Kitagawa Daiichi's coach just gave some instruction from the sidelines.
The referee whistled to continue the match.
Haruto stepped up to serve. He served a simple overhand serve. The ball flew towards Kitagawa Daiichi's court.
This time Kunimi was ready to receive. He received the ball cleanly and passed it to Kageyama. Kageyama quickly analyzed both the opposition's and his own team's positioning. He quickly assessed the situation and delivered a perfect set towards the right side of the court.
Assessing the set up, Kirito and Ren both put up a double block.
Kitagawa Daiichi's middle blocker performed a spike towards Ren's side.
"One touch." Ren shouted.
Haruto quickly passed the incoming ball to Sato who set up the ball to Kirito, who was already in motion from the right side of the court.
Kindaichi and Kageyama both set up a double block.
Kirito approached towards the ball and planted his foot firmly in the ground and vaulted like a spring into the air.
In the air, he looked into Kitagawa Daiichi's double block and court and saw the back row's corners were slightly open, so, using that gap as his hit point, with a picturesque form, hammered the ball with force, ignoring the block.
BOOOM!
"Spike over the block!"
The ball demolished in an instant and landed cleanly near the edge of the court. The line referee, seeing the ball being landed inside the court, gave the point.
[Izumitate 3 - 6 Kitagawa Daiichi]
"Tch." Kindaichi clicked his tongue in frustration.
Kageyama also had an annoyed look written all over his face.
Izumitate were now 3 points behind Kitagawa Daiichi.
Haruto again stepped up to serve. He did a basic overhand serve. The ball flew into Kindaichi.
Kindaichi passed the ball to Kageyama, who set it to Kunimi. He made the approach and jumped to spike.
Kirito jumped to block Kunimi. A solo block.
Kunimi hit the ball but was quickly denied by Kirito. The ball hit Kirito's arm and went back into Kitagawa Daiichi's court.
"Block point."
[Izumitate 4 - 6 Kitagawa Daiichi]
Haruto performed basic overhand spike again.
Kitagawa Daiichi's libero received the ball and passed it to Kageyama. He set the ball towards middle and immediately all the four players of Kitagawa Daiichi jumped in unison. Kindaichi hit the ball towards Kira.
Kira received it cleanly and passed to Sato.
"Tch." Kindaichi grumbled.
Sato set the ball to Ren this time, to conserve Kirito's stamina.
Kageyama and Kunimi formed a double block.
Ren spiked the ball by lightly pushing the ball over the block.
"Tip shot."
[Izumitate 5 - 6 Kitagawa Daiichi]
Haruto once again stepped up to serve.
The ball flew towards Kunimi who passed it quickly to Kageyama. He passed the ball towards the back row, the middle blocker rose up to perform back row attack.
Boom!
Ren received it and passed it to Sato. He set the ball to Kirito.
Kindaichi and Kunimi set up a double block.
Kirito leapt and performed cross-court shot.
BOOM!
The ball landed in the far left side of Kitagawa Daiichi's court.
[Izumitate 6 - 6 Kitagawa Daiichi]
Haruto served towards the back row of Kitagawa Daiichi's court.
Kitagawa Daiichi's libero received the ball but suddenly the ball bounced off his arm.
"Direct Ace point."
[Izumitate 7 - 6 Kitagawa Daiichi]
Kitagawa Daiichi's libero laid in ground. He was gasping for air.
"Oi! I set the ball to you where you need, but why can't you score, huh?" Kageyama said angrily.
"Huh, are you talking to me?" Kindaichi responded back.
"Yeah you!" Kageyama said.
"What is your problem dude?" Kindaichi said.
"Look at them! The are already back in the game and already ahead of us in points." Kageyama said in grumbling tone.
"While look at us, playing leisurely!" he added.
"Oi! you are the one who is controlling the plays too strictly, why blame us?" Kindaichi shot back.
At that, they again started to quarrel.
But, Kitagawa Daiichi's coach quickly called for a timeout.
As the players were returning, he looked directly at Kageyama and Kindaichi. He sighed and said both of you will be subbed out.
"But-" Kageyama tired to protest but was cut-off by the coach.
"Rest for now and cool your head, Kageyama." the coach said.
"We need you there in the court soon, so cool your mind first."
"Kageyama is an extremely talented player, but due to his overwhelming ability and personality, he doesn't trust risky plays or sometimes does not give the set towards the designated spiker, even though the spiker could hit the ball." Kitagawa Daiichi's coach thought.
The coach sighed again and gave instruction to the other players.
The referee whistled to continue the game.
The game continued with many rallies and serve errors from both side.
[Izumitate 22 - 24 Kitagawa Daiichi]
Kitagawa Daiichi was the first one to reach at set point.
At the same time Kitagawa Daiichi's coach subbed in Kageyama.
Kageyama being fresh off the bench was brimming full of energy.
On other hand, Izumitate and Kirito were barely surviving, their chest heaving roughly, shirts clenched tightly against their body. When they saw Kageyama subbing in, they felt the imminent danger and aura coming from him.
Kitagawa Daiichi serves.
Kageyama closed his eye, took a deep breathe and opened his eyes. He tosses the ball upward and with his body coiling backward to generate power slammed the ball with great force.
BOOM!
Kirito and Sato tried their best to save the ball but the ball was too fast to receive it.
[Izumitate 22 - 25 Kitagawa Daiichi]
Kitagawa Daiichi wins the first set.
Kirito and his teammates returned to their benches but nobody spoke. It was quiet and silent. Kirito looked to them but could not utter words. This was their last dance in Middle School. They were so close to win it all but so far at the same time.
They had used every ounce of energy in the previous set. Now, they couldn't recover in time.
"If only I could unlocked those skill given from the system." Kirito thought.
The referee whistled to start the second set of the Finals of Miyagi Prefectural Middle School Tournament.
The match continued with high intensity, competitiveness, and higher stake than the first set.
But Kitagawa Daiichi climbed out to be the winner of the second set.
[Izumitate 23 - 25 Kitagawa Daiichi]
"Let us all congratulate and celebrate the winner of Miyagi Prefectural Middle School Tournament, Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High!!" the announcer said cheerfully.
"Now, let us congratulate the Finals MVP, Tobio Kageyama!" the announcer said cheerfully.
"Finally, let us congratulate the MVP of Miyagi Prefectural Middle School Tournament, Kirito Yagami!!" the announcer said with full of vigor.
Kirito had scored 15 points in the first set and 16 in the final set.
Kirito went towards Kageyama to congratulate him. Kageyama seeing Kirito coming to congratulate him, offered his hand.
"It was a great game." Kirito said.
Kageyama nodded at that.
"Next time, I will crush and obliterate you." Kirito added.
After saying that, he turned back and went to his teammates. Approaching to his teammates, he saw them sulking.
"Don't be too upset, boys." Kirito said calmly.
"Every game has a loser and winner. Today we just happened to be loser. Maybe next time we will be the winners" he added.
"Now, c'mon don't sulk around too much, doesn't suit you guys." Kirito said. Sato and others broke into smiles and began to laugh. A heartfelt and genuine laugh.
The heavy atmosphere was lightened slightly.
Then, the boys of Izumitate Junior High went to nearby restaurant and had a heartly meal.