17 Chapter 5.5: Chapter 5 Part 5

We won our first match with ease and were watching Amasawa-san's team. Nanase-san was the one in control of the match. Whether in offense and defense, her plays were a cut above, overwhelming her own teammates as well as her opponents.

"That Nanase girl flew under the radar, but isn't that one not as big a deal as we thought?"

"Indeed, I don't get the feeling that she is as skilled as we were worried she would be. I thought she was joking when she said she had no experience in volleyball, but..."

It was possible that she was deliberately holding back, but from what I could see, that didn't seem to be the case. She was better than those who simply couldn't play either offense or defense, but it didn't look like she would pose a threat.

However, after the match passed the halfway point, the situation started to change, bit by bit. Even Ibuki-san—who seemed to have been somewhat disappointed—started watching seriously. After not even 10 minutes of play, Amasawa-san was visibly improving. She was beginning to show glimpses of unparalleled adaptability and instincts that couldn't be explained as merely a result of high physical ability. Just then, Nanase-san scored a spike, bringing the match to an end.

"We'll come up against them after our next match. She might be even better by then."

"Even if that's true, experience from just a few games won't be worth shit. We'll win."

Being overly optimistic was dangerous, but in fact, Nanase-san was carrying the team, and so they won with Amasawa-san barely touching the ball. Naturally, we also won our next match, and—at 3:40 PM—it was time for the final.

In the Sports Festival, many rules were different from usual competitions, and volleyball was no exception. There was no serve rotation, any player could serve, and whichever team reached 10 points first or won the most points within 10 minutes would win. If the score was tied after time ran out, the team that won the last point would have the right to serve, and the match would be extended until either team scored one more point.

"The time has come to see how you look after you lose."

"Will you be satisfied with just the result of this volleyball match? Ibuki-senpai."

"First, I'll beat you at volleyball. And then I'll beat you in a fight."

"Ahahaha. I don't mind that way of thinking."

They refused to appreciate each other's efforts. Instead, sparks flew between them while we waited for the signal to start the match. Amasawa-san was disconcerting, but the one we had to be most wary of was Nanase-san.

"Just like the last match, I'm playing an attacker. I'm gonna smash every ball into their court," declared Ibuki-san, even more enthusiastic than before.

Although she had some difficulty controlling her spikes, their destructive power left nothing to criticize, and so I had no objections. When the final match began, Ibuki-san let her serve loose and took the first point. I hoped we would be able to ride on that momentum, but Nanase-san's spike immediately brought them one point back.

I expected it to be a close battle, but we had a slim advantage, and by the end of the opening, we had extended our lead slightly to 4 points to 2. Just like we had surmised, Nanase-san was evenly matched with me and Ibuki-san, but other than that, we seemed to be in a marginally more favorable position.

That all changed midway through the match. There were less than five minutes remaining, and with a three step run up, Ibuki-san leapt and spiked the ball. Amasawa-san appeared from behind the net, and the blow that had scored so many points so far was blocked—no, it wasn't just saved. Using the momentum of the ball, she slammed it straight down into the ground and into our court. The first-year team was awarded one point.

"What a shame~ Ibuki-senpai. Nanase-chan, what was this play called again?"

"A stuff block, I think. I'm not too familiar with it myself, though."

"There you go! I've already seen through your attack patterns, senpai, so you won't get through any more!"

"Fuck! I'll definitely make the next one!"

"Calm down. She just stopped you once by chance."

"Shut it. Make sure you pass it to me next time too."

And then, with the score at 5 points to 3, it was our turn to serve. It would've been nice if we could end it with this....

We couldn't go for a reckless shot, as according to the rules, if the ball went out the opposing team would immediately earn a point. And of course, if we aimed for a safer spot, they would return it. However, I decided to hold firm and passed the ball to Ibuki-san.

"This time—you're going down!!"

She shook things up with a two step run up, soared high into the air, and delivered her best spike of the day. The two first-years who jumped for the block couldn't even touch it, and the ball was falling in a straight line towards the floor. The one who stopped it from touching the floor was Amasawa-san. As if she knew exactly where it would go, she killed the ball's momentum with a clean receive and it floated above their court. Her golden hair fluttering, Nanase-san leaped and unleashed a spike towards Himeno-san.

Himeno-san froze. Kushida-san forced her way in front of her to try and receive the ball, but she could not control its power.

The first-year team was catching up bit-by-bit, and in the final stages of the match, we were neck and neck. It was six points to six. With only about two minutes remaining, if the match continued at its current pace, it was quite possible that it would end by reaching the time-limit.

"I'm taking the next one as well!"

Ibuki-san had been denied twice by Amasawa-san, but she was fired up to score this time. I directed our teammates to pass her the ball, and the game continued. As we exchanged a rally, Amasawa-san readied herself to go for a spike for the first time today.

"You're the only one I won't let finish this!"

Ibuki-san jumped up to block. However, immediately after, she saw Nanase-san coming up from behind Amasawa-san.

"Too bad~"

Amasawa-san smiled. She was a decoy. Right from the start, Nanase-san was going to hit the spike. Caught off-guard, Ibuki-san stretched her hand out for the ball, but she couldn't reach it. The ball was aimed at a sharp angle and—-was saved just before it hit the floor by Kushida-san, who slid to receive it.

"Ibuki-san!"

Everyone turned to Ibuki-san, and the first-year students rushed into defensive positions. Amasawa-san lay in wait for Ibuki-san's attack, a composed expression on her face.

"Don't fuck with—-!?"

Even in this difficult situation, she was aiming to force the spike through, but she couldn't find the right path. It would have been very characteristic of her to go for it anyway, but she gritted her teeth and switched to a toss. Out of consideration for Ibuki-san's determination, I used up the rest of my physical strength that I had been conserving until now. My spike slipped through Amasawa-san's block and flew straight at Nanase-san, who was waiting for it. Fatigue was setting in so she couldn't bump the ball up well, and it went flying out of the court. If she had been in perfect condition, she might have got it up cleanly.

In any case, the score was now 7 points to 6. With time running out, we had gained a one point lead. Whether we liked it or not, with about a minute remaining, it was our turn to serve.

"Right then, I guess it's about time I play for real~" said Amasawa-san, as if she hadn't been serious until now.

Ibuki-san served, but Nanase-san deftly caught up with it and defended. The ball lost its momentum and soared high into the air, and we stared at it as it flew to one spot.

"I'll aim for—!"

The unleashed volleyball roared through the air as it approached me at breakneck speed.

Despite being fully focused, I was slow to react. The moment I tried to reach out, the distance between me and the ball widened, and I couldn't make it. The sound of the ball violently striking the floor echoed.

"Out!"

It was a blessing in disguise that I was too slow to react and couldn't touch the ball. It landed half a ball's width outside the white lines that marked the inside of the court.

"Ahh. Sorry, Nanase-chan, I missed~ It's pretty hard to control it perfectly, huh?"

"We survived... But as expected, her potential is ridiculous..."

While I admired Amasawa-san's unfathomable ability and instincts, we had just survived by the skin of our teeth. The one point gap had widened to two. They took one point back shortly after, but the whistle soon blew, and Nanase-san—who had just set a toss—looked surprised. Amasawa-san was about to slam the ball to our side, but she landed on the floor without swinging her hand.

"Oh, time's up. It was just starting to get interesting!"

As if she had just been playing around, Amasawa-san didn't show the slightest hint of frustration as she praised her teammates' efforts. After a quick chat with Nanase-san, she left the court. Despite losing, they would also gain points for getting second place in the tournament. And we, of course, succeeded in acquiring the maximum number of points by taking first.

"I dunno, I can't really accept this... like, it doesn't feel like we won."

"We were pushed pretty hard at the end. I shudder to think what would have happened if there wasn't a time limit."

As the winners, we should have felt relieved, but we were instead left unsatisfied and depressed. Nevertheless, this was a huge victory, and it was a suitably fierce battle to conclude the Sports Festival.

When I came to, I noticed that there were a considerable number of spectators in the gallery, and they applauded us, albeit sparsely.