บท 20: Freshmen VS Senior! Duel for Dignity!
"Hello and welcome everyone, to the volleyball exhibition game between the freshmen against the senior members of the team! An important game for both freshmen and senior's dignity, because the stake is the public apology here! So, please, give me your best cheers for the players you support!"
"OH!"
"Come on, Yoshi! Kill them all!"
"Don't lose against those bastards, Noriyuki!"
"Come on!"
It was a Friday evening, the time settled over by the volleyball team as to when the game would be played. At first, Yuki and Riku thought that there wouldn't be that much of spectators there, considering volleyball wasn't that much popular in the country and the team wasn't that good in the first place. However, they were so surprised to see that the gymnasium was full of crowds who wanted to join the fun here.
Hell, there was even a commentator boot close to the court that was made for a member of the broadcasting club just for this game!
"Wow! There is a lot of support for the senior team here." The commentator continued speaking. "Well, they are the boss here, so of course everyone will put their money on them. Anyway, since I will be the one who will guide you through the game, let me introduce myself here! I am Keisuke Hori from the broadcast club, and I am joined by-"
"Matsumoto Ichika! We will be your commentary for the game today!"
Everyone cheered and waved at them, clearly showing how popular they are.
"And we are not alone today, Ichika-chan. There is one more guest that will be here to accompany us today."
"Oh? Who is that, Senpai?"
"He was the most important player on the team last year, the sole leader of the team, the one and only Togarashi Hisashi!"
Followed by the introduction from the commentators, a boy – borderline a man with long loose hair appeared, his serious demeanor could be felt even from afar, making it easy for anyone to mistake him for a samurai. He bowed deep to the crowds first before joining both commentators on the boot prepared close to the court.
"Well, since everyone is ready, let us introduce both teams who will play today! First, the senior team, Yori Sakai as the setter, Hirano Fuji as the blocker, Okamura Daichi as the libero, and finally, Noriyuki Hanji, Aoba Yoshi, and Takata Koji as the three hitters!"
The crowd cheered and applauded as six players dressed in green and white jerseys with the huge kanji of Tsunemori written on the front stepped into the court. The fact that they wore the school jerseys made the audience feel more personal, as if they were supporting their team against an opponent from the outside.
"Now, introducing their opponent, the freshmen team with four ringers from the foreign land, here we go! Agostini Riku as the setter! Maria Silvestri as the middle blocker! Mattheo Silvestri as the libero! And finally, the twin sisters Gabriella and Isabella Silvestri and the captain of the team, Kobayashi Yuki as the three hitters!"
The moment they all stepped into the court, they were greeted by boos mixed with cheers that could be heard vaguely from the stands. The boos were because… Well, they were the villains here, and the cheers were from those lusting over their bodies. A lot of girls had this lovestruck expression as they were eyeing both Mattheo and Riku who had the ideal figure of a foreigner in their imagination, while boys had their eyes bulged, looking at the three female players on the team lustfully. The team was so ridiculously gorgeous that even Yuki who got the lowest attention here was probably still on the top tier of the best-looking students in the school.
"Hahaha! Interesting!"Mattheo laughed out loud. "It is the first time I have seen a high school game that draws this much attention! As expected of Sensei's homeland, the enthusiasm is different here."
Yuki could only chuckle wryly as he proceeded what Mattheo just said. For convenience, the Silvestri family decided to use English to communicate since Yuki couldn't understand Italian. However, while the change of language made it easier, that didn't mean there was no problem at all. Even though Yuki had a good grade in his English class, just like any Japanese boy, he was good at theory, yet it was still hard to apply it in real life.
"I am sure they are here not for the game, but for the fun after that, Mattheo," Riku said wryly.
The appearance of the Silvestri family was a blessing for Riku to show off his ability. Growing up in a multilingual family, he was able to communicate with them fluently whether when using Italian or English.
"Oh, yeah! I remember that!"Mattheo said in realization. "Then, we cannot lose to save your dignity right, Kobayashi-kun?"
Yuki just nodded slightly, inwardly embarrassed since he had a hard time forming the words to answer Mattheo's question. He took a note inside to drag Riku – and maybe Kato after the game to help him learn English better.
Meanwhile, on the commentator box, Keisuke Hori had already done his homework as he explained, "His name is Mattheo Silvestri, a 37 years-old professional player who had just retired from A.C. Parma, a historic volleyball team in Italy that fell off into the mid-table last season. Then, we also have his wife, Maria Silvestri, formerly known as Maria Salimova, a Bulgarian player who was the ace of the Catania team in Italy for so many years before she retired from the professional world two years ago. So, even though we don't have any information about the twin sisters, we can bet our money they inherited their parent's volleyball genes, so the senior team has to be more careful today."
The information about Mattheo and Maria being former players made everyone frown, some even thought that it was unfair for the senior team. Fortunately, Hisashi understood what the crowds thought and grabbed the mic immediately.
"While yes, they have to be more careful today, I believe the opponent is not as strong as we imagine them to be."
"Oh?" Matsumoto Ichika raised her eyebrows. "Why do you think so? Please, enlighten us, Senpai."
"Well, for once, even if there are two professional players, if you take a look at their basic information, the twin sisters are still 13 years old, a middle schooler. This will be the compensation for their parents. Moreover, we have to understand that players retired because they couldn't find their best form anymore, either because of age or health. So, no matter how good their resume is on paper, I bet they cannot keep up with the game anymore."
"So, your conclusion?"
"A close game, but the senior team would come out with the victory," Hisashi said firmly.
"Oh, we are getting underestimated here, Honey." Maria smiled sweetly as she heard Riku translate the commentator's words. "So, what should we do?"
"Isn't it obvious?"Mattheo had the same sweet smile that creeped Yuki and Riku out. "Just like what Akira-sensei always said, there is no problem that cannot be said on the volleyball court. So, let's give them a lesson!"
"Osh!"
-0-
"And here we go! Akira-sensei, the PE teacher and the coach of the volleyball team has finally arrived! He will act as the referee of the game today with Yamada-sensei and Nanami-sensei as his assistant! We are so close to the beginning of this game!"
"Noriyuki, Kobayashi, come here!" Akira called the two captains first before the game began. "I want a clean game and I want everything to be resolved after this is over, so no matter who wins the game, I don't want to hear this conflict again in the future. Do you both understand?"
Yuki and Noriyuki nodded simultaneously, their expression was solemn.
"Good. Now, let's settle over who will have the ball first. Noriyuki, head or tail?" Akira asked while showing a coin.
"Tail," Noriyuki answered without hesitation.
"Then, Kobayashi, you will go for the head. Okay, let's do it." Akira tossed the coin high before catching it and flipped it on the back of his palm. Without being dramatic, he showed the result immediately, as the picture of the coin showed there was a tail. "Then, Noriyuki will have the ball first."
Both captains went back to their team, and Yuki apologized immediately for losing the coin toss.
"Don't worry, not much will change even if we get the ball first," Maria said.
"Yes. Just prepare yourself for the first ball." Mattheo added.
Yuki nodded, taking a deep breath before adjusting his stance. He stared at the opposite side to see it was Noriyuki who served the ball first, and he took a step back unconsciously, knowing it would be a powerful serve.
True to his thought, the ace of the team hit the ball with all his might, sending it toward Gabriella on the back left. The ponytailed girl was surprised for a second to see a powerful ball zoom in her direction. She tried to receive it, yet the ball was too much for her to handle as it just bruised her skin before deflecting far outside of the court.
"OH! AN ACE!" Keisuke Hori shouted excitedly, his voice was covered by the cheers exploding on the crowds. "Noriyuki starts the game with a powerful ace! As expected from the captain!"
"No offense to the twin sisters, but they are the youngest on the court, and adding to the fact that they both are girls, it would be hard for them to adapt to the game. As long as the senior team aims their attack at those two, I am sure they would find this game easy." Hisashi added his comment.
"Gabriella, take a step forward quickly after he serves the ball. Let me and Kobayashi-kun handle the ball."Mattheo ordered his daughter.
"Yes, Papa."The girl pouted, seemed a bit upset for failing to receive the ball.
"Sorry about that one, Kobayashi. She is still young and improving." Mattheo apologized.
Yuki just shrugged it off before saying, "Don't worry, it is just one point. The game is just beginning."
Noriyuki took his second serve, and once again, it was a powerful one. However, the moment he sent it toward Gabriella, the girl ran forward immediately, and Mattheo was already there to cover the ball.
*BAM!*
Even though the power was good, it was nothing in front of Mattheo. The Italian man received the ball perfectly and even sent it to the net where Riku was waiting. Without too much talking, the blonde boy tossed the ball immediately to the middle. Maria who was doing her run-up furrowed her brows before leaping forward, hitting the ball with the strength that no woman should ever possess.
*BAM!*
Everyone winced when they heard the loud sound of the ball hitting Hirano's hand, imagining how hurt that would be. However, the middle blocker was successful in preventing Maria from scoring the first point for the freshmen team.
"Oh! Hirano for the block! But damn, Maria-san sure knows how to hit hard."
"Well, she is a former professional player, so of course her power cannot be underestimated. And it is also a good rebound to reset the ball."
"Rebound?"
"Yes, she spiked the ball to the blocker with the intention of recovering the ball so the team can have another chance at hitting the ball," Hisashi said, using this chance to popularize the sport.
"So, she did it deliberately?"
"Yes. And now, we can see the real attack here."
"Riku, use the wing!"Maria shouted. The fact that it was in Italian made it impossible for the senior team to understand their communication.
As Maria took a few steps back for another run-up, Hirano and Koji followed her movement, thinking that the ball would go in her direction once again. Poor them, they didn't know Maria was the bait as Riku followed her order, passing the ball far to the outside wing where Isabella, the other twins had already been in the air.
"Oh! A pass to Isabella! What a trick by Agostini-kun to deceive Hirano and Koji! Now she can hit it freely! Can she score the first point of the game?!"
*BAM!*
"AND SHE CAAAAAAAANNNNNN!!!!"
The crowds roared wildly as Isabella slammed the ball straight to the left side. It wasn't that powerful, yet the direction was tricky enough to be handled by Noriyuki.
"Good job, Isabella!"Yuki gave a thumbs-up, making the girl blush a little.
"Riku, don't give me a quick. My old knees will suffer if you keep forcing me to do that. And your set is too low! Are you underestimating me?" Maria complained.
"Sorry about that one, Signora. You are in such a good position to handle the ball." Riku rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
Maria pouted, then huffed. "Well, just remember, go slow and high for me, okay? If you want a quick, I am sure my twins are happy to indulge your desire. And how many times do I have to tell you, don't be too formal!"
The game continued with Gabriella as the next one to serve. It was a pretty normal one, with no trick or power to trouble the senior team. However, she aimed it straight in Yori's direction, making the others have to go there to cover their setter.
"Nice receive, Okamura!" Yori praised before taking over the ball. He glanced for a second to see his teammates first before sending the ball to the right wing.
"Yoshi!"
"Okay! Nice toss, Yori!" Yoshi jumped immediately, coiling his arms back to spike the ball. However, the moment he was about to unleash it, a big wall suddenly appeared in front of him, surprising him a little and making the power he generated lose about twenty or thirty percent.
"SHIT!"
*BAM!*
"One touch!" Maria shouted as she deflected the ball.
"Nice block, Maria-san!"
Yuki ran to pick up the ball and gave it to Riku. Then, he also started his run-up, trying to join the attack. Riku grinned when the ball was about to fall from the sky in his direction, knowing what to do. While all the senior team's players were busy marking the spikers, he suddenly changed his stance from doing a set to a dump.
"Oh! Another trick from Riku! But Okamura was there!"
To Riku's surprise, the libero on the other side seemed to be able to read his move. Yori picked up the ball quickly before tossing the ball to Noriyuki. Yuki narrowed his eyes, knowing that this would be the first confrontation between him and the captain. All the grievances they had for each other, they knew they could settle everything down directly at this moment.
Noriyuki seemed to feel the same as the captain suddenly speeding up before jumping, thick veins suddenly popped up creepily on his face as he tried to generate power from inside. After doing his timing inwardly, Yuki jumped too, trying to block the spike. His timing was perfect as both his hands covered Noriyuki's sight completely.
However, the captain didn't care. He used brute force to break the wall directly.
*BAM!*
Yuki was taken aback by the spike. He wanted to strengthen his hands, yet the fact that he was already in the air made it impossible for him to do that. He couldn't control the ball he just blocked it as it flew directly into the crowds.
Silence settled over the gymnasium for a moment as Noriyuki stared at Yuki coldly. For a moment, time seemed to freeze as all the negative emotions Noriyuki held back in the last couple of days rushed into his head, his mouth was itching as so many bad words wanted to get out to attack his junior.
However, after a moment, he only said one short sentence.
"Please, show me that you are not just a bark and could bite too, Golden Boy."
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