17 Junior High Athletics Meet - Saitama(2)
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"What had just happened?!"
"Did anyone see the ball curve?!"
"You saw it too?"
Various reactions came from the audience even the players below glanced at their court after noticing the reactions from their audience.
Even more so to the players of Higashi Gakuen, they were dumbfounded when they witness the ball land and roll in front of them. The umpire announced whose point it is going to.
The ball is in!
According to volleyball rules, a ball is out only if it hits the antennae, the floor completely outside the court, any of the net or cables outside the antennae, the referee stand or pole, or the ceiling above a non-playable area.
Higashi Gakuen frowned at how that service is humanly impossible to achieve, at most, it was all luck or fluke.
••
"Wah, no touch ace!"
"Do it again!"
On the other hand, Tatsuo sighed as he expected this.
The moment he agrees to his teammate's request, he knew that the ball will be deemed as in, after all, he practices that move when he accidentally did it once. At that time, his teammates witnessed that happening and can't help but be gobsmacked. They were also the ones who encouraged Tatsuo to develop that move.
What happened was, when the ball is about to hit the antennae, it changed its direction parallel to its original course. It was almost impossible on any occasion but Tatsuo has a calculative mind where he can be precise in his movement.
As of now, that's the only ability out of all possibilities that he can think of that he can actually use. It was to the point of achieving Kageyama's accuracy in his late stages.
However, that move took a toll on his arms to get that spin precision and Tatsuo decided to not use it for the moment as it was not practical.
(AN: Similar to the boomerang snake in prince of tennis)
"I didn't know you could do that in such a short time, Tatsu-kun?" Katashi commented.
"Of course, Tatsu-chan is a genius!" Nunoe proudly said as if he was the one getting praised.
"Should we name that move?" Eiji asks which induces everyone's interest and was ready to come up with skill names.
"Stop, stop. We're still in a game. Please save that conversation after..." Tatsuo used his authority as a captain to order them.
"Tsk, what a bummer..." Nunoe said under his breath but it was heard by Tatsuo.
"Seems like someone wanted another taste of my golden juice" Tatsuo looks at Nunoe with an evil grin. Nunoe shivered and quickly ran away.
"Get him!" Ukio shouted.
•••
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Tatsuo was to serve again!
The opposite team, realizing their carelessness, prepared themselves for the upcoming ball. Tatsuo tossed the ball but he decided to not use the abnormal serve but instead he did a jump float serve!
*Bam!*
Tatsuo directed the ball toward the right corner of their court. The ball swayed in the air as it flew over the net and seeing that, Higashi Gakuen can't help but be wary because of float serves' uncertain landing spot. But still, Higashi's libero was about to receive the ball using an overhand set but the ball only glazed upon his fingers and flew behind him.
Seeing the ball rolling in the service line, Kaisei players celebrated.
""Ace!""
Tatsuo got the ball from the staff and waited for the umpire's signal. After hearing the familiar whistle, Tatsuo tossed the ball higher than before because he was about to give them a power serve!
*Boom!*
Hitachi Gakuen was not able to react to the ball and can only look at it when it was rolling on their courtside.
""No touch ace!""
The audience and players from other courts alike were surprised by the skills of that middle school student. Higashi Gakuen's atmosphere quickly got tense as the pressure from their opponent was affecting them.
After that Tatsuo was able to get 5 points for their team before the umpire called a 'mercy rule'. The mercy rule is applied when the serving team was able to get 5 points consecutively from serves. Of course, 5 point limit was only applied to middle school and 8 points to high school. Because of that rule, the serving team will turn over the ball to the opposing team for a chance at fair play.
But even after all that, the Higashi Gakuen player's arrogance vanished and wavered at the point lead of their opponent. Regardless, they were still able to serve the ball over the net.
Ukio was able to receive it perfectly without any mishaps and deliver the ball to Tatsuo.
"Nice receive!" Tatsuo said as he positioned himself and gave the signal to Nunoe. Nunoe, on the left side of the court, noticed it and steps back. Just as Tatsuo sets the ball, Nunoe lowered his body and ran forward to give his feet the maximum amount of strength to jump high!
*swoosh!*
Higashi's players were able to read the ball's direction and quickly ran after it to block its path. Nunoe smiles as this was his first time spiking in an official game, his hands contacted the ball.
*Bam!*
But it was blocked! Nunoe realized it and his smile faltered. Ukio quickly ran after it and was able to revive the ball. Tatsuo squatted to set the ball but as he was about to set the ball to Fuku, he felt something and turned his eyes to where that came from.
Nunoe gives pressure and glared at Tatsuo as if saying "One more!" his smile vanished and became serious.
Tatsuo smiled wryly and said "Here you go, Ace"
Tatsuo sets the ball high toward Nunoe. Nunoe, once again, jump up but this time he decided to give his all. His muscles were constricting and felt his power overflowing.
*BANG!*
Even when the opponent team was able to read and block the path, Nunoe's power was on another level. The ball got through their defense forcefully, they tried to keep it alive, however, they were too late.
*Thud*
The coach of Higashi Gakuen called out a 2-minute timeout.
••
•
At Kaiser Bench
Nunoe was able to regain his smile after his successful breakthrough and even boasting about it to his teammates.
"Did you see my spike? It was able to break through those blocks! Can you do that? You can't, of course!" Nunoe taunted Ukio.
"I'm libero idiot! Also, you were blocked at your first spike. How embarrassing" Ukio retorted.
"At least, I can jump over the net, unlike someone who can only receive because his short, right, Fuku-chan?" Nunoe suddenly diverts the convo to Fukuhara who simply ignored them as he holds his mini statue of liberty.
Everyone was already used to this and used the remaining time to rest. Tatsuo looks at their opponent players' bench and saw their coach walk to the umpire to ask something which Tatsuo obviously didn't know.
There's also a coach on the Kaisei volleyball team, however, it is only for display because Tatsuo was the commander in chief of their team. He persuaded a newbie teacher who needs an extracurricular activity on his record because it was required for a team to have at least one coach! But currently, their coach was absent because he needed to use the restroom.
*Whistle!*
The time is up! Both teams went back to their position. It was apparent that the atmosphere at Kaisei Academy was joyful while Higashi Gakuen is depressing.
•••
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[ 1st set: Kaisei Academy
Point/s: 25-11 ]
[ 2nd set: Kaisei Academy
Point/s: 25-10 ]
The match quickly ended overwhelmingly as Tatsuo decided at the start to have a grand debut and it was successful even though it will cause their opponents will to play volleyball, affected. Even Higashi's points were mostly from their errors.
Tatsuo did it for other teams to know their team as a team to be wary and not to be underestimated. By doing that, they will be able to play more contentedly with their opponent's preparation, after all, experience was something his teammates lacks.
Tatsuo felt sorry but he quickly shrugged it off. At first, when they were planning it, his teammates were against it as it was unfair because they knew the level of their opponent but after explaining why he did it, they sighed and agreed.
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