A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back! Sorry again for the long wait, but I'm very busy with work and other stuff. But every time I have some free time I use it to write all my fanfics.
Last chapter, Karasuno won the first match thanks to Noa's extraordinary performance. She needed to compete again to start finding the best version of herself. But who will the team be facing them? You'll find out in this match.
Enjoy the reading!
CHAPTER FOURTY SIX
The strongest contenders
She arrived early. The matches she was interested in were starting later, so, taking into account that she was already there, she decided to make the most of the time by watching the end of the first matches. She wasn't expecting to see anything special, but it looked like it was her lucky day because there was someone on Court B who caught her attention.
Perhaps she stood out more because the rest of the players were, in her opinion, rather mediocre and clumsy, probably because they were nervous from their first time at Nationals. However, she seemed versed in that type of competition. She could tell by the way she moved, the confidence with which she shot and the smile on her face as she played.
She couldn't take her eyes off her until the match was over. As the minutes went by, that number 10 was polishing her movements and adapting to the rhythm that the match demanded. And everyone on her team unconsciously followed her lead.
"I found gold," she muttered, almost gasping under her breath, and feeling excited. She wanted to see more, make sure that the number 10's performance wasn't mere fluke because she was exactly what she was looking for.
The team hugged Noa when she scored the winning point. They were not fully aware of what they had just witnessed, but they knew for sure that Noa had put the team on her shoulders and had taken the responsibility of pulling forward when the rest of them were making mistakes and inaccuracies due to nerves. They had not been able to train much with Noa, but they were convinced that those training sessions with Ushijima were responsible of Noa's top performance. And it was proably also what the coach wanted when she arranged those training sessions.
As the players gathered their stuff, Hatsue watched Noa curiously. She was sweating, but she didn't look tired, quite the opposite. She looked full of energy.
"Is something wrong?" Hatsue jumped a little bit when Noa spoke.
She shook her head no as a response. She wasn't sure if Noa's performance had been a mere coincidence or, from that moment on, they were going to witness the birth of a top player. In any case, she was glad to have someone like her on the team.
"Alright," Hatsue clapped to catch all her players' attention. "We're going back to the hotel because we have to prepare tomorrow's match. We are facing one of the strongest teams in the competition, Yabe High"
Everyone swallowed hard and nodded. Yabe High had recruited several good players in the past two years, reaching the semifinals of the competition two years in a row. It had very skilled players who always performed well on the court, but one name stood out above the rest.
"Shouji Rena. She's a second-year and she's Yabe's Super Ace," Hatsue explained.
They were all seated around the television in one of the meeting rooms of the hotel. The coach briefly paused the video just as Shouji was about to smash the ball. Her form was perfect. When Hatsue pressed play again, they saw the intensity of the shot.
"She-She knocked the receiver!?" Chizuko gasped.
"What an amazing shoulder!" Noa's eyes sparkled. "She can really hit using her whole body!"
"I heard that eight of every ten points Yabe gets are from her hits," Noriko mentioned.
"They say she can earn a point with every ball she hits, without fail…" Yoshino followed.
"Yes. To put it simply, she's considered the female Ushijima," the coach added.
Noa frowned. Well, that was saying a lot...
"What's more, Yabe has recently recruited Hayashida, the setter who got in the junior youth reserve," Hatsue continued. "So, this year's Yabe team has nobody to be afraid of in the tournament"
"Why our first match has to be with this kinda veteran team!?" Ayako groaned.
"Well, we could say that we are one of the unluckiest teams in the competition along with Karasuno's male volleyball team. They're also facing tomorrow one of the strongest opponents, Inarizaki"
"So, if we beat this Yabe team we'll bang on the table," Noa smirked.
"Here we go again…", Ayaka sighed. "Where the hell does this baseless confidence of yours come from anyway?"
Noa opened her mouth to reply, but Yui spoke first.
"We can beat them," everyone went silent and stared at their captain. "There's only one course of action. Let's see how strong we can make ourselves become. You've taught me that today, Noa-san. We can do it; we have to believe in it"
Noa felt a twinge in her stomach as she listened to Yui's words. She didn't think she had done anything special during the match. She simply had fun and started to find the best version of herself. But for some strange reason everyone seemed truly inspired by her.
In any case, Noa was not going to let a single good game go to her head. They had to make it to the quarterfinal at the very least and she was firmly convinced that they could beat Yabe High, however complicated that might be.
After finishing analyzing the opponent, the girls headed to the dining room to have some dinner. However, Noa excused herself and went to the hotel gym beforehand to stretch a bit and get some exercise, promising not to overdo it so that she would be in perfect condition the next day.
The gym was empty. Noa got on the treadmill and ran for about 20 minutes. Despite having just played a game, she still felt like she had a lot of energy and she needed to get it out somehow.
"You shouldn't exert yourself, especially when you have such a difficult and demanding match tomorrow"
Noa stopped. It was the same boy from the night before. He was holding out a bottle of water and a towel for her to dry her sweat.
"Thank you," Noa took them after hesitating.
As she took a sip of water, Noa looked at him out of the corner of her eye, full of curiosity. She noticed the name on the tracksuit the boy was wearing, Inarizaki. She knew that this team was staying at her hotel because the twins made a fuss about it during the morning. Apparently, it was a powerful team and, from what the coach had told them, it was the next rival of the boys of Karasuno.
"You're playing tomorrow against my friends," she said.
"Yes"
"So why are you helping me?"
"I'm not your rival. I'm just stating the obvious and it's that you must rest well to be in optimal condition tomorrow. You'll need it"
Noa frowned. That boy spoke very calmly, but something about him exasperated her.
"So do you"
"I know. I don't think Karasuno is an easy rival. But not everyone is like me"
"What do you mean?"
"Yabe High is a school which has some volleyball young stars. And I'm sure they won't take you seriously enough"
"How dare you!?" Noa was really pissed. Weren't they enough skillful for them!?
"If this manages to get the best of you, you're going to lose"
"What do you mean?"
The boy turned on his heel and started to walk away. Before walking out the door, he looked over his shoulder.
"Good luck tomorrow," Noa noticed a small smile on his lips.
Noa thought long and hard about that boy's words. Why wouldn't Yabe High take them seriously? They were at Nationals. All the teams were strong if they had made it to the competition.
The next day, during the warm-up for the match, a couple of reporters approached Shouji Rena. The Yabe High wing spiker was very tall and stout. Her hair was short and spiky.
She walked past and ignored the reporters. Her expression was serious.
"That's a volleyball star for you," Noriko put her hands on her hips.
The team completed the warm-up trying to be oblivious to their opponents. Yabe High captured the attention of most of the pavilion. The team was on average quite a bit taller than the rest of the Karasuno and, despite their height, they all looked very agile and fast. It was not going to be an easy match.
"Let us commence the competition!" exclaimed the referee, indicating both teams to line up on the court. As they did so, the Karasuno girls noticed that Shouji Rena remained on one side of the court.
"What the hell?" Ayako clenched her fists. "They're not sending Shouji out!"
"Not only her, but also their setter, Hayashida," Mayu pointed out.
"So basically what they're saying is, against our team, even with their top players sidelined, they're still more tan enough", Chizuko sighed.
At first Noa felt humiliated and furious. All their best players, every single one was benched. They were being underestimated. Yabe didn't even see them as rivals. So, at that moment Noa understood the words of that Inarizaki player. If she let the anger she felt take the best of her, it would only lead to mistakes. What she had to do was to prove Yabe wrong.
"Fine by me!" Noa snaped. "We'll drag them out onto the court!"
"Naturally," Ayako approached Noa and both bumped their fists.
"Yabe High versus Karasuno High. Let the match begin. Bow!" The referee ordered.
"Thank you very much!"
YABE HIGH
Inagaki (3rd year – WS) | Morita (2nd year – L) / Aomori (3rd year – MB) | Fujikawa (3rd year – MB)
Kimura (2nd year – WS) | Kugimiya (3rd year – MB) | Soma (3rd year – S)
NET
KARASUNO HIGH
Furihata (1st year – WS) | Harada (2nd year - MB) | Harada (2nd year –S)
Michimiya (3rd year – WS) | Shiraiwa – (2nd year – L) / Oka (2nd year – MB) | Nagano (3rd year – WS)
Karasuno was serving first. Noriko set up for a jump serve, but the hit was bad executed, and the ball hit the net, giving Yabe a point.
"Shit," Hatsue muttered. "This can't be happening again… We can't make these mistakes"
"Just in time." In the stands, one more spectator took her seat. She had discovered the women's team by chance the day before and was very curious as to whether what she had seen had been a mere fluke or whether she had witnessed the awakening of an excellent player. "They seem nervous."
"Wait, isn't she Sumiyoshi Nozomi?"
"I think so!"
If the two boys next to her intended to be discreet, they had not succeeded. She gave them a sidelong glance, causing them both to give a small gasp and blush at having been discovered.
Meanwhile in the match Kimura was ready to serve for Yabe High. The ball was received by Mayu. Ayako quickly tossed it for Noriko, but her shot bounced off the court. Second point for Yabe.
"Don't mind, Noriko-san!" Noa encouraged the Ace, knowing what those two initial mistakes could do to her. "We'll get those points back. I'm sure of that"
Kimura served again. The ball was again received by Mayu. Ayako quickly got under the trajectory of the ball. Noa moved quickly towards the net, luring the blockers, who fell for the decoy. Ayako placed the ball behind her back, where Yui was waiting in the air and finished off unopposed.
2-1
"Yesss!"
Ayako served. The ball was comfortably received by Yabe's libero Morita. Yabe set up their attack, but Ayaka touched the spike just enough for Mayu to dive in. Ayako quickly set up Noriko, who spiked from the back.
"See? You were only adjusting the gears," Noa chirped.
"I love your optimism," Noriko chuckled. "But you're right. We must show them what we are capable of"
From that point on, Karasuno started to work as the team they aspired to become. They had their opponents completely dominated, especially when Hatsue decided to take Yoshino out for Ayaka at the end of the first set to test one of the moves they had practiced so much during the last weeks.
"Two setters?" Sumiyoshi Nozomi frowned. It was a technique that required coordination among three players all close to the net, so mastering the tactic was very difficult.
Karasuno put the ball into play. Yabe received the ball and set up the attack, but Yui managed to receive the shot. Yoshino and Ayako switched positions, while Noriko was already jumping to finish it off.
"No!" Shouji Rena warned her teammates. "Number 2 is not the one!"
Shouji was right. Noriko had indeed fooled the defense. Yoshino was the setter, while Ayako spiked.
"Two setters, huh? That ain't bad!" Someone shouted from the stands.
Hatsue smiled and crossed her arms. One more point and they would have the first set in the bag.
Karasuno served again and the team managed to stop Yabe's attack again. Yoshino was the one who set up the ball, but not to Ayako, but to Noa. The first-year hit the ball hard, sneaking it between the arms of the blockers and adjusting the shot to the edge of the field line.
The referee blew the whistle. Karasuno had won the first set.
"They won a set to Yabe High!" The crowd roared.
Noa hugged her teammates, but before returning to the bench, she gestured to Shouji Rena, daring her to come out. Yabe's Ace narrowed he reyes.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Hayashida crossed her arms. "This mess of a team can't pull off a kind of high-class technich such as two-setters"
"Exactly. How many points do you intend to give up to Karasuno?" Yabe coach scolded them. "We gave them the first set! You should have taken this team down easily!"
"But, coach, we just couldn't tell who was gonna hit. They blind-sided us"
"Hayashida, I'm sending you out," the coach informed.
"And what should Shouji do?"
"This isn't something to bother Shouji with. We'll settle the second set in five minutes"
"Member change for Yabe High," the referee informed.
"They actually managed to get their regular setter onto the court!" Someone in the stands said.
Yes, but they are still understimating Karasuno, Sumiyoshi Nozomi thought. And they're gonna pay for it.
The second set started with a Yabe's serve. The team quickly set up the attack after receiving Chizuko's spike. Or so Karasuno thought because the setter made a feint, fooling everyone and scoring the first point for Yabe.
"Dammit!" Ayako gritted her teeth, unable to prevent the ball from touching the floor.
Yabe served. Yui received it, but the ball shot out into Yabe's half, giving them a chance to attack again. Fujikawa, the middle blocker, spiked. Ayaka tried to cover the ball, but she couldn't get there in time. However, Mayu managed to save the ball and lift it into the air.
"Go!" Yoshino and Tomone shouted to encourage their teammates.
Noa moved parallel to the net. Ayako quickly set up the ball for her and the first-year finished it off with a spectacular cross-spike that again drew applause from the spectators.
"I can't believe it! That number 10…"
"I think there's no way anyone saw this coming. Yabe's setter made a bold move trying to put some pressure on Karasuno with that feint, but it didn't work. Their star setter can't win Karasuno all by herself, they need Shouji"
Noa turned around and pointed her finger at Shouji. "Get out here, Super Ace!"
"That player is getting pretty full of herself," Shouji smirked.
"I'm calling Shouji up!" The coach ordered the Ace to approach.
"Shouji-san!" Her teammates smiled as they watched her walk onto the court.
"I won't let things fall apart this early in the game. We're taking the National Championship this year"
The referee blew the whistle. "Karasuno! Time out!"
"Why did you have to provoke them to call Shouji out!" Ayako tried to kick Noa, but she dodged it.
"Because I want to win Yabe High at their best! People say she's like Ushijima-san and I want to see it myself!"
"Well, I was expecting them to call Shouji up sooner or later," the coach said. "From now on, her presence in the game will make tough to keep the point spread close. If we don't clamp down here…"
"Don't worry, coach. We'll figure it out," Yui smiled and everyone nodded.
As they moved back onto the court, they realized that, because of their position, Noa and Shouji would be at each other's throats for most of the match. It was going to be an interesting duel to watch.
Karasuno served and Yabe received. Hayashida set up the ball to Shouji. Noa and Ayaka jumped together to stop the spike, but it went through the barrier and hit Mayu, who fell backward from the impact.
"Mayu-san!" Yui exclaimed, worried.
"It was so fast I couldn't see it," the libero stood up.
Noa frowned. No way… I know it hit my block, but I couldn't stop the force of the ball.
"Here comes again!" Ayako warned, going to help block Noa and Ayaka in the next move.
"It's useless," Shouji spiked full of force.
"Right on the end-line! That's Yabe's Super Ace!"
What they had seen of Shouji in the taped matches was not comparable to experiencing it firsthand. No matter what kind of toss she received, she always finished with maximum power and always scored.
"At this rate Yabe's gonna win easy the second set!" Tomone moaned.
"I know our teammates' fighting spirit isn't gone, but they need to keep up. This second set might be lost, but we still have a third one," Yoshino said.
"She's coming! The right!" Yui warned.
"Shouji-san!" The setter set up the ball again for Shouji, who finished it off with a straight shot.
"It's going for the end-line again!"
"Just how many times are you gonna throw that same shot in our faces!?" Mayu dived in and lifted the ball.
"Chance ball!" Hatsue, Yoshino and Tomone shouted.
Noriko set up the ball as best she could. The height was not good, but Noa had to try to score.
"Going for a hit this late? The ball's coming all the way from the back!"
Noa crossed the shot to the right, in an unnatural position, but giving it enough force so that it could not be received by any member of the opposing team.
"How did you do that, Noa-san!?" Noriko tapped her back.
"They might have a Super Ace, but we are still gonna put a fight"
Next, Yabe managed to surprise Karasuno with a combination play between Hayashida and Inagaki, taking the second set. But it was clear to Karasuno that they could not give up. They had beaten a team like Yabe in the first set and had fought through the second set. They were not going to give up so easily.
11-8
"Aim for their number 10"
Those were the instructions from Yabe's coach. Since half of the second set the serves and all the attacks were directed to Noa. And Yabe had not changed the strategy in that third set. In addition, because of Shouji's position, Noa always had to cover her and the height difference between them was also affecting her. Noa had to try much harder in the jumps to try to block her.
Yabe's coach strategy has won, Sumiyoshi Nozomi thought. Not only have they been pounding away at her for almost two sets, but she's had to deal with Shouji's constant scrutinity and blocking. Not to mention the servers have been also aiming at her. What a pity… That Karasuno's number 10 can't jump anymore.
23-19
"Noa-san…" Mayu seemed worried. Noa had her hands resting on her knees and was sweating more than the rest.
"The time out is over," the referee informed them.
"I'll change players-"
"No," Noa interrump her coach. "I can play. This is nothing. We will win no matter what"
"You need to rest!" Mayu exclaimed.
"I'll rest when this is over and it isn't," Noa turned around and entered the court. "I'm not losing to them, let alone that Super Ace. I've been training with Ushijima-san. I won't disappoint him"
Everyone exchanged worried looks.
"Alright, Noa-san is right. This isn't over," Hatsue clapped to catch the rest of the team's attention. "We can still win. The gap isn't that big"
Yabe served again and, as expected, it was aimed for Noa. However, Yui got in the way and she received it. The ball went up in the air and, trying to surprise their rivals, Ayako shot, but Yabe's libero read her intentions and received the ball.
"She's coming from the right!" Noriko yelled, warning her teammates.
Yabe made a quick attacking move and as expected the ball was going to be finished off by Shouji. Noa felt her knees weaken, but she gritted her teeth. She held on at just the right moment and jumped. She felt the ball hit the palm of her right hand, and then the dry sound of the ball hitting the ground echoed through the gymnasium.
"She stopped it!" The crowd cheered. "She stopped Yabe's Super Ace!"
"You call yourself a Super Ace, but you're nothing compared to him," Noa spat as she turned around to join her teammates.
23-20
"We are only three points apart," Tomone crossed her fingers. She wanted them to win.
"We can't afford to drag this set out. Noa-san is at her limit. She is taking on the full weight of the match," Yoshino added.
Karasuno served. Yabe attacked again using Shouji. Yabe's Ace spike hit Chizuko's fingers, deflecting the ball to the left. However, Noa showed good reflexes and extended her arm to lift the ball again.
The ball fell into Ayako's hands. The setter noticed that Noa had moved slightly away from the net to take a run. You'd better score, thought the sophomore. Noa set up for a cross-spike. She shortened the trajectory of her arm, giving less force to the ball, but preventing Shouji from reaching the highest point of her block. The ball bounced tight to the corner.
"There she goes again!"
"I thought she couldn't jump anymore. She should be axhausted," Yabe's coach wondered.
And she is, Hatsue smirked. But also, the more she is pushed, the more she knows how to bring out her full potential. Noa-san is like a monster, she feeds on all this and your strategy is leading her to grow and develop even faster as a player.
23-21
"YESSSSS!" Everyone shouted.
That point had been a blow on the table for Karasuno. They were standing up to one of the favorite female teams to win the tournament, they had managed to get their two best players on the court and, even so, Yabe was not managing to control the match.
Karasuno served again. The ball was received by Yabe. Kimura spiked, but Noriko managed to touch the ball.
"Deflected!"
Yui failed to control the ball, which flew forward. Kimura, who was still close to the net, quickly spiked again.
"Yui!" Noriko yelled. The captain dived in and lifted the ball into the air again, gritting his teeth.
Ayako set the ball for Noriko, but Morita, Yabe's libero, managed to stop the ball in time. Hayashida set the ball for Shouji. Ayaka and Noriko teamed up to block instead of Noa. Instead of doing a straight shot, Shouji did a cross spike, but Mayu was waiting and lifted the ball in the air.
"Noa-san!" Ayako yelled, tossing the ball for her.
Noa shouted, giving herself momentum, but her shot was met by Shouji's arm. Even so, the ball flew out of the court. Kugimiya ran, even jumped over the protective fence surrounding the court, but failed to return the ball to the court.
"Dammit!" Shouji cursed under her breath.
"Don't mind, Shouji-san," Hayashida tried to encourage her.
25-24
After much effort, they had managed to even the score, but Shouji's powerful serve had kept Yabe's lead.
Despite that point against them and the fact that it seemed that they would never get the lead in that third set despite their effort, no one in Karasuno was fazed. They returned to their positions as if nothing had happened, completely focused. And no one at Yabe celebrated that point either.
When Shouji served again, Yui took a step to the side and received. She felt exhausted, but she kept her arms steady, making the ball rise perfectly in the air, and then she landed on her butt.
"Come on… Get up!" She moaned, trying to make her legs work.
Ayako toss the ball to her twin, who spiked, but the ball was met by Yabe's libero Morita. Hayashida set up the ball to Kugimiya, whose shot hit the net.
Yui saw the ball land near her, but her legs weren't properly reacting yet.
I know that it's going to fall right there, but my legs won't move, she thought. And just then, she saw someone move out of the corner of her left eye.
"Mayu-san!" Yoshino and Tomone yelled.
Mayu dived in. However, the ball shot forward. Shouji, who was at the net, hit the ball and, despite the speed and force, Mayu managed to lift it back up again in an almost impossible position, bringing the crowd to its feet.
Ayako quickly got under the ball and tossed it to Noriko for a shot. Although the ball hit Yabe's middle blocker's hand, it hit the ground. Point for Karasuno.
"Oh my god!" Noa chirped happily.
"Let's go!" Noriko bursted out, full of determination and letting all the stress out.
On the other hand, Hatsue, Tomone and Yoshino sighed, almost having a heart attack.
25-25
Karasuno served. Morita received the ball and Yabe set up the attack. Hayashida tossed to Shouji. To stop it, Ayaka, Noa and Noriko jumped, blocking her straight shot. They knew that, then, Shouji would go for a cross spike and Ayako was waiting for it. The setter stopped the powerful impact with her forearms. Yui ran to prevent the ball from touching the floor and lifted it again. Noriko quickly spiked, but she was blocked. Noa ran and dived in.
"Chance ball!"
"Their number 2 is coming!"
But Ayako felt all her teammates move at once. She closed her eyes, activating her eagle eye and opened them again. The best option was her.
From the back, Noa jumped. She felt the ball come to her palm and hit it with as much power as she could muster. Morita dived in, but the ball flew backwards.
25-26
For the first time, Karasuno took the lead since they had won the first set.
"Karasuno member change!" The referee blew the whistle. Everyone, including Karasuno's players, were shocked to see Yoshino holding Ayaka's number, who was the one serving at the time.
"You can do it. You've practiced a lot," Hatsue gently pushed Yoshino, who swallowed hard.
She had already played her first minutes in the competition, but that time it was different. After much effort, they had the match point. Yoshino understood what the coach intended. If they won and eliminated a powerhouse like Yabe with her as the pinch server, they would be making their signature bid to be a team to be reckoned with in the championship. If they didn't score, they would suffer a hard blow, but Hatsue was confident they would bounce back.
Yoshino closed her eyes. I wanted to find a way to contribute to the team, she thought as she toss the ball in the air. I practiced over and over again.
"A jump float serve!" The crowd roared.
Yoshino focused, stopping her arm swinging the instant she made contact with the ball. The ball went over the net and straight to Morita, the libero.
"Got it!"
But as soon as she uttered those words, the ball suddenly dropped. When it hit the ground, everyone fell silent, unable to process what had just happened.
"Service Ace!" The referee blew the whistle. "Karasuno wins!"
"Yoshino-san!" They all ran to the third-year to hug her.
"We won!" Tears floaded from Yui's eyes.
"We're top 16!" Noriko hugged them.
"This can't be real," Hayashida muttered. "We can't be out of the tournament so soon"
"To be defeated is not always to lose," Shouji said. "We all learned a lot from this match. We didn't take them seriously enough"
"Shouji-san…"
"Line-up!" The referee ordered.
"Good game," Shouji mumbled when she shook hands with Noa. "Hope to see you next year because we're not going to lose"
"We'll see that," Noa smirked.
"Karasuno girls have won, but the boys have won too!"
"What!?"
"Yes! They've defeated Inarizaki!"
When Sumiyoshi Nozomi heard those two people sitting next to her say that, she burst out laughing. They must be all crazy at that high school to eliminate two of the favorite teams to win.
She stood up and went to one of the gymnasium's corridors. She waited patiently until she saw Karasuno's team members appear. They were already wearing their tracksuits and seemed to be looking for a place to massage their legs. In a few hours they would have to play another match that would not be easy.
"I wanted to meet you"
They all looked up and stared questioningly at the stranger. Her brown hair was tied up in a ponytail, but part of her face was covered by the cap she was wearing.
"My name is Sumiyoshi Nozomi"
"Sumiyoshi Nozomi?" Noriko blinked. That name rang a bell.
The stranger smiled and took off her cap, letting everyone see her face.
"S-She's Sumiyoshi Nozomi!" Ayako said in a pitched high voice.
"Who?" Noa asked.
"She's a World Champion!" Ayaka replied.
"What!?"
"You're right," she chuckled. "I played for All-Japan women's volleyball team, but I retired a few years ago because of an injury. I kind of hated volleyball when that happened, but all of you made me believe in it again. You're a team full of surprises"
"That's why you wanted to meet us?" Hatsue asked.
"Yes, but especially you," she looked at Noa. "What's your name?"
"Furihata Noa"
"Furihata Noa-san, you're such an extraordinary player. Keep going because I'm looking forward to what you have to show during this competition. I'm expecting great things from you"
"Thank you," Noa blushed.
"Are you their coach?" Sumiyoshi Nozomi turned around to spoke to Hatsue.
"More or less. I train them, but I don't know much about volleyball"
"That's what I thought!" Her eyes sparkled and everyone's sweat dropped. Sumiyoshi Nozomi grabbed Yui's hand, who blinked surprised. "Then, it's your lucky day. Let me be your coach!"
I have written a game in one chapter. I made this decision because I don't have thta many knowledge about volleyball and I'm not skilled enough at writing to make it too long. I also haven't been very attentive to rotations, so forgive me for being lazy af. I hope you still enjoyed the chapter. A new character has appeared. Will the girls accept Sumiyoshi Nozomi's proposal?
See you next time!