The second set began—but something felt… different.
Gone were the taunts. The flashy plays. The smirks.
Nao Yamasaki had gone silent.
He didn't say a word during the break. He didn't look at Renji. He didn't even glance at the crowd.
He just stood behind the end line, staring at the court like a surgeon preparing for an operation.
Renji could feel the shift.
The Nao from before had played like a fox—tricky, deceptive, playful.
But this Nao?
This was a wolf.
---
Arakawa's Precision Machine
From the first serve, Arakawa moved with chilling coordination. No chaos. No gimmicks. Every movement clean. Every transition seamless.
They weren't trying to disrupt Seiwa anymore.
They were trying to outclass them.
And for the first time that tournament—Seiwa looked slow.
Nao didn't call fakes. He didn't tip.
He ran three-point attacks.
Perfect tempo sets.
Laser-sharp float serves that dipped hard at Renji's feet.
"21!" Yuuto shouted, trying to adjust the rotation.
But even he was a second too late.
Nao spiked from the back row—clean through the seam.
Arakawa: 9 — Seiwa: 3
---
Cracks in the Rhythm
Coach Sato called timeout.
No yelling. Just firm, focused words.
"They've changed their playstyle. That means they're testing our discipline now—not our instincts."
He looked at Renji.
"You need to stop chasing plays. Return to your anchor."
Renji nodded, swallowing the knot in his throat.
His body was exhausted. His legs ached from the last set.
But if Nao could become something colder…
He could become something steadier.
---
Back on the Court
Renji adjusted his stance. Lowered his center of gravity.
He wasn't going to chase chaos this time.
He was going to receive it.
A serve came fast. He didn't flinch. His dig popped cleanly to Yuuto.
Set.
Spike.
Point.
9–4.
Then came a rally. Long. Grueling.
Kenta sprawled.
Arai scrambled.
Renji rotated in—read the angle—dove.
Saved.
The bench exploded as Yuuto finished it with a brutal cross-court shot.
9–5.
---
The Ice Breaks
For a moment, Renji looked across the net—
And saw it.
A twitch.
Nao's fingers tightening.
His jaw clenched.
He wasn't in control anymore. He was working for points.
And Renji?
He was starting to read him again.
---
But Arakawa Pushes Back
At 14–10, Arakawa's middle blocker stepped up.
A raw, untested sophomore—but Nao trusted him.
A surprise quick attack blew past Arai.
Then a back-set caught even Kenta off guard.
Arakawa: 16 — Seiwa: 10
The cold didn't crack.
It cut deeper.
Yuuto slammed the ball into the block. Stuffed.
Arai swung late. Blocked again.
Seiwa's rotation crumbled.
And when Nao finally spoke—it wasn't to taunt.
It was to command.
"Again," he said calmly. "Same play."
They ran it—and scored.
---
End of the Set
The gap widened.
Every attempt from Seiwa was met with flawless defense and surgical offense.
And in a blink, it was over.
Arakawa wins Set 2: 25–15.
No celebration. No trash talk.
Just a cold walk to their bench.
As if to say:
We're not here to entertain.
We're here to eliminate.
---
Renji's Thoughts
As the team regrouped, Renji sat with a towel around his shoulders, breathing hard.
He looked across the court—not with fear, but realization.
"This Nao," he murmured, "he doesn't need to break rhythm."
Yuuto leaned in. "What do you mean?"
Renji's eyes narrowed.
"He is the rhythm."
---
End of Chapter 74
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To Be Continue