CHAPTER IX: SETTER TO SETTER

There are six teams in this girl's volleyball training camp. We are lucky to have practice matches with them especially they are known to be a powerhouse in their regions. The Leoñes Academy has the top 3 Ace in our Region. Grace, the one who helped me earlier, is their school's setter.

"I am looking forward to having a practice match with you, Eury." Grace cheerily tells me.

"Ah...Same." I only say to her.

I am also curious how she plays and maybe I can learn from her since she is a setter from a powerhouse school.

"Ha! But before that, we will be crushing you first!!!" Samantha abruptly interrupts us only to say that.

"Huh???!! What did you just say?!! We will make sure you will eat all your words!!" Pauleen pisses by her and challenges her.

"Seriously this is only a practice match why do they have to get intense?" Grace says while mimicking my voice." That's what you think right? hahaha" she laughingly says to me.

I thought she will be the only normal in here that I will somehow get along but she's unexpectedly weird also.

"You are a quiet person but you are way too easy to read Eury. It's not good for you especially you're a setter." She randomly says to me then grins at me.

-

We are now starting to play against Del Valle Academy. I am on my period that's why our coach doesn't let me play along with my team as of now. I am just in here, sitting on the bench with the coach and Grace while watching the practice match.

"You can't win against us without EURY!!" Samantha continues provoking them even they are about to start now.

"Samantha please stop picking a fight with the opponent's team!! We are only here to practice only!" their Team captain scolds her because of her behavior.

"Don't worry we will prove that we are worth it for Eury." Olivia confidently tells her.

Why do I feel like I am on a reverse harem manga?

Our team will be serving first. Freya, one of our wing spikers serves a jump float. She successfully lands it on the opponent's court, their libero manages to receive it but it went back to us which gives us a chance ball.

"Chance ball!!!" Trisha says then receives the ball to pass it to the setter.

Dani quickly tosses the ball to our left. Our wing spiker successfully hit it on a straight shot.

"YAAAHHHH!!!DID YOU SEE THAT?!!HUH?!!STRAIGHT SHOT!!"Pauleen aggressively provokes Samantha.

"Huh?!! You only just got lucky and this is only the starting line." Samantha debates with her.

"Your other setter is a second-year right?"Grace asks me.

"Uh, yeah..." I merely answer.

"And yet they still choose you to be your school's official setter. That's amazing Eury!!" She cheerfully praises me. "But do you think you are better enough for them?" She then implores me.

"I am aware of my ability. The things that I can only do and my limitations. That's why I continuously practice to improve myself. Not to be better than the other one but to be best for the team to win." I simply answer her that made her face look amuse.

"Well... You are right. As expected to hear from the famous volleyball prodigy!" She then says.

I only continue watching my team plays. They are now 3-1, my team is the one who scores 3 points. Dani may not have been our school's official setter even last year nor she was given a chance to play in an actual match. I still can't ignore her talent. She's a reliable sitter and can quickly adjust to her spikers.

"OH?!!WHAT ABOUT NOW, HUH?!! YOU CAN'T STOP MY CROSS SHOT!!" Samantha gains her dignity back to provoke them again.

"Samantha your timing still sucks!! Stop bragging with the other team if you are also still lacking in skills!!" their Captain angrily scolds her again. "Sorry for the bother." Then she politely apologizes to our team.

"Del Valle Academy wants you, huh?" Grace suddenly says to me.

"Uh, Nah. It's only Samantha." I only answer her.

"But why didn't you considered transferring to their school?" She curiously asks me.

"No reason and I am happy with the team I am already in right now." I proudly tell her.

"Did you know that my ex-boyfriend goes to your school also?" she suddenly tells me. How would I know? We are not even friends before this.

"He is also part of a volleyball team in your school."

-

Our team lost to the practice match. Although it's still a tight match. They even played three sets.

Competitive people are really scary...

But It's a good thing that they are not holding back just because this is only a training camp. At least we can practice as if this is an official match. That way we can improve ourselves and learn from the strong team which we can use for the upcoming inter-high qualifiers for the Nationals.

"Next time, we will make sure to crush that snotty Samantha!" Olivia firmly says as if she is going to destroy her for real.

Scary...

"Hahaha calm down. Remember this is only a training camp for us to improve ourselves for the upcoming tournament." Trisha calmly says to her. Trying to soothe her anger.

"That's right. Besides, you did a great job in their guys. It's just my sets that are still sloppy haha." Dani said in disappointment.

"Huh?! Don't say that Dani!! You also did a great job in there!!" Pauleen tells her.

"What do you mean Dani?" I interrupt them to ask her.

"Uhmm... Unlike you Eury. My sets can't get through the other team's blocks." She timidly answers me.

"But from what I just saw earlier from the sidelines. You were perfectly doing a good job there." I only say to her then continue eating.

She looks at me touched by what I said.

"Nothing is more reassuring than to hear it from our Eury!!" Pauleen happily says then starts asking me."By the way, the setter from Leoñes is being clingy to you. Is she trying to kidnap you just like that wicked Samantha?"

I shake my head."Nope. I don't think she wants me also."

"Huh? what do you mean by that?" She asks a follow-up question.

"She told me that I am way too easy to read for a setter." I only answer her.

"She said that?!!! Is she trying to pick a fight with you?!!" She says while starting to get on her beast mode.

"Nope. I don't think she intentionally said that to insult me."

Everything Grace told me earlier was all true. I appreciate her honest opinion about me. In that way, I can improve myself.