The Birth of A Volleyball Legend

For a moment, there was a long pause on the court as only the echo of the ball that started to disappear after bouncing on the floor could be heard there. Everyone was still in disbelief, either having their jaws dropped or even their mouth hung as they stared at the ball. They still couldn't comprehend the fact that this long and exhausting game was finally over.

As for Riku himself, the main preparator who ended this game was still panting heavily before turning around as if he was ready to go back for another play. In his mind, he still thought that there were a few points left that the team had to score before they had to win. However, he stopped immediately when Yuki, with his flushed face, grinning excitedly as if all the exhaustion his friend suffered was gone.

"What's wrong, Yuki?" He couldn't help but ask, curious.

"What's wrong? Are you fucking kidding me? You still ask me what's wrong here?! We win this fucking game! Fuck, your spike really seals the deal!" Yuki grabbed his shoulder, shaking it violently.

"Ah?! Really?!" Riku was stunned for a second, turning his head to see his scoreboard. When he saw the referee flip the team's score to 25, that was when he realized that Yuki told him the truth.

"Fuck?! We really win this game?!" He cursed out loud. Then, the excitement spread on his face too as he jumped around crazily, realizing that they had just won this game. "FUCK! WE WIN! WE WIN! WE WIN!"

That was when hell broke loose.

"OH, YEAH! THAT'S IT, TSUNEMORI!"

"COME ON!"

"HISTORY! HISTORY! HISTORY!"

As all the supporters on the stand roared wildly, some of the players also started crying. Kaede and Okamura, the two defensive masters of the team whose roles were often forgotten could be seen hugging each other, followed by Hirano who also came and hugged them silently. Meanwhile, Ogawa with his usual craziness also took off his sweaty jersey and started waving it without any shame. As for Asahi, the captain fell on the floor immediately, still couldn't believe that everything was real. At this moment, memories of every struggle that the team suffered this year suddenly flashed inside his mind, and tears started to fall down his cheek.

"We did it, huh?" He muttered, eyes staring blankly at the stand. "Senpai, we did it… We reached the top four of the tournament! We create history for the school! Hahahaha!" In the end, he also laughed crazily, not caring about his cool and aloof image anymore.

Yeah, except for Yuki and Riku who were newcomers on the team, the other players there had already had a sense of belonging to this team. Of course, they all were concerned about the team that always suffered in every tournament, always dreaming about standing on top of their favorite schools in Tokyo. When they entered the team for the first time, they all thought it was just a nice, unrealistic dream. After all, even their senpai didn't believe that they could do it. However, here they were, right now, with the two freshmen who carried their asses from the beginning until the end, creating history for the school and advancing through the top four of the prefectural tournament for the first time ever in any sport competition.

This was something that was worth celebrating for! That was why everyone was so emotional right now.

Meanwhile, just like any competitive game, when there was a winner, there would always be a loser too, and this time, it was unfortunate for Kikugawa High to be the end of it. Some of their players could be found lying on the floor, crying miserably as they lamented their fate, especially for the senior members like Suzuki and Tachibana. After all, this was the last tournament for those two in the high school because the next year, they had to graduate and go to the university. Somehow, every memory they had with the team, sweet and bitter, flashed in their mind, attacking them in their most vulnerable moment.

"So, this is the end, huh, Tachi?" Suzuki asked blankly.

"Yeah, our journey is over." Tachibana smiled weakly, tears falling down from the corner of his eyes. "I know something like this is going to happen, but when the time comes, it sure is a bittersweet moment, huh?" He snorted loudly, trying to fix his pitiful appearance.

After sitting on the floor next to each other for a few seconds, they both finally sighed before getting up from the floor. No matter how much they cried, it wouldn't be able to change the final result of the game. If anything, thinking about that would deepen their regret more, making it harder for them to move on.

"Come on, we are the seniors here. Let's show our best attitude toward our kouhai." Suzuki said, grabbing Tachibana's arm to help his friend get up from the floor. Even though the second boy was reluctant, he still did it, knowing full well that they still needed to console their kouhai.

However, to their surprise, when they turned around, the two senior members who were about to retire could see all the Kikugawa players bowed at them, some even sobbing silently on the line. With Kaito's command, everyone shouted together, "GOMENNASAI, SENPAI!"

Suzuki and Tachibana were stunned, not knowing how to react. "Oi, oi, this is not funny! Please, don't be like that!" The former begged, not wanting to cry for the second time in a row.

"Yeah, you guys! Why would you do this… Ah…" Tachibana didn't have the same reservation as he started sobbing again. "You bastard! You did it on purpose, right?! You want to embarrass us even in our last moment! You guys are really… Really… Really…." He lost his words as everything stuck in his throat.

Seeing this, Kaito didn't want to embarrass his senpai more so he stepped forward and bowed once again. "Sorry, Senpai! We know that this is your last tournament, yet we failed to bring you both to the highest podium! Even in your last moment, we still failed to help you beat the opponent! For that, we are so sorry!"

Suzuki and Tachibana were touched, trying their best to hold back their cry again. They knew apologizing was never Kaito's best forte, and bowing his head was something that the boy was always struggling with. Those two were always concerned that their kouhai would somehow offend a lot of people with his communication style and always reprimanded the boy about this. They didn't expect, though, that the first time they witnessed Kaito bowing his head would be for them right now.

"Hey, why are you so polite like that? You make us uncomfortable here…" Suzuki snorted once again. "Just… Forget it! Now, our era is over! Kaito, we will leave the team in your hands! Just make it stronger again and don't forget about today's humiliation! When you meet Tsunemori High again in the future, take revenge for us! Understand?!"

"YES, SIR!"