Chương 30: Chapter Twenty-Seven: Kings Vs. Owls! Finale!
As Akaashi prepared to serve, Bodhi could feel the energy radiating from Fukurodani's side. Bokuto clapped his hands, hyping up his teammates, while Haruki kept his eyes sharp, calculating each possible angle. Akaashi tossed the ball, and with a powerful swing, sent it over Seijo's side with a sharp float serve. Naoki, Seijo's libero, was quick to react, positioning himself perfectly to receive. With a solid bump, he sent the ball to Oikawa, who watched the movement on the other side with that familiar confident smirk.
"Alright, let's start this strong," Oikawa called, sending a quick set to Iwaizumi, who leaped into the air with his typical ferocity. Wataru leapt to block, joining forces with Tatsuki. The two blockers reached out with perfect timing, yet Iwaizumi's spike shot between them, grazing Tatsuki's fingers and flying past Fukurodani's defensive line, landing with a thud on their court.
"Nice kill, Iwa-chan!" Oikawa praised with a grin, earning an eye-roll from his long-time friend.
"Point Seijo! 4-5! Their Serve"
"Don't get cocky," Iwaizumi retorted, though a small smirk pulled at his lips.
Akaashi quickly set up the next serve, keeping the tempo fast. This time, his pass went straight to Bokuto, who rose like a force of nature, his eyes set intently on the ball. Kindaichi and Matsukawa both jumped to block him, but Bokuto's spike split between them with lightning speed, rocketing past Naoki before he could fully react.
"HEY HEY HEY!" Bokuto yelled, his fists clenched with excitement as Fukurodani celebrated.
"Point Fukurodani! 9-8! Their serve!" Yoshio announced.
The teams continued to exchange powerful plays, each rally growing more intense, but with every point, the competition between Bodhi and Tatsuki grew fiercer. Bodhi's presence on the court was like an unstoppable force, his spikes striking like thunderclaps that rattled Fukurodani's defense. Yet Tatsuki, undeterred, found his rhythm. As wild and crazy as Bodhi could be Tatsuki found it easy to find it. He'd anticipated Bodhi's signature spikes, positioning himself right where he needed to be.
A serve from Oikawa sent the ball over to Fukurodani's court, but in an uncharacteristic move, it hit the top of the net, making it an easy receive for Akaashi where he did a first toss touch set to Bokuto. Just as Bokuto approached for the hit, Naoki prepared himself, eyes locked on the ball. But at the last moment, Bokuto feigned, sending a short set over to Tatsuki instead. Tatsuki, with a sharp grin, betraying his usual stoicism, took to the air and drove the ball over the net with precision, his eyes meeting Bodhi's mid-swing.
In an instant, Bodhi surged forward, diving to receive. His hands connected with the ball in a controlled bump, sending it back up in a high arc. Oikawa, ready and waiting, positioned himself perfectly ready to set it to whoever, Bodhi who recovered quickly, sent out an aura demanding the ball be sent to him. Oikawa not one to back from a challenge sent the ball his way.
Tatsuki saw it coming and jumped, his arms raised to block. Their eyes met across the net, and for a heartbeat, the air around them seemed to thrum with the unspoken desire to crush one another. Bodhi swung with immense power, the spike carrying his usual ferocity befitting the Maverick, but Tatsuki, the immovable middle blocker of Fukurodani held firm and met him in mid-air, arms high and fingers stretched wide.
"RAAHHH!" Bodhi yelled as his hand made contact with the ball.
"HAAAA!" Tatsuki yelled back, the ball Bodhi hit was repelled back with just as much force if not more as the ball compacted against Seijo's side.
As Bodhi heard the ball make contact with the floor his eyes met Tatsuki's once more and he grinned, adrenaline coursing through him as he realized just how much Tatsuki had improved.
"Not bad, Tatsuki!" he called, his voice full of respect. "But don't think you've got me beat yet."
"14-13! Fukurodani!"
They continued this push and pull, each vying for dominance. Bodhi's next spike was angled sharply, just skimming the inside line, out of Tatsuki's reach, earning Seijo another point. But Tatsuki wasn't giving up; with every attack, he found new ways to respond, digging deep into his arsenal of moves. His blocks became more precise, his jumps higher, as he grew more determined to counter every one of Bodhi's hits, adapting to the Maverick with every toss.
Fukurodani served again, and this time Akaashi sent the ball high for Akinori, but Maki and Matsukawa were there to intercept. Matsukawa's fingers brushed the ball, slowing it just enough for Naoki to scramble and dig it out with a last-second save. Oikawa ran to the ball out of position and with his phenomenal play he sent the ball to Bodhi.
Bodhi leapt, a split-second decision as he read Tatsuki's positioning. He angled his wrist, sending the ball on a powerful cross-shot. Tatsuki, despite his best efforts, was a fraction too late. The ball rocketed down past his reach and hit the court with a heavy slam.
"YEAHHH!" Bodhi yelled at the top of his lungs as he slammed another one past Tatsuki.
"The next ones mine!" Tatsuki confirmed, his usual calm and stoic demeanour melting away completely, as one of drive and ferocity replaced it. His back a shining pillar of support for Fukurodani who hadn't expected Seijo to give them this much trouble.
"18-17! Seijo! Their serve!"
Coach Yamiji finally understood what drove Tatsuki since coming back from his vacation last year. This Bodhi Hamada was truly a special kind of player, his power and skill easily rivalled Bokuto's if not surpassed it. But the same could be said for Tatsuki, he had always had high hopes for him. He was a middle blocker with phenomenal skill but never had that drive to surpass his limits and reach the next level, maybe it had something to do with Bokuto overshadowing him, but he didn't believe Tatsuki to be that shallow, but when he came back…It was like he had been possessed.
Demanding extra practice from his teammates, Bokuto in particular who had been in slump since being ousted from a top 3 ace, had found his drive again in his daily battles with Tatsuki who had truly become a masterful Middle Blocker, no doubt the best he's ever coached.
And it all started because of him, Bodhi Hamada.
As the set drew closer to an end, the tension on the court was palpable. Each team had reached their limit, but no one was backing down. The score was 25-24 with Seijo in the lead, and Fukurodani ready to serve. Despite their best efforts, Bodhi seemed to be getting stronger and stronger as the match went on, Tatsuki though was keeping up with him, blocking just as many spikes as Bodhi made, but the real difference came when Bokuto hit his slump and destabilized their offence.
Sarukui tossed the ball, his gaze calm and steady, and sent it over with pinpoint accuracy. Kindaichi received it cleanly, passing it to Oikawa, who quickly set it for Bodhi.
Bodhi soared, his muscles coiled with intent, and for an instant, the entire gym held its breath. But just as Bodhi swung, Tatsuki was there again, eyes blazing with fierce concentration. He timed his jump perfectly, his hands reaching high above the net to intercept Bodhi's spike.
Bodhi's strike collided with Tatsuki's hands, but this time, Tatsuki held his ground. The ball hovered momentarily between them, the power of Bodhi's spike meeting the resistance of Tatsuki's block in a clash of sheer force. For a brief second, they were locked in a deadlock, each pushing against the other's strength. But then, Tatsuki surged forward, forcing the ball down.
Seijo scrambled as the ball fell, Maki diving to reach it. His fingertips grazed the ball, bumping it up just enough for Oikawa to get under it and without hesitation send another one to Bodhi, who was ready and waiting once more.
With a fierce roar, Bodhi launched himself into the air, determined to break through Tatsuki's block this time. He adjusted his aim at the last moment, angling the spike to the far corner, just beyond Tatsuki's reach. Tatsuki jumped again, extending his arms, but Bodhi's power was too much, and the ball shot past him, hitting the floor with a thunderous smack.
The gym erupted as Seijo clinched the final point, sealing the match at 26-24. The players exchanged weary smiles and nods, exhausted but exhilarated. Bodhi and Tatsuki approached the net, both breathing heavily but filled with respect for each other's skill.
"Looks like you've been working hard," Bodhi said, clapping Tatsuki on the shoulder.
Tatsuki grinned back, his pride evident. "I'll beat you next time, count on it."
The match had ended, but their rivalry was far from over. As they left the court, both were excited for the next match that would inevitably come, after all, they would play each other again at this camp and the next.
Author Note:
Alright, I tried something different this time, I though I may try and streamline this match some and got some help from a friend to write it. Lemme know if you like this or what I did before more, I can alternate too, have the main matches be more detailed and slower paced, and the training camp ones be quicker.
Till next time!
-Daedalus19
P.S.. I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday next week so if there isn't a chapter it's because of that!
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