Start of Set 2.
Score: 0 - 0.
The whistle blew.
Ryuu walked onto the court, dragging his feet slightly. His legs felt like they were filled with wet cement.
"One set," Ryuu whispered to himself, slapping his thighs. "Just twenty-five points. I can do twenty-five points."
He looked across the net. Bokuto was standing there, but his "Great" aura was gone. His hair seemed slightly deflated (impossible, but it felt that way). His shoulders were slumped.
"Bokuto-san," Akaashi called out. "We are starting."
"Yeah," Bokuto mumbled. "I know."
The Game Begins.
Nekoma served. Yaku served a floater.
Fukurodani received. Akaashi set to the left.
"Bokuto-san!"
Bokuto approached. But his step was hesitant. He jumped, but not with his usual explosive force.
Ryuu blocked.
Bokuto tried to hit a straight, but he pulled his arm back, afraid of getting stuffed again. He hit a weak cross shot.
Dig.
Yamamoto picked it up easily. "Chance!"
Kenma set to Ryuu.
Ryuu didn't hesitate. He hammered a line shot.
BOOM.
Nekoma 1 - 0 Fukurodani.
Ryuu landed. He looked at Bokuto. Bokuto was staring at his hands, muttering.
"My cross was blocked... my cut shot didn't work... maybe I should try a feint? But feints are for weaklings..."
Nekoma 4 - 1 Fukurodani.
The game continued, and it was... awkward.
Fukurodani was a team that ran on emotion. When Bokuto was sad, the whole team played carefully, walking on eggshells.
Bokuto hit a spike into the net.
Bokuto served the ball out of bounds.
Bokuto bumped into Sarukui during a receive.
Nekoma 8 - 3.
Ryuu stood at the net. He should have been happy. They were winning easily. This was the break his tired legs needed.
But Ryuu felt annoyed.
"Hey!" Ryuu shouted through the net.
Bokuto flinched, looking up with sad, round eyes. "Huh?"
"Are you depressed?" Ryuu asked bluntly.
"I'm not depressed!" Bokuto argued weakly. "I'm just... recalibrating! You blocked my special shot!"
"So?" Ryuu rolled his eyes. "I blocked Sakusa too, and he didn't turn into a mushroom. Wake up, Owl. Winning against a depressed emo isn't a flex."
"Emo?!" Bokuto looked offended. "I'm not emo! I'm just sensitive to the flow of the game!"
"You're boring," Ryuu turned his back. "I thought you were a Top 5 Ace. Guess you're just Top 5 at sulking."
__________________
The team gathered at the bench. Bokuto was sitting on the edge, looking at his knees.
Coach Yamiji sighed. "He's in 'Dejected Mode'. It's early today."
Akaashi Keiji grabbed a water bottle and walked over to his captain.
"Bokuto-san."
"Akaashi," Bokuto whined. "Don't toss to me anymore. I'm useless today. Gojou keeps stopping me."
"I see," Akaashi said calmly. "So you're running away?"
Bokuto froze. "What?"
"Gojou-san called you boring," Akaashi said, lying effortlessly (well, half-lying). "He said Sakusa was a better rival because Sakusa doesn't give up. He said fighting you is like fighting a training dummy."
Bokuto's head snapped up. His golden eyes widened.
"He said that?"
"Essentially," Akaashi nodded. "Do you want me to toss to Konoha for the rest of the match?"
Bokuto stood up. A dark, intense aura began to radiate from him. It wasn't the happy "Hey Hey Hey" aura. It was pure, competitive rage.
"No," Bokuto growled. "Toss to me."
Akaashi hid a small smile. "Are you sure?"
"Toss to me," Bokuto repeated, cracking his knuckles. "I'm going to smash that Dragon's face in."
(Metaphorically. Probably.)
_______________
Score: Nekoma 10 - 5.
Nekoma served.
Fukurodani received. It was a bit off.
"Akaashi!"
Akaashi covered. He was at the 3-meter line. It was a tough position to set from.
Most setters would play it safe.
But Akaashi saw Bokuto calling for it. Bokuto wasn't shouting. He was just running.
Akaashi set it. A high, beautiful arc to the left.
Ryuu saw it coming.
'He's back.'
Ryuu and Kuroo jumped to block.
Bokuto took off. His jump was different this time. He hung in the air, waiting for the block to reach its apex.
Ryuu sealed the line. Kuroo sealed the cross.
There was no path.
Bokuto didn't care.
He swung his arm with such violence that his hand became a blur. He didn't aim for a gap. He aimed for the very edge of Ryuu's block—the pinky finger.
CRACK.
The ball hit Ryuu's finger so hard it dislocated the joint for a split second before snapping back.
The ball flew into the stands.
Block Out.
Fukurodani 6 - 10.
Ryuu landed, shaking his hand. It stung. Badly.
"Ow," Ryuu muttered, looking at his red finger.
Bokuto landed. He didn't celebrate. He pointed at Ryuu.
"I'm not boring," Bokuto stated, his voice low and raspy. "And I'm not a dummy."
Ryuu grinned, despite the pain.
"Finally," Ryuu cracked his neck. "The Final Boss music is playing."
___________
Fukurodani 8 - 10.
Bokuto hit a super straight that landed on the line.
Fukurodani 12 - 12.
Bokuto served an ace that knocked Yaku backward.
The Owl had woken up. And when Bokuto woke up, the entire Fukurodani team woke up. They were louder, faster, stronger.
Nekoma was holding on, but Ryuu was fading.
Score: 18 - 18.
Ryuu was panting heavily. His jumps were losing height.
"Ryuu," Kenma whispered during a huddle. "Your stats are dropping."
"I know," Ryuu wheezed. "My battery is at 10%."
"We need to end this now," Kuroo said seriously. "If this goes to Set 3, we lose. Ryuu can't jump for another 25 points."
"I can," Ryuu lied.
"You can't," Yaku corrected. "Your legs are shaking."
Ryuu looked at his trembling quads.
"Fine," Ryuu stood up. "Then we win in the next 7 points. No Set 3."
______________
Score: 23 - 23.
It was happening again. Another deuce battle.
Fukurodani served. Kai received.
"Kenma!"
Kenma set to Ryuu.
Ryuu jumped. He was tired. He couldn't hit over the block anymore.
Washio and Akaashi blocked.
Ryuu swung. He used the wrist snap to generate spin, aiming for a rebound.
Boink.
The ball hit the block and came back.
"Cover!" Yaku dove.
"Ryuu again!"
Ryuu gritted his teeth. 'Again? You sadist.'
He jumped again.
'I can't hit hard. I need to hit smart.'
He saw Bokuto in the back row, ready to dig.
Ryuu hit a short cut shot. A heavy cross that dipped sharply, landing in front of the attack line.
Bokuto dove forward. He got a hand on it.
Pop.
But it was too low. The ball didn't rise.
Nekoma 24 - 23. Championship Point.
The crowd was screaming. "NEKOMA! NEKOMA!"
Ryuu stood at the net. His vision was blurry.
"One point," Ryuu whispered. "Just one point and I can sleep."
Nekoma Serve.
Kuroo served.
Fukurodani received perfectly.
"Akaashi!"
Akaashi set the ball. He didn't hesitate.
"BOKUTO-SAN!"
It was the Ace vs. The Monster. One last time.
Bokuto jumped. He was fresh. He was powerful.
Ryuu jumped. He was exhausted. He was running on fumes.
Bokuto saw Ryuu.
'He's tired. His block is lower.'
Bokuto cocked his arm. He aimed to blast it right over Ryuu's hands.
Ryuu saw the intent.
'He thinks I'm done.'
Ryuu's Emperor's Eyes flared one last time.
He saw the trajectory. It was going over his head.
He couldn't jump higher. His legs were dead.
So he didn't try to block with his hands.
He timed it.
As Bokuto swung, Ryuu didn't reach for the ball. He simply... stayed there.
The ball flew over Ryuu's hands.
And landed...
... OUT.
It landed two inches past the back line.
Bokuto froze in mid-air.
He had put too much power into it because he thought he needed to clear a high block. But Ryuu hadn't jumped his max. He had jumped a "soft" block, making Bokuto overestimate the height needed.
The ball bounced.
The line judge raised the red flag.
"OUT!"
Game Set Match.
Nekoma Wins 2 - 0.
(25-20, 25-23).
The whistle blew. It was a long, piercing sound.
"WE WON!" Lev screamed.
Ryuu didn't scream.
He simply fell backward, like a tree being felled, and crashed onto the court. He stared up at the bright lights of the gymnasium.
"Gojou!" The team rushed over.
Ryuu raised a thumbs up from the floor.
"Tokyo..." Ryuu whispered, closing his eyes. "Conquered."