Start of Set 2.
Score: 0 - 0.
The whistle blew.
Kamomedai wasn't broken, but they were definitely cracked. Losing the first set by a wide margin had shaken their "Immovable" confidence.
Hirugami Sachirou stood at the net, wiping his hands on his jersey. He wasn't smiling anymore.
"Tighten up," Hirugami told his team, his voice clipped. "The big guy is winning the net. If we can't stop him, we slow him down."
Ryuu stood on the other side, rolling his shoulders. He looked bored.
"They're bunching up," Ryuu noted to Kuroo. "They look like scared sheep."
_______________
Score: Nekoma 5 - 2.
The second set didn't start with a struggle. It started with a beatdown.
Nekoma received. Kenma set to Ryuu.
Hirugami and Gao jumped. They tried to "soft block"—angling their hands back to absorb the hit.
Ryuu saw it.
'You want to absorb it? Good luck absorbing a cannonball.'
Ryuu didn't aim for corners. He swung straight into Hirugami's chest.
BOOM.
The ball hit Hirugami's arms, folded them back into his own face, and dropped onto the Kamomedai court.
Nekoma 6 - 2.
Hirugami landed, checking his nose for blood.
Ryuu looked down at him.
"Soft blocking only works if you're strong enough to hold your ground," Ryuu said flatly. "You're too light."
Hirugami frowned, rubbing his face. "You're just absurdly heavy."
"Eat more steak," Ryuu advised, turning away.
___________________
Score: Nekoma 12 - 7.
Hoshiumi Kourai was trying to carry his team. He was running everywhere, screaming for tosses.
"SUWA! LEFT!"
Suwa set to Hoshiumi.
The Little Giant jumped. He soared. He was eye-level with Ryuu.
Hoshiumi swung for a wipe, trying to target Ryuu's fingers.
Ryuu was ready. He didn't pull his hands back. He simply pressed them forward aggressively, cutting off the angle before Hoshiumi could finish his swing.
ROOF.
Ryuu stuffed him. The ball hit Hoshiumi in the shoulder on the way down.
Nekoma 13 - 7.
Hoshiumi landed, stumbling back.
"DAMN IT!" Hoshiumi kicked the floor. "Why are you always there?!"
Ryuu leaned through the net.
"Because I take up a lot of space," Ryuu said. "And you're very small. It's easy to accidentally step on you."
"I'M NOT A BUG!"
"Stop buzzing then."
___________________
Score: Nekoma 19 - 14.
Nekoma was cruising. They weren't fighting for their lives; they were putting on a clinic.
Kenma called a quick huddle during a dead ball.
"They're marking Ryuu," Kenma said quietly. "Every time he moves, Hirugami and Gao shift toward him. They're terrified."
"Good," Ryuu grinned. "They should be."
"I'm going to use that," Kenma said. "Ryuu, make a scene. Scream for the ball. Make them look at you."
Ryuu scowled.
"I hate being a decoy," Ryuu complained. "I want the stats."
"Do you want to win quickly or do you want to argue?" Kenma asked, staring at his shoes. "I want to go back to the hotel."
Ryuu sighed. "Fine. But you owe me apple pie."
__________________
Score: 23 - 18 Nekoma.
It was almost over. Kamomedai looked exhausted. Their discipline was fraying under the constant pressure of Ryuu's power and Nekoma's floor defense.
Hirugami was panting. Hoshiumi looked desperate.
Nekoma served. Yaku dug Hoshiumi's spike easily.
"Chance ball!"
Kenma moved under it.
Ryuu was in the front row. He started his run-up.
He stomped his feet hard. THUD. THUD.
He glared at Hirugami.
"GIVE IT TO ME!" Ryuu roared, pointing at the ceiling. "KENMA! I'M OPEN!"
It was convincing. It was loud. It was terrifying.
Hirugami saw the Red Giant charging. Hoshiumi saw the monster preparing to jump.
'He's going to kill it!' Hirugami panicked.
The entire Kamomedai block committed. Three blockers jumped in front of Ryuu, hands high, eyes squeezed shut, bracing for impact.
Ryuu jumped with them, swinging his arm like a sledgehammer.
But the ball never came to him.
Kenma didn't set.
He didn't even jump.
With a bored, almost lazy expression, Kenma simply flicked his left wrist.
Setter Dump.
Plop.
The ball dropped gently into the middle of the court—miles away from where the blockers were hovering in front of Ryuu.
Hirugami's eyes snapped open mid-air. He watched the ball fall. He couldn't move. He was helpless.
The ball hit the floor with a soft tap.
Nekoma 24 - 18. Match Point.
Ryuu landed. He looked at the empty net in front of him. Then he looked at the ball.
He turned to Kenma.
"You dirtbag," Ryuu laughed, though he looked impressed. "You made me scream for nothing."
"It wasn't for nothing," Kenma walked away. "It made them jump. Nice acting."
Kamomedai was broken. That dump had sucked the soul out of them. They had committed everything to stop the monster, and the brain had humiliated them.
Hirugami stared at the floor. "We got played."
Ryuu rotated to serve.
The scoreboard loomed over the court. Match Point.
The Kamomedai crowd was desperate. They were chanting, clapping, trying to will their "Little Giant" into a miracle comeback.
"KA-MO-ME! KA-MO-ME!"
Ryuu Gojou walked slowly to the service line. He held the ball against his hip with one hand. He didn't look at the net immediately. He looked up at the stands.
The cheering was loud. It was annoying.
Ryuu stopped at the line. He turned his back to the net for a second, facing the crowd directly.
He raised his free hand and cupped his ear, leaning forward as if straining to hear something.
The crowd faltered. What is he doing?
Ryuu shook his head, looking disappointed. Then, he turned around, facing the court. He spun the ball in his hands.
"You guys are loud for a team that's about to lose," Ryuu said, his voice carrying over the sudden hush.
He looked at Hoshiumi, who was trembling with rage and exhaustion in the back row.
"Hey, Seagull," Ryuu called out. "Watch this. This is what a real giant looks like."
He tossed the ball high.
The toss was perfect. The rotation was slow.
Ryuu took his approach. His steps were heavy, deliberate, rhythmic.
THUD. THUD.
He launched himself into the air. His silhouette blocked out the stadium lights.
And then he swung.
..
KABOOM.
The sound of his hand connecting with the ball was like a gunshot. The serve didn't curve. It didn't float. It was a straight line of pure kinetic energy aimed directly at the corner.
Kanbayashi (Libero) saw it. He moved. He planted his feet.
But his brain froze. The sheer pressure of the ball made him hesitate for a fraction of a second.
WHAM.
The ball smashed into the floor inches from the line, right past Kanbayashi's knee.
Service Ace.
Game Set Match.
Nekoma Wins: 25 - 18.
Set Count: 2 - 0.
The whistle blew.
Ryuu landed. He didn't roar. He didn't run around.
He simply stood there, hands on his hips, nodding slowly as the silence in the gym stretched out.
___________________
Nekoma lined up. The Kamomedai players looked shell-shocked. They hadn't just lost; they had been erased.
Ryuu walked to the net. Hoshiumi was refusing to look at him, tears streaming down his face.
"Don't cry," Ryuu said, leaning over the net. "You did good for a short guy."
Hoshiumi snapped his head up. "I HATE YOU!"
"I know," Ryuu grinned. "Get in line."
He moved to Hirugami. The "Immovable" blocker looked tired.
"Good game," Ryuu said. "You made me sweat. A little."
Hirugami sighed, shaking Ryuu's hand. "You're a natural disaster, Gojou-kun. Please graduate quickly."
"I've got two more years," Ryuu winked. "See you next tournament."
_________________
Nekoma walked off the court, towels draped over their heads, the adrenaline finally fading into a dull ache in their muscles.
They were in the Finals.
As they exited the court area and entered the staging tunnel, they ran into the next gladiators.
Fukurodani Academy.
They were lined up, waiting to run out for the second Semifinal match against Itachiyama Institute.
Bokuto Koutarou was bouncing on his toes, his golden eyes wide and electric. Beside him, Akaashi looked like he was mentally preparing for war.
Bokuto saw Ryuu. He stopped bouncing.
"DRAGON-KUN!" Bokuto shouted, pointing a finger. "YOU WON! I SAW THE ACE! BOOM!"
Ryuu wiped his face with a towel.
"Yeah," Ryuu said. "I cleared the path. The Seagulls are cooked."
Ryuu looked at Bokuto. The usually goofy Ace had a different energy today. He was vibrating, but it was a focused frequency.
"You're up next," Ryuu noted. "Itachiyama."
"SAKUSA!" Bokuto yelled the name like a battle cry. "I'M GONNA CRUSH HIM! I'M GONNA HIT SUPER CROSS SHOTS!"
"Bokuto-san," Akaashi warned softly. "Save the energy for the court."
Ryuu stepped closer to Bokuto. He towered over him slightly, but Bokuto's presence was massive.
"Hey, Owl," Ryuu said, his voice dropping the mocking tone for a second.
"What?" Bokuto blinked.
"Don't lose," Ryuu said seriously. "I want to beat you in the finals. Beating Sakusa twice is boring. I want to break your streak."
Bokuto's grin widened until it looked painful.
"HAHAHA! DON'T WORRY!" Bokuto slapped Ryuu's shoulder hard enough to leave a mark. "I'M IN TOP FORM! TODAY IS THE DAY OF THE OWL!"
"Good," Ryuu smirked, walking past him toward the locker rooms.
As he passed Akaashi, he paused.
"Keep him aimed at the court, Akaashi," Ryuu whispered. "Sakusa isn't Kamomedai. If Bokuto blinks, he dies."
Akaashi nodded, his face grim. "I know."
"LET'S GOOOOO!" Bokuto screamed, sprinting out of the tunnel and onto the court, the roar of the crowd welcoming the next battle.
Ryuu stopped at the tunnel entrance. He turned back to watch for a second.
On the other side of the net, the yellow and green jerseys of Itachiyama were walking out.
Sakusa Kiyoomi walked onto the court. He looked calm. Sterile. Perfect.
Ryuu's eyes narrowed.
"Show me," Ryuu whispered to the empty tunnel. "Show me why you're the King of Nationals, Sakusa."