I am truly sorry.
It hasn't even been an hour since our match against Tsurudome High, and now it's time for the next one.
Unlike last week, my body feels heavy, like there’s a weight dragging me down.
…This is probably my fault.
Inter-High Prefectural Qualifiers, Round 4
Matsubara Girls' High School vs. Tamaki Commercial High School – Match Start
BEEEEEP!!
""""""Let’s have a good match!!""""""
At the sound of the starting whistle, we line up along the end line and then run to the net to shake hands with the opposing team.
They’ve brought the full roster of 14 players, while we only have 8. Naturally, that means some of us have to shake hands with multiple people.
According to the tournament pamphlet, their 14 players consist of 6 third-years, 7 second-years, and 1 first-year. That first-year in uniform is Saya-nee.
But based on what I saw in their last match, she’s not a regular. Well, if someone could pull off such polished, high-level combo plays just two months after joining the team, that would be downright terrifying.
She’s probably a one-point blocker, making use of her tall frame—she must be close to 180 cm.
Even so, just being on this court is impressive. I spotted a few girls in Tamaki Commercial volleyball tracksuits sitting in the stands, which means players have to earn their way onto the active roster before they even get court time.
And now, that Saya-nee steps in front of me. Looks like she missed out on shaking hands with someone else.
"Yuuri-chan, you’re so mean. If you wanted to play volleyball, you could’ve just come to our school."
"Ehh, but Tamaki Commercial is too far."
It takes about an hour and a half to get to Tamaki Commercial from my house, using both train and bus. Matsujo (Matsubara Girls) is less than ten minutes away by bike.
Besides, it’s a commercial high school... and I’m planning to go to a four-year university.
"Still, you were amazing, Yuuri-chan. I caught a bit of your last match from the side. Your spikes and serves were like a guy’s!"
"Haha…"
"I’m a benchwarmer, so I probably won’t get to play this match, but—"
"We’re strong."
…Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?
BEEEEEP!!
The match starts with a serve from their side. The first one doesn’t have much power, but—
!!
It drops just in front of me!
I rush to make a receive, but I mess it up.
The ball hits my arm and flies off at a weird angle—a lame mistake. 0–1.
Their second serve.
It’s another lob, this time toward the left side of the net—more precisely, in front of me again!
Tch! I’ve got this—!
"Yuuri! Back off! I’ll take it!"
Yui-senpai stops me with a hand signal and receives it herself with an overhand toss to the setter.
Right. The serves themselves aren’t particularly powerful, but—
"Yuu-chan!"
Yui-senpai sends a perfect pass, and Hina connects it to an open toss on the left.
I’ll make up for that blunder with a spike!
Squeak, squeak—squeak!!
I jump more than a meter high—but—
!!!!
There’s someone in the direction I was aiming to spike.
There’s been blockers in my path before, sure—but this is different. The density is overwhelming.
It’s like they’ve mapped out every possible spot I could aim for.
But I have no choice—I have less than a second to swing.
BAM!
The ball makes a much softer sound than usual and rises back up into the air.
For the first time since joining the volleyball club, my spike was cleanly received in an official match…
(Author’s Note)
I looked it up—apparently you can register 14 players for Inter-High. I had thought it was the same as Spring High, where you register 18 but only 12 can play in a match.
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