Yuuto's Frustration
The shrill sound of the referee's whistle cut through the tense atmosphere. Another timeout.
Misaki High had lost three points in a row, all due to Kenjiro's deceptive attacks.
Yuuto stormed toward Renji, frustration written all over his face.
"What are you doing?" he snapped.
Renji stiffened.
"You're hesitating," Yuuto continued, eyes narrowing. "Second-guessing yourself."
Renji exhaled sharply. "I'm trying, but—"
"Defense isn't just about reacting," Yuuto cut him off. "It's about being bold. If you play scared, we'll lose."
Renji flinched at the harsh words. He knew Yuuto was right.
But it wasn't that simple.
Asuka stepped between them, her expression firm. "Hey, fighting isn't going to help. We need to adjust."
Yuuto clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Coach Fujimoto walked over, his voice calm yet commanding.
"Seiyo is using Kenjiro's fakes to break our Umbrella Formation. They're forcing Renji to second-guess his positioning."
Renji looked down, gripping the hem of his jersey.
"I've been reading his spikes wrong," he admitted.
Coach Fujimoto nodded. "That's because Kenjiro has improved. He's using subtle movements to disguise his real attacks. Instead of reacting to his power, focus on his setup—his approach, his body language, his wrist movement. That's where the real tells are."
Renji swallowed hard. He had been playing defensively, but defense wasn't just about waiting—it was about taking control.
He had to change his mindset.
"We're shifting your positioning slightly," Coach continued. "Instead of reacting after Kenjiro hits, you need to read him before he jumps. Trust your instincts."
Renji nodded, but deep down, the doubt still lingered.
---
The Game Resumes: Tactical Adjustments
The whistle blew, and the match restarted.
Misaki High adjusted their formation. Renji shifted his position slightly forward, narrowing the space Kenjiro had to work with.
The next rally began.
Seiyo's setter tossed a perfectly timed ball to Kenjiro.
This time, I won't let him trick me.
Kenjiro leapt, his eyes locked onto the ball.
Renji studied him closely.
Where's the tell? His approach… his swing…
Then—
Kenjiro's wrist flicked at the last second.
Fake.
Renji started moving toward the soft drop zone—but then, at the very last moment—
Boom!
Kenjiro went full power instead.
The ball rocketed past Misaki's block. Renji flinched, barely shifting his weight in time.
It was too late.
Point, Seiyo.
The crowd roared.
Renji clenched his fists.
He had seen the fake. He had tried to react.
But he was still too slow.
Yuuto sighed heavily but didn't say anything this time.
The weight of the game pressed down harder than ever.
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End of Chapter 35
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To Be Continue