Score: Shiratorizawa 15 - 13 Nekoma.
The scoreboard glared down at them. Shiratorizawa had a two-point lead. The pressure in the gym was suffocating, amplified by the synchronized chanting of the Shiratorizawa cheer squad.
"SHI-RA-TORI-ZAWA! Bum-bum-bum-bum-bum!"
Ryuu stood at the attack line. He looked at Kenma.
"Kenma."
"What?"
"Stop trying to be clever," Ryuu said, rolling his neck. "Just put it up high. I'm going to hit it until they stop moving."
Kenma blinked, then nodded. "Okay."
15 - 13 (Shiratorizawa Serve).
Shirabu served. It was a standard floater.
Kai received it. "Nice pass!"
Kenma didn't hesitate. He pushed the ball high to the left.
"Gojou!"
Ryuu began his approach. It wasn't the rhythmic, technical run-up he used against Inarizaki. It was heavy. Explosive.
On the other side, Tendou Satori was waiting. The Guess Monster grinned.
'He's frustrated,' Tendou thought. 'He's going to swing straight down!'
Tendou jumped. He guessed perfectly. He placed his hands exactly in Ryuu's swing path. A textbook "guess block."
Ryuu saw the hands.
Usually, he would look for a wipe or a cut shot.
'You're in my way,' Ryuu thought simply.
He didn't adjust. He swung his arm like a sledgehammer.
KABOOM.
The ball impacted Tendou's palms.
"Guh!" Tendou's eyes widened.
He expected the ball to stop. Instead, he felt his wrists buckle. The sheer mass and velocity of the spike folded Tendou's hands backward. The ball plowed through the block like a cannonball through a wooden fence.
It smashed into the floor behind Tendou.
Nekoma 14 - 15.
Tendou landed, shaking his hands violently. "OW! Ow ow ow! That wasn't a spike, that was a rock!"
Ryuu landed. He looked at the red-headed blocker.
"Don't guess," Ryuu said flatly. "You might be right, and it still won't matter."
14 - 15 (Nekoma Serve).
Kai served. Reon received it well.
"Shirabu!"
Shirabu set to the right. To Ushijima.
Ryuu was in the front row. He moved to block.
Ushijima approached. His form was perfect. Mechanical.
Ryuu jumped. He sealed the straight line.
Ushijima didn't care. He swung his left arm.
BLAM.
The ball hit Ryuu's arm. Ryuu braced himself, flexing his core to absorb the impact.
He stopped the ball... for a millisecond.
But the spin was nasty. The lefty rotation ripped against Ryuu's skin, grinding past his block and flying out of bounds.
Block Out.
Shiratorizawa 16 - 14.
Ryuu landed, looking at his red forearm.
"Heavy," Ryuu muttered. "He hits like a truck."
Ushijima turned around without a word.
16 - 14 (Shiratorizawa Serve).
Ushijima served.
He threw the ball high. He jumped.
BOOM.
It was a missile.
Yaku dove. "Mine!"
He got a hand on it, but the power blew it sideways. The ball hit the stands.
Service Ace.
Shiratorizawa 17 - 14.
The Shiratorizawa cheer squad erupted.
"Nice kill, Ushijima!"
Ryuu frowned. "Show off."
17 - 14 (Shiratorizawa Serve).
Ushijima served again. Same power. Same spot.
Yaku adjusted. He stepped in.
POW.
He dug it. It was a bit long, flying over the net, but it was up.
"Free ball!" Shiratorizawa shouted.
Tendou jumped to dunk it.
But Kuroo was there. He jumped and won the joust, pushing the ball back.
Shirabu saved it. "Ushijima-san!"
It was a high ball. The block had time to form. Three Nekoma blockers.
Ushijima jumped.
Ryuu was in the back row now. He watched Ushijima's form.
Ushijima spiked. He hit a sharp cross.
Ryuu was there. He didn't use perfect form. He just put his body in the line of fire.
THUD.
The ball hit his chest. It knocked the wind out of him, but the ball popped up.
"It's up!" Ryuu wheezed.
Kenma set to Yamamoto. Yamamoto smashed it off the block.
Nekoma 15 - 17.
Ryuu rubbed his chest. "I think he cracked a rib. That guy needs a permit for that arm."
15 - 17 (Nekoma Serve).
Yaku served. Reon received.
Shirabu set to the left. To Goshiki Tsutomu, their first-year ace-wannabe.
Goshiki was fired up. "I'll show you I'm the Ace!"
He spiked a sharp straight.
But Ryuu was watching from the back row. He saw Goshiki's shoulder open up.
Ryuu took one step to the sideline.
Pop.
He dug the straight shot easily.
"Weak," Ryuu muttered. "That felt like a pillow compared to Ushijima."
"Kenma! Back!"
Ryuu called for a back-row attack.
Kenma set a high pipe.
Ryuu took off from behind the 3-meter line. He soared.
Tendou tried to block, but Ryuu was hitting from deep.
Ryuu didn't aim. He just swung with everything he had.
BOOM.
The ball blew past Tendou's ear and slammed into the dead center of the court. No one moved. It was too fast.
Nekoma 16 - 17.
"Hey, Bowl Cut," Ryuu called out to Goshiki. "You hit like a gentle breeze. Eat more protein."
Goshiki turned purple. "I'M STILL GROWING!"
16 - 17 (Nekoma Serve).
Ryuu rotated to serve.
"Finally," Ryuu said, bouncing the ball. "My turn to hold the gun."
He tossed the ball. High.
He jumped.
He smashed it.
KABOOM.
The ball crossed the net in a blink. Yamagata (Libero) didn't even react. It hit the line.
Service Ace.
Nekoma 17 - 17.
The crowd gasped. Ryuu had silenced the Shiratorizawa chant.
17 - 17 (Nekoma Serve).
Ryuu served again. Another bomb.
Reon received it this time, but it shanked high.
"Shirabu! Cover!"
Shirabu ran to the back. He couldn't set Ushijima. He had to bump it to Goshiki on the left.
"Goshiki!"
Goshiki jumped. But the set was tight.
Kuroo and Kai were there.
ROOF.
They stuffed him.
Nekoma 18 - 17.
Nekoma took the lead.
18 - 17 (Nekoma Serve).
Ryuu served. This one clipped the net and dropped short.
Yamagata dove and saved it.
"Ushijima-san!"
It was a bad set. It was low. It was far from the net.
Any other player would tip it.
Ushijima stepped back. He approached. He jumped from the 3-meter line.
He didn't care about the bad set. He just hit it.
BOOM.
He smashed through the Nekoma block like it was tissue paper.
Shiratorizawa 18 - 18.
Ushijima landed. He looked at Ryuu.
"My turns are also dangerous," Ushijima stated.
Ryuu laughed. A genuine, excited laugh.
"Good," Ryuu cracked his knuckles. "I was worried you'd get tired. Let's keep hitting each other until someone breaks."