Score: Nekoma 22 - 23 Itachiyama.
Ryuu stood at the service line. The echo of his last ace—the one that blew past Komori—still hung in the air.
He spun the ball. He looked at the Number 1 Libero. Komori wasn't smiling anymore. He was crouched low, his weight forward, eyes locked on Ryuu's shoulder.
'He's adjusted,' Ryuu noted. 'He knows I figured out the wrist snap. He's ready for the heavy top-spin.'
Ryuu tossed the ball high.
'If he's ready for the heavy spin... let's give him no spin.'
Ryuu jumped. He swung his arm with the same ferocity as before. Komori tensed, preparing to absorb a cannonball.
At the moment of impact, Ryuu locked his wrist and hit the dead center of the ball.
Jump Floater.
But because it was hit with Ryuu's massive strength, it wasn't a gentle float. It was a high-speed, erratic projectile that knuckled through the air.
Komori stepped up. "Mine!"
The ball looked like it was going to his chest. Suddenly, it dipped sharply to the left.
"Gah!"
Komori tried to adjust his platform, but the ball hit the side of his forearm. It shanked off, flying into the scorer's table.
Ace.
Nekoma 23 - 23.
"You're kidding," Komori muttered, staring at his arm. "He changed the spin? At that speed?"
Ryuu walked back to the line, looking bored. "Don't stare, Shorty. It's rude."
______________
Score: 23 - 23.
Ryuu served again. This time, he went for power.
Komori was ready. He moved his feet brilliantly, absorbing the impact.
"Center!"
Iizuna set to Sakusa.
Ryuu was in the back row now. He watched Sakusa approach.
Sakusa didn't spike hard. He saw the blockers sealing the line. He snapped his wrist, hitting a sharp, nasty cut shot that landed just inside the 3-meter line.
Ryuu dove for it. He stretched his long arm out.
Ping.
The ball hit his knuckles, but it was too low. It didn't pop up. It Skidded across the floor.
Itachiyama 24 - 23. Match Point.
The crowd roared. Itachiyama was one point away from winning the match 2-0.
Sakusa walked to the service line. He looked at Ryuu, who was wiping dust off his jersey.
"Game over," Sakusa seemed to say with his eyes.
Sakusa served. A wicked jump floater targeting the seam between Yaku and Kai.
Kai hesitated for a split second. "Mine!"
He bumped it, but it was tight to the net.
"Kenma!"
Kenma had to jump set. He couldn't use the middles. He had one option.
"Ryuu!"
Ryuu was in the back row. He was behind the attack line.
Three Itachiyama blockers jumped. They knew it was coming to him.
Ryuu took off.
'Match point. Triple block. Bad set.'
Ryuu grinned mid-air. 'Perfect conditions for a highlight reel.'
He saw the wall. He saw Komori in the back.
Ryuu swung. He used the new "Whip" technique. He snapped his wrist, hitting the ball over the block with immense top-spin.
The ball dove.
Komori read it. He was there.
But Ryuu had aimed for the very corner. The "Deep Cross."
Komori lunged. His fingers grazed the ball.
Thwack.
It hit the floor behind Komori's hand.
Nekoma 24 - 24. Deuce.
"Connect!" Yaku roared, pumping his fist.
Ryuu landed. He looked at Sakusa across the net.
"Not yet, Weasel," Ryuu panted lightly. "I'm still having fun."
_________________
Score: 25 - 25.
The game shifted gears. It became a slugfest.
Itachiyama played perfect, clean volleyball. Nekoma played chaotic, desperate, messy volleyball.
Rally at 26 - 25 (Nekoma Adv).
Ryuu was in the front row now.
Iizuna set to Sakusa. Ryuu blocked.
Sakusa hit a wipe. Ryuu pulled his hand back. The ball sailed...
...IN.
Sakusa had aimed for the edge of the line, not the block.
26 - 26.
"Tch," Ryuu clicked his tongue. "He guessed that I would dodge."
Rally at 27 - 27.
Kenma was gasping for air. He set to Ryuu.
Ryuu jumped. He saw the block. He feinted.
The ball tipped over. But Iizuna was there. He dove and popped it up with one hand.
"Counter!"
Itachiyama attacked. Their opposite hitter smashed it. Yaku dug it.
"Ryuu again!"
Ryuu jumped immediately after landing. His legs screamed.
'Technique,' Ryuu reminded himself. 'Don't muscle it. Whip it.'
He swung fast. He aimed for the blocker's shoulder.
Block Out.
Nekoma 28 - 27.
Ryuu landed, hands on his knees. "Die already," he muttered at the Itachiyama team. "Why are you guys so durable?"
The Climax.
Score: 29 - 29.
The referee signaled.
Sakusa was serving.
He bounced the ball. He looked tired. His bangs were plastered to his forehead with sweat. He hated it. He hated being this sweaty.
He served.
Yaku received. "A bit long!"
The ball flew over the net.
"Chance ball!" Komori shouted.
Iizuna set it. He looked at Sakusa. Sakusa was ready to kill it.
But Ryuu was at the net. He was watching Iizuna's hands.
'He trusts his Ace too much.'
Ryuu ignored the decoy middle. He stepped sideways.
Sakusa jumped. Ryuu jumped.
One-on-One.
Sakusa saw Ryuu. He saw the massive frame blocking his path.
'I'll spin it around him.'
Sakusa snapped his wrist for his signature curve.
Ryuu's Emperor's Eyes saw the wrist angle.
'Not this time.'
Ryuu didn't block the space. He attacked the ball.
He shoved his hands aggressively to the right, chasing the curve.
THUD.
Ryuu's hands smothered the ball just as it left Sakusa's hand. It was a complete shutdown.
The ball fell straight down on the Itachiyama side.
Nekoma 30 - 29.
Sakusa stared at the ball. He looked up.
Ryuu was hanging on the net, sweat dripping from his chin, a feral grin on his face.
"I found your head, Snake," Ryuu whispered.
Nekoma Set Point.
Ryuu rotated to the back. It was Kuroo's serve.
"One point!" Ryuu shouted.
Kuroo served. Komori received.
"Left!" Sakusa called. He wanted redemption.
Iizuna set to Sakusa.
Sakusa spiked. He hit a sharp line shot, avoiding the block entirely.
But Yaku was there. The Demon Libero dove.
"It's up!"
The ball flew high into the air. It was a chaotic scramble.
Kenma ran under it. He couldn't set normally. He fell to his knees.
"Ryuu!" Kenma set a high ball to the back right.
Ryuu was waiting.
He saw the ball. He saw the three Itachiyama blockers rushing to stop him. He saw Komori getting ready.
'Technique + Power.'
Ryuu took off from the back row.
He jumped. He felt weightless.
He saw the blockers' fingers. He saw the empty spot in the deep cross.
He whipped his arm.
CRACK.
The sound was like a gunshot. The ball flew with insane top-spin.
It cleared the blockers' hands by an inch. It dove toward the floor.
Komori lunged. He extended his arm.
The ball hit the floor before his hand could get under it.
BOOM.
The ball bounced high into the ceiling.
The whistle blew.
Set Count: Nekoma 1 - 1 Itachiyama.
(Score: 31 - 29).
The gym erupted.
Ryuu landed. He staggered a bit, then steadied himself.
He looked across the net.
Sakusa was standing there, chest heaving. He looked at Ryuu. Then, slowly, he pulled his shirt up to wipe the sweat from his face.
"Disgusting," Sakusa muttered, but there was no venom in it. Only the recognition of a threat.
Ryuu laughed, a dry, raspy sound.
"Yeah," Ryuu agreed, wiping his own face. "This is getting messy. I love it."
End of Set 2.