When We Crossed Paths

Chapter Ten: The Roar Of The Crowd

It was summer. I was sweating. Panting. Exhausted. 11 other boys breathing loudly. 
There was chanting and cheering on the edges of the court.
It was a tense moment. We were only 1 point away. Get it and we would win.

This was the finals of the summer championships. Winning this would be a great end to the summer. It would be a crowning moment for me. My years of hard work. All that training with Nishimura would have been worthwhile. I hoped I was making him proud.

I looked over at the crowd. I could see him cheering. He was standing next to our schools cheer squad, holding a makeshift sign with my name on it. It was so cute. I loved it. Maybe even more than the chance of winning the championship. Again, if he was my boyfriend, it would be so romantic. My boyfriend cheering me on.

*sigh* If only...

The ringing of the referee's whistle sounded. This was it. All my concentration was focused on this single moment. It could fall to me. I was the Outside Hitter and if the setter sent it my way, it would be my responsibility to get the point.

Our opponents had the ball. The server took a moment to prepare themselves.

With determination and a slight sense of desperation in his eyes, the server throws the ball into the air and slams it with his hand, hurling down the court, and over the net. Our Libero received the serve with such strength and accuracy to pass it to our Setter. He sent the ball high into the air towards me. This was it. My moment. I get this right and we win.

It was a little strange. It was as though time slowed down. I could see the ball floating in the air, waiting for me. I did a running jump. Even that felt like slow motion. It was super weird. As I was in the air, everything was clear. People gasped as I took my shot. My hand slamming against the ball with all the strength I could muster.

It sped past the players attempting to block it and smacked against the floor.

There was silence. The only sound in that moment was me landing back onto the ground. Then the referee blew the whistle and the entire court erupted.

My teammates cheering and highfiving each other. Our cheer squad chanting my name. I was shocked. Me. I got us the winning point. I honestly couldn't believe it. I couldn't move. My teammates patted me on the back, congratulating me, but I still stood there. Shocked. I honestly didn't believe such a moment would involve me. I don't know how long I stood there. It took one of my teammates to tap me on my shoulder to snap me out of it so, we could line up.

"Thank you so much!" We all shouted to each other as we bowed to the opposing team. The crowd gave one last cheer and then that was it. It was all over.

We achieved something I didn't think I'd be part of. I never thought I'd win something. It was quite a strange feeling.

My team and I walked back to our changing room, we were still pumped from our victory. They were patting me on the back and congratulating me for that final point. Part of me felt it was undeserved praise. All I did was hit the ball in the right place. But then the other part of me told me to enjoy it.

My teammates had already changed and were leaving. We had all planned to meet up later to celebrate. First though, we all wanted to go home, have a little rest, shower and change.

By the time I was ready, I was the only one left in the changing room. It was quiet. There were the muffled sounds out in the hallway of everyone leaving. I just wanted to take a moment to reflect.

While I was sitting on the bench, I could hear a light tapping at the door.

"Yeah?" I said.

The door opened slowly and a familiar face peered through. "Hey there Mr Champion!" Nishimura smirked.