The Turning Point

The Final Rally

The gymnasium held its breath.

The scoreboard read 24-23.

Match point.

Hoshin Academy refused to go down quietly. Their players were tense, sharp, ready.

Shun Takagi stood at the net, eyes flickering across the court. Calculating.

Renji could almost hear the gears turning in his mind.

This would be Hoshin's most deceptive play yet.

The whistle blew.

The serve came fast—Misaki barely received it, Yuuto scrambling into position.

Hoshin's offense sprang into action.

Shun faked a quick set to the middle, forcing Misaki's blockers to commit.

At the last second, he redirected the set—a perfect toss to their outside spiker.

Renji's instincts screamed at him.

Something's off.

The spiker's form wasn't right—his wrist angle, his weight distribution.

It wasn't a straight shot.

It was a cut shot.

Diagonal. Sharp. Fast.

The kind of spike that could break past any defense—

If the libero wasn't ready.

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Renji's Moment

Renji was ready.

He'd spent the entire match adjusting, adapting, predicting.

He knew where this ball was going before it even left the hitter's hand.

Before the spiker could follow through, Renji was already moving.

He lunged forward, arms steady—perfect form.

The ball smacked into his forearms and shot upward.

A flawless dig.

The crowd erupted.

Shun's eyes widened.

Yuuto was already in motion, jumping for the counterattack.

The set went high. Their ace took flight.

A clean swing—a thunderous spike.

The ball slammed onto Hoshin's side of the court.

Whistle.

Game over.

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Aftermath: A Rival's Respect

The gym exploded with cheers.

Misaki High had done it.

They had taken down Hoshin Academy.

As the teams moved to shake hands, Shun Takagi stopped in front of Renji.

For a long moment, he just studied him, an amused grin forming.

"You figured us out."

Renji, still catching his breath, managed a faint smile. "Took me long enough."

Shun chuckled. "Enjoy the finals. Next time, we won't go easy."

He turned away, leading his team off the court.

Renji watched him go, something settling in his chest.

This match hadn't just been about defense.

It had been about control.

And now, for the first time—

He knew how to take it.

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The Celebration

As soon as Renji turned around, his teammates tackled him.

Yuuto ruffled his hair with a rare grin. "Not bad, libero."

Asuka beamed, eyes shining. "You were incredible, Renji!"

The warmth of their cheers surrounded him.

Misaki High was going to the finals.

Renji exhaled, looking ahead.

This wasn't the end.

It was just the beginning.

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End of Chapter 42

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To Be Continue