowd gasped.
Yuuto leapt from the bench. "KEEP IT GOING!"
Renji scrambled to his feet, lungs burning.
The ball was drifting too far.
Too fast.
He chased.
Jumped.
And flicked it back with his fingertips.
---
Breaking Bodies, Not Will
The backup setter ran under it, sweat dripping from his chin.
"Left!" Renji called.
The set went left.
Arai tipped.
Blocked again.
The ball shot straight down.
Asuka cried out—
But Yuuto, wrist forgotten, dove from the bench side, keeping the ball alive with his shoulder.
The whistle didn't blow.
Legal.
Still in play.
Renji's heart slammed against his ribs.
We're not done.
---
Nao vs Renji
Nao met Renji at the net on the next transition.
Their eyes locked.
Nao jumped—fake spike.
Renji didn't bite.
Nao smiled faintly and tipped instead.
Renji lunged forward, forearm scraping the floor.
Save.
The gym erupted.
Renji felt nothing now—not pain, not fear.
Only clarity.
The ball came back.
The backup setter didn't hesitate this time.
He set fast.
Kenta soared.
Spike.
Dug.
Arakawa refused to fall.
---
At the Edge
The rally stretched past twenty touches.
Then thirty.
Players stumbled.
Breaths came ragged.
The referee watched closely, eyes wide.
Renji felt his legs shaking.
One more.
That was all he asked of himself.
Nao sprinted for a loose ball and slid, sending a desperate bump across the net.
Free ball.
Renji's eyes widened.
"This is it!" Yuuto shouted.
Renji moved.
Jumped.
And instead of setting to the strongest option—
He trusted.
He sent a fast, low set to the backup setter's favorite hitter.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Just belief.
---
The End of the Rally
The hitter jumped.
The block came late.
The spike smashed into the floor with a thunderous crack.
Point. Seiwa.
For half a second—
There was silence.
Then the gym exploded.
---
Aftermath
Renji collapsed backward, chest heaving, staring up at the ceiling lights.
His arms burned.
His legs screamed.
But he was smiling.
Yuuto was on his feet, shouting his name.
Asuka had both hands over her mouth, eyes shining.
Even Nao stood still on the other side of the net, breathing hard, eyes narrowed—not in anger, but in awe.
That rally hadn't just been volleyball.
It had been everything Seiwa was.
Trust.
Endurance.
Heart.
---
Scoreboard
Seiwa: 13
Arakawa: 11
Two points away.
Renji pushed himself up slowly.
He looked at his teammates.
No words.
They didn't need any.
They were ready.
---
End of Chapter 78
---
To Be Continued