Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium - Center Court.
The lights seemed brighter now. The side courts were empty, the nets taken down. All attention in the massive arena was focused on the single court in the center.
The Finals. Nekoma High School vs. Fukurodani Academy.
The crowd was split. On one side, the loud, rhythmic chanting of Fukurodani's cheering squad. On the other, the growing buzz for Nekoma, the dark horse that had slain the giant.
"HEY! HEY! HEY!"
Bokuto Koutarou was currently treating the warm-up like it was the final point of the World Cup. He smashed a ball into the floor so hard it bounced over the railing.
"Bokuto-san, please save some energy," Akaashi Keiji sighed, handing him another ball.
"I can't!" Bokuto beamed, vibrating with energy. "I'm in top form, Akaashi! I can see the dust motes in the air! I can hear the heartbeat of the ball!"
"The ball doesn't have a heart."
"It does today!"
On the Nekoma side, Ryuu Gojou was stretching his hamstrings. He moved slower than usual. The three-set war against Itachiyama had drained his stamina bar significantly.
"You look stiff," Kuroo noted, passing a ball to Yaku.
"I'm not stiff," Ryuu grunted, touching his toes. "I'm vintage. Like a fine wine that needs to breathe."
"You're eighteen," Yaku deadpanned. "You're grape juice."
Ryuu stood up. He looked across the net.
Bokuto stopped bouncing. He locked eyes with Ryuu. The usual goofy grin was there, but behind it was the sharp, predatory gaze of a National Ace.
Bokuto pointed a finger at Ryuu.
"Dragon-kun!" Bokuto shouted. "I saw you use my snap! You stole my move!"
Ryuu walked to the net. He leaned over, resting his chin on his arms.
"I didn't steal it," Ryuu said lazily. "I upgraded it."
"OHO?" Bokuto's hair seemed to spike up even more. "Upgraded? You think your snap is better than mine? The Original?"
"We'll see," Ryuu smirked. "But remember, Bokuto-san... in every martial arts movie, the student eventually has to beat the master to complete his training."
Bokuto laughed. It was a loud, boisterous sound that echoed through the gym.
"I'm not an old master with a white beard yet!" Bokuto declared. "I'm the Protagonist! And Protagonists don't lose in the finals!"
"Protagonist?" Ryuu's eyes narrowed playfully. "Sorry. I already beat the main character vibe out of Nohebi. You're just the Bonus Boss."
________________
The referee blew the whistle.
"Line up!"
The teams faced each other.
Fukurodani Starters:
WS: Bokuto (#4 - Ace/Captain)
S: Akaashi (#5)
MB: Washio (#2)
WS: Sarukui (#3)
WS: Konoha (#7)
L: Komi (#11)
Nekoma Starters:
WS: Gojou (#10)
MB: Kuroo (#1)
S: Kenma (#5)
WS: Yamamoto (#4)
WS: Kai (#2)
L: Yaku (#3)
They bowed. "ONEGAISHIMASU!"
Ryuu looked at the rotation. He was starting in the front left. Bokuto was starting in the front left on the other side.
They were diagonal. They wouldn't match up at the net immediately.
"Kenma," Ryuu whispered as they broke the huddle.
"What?"
"Don't give me the ball yet," Ryuu said.
Kenma looked surprised. "Why?"
"I need to warm up my wrist," Ryuu rotated his arm. "And I want to see what 'Great' condition Bokuto looks like from the back row. Let Tora and Kuroo handle the first few points."
"Okay," Kenma nodded. "Just don't fall asleep."
Game Start.
Fukurodani served first. Washio, their sturdy middle blocker, hit a strong jump serve.
Kai received it. "Nice receive!"
"Center!"
Kenma set to Kuroo. A quick attack.
It was fast, but Fukurodani was ready. Washio and Akaashi jumped. They touched it.
"One touch!"
Komie (the libero) dug it easily. "Counter!"
Akaashi set the ball. He didn't look at his Ace. He set to the right, to Konoha.
Konoha hit a rebound off the block, resetting the play.
"Another one!"
Fukurodani was loud. They moved with a chaotic energy that was completely different from Itachiyama's sterile precision. They were having fun.
Akaashi set again. This time, to the left.
"BOKUTO-SAN!"
Bokuto took off. His approach was explosive. He jumped.
Ryuu was in the back row, watching.
'Let's see it, Teacher.'
Bokuto was in the air. The Nekoma block (Yamamoto and Kai) was late.
Bokuto didn't look at the block. He looked at the entire court.
He swung.
It was a Super Inner Cross.
The ball flew at an impossibly sharp angle, landing way inside the 3-meter line, almost parallel to the net. It slammed into the floor before Yaku could even take a step.
BOOM.
Fukurodani 1 - 0 Nekoma.
The crowd roared. "ACE! ACE! ACE!"
Bokuto landed, striking a pose with both arms raised. "I'M ON FIRE!"
Ryuu stood in the back row, staring at the mark on the floor.
'That angle...' Ryuu thought. 'He twisted his entire upper body. It's not just the wrist. It's the core torque.'
Ryuu smiled.
"Okay," Ryuu muttered. "That was cool. I want to do that."
Nekoma 3 - 5 Fukurodani.
The first few minutes were all Fukurodani. They were riding the wave of Bokuto's energy.
Ryuu hadn't attacked yet. He had been digging and serving (safely).
"Is Gojou tired?" A spectator whispered. "He hasn't spiked yet."
"He must be gassed from the semis."
Ryuu rotated to the front left.
He looked at Kenma.
"I'm awake," Ryuu said.
Kenma nodded.
Nekoma received the serve. Kenma tossed to the left.
"Gojou!"
The crowd perked up. The Monster was finally swinging.
Fukurodani's block formed. Washio and Konoha. They were good blockers, but they weren't Itachiyama.
Ryuu approached. He felt the fatigue in his legs, but he ignored it.
He jumped.
He saw the line closed. He saw the cross open.
'Bokuto hit a super inner cross. Let's see if I can replicate it.'
Ryuu swung. He tried to twist his body like Bokuto. He snapped his wrist sideways.
WHAM.
He hit the ball hard. It flew cross court.
But he didn't get the angle right. He didn't have Bokuto's flexibility. The ball didn't cut sharply enough.
It flew wide.
"OUT!"
Fukurodani 6 - 3.
Ryuu landed. He frowned.
"Harder than it looks," Ryuu muttered.
From the back row, Bokuto laughed.
"HAH! You can't copy that one, Dragon-kun! That takes years of flexibility training! You're too stiff!"
Ryuu turned to look at the Owl.
"Stiff?" Ryuu repeated.
He cracked his neck again.
"Fine," Ryuu turned back to the net. "If I can't bend like an Owl... I'll just break the court like a Dragon."
"Kenma," Ryuu growled. "Next one. Higher."
"Understood."
The Disciple had failed the imitation. Now, he was going back to his own style.