"Time out!" The coach called, while we ran to the side. When we got there the coach gave us the game plan while Eichi was subbed in.
"I want to show you guys something me and Kai have been working on." Eichi laughed as we made our way back to the court
Eichi gets the ball and takes some breaths. He throws the ball in the air and when he makes contact with the ball, it wasn't as loud as everyone thought and moved without much rotation. As one of the defenders get ready to receive, he almost runs into another teammate. They look at each other in confusion.
"That was mine." One said.
"No, it was mine." The other side.
"He hit it between you to cause confusion, get it together!"The coach yelled furiously. This was supposed to be there year but they are having such a close game with Chidoriyama who wasn't even in the top 4 last year.
I laughed at their discord as I thought, 'Hitting between them to cause confusion, while also making it a float serve to make the trajectory unpredictable is a deadly combination. Still... we're not looking to good our stamina is falling fast and Oikawa isn't making it any easier either.'
As we tie it up, Eichi serves again they dig it out barely and Oikawa sets up Iwaizumi to spike for a point that barely misses my fingers.
"YOSH!!" Kitagawa yelled.
As we try to rally back it's Oikawa's serve once more. Everyone is cheering in the stands and he throws it high in the air. I ready myself and plant my feet. "You won't get past me!" I yell to hype myself up as he smacks the ball with a sound comparable to a gunshot. I jump to the left to get the serve and I get it up, but I also take a bad roll and take a second to get back up as I do I rush to set the ball as it's already up in the air. I use my hawk eye but I barely get a glimpse of where everyone is before sending it to Araken the ace.
As he hits it, BANG!, it hits Iwaizumi's hand and falls for their point. Kitagawa Daiichi's side roars as they win and we hold our heads low. The coach has us gather up and speaks, "You guys have nothing to be ashamed of. This was Chidoriyama's best game in years and it's only going to get better. Now I want everyone to head home and rest for two days and be ready when you come back it'll be double practice for everyone." Coach says as he laughs like a devil.
While we are shivering at what kind of hell coach has planned for us, Araken called us to shake hands with the other team.
I walked up and Oikawa was smiling like his birthday came early. "So, looks like you weren't as good as you thought." He said as he laughed out loud.
"Piss off asshole." Nishinoya said as I hold him back again.
"Tatsuki Kai." I said as I shook his hand and walked away. "Remember the name of the guy who you'll lose to in the tournament Oikawa."
Noya was hyping me up as we left and Oikawa laughed when he thought he had found a new toy to play with. Little did he know that toy would give him headaches he hadn't accounted for in the future.
When we make our way back, we all pass out on the bus. We wake up and head off in our houses direction. I talk with Noya on the way home.
"Yo Kai do you think we can beat monsters like Oikawa in the tournament? I'm sure there's people at his level in the later half." Nishinoya said.
"Yea, I think we have a shot but our chemistry isn't where it could be and we are rough around the edges the training camp in a month should make us reach a level that we haven't even seen before." I replied as we get to our houses.
"Let's win and show our parents that we haven't trained for nothing." Noya said holding his fist out.
"I know I will, just try and keep up." I smile and banter as we fist bump and head to our houses.
I walk into my house and Yumi jumps on me like a cat as usual," Did you win bro." She asked with stars in her eyes.
"No, sorry Yumi we just barely lost." I said sadly not wanting to disappoint her.
Yumi looked sad and immediately perked back up, "Don't worry you'll win the tournament coming up because your the best." She said with a smile.
I laugh and tease her, "When did you become so sweet." I say, as I tickle and play with her.
I talk with mom and dad and tell them about the game and they said they would come and support me when we play in the tournament. I head back to my room and flop on my bed as I recall the past day.
' It feels really shitty to lose." I think as I nod to sleep.