The Decisive Moment

The Final Set Begins

The roar of the stadium was deafening. Thousands of voices merged into an electrifying buzz that pulsed through the air.

Misaki High: 2 sets.

Seiyo High: 2 sets.

Everything came down to this—the final set.

Renji wiped the sweat from his forehead, his heart pounding. His breathing was steady, but the sheer weight of the moment settled on his shoulders like a storm cloud.

Across the net, Kenjiro Morita stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders as he let out a slow exhale.

"We're not losing this," Kenjiro muttered to his teammates, his voice carrying despite the chaos in the gym.

Yuuto stepped up beside Renji, his sharp eyes fixed on Seiyo's formation. "Stay locked in. They'll push harder than ever."

Renji nodded, his fingers tightening into fists. He wouldn't let this slip away.

The whistle blew.

Final set. Game on.

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An All-Out Battle

Seiyo came out swinging.

Kenjiro and his spikers unleashed a barrage of powerful, unpredictable attacks.

A lightning-fast spike— Renji barely dug it up.

A sharp-angle tip— Asuka lunged, barely getting a touch.

A brutal quick attack— Misaki's blockers managed to deflect it just enough.

Each play was faster, sharper, relentless.

But Misaki refused to break.

Yuuto set up swift, unpredictable plays of his own. Their ace and wing spikers attacked with every ounce of strength.

Every rally was a war.

---

The Pressure Mounts

The scoreboard flashed.

8-8.

10-10.

12-12.

Neither team relented.

Sweat dripped down Renji's back. His muscles screamed with exhaustion, but he forced himself to focus.

One mistake could end everything.

Kenjiro sent another devastating spike toward the backcourt. Renji reacted instantly, diving low—his arms absorbing the impact.

Perfect dig.

Yuuto was already moving. He set the ball to the outside. Misaki's ace soared high—SPIKE!

Seiyo barely saved it.

The rally continued.

14-14.

The entire stadium was on edge.

The next point would give one team the championship point.

Renji's heartbeat thundered in his ears.

This was it.

---

Last Rally: The Ultimate Test

Seiyo had possession.

Kenjiro took a deep breath. Then he stepped back, his eyes narrowing.

"He's going for it," Yuuto muttered.

Renji knew.

Kenjiro wasn't holding back anymore.

The final attack.

The setter tossed the ball.

Kenjiro exploded into the air.

Higher than before.

Stronger than before.

His entire body coiled like a spring—then he swung with everything he had.

The ball ripped toward the backcourt.

The entire gym held its breath.

Renji moved before he could think.

A full-body dive.

Impact.

The ball slammed against his forearms—soaring high into the air.

A perfect dig.

The crowd erupted.

Yuuto was already in position.

Set.

Misaki's ace took a deep breath—then JUMPED.

The world slowed.

He swung.

Contact.

SPIKE.

The ball rocketed toward the court.

Seiyo's libero dove—

Too late.

The ball hit the floor.

Game over.

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Aftermath: A Rival's Respect

For a moment, silence.

Then—chaos.

The gym exploded with cheers.

The scoreboard flashed the final score.

MISAKI HIGH WINS.

Renji lay on the court, staring at the ceiling, his chest heaving.

We did it.

Footsteps.

Kenjiro stood over him, shaking his head with a tired smirk.

"…Didn't think you had it in you."

Renji let out a breathless laugh. "Neither did I."

Kenjiro offered a hand. Renji took it, letting the Seiyo ace pull him up.

"You got me this time," Kenjiro admitted. "But next time, I'm winning."

Renji grinned. "We'll see."

Before he could say more—

Asuka tackled him.

"Renji!" she laughed, wrapping her arms around him. "I told you to trust yourself!"

He froze, heat rising to his face. But then—he smiled.

Yuuto smirked, walking past and ruffling Renji's hair. "Not bad, libero."

Renji looked around at his teammates.

The journey was long.

The struggle had been brutal.

The doubts, the fights, the exhaustion—

It was all worth it.

Because they had won.

And now, they were champions.

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End of Chapter 44

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To Be Continue