"Park-san!"
The setter flicked the ball high. Not too close, not too far---the perfect toss for Park Taeho.
BOOM!
Sneakers squealed. Taeho soared, hammering the ball past two blockers. He landed, pointing towards the air with his two index fingers.
"PARK TAEHO! USHIMI'S ACE STRIKES AGAIN! 23-24! USHIMI MIDDLE STILL ALIVE!"
Cheers erupted. A nervous Hiroki stepped up to serve. Nerves began to eat at him as it was match point. Messing up the serve right now would be instant game over.
"Nice one, Hiroki-san!" Ryo called.
The whistle blew and the boy hurried, serving as the ball floated over. Koishikawa's libero snagged it clean, feeding their setter.
"MATCH POINT FOR KOISHIKAWA! WHO'S HE GOING TO--"
A quick set. Itsuki Kurrrogane rose. Triple block.
SMASH!
The ball pounded the floor. Whistle. Game.
"ITSUKI KURRROGANE FINISHES THE MATCH! BRINGING KOISHIKAWA TO NATIONALS!"
Ushimi dropped to their knees. Koishikawa basked in glory.
Later, the MVP trophy was handed to Park Taeho. His grin widened with every flash and clap. But one teammate's fists clenched tighter with every cheer.
The locker room.
"We had it! Where was the cover?!" Taeho snapped. He turned to the libero. "How many digs did you even get? You just stood there! How much work do I have to do for this team?!"
Silence. Nobody dared argue. I mean, he did win MVP. They accepted the fact that without him, they wouldn't have made it nearly as far. Nobody--except one.
SLAM!
A bag hit the lockers. Blue Aozora stormed out.
"Blue!" Masahijo chased after him.
"That spoiled brat! I won't take it, Masahijo!" Blue spat.
Masahijo tried to calm him. "I know… but he's not wrong. Without Taeho, we-"
"He only looks that good because of MY sets!" Blue cut him off, fire in his eyes. With that, Masahijo just decided to leave it alone. Due to past experiences with Blue's bold nature getting him in trouble many times, which is telling by all the times Blue had to been bailed out by Masahijo from bullies after school.
That night, back at the gym.
Taeho forced Ryo into extra practice. A bad set. The ball dropped.
"I told you not to put it too close to the net!" Taeho barked.
"Sorry..." Ryo submissively apologized, wishing Taeho would let him go.
"Park!"
Blue stood at the door, fists tight, voice sharp.
"Oh, perfect timing, Bluey-chan. Come set me instead," Taeho smirked, shooing away Ryo.
"I'm done setting you." Blue stepped forward. "In high school, I'll dodge your team just so I can crush you myself."
The gym froze. Ryo slipped out.
Taeho laughed. "You? With those sloppy sets? You'll never matter unless you keep setting me."
Blue's glare sharpened. "Watch me. I'll beat you in the finals. I'll go to Nationals. I won't shadow anyone's ace ever again. I'll be a setter who dominates the court."
He adjusted his glasses, turned, and stormed off. Masahijo followed, glancing nervously between them.
Taeho stood alone. His smirk twisted, pride mixing with rage. Nobody had ever spoken to him like that. And the thought of crushing Blue lit a fire in his chest.
Meanwhile, each of Blue's steps burned with determination.
"Hey, if we don't hurry, we'll miss the bus," Masahijo said.
"Crap, you're right."
Masahijo smirked. "Hard to dominate the court when you can't even catch a bus."
"Shut up!" Blue barked as they sprinted down the street.