The Newbie's served.
Kirito stepped up to serve. He took in deep breath and closed his eye. When he opened his eyes again, a sharp glint formed his eyes.
He tossed the ball very high into the air and made the running approach. He leapt into air to perform a power/jump serve. When the ball was in it's apex height, Kirito reached to it and slammed the ball violently. The ball deformed with the contact.
The ball flew very fast and with power into the Regular's court. The ball dipped quickly between the front row and back row of Regular's court. Their libero Watari, immediately dived to pick up the ball, but the ball was too fast.
"Direct ace point!"
[Regular 3 - 5 Newbie]
Everybody came to celebrate with Kirito.
The Head coach was writing down enthusiastically.
Kirito again served with a jump serve. The ball violently arrived at the back row of the Regular's court. Hanamki tried to receive it, but couldn't properly receive the ball and the ball flew out of bounds.
[Regular 3 - 6 Newbie]
Kirito scores two consecutive points from serving.
Kirito was in a flow state. He couldn't listen anything from the surrounding. His whole concentration and mind was on getting the points for the team.
On the Regular's side, Oikawa was also in the flow state. He couldn't listen anything from his surrounding. He was only thinking about providing the best and precise set.
Kirito once again served with jump serve at full force. The ball was heading towards the back row of the Regular's court.
Iwaizumi quickly ran to save the ball. He saved the ball, but couldn't make the ideal pass to Oikawa.
The ball was heading towards the opposite side of the court.
Oikawa quickly ran and planted his one leg on the ground and violently twisted his whole body like a ballet dancer. With his hand already in the air, set the ball to Issei Matsukawa with extremely precision.
This set was not only created from a bad pass, but Oikawa created a beautiful, extremely precise set and placed the ball exactly where Issei Matsukawa could swing at his best.
Oikawa smiled and shouted, "Finish them!"
Matsukawa jumped to spike.
But, Kirito was already in air to block him.
Matsukawa fully avoided Kirito's hands and arm. He targeted Kunimi's hands to perform tool-shot spike.
Boom!
Smack!
"One Touch!"
Kirito immediately ran to save the ball heading out of bounds.
The ball was heading towards the bench and substitutes area.
"Clear out!" Kirito shouted.
Everyone quickly cleared out.
The ball was destined to land outside of the court near the bench area. But Kirito ran with all his might to save the ball.
Kirito slid on the ground. With his left leg tucked into the ground, he used his right leg to kick the ball back into the court.
The ball entered back into the court. But, Kirito couldn't save himself as he crashed into the nearby bench.
But, that didn't stop him. He quickly got up and ran back into the court.
Kunimi spiked the ball.
Libero Watari quickly received the ball and passed a perfect ball to Oikawa.
Oikawa quickly analyzed the blockers and his spikers.
He quickly gave a sign to everybody that he will perform a Third Tempo Set.
Everyone on the Regular's Team slowed down.
Seeing the set up, Kirito, Shido and Kindaichi also slowed down thinking it was Third Tempo Set.
But all of sudden, Oikawa spiked the ball with topsin.
Everyone on the newbie's side had their guard down.
The ball was landing towards the back row of the Newbie's court.
But as the ball was falling down, a hand slid under it and the play was on. Kirito, from front row ran back and quickly saved the ball.
Shigeru Yahaba quickly came and slowed down the tempo. But-
"Give me the ball!" Kirito shouted as he made a run.
Yahaba was not sure whether to set to Kirito, because he had been running everywhere. They had to conserve Kirito's stamina.
"Ball!" Kirito shouted once again.
"I can hear you!" Yahaba said in his mind.
Yahaba set a High Ball Set towards the the left side.
Kirito with his strides powerful at every step, flew in the air and spiked the ball violently.
Iwaizumi and Matsukawa quickly set up double block.
Oikawa stayed behind.
BOOM!
The ball spiked over their block.
Libero Watari quickly pushed Oikawa aside and received himself.
"Idiot! You have to set the ball, not to protect the back court!" Libero Watari shouted.
"It's my job to protect the back court!" he added.
Oikawa smiled at that and quickly set a Slide Set.
This set was aimed at the center to confuse the blocker. In the center, Iwaizumi and Matsukawa both jumped at the same time.
Kirito and Kindaichi were in dilemma on whom to focus and block.
"Go for Matsukawa-senpai!" Kirito said to Kindaichi.
"Ok!"
Kirito went to block Iwaizumi.
But nobody hit the ball. It was as if it was a wrong play. But no-
Hanamaki sneakily arrived behind them. Hanamaki spiked the ball easily with no blockers on him.
The ball landed squarely on the Newbie's court.
[Regular 4 - 6 Newbie]
After that point, everybody collapsed on the ground, the grueling rally finally ended with the Regulars scoring the point.
The Head coach was very proud of the boys. The intensity, the hunger to save every ball and keep the game in play was what he needed.
The boys were very proactive.
He was very happy.
Kirito lied on the ground and looked up in the ceiling. His chest was heaving up and down. His chest was burning, his throat were dry, sweat were pouring down from his hair and forehead, his legs were tingling with pain after the hit with the bench.
*CLINK*
Kirito adapted to that play.
*CLINK*
Kirito adapted to the pain in his legs.
He smiled. "Time to lock in" he thought.
He got up. Head coach Irihata called Kirito aside and asked, "Are your legs fine?"
"You got hit pretty bad. Want to rest in the bench for few minutes?" he asked.
"I'm fine, coach." Kirito said.
"Alright, go on. Show me your monstrosity." Irihata said.
Kirito smiled.
Oikawa was also drained. His whole body ached. After running everywhere and setting the ball with difficult positions and postures, it took a big toll to his body.
But, he wasn't finished.
At that moment, both Kirito and Oikawa locked their eyes against each other. Both of them smiled. They knew this was far from over.
The Regular's served.
The ball flew towards back row. Kunimi received it cleanly and passed to Yahaba.
Yahaba set a High Ball Set to Kindaichi.
Kindaichi with his 189.2 cm body jumped and spiked.
Boom!
Libero Watari, once again came to pick up the ball and passed to Oikawa.
"Nice pass!"
Oikawa set a Back set towards the right side of the court.
All players from Regular's team jumped in unison. Except for Iwaizumi.
Iwaizumi jumped later than everyone and spiked the ball with force.
BOOM!
Kunimi from back row, received it but didn't make the perfect pass. Yahaba quickly set the ball to Kirito. But, due to fatigue, accidentally set the ball low, almost at the net's level.
*CLINK*
Kirito immediately adapted after seeing the set.
His body automatically adjusted, made a perfect run and leapt into air.
The ball was very low. The blockers, Iwaizumi and Matsukawa was sure the ball will hit the net.
But, Kirito twisted his back and arched in an unnatural angle. His hips and upper body were in unnatural angle.
Concentrating his core, Kirito channeled all the power into his arms and hands.
His vein's bulged from his forearm to his hands. He generated maximum power in his hand and palm.
His arm exploded with power and slammed the ball.
BOOOM!
The ball landed straight to the sideline.
"Line shot!"
[Regular 4 - 7 Newbie]
"Holy Sh-, what is that spike?!" Oikawa shouted.
Both Iwaizumi and Matsukawa were shocked.
Everyone from both sides had a stunned face.
The set was very bad. If it was a normal spiker, he would have hit the net or made an error play.
But, Kirito just spiked with force in an unnatural posture.
That hang time, that body posture and the power behind that spike was disgustingly powerful.
Plays like this defines a players monstrosity, genius and what makes them stand out. Players who can score a point or make a play from absolute nothing, a literal zero to something beautiful, meaningful and changing that zero to one, are the things people are going to remember.
The beautiful set by Oikawa by twisting his whole body and giving a precise set to his setter who can swing at his best, was the kind of play people will remember.
This kind of players are special.
Kirito landed and flashed his smile to everyone.
"Hey, you brat! You are getting cocky!" Oikawa shouted playfully.
"Haha, can't help but make a scene for such a spike, you know!" Kirito replied.
"And you, Yahaba! Buhaha what kind of set was that?" Oikawa said.
"Sorry!" Yahaba apologized to both Kirito and Oikawa. Both of them instantly looked at Yahaba.
"Look at what you've done, Oikawa-senpai!" Kirito said playfully.
"You've made the innocent Yahaba-senpai apologize!" he added.
"Bohoo! You are such a bad captain!" Kirito said playfully.
"This brat! Just you wait. After this match, you are finished." Oikawa said.
"Yeah, yeah cheap talks from the 'The Great King'!" Kirito said jokingly.
"Ah! This brat! Come here!" Oikawa suddenly rushed to Kirito.
Kirito immediately ran haphazardly. He used everyone as shield.
Until, he came across a dark faced Vice-captain.
Thud!
"Ouch! That hurts, Iwaizumi-senpai!" Kirito complained as he got punched in the head.
"Goodness gracious! I already have Oikawa, who is pain in the ass, now another one has popped up!" Iwaizumi grumbled.
"Hahaha, how is the iron fist of Iwaizumi, huh? Do you like it?" Oikawa said teasingly.
Thud!
"Oi!, Why me!" Oikawa complained as he also got punched in the head.
"You were the one who started this in the first place." Iwaizumi said.
"What? Me?! Kirito was smiling smugly and acting cocky! I had to put him in place as the captain of the team!" Oikawa replied.
"We are in the middle of the match, idiot. At least finish the game. And, you can do whatever you want." Iwaizumi said.
Coach Sadayuki Mizoguchi whistled to continue the match.
The players were smiling and laughing at the commotion. The Head coach just sighed and scratched the back of his head. Now, he has two idiots in his team. If one was not enough, another one arrived.