Against All Odds | Ran Takahashi

12

I have just arrived in Thailand, prepared to participate in the thrilling finale of the volleyball nations league. Japan's match will take place this evening and the excitement is palpable. It is evident that this event holds great importance for everyone involved, especially for the Ryujin Nippon team.

After a half day of settling down and freshening up before watching the game, I went my way to the game venue. As I walked into the stadium, the atmosphere was electric, with fans from all corners of the globe coming together to witness the intense semi-finals and finals.

As the semi-finals began, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The tension in the air was thick, and every point scored was met with thunderous cheers from the crowd. I was completely absorbed in the action, closely observing as Ryujin Nippon showed off their incredible skills and impressive teamwork, establishing their dominance on the court. Their players moved with grace and precision, delivering powerful spikes and making remarkable saves, proving their unwavering determination.

Ryujin Nippon was on fire!

To my surprise, amidst the fierce competition, Ran spotted me in the crowd. His face lit up with a smile, and I could sense an even greater determination in his eyes. It was an unexpected moment that filled me with excitement and nervousness. It felt like my mere presence had triggered a hidden strength within him, pushing him to perform at his absolute best. Ran's spikes became even more powerful, his serves incredibly accurate, and his blocks impenetrable. It was as if being there had unlocked a whole new level of prowess for him.

After an intense victory in the semi-finals, and a much needed cooldown, Ran made his way to the side court and called out to me, catching the attention of the crowd. I happened to be standing nearby, taken aback by the sudden spotlight.

Oh, not again!

"Ryann-chan!!!" Ran's voice echoed through the bustling crowd, calling my name.

In that moment, I felt a rush of uncertainty and awkwardness. All eyes were now focused on us, and I couldn't help but nervously fidget.

Trying to scramble on what to do, I quickly rushed down the bleachers in embarrassment, determined to put a stop to Ran's attention-grabbing antics.

Approaching him, I shot him a cold glare. "Why on earth are you yelling my name?!" I scolded him, trying to convey the seriousness of my tone.

He couldn't help but burst into laughter at my reaction. "You're actually here!!! Never expected that. You've made me so freaking happy!!!" he exclaimed with delight.

"Shhhh!!! You're too loud!" I retorted, almost instinctively placing my hand over his mouth to hush him.

To my surprise, the surrounding crowd gasped in surprise, clearly taken aback by what they were witnessing at the moment. Ran simply continued to laugh, clearly enjoying every moment of this awkward situation. Meanwhile, my face turned a bright shade of red as sheer embarrassment washed over me.

Ran sensed my discomfort, so he reached out and calmly held my hand. Allowing him to lead the way, I made a conscious effort not to pay much attention to the reactions of those around us, although it was clear that they were intrigued and curious about who I was.

Ran continued to lead me towards their dugout. As we reached a quieter area, away from the prying eyes of the spectators, Ran released my hands and looked at me with a sheepish grin.

"Sorry for making a scene again," he said sincerely. "I just couldn't contain my excitement when I saw you here. It's been a while since we last met, and I missed you."

I couldn't help but soften my expression at his words. "Ran, it's good to see you too," I replied. "But you really startled me back there. You need to learn some subtlety." I teased.

He chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, sorry about that. I guess I got carried away."

I sighed, shaking my head in mock disappointment. "Well, I hope you're going to make up for it somehow."

Ran's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Oh, don't worry, I have a plan," he said, his voice full of excitement.

Before I could ask what he meant, a staff member approached us and informed Ran that it was time for his interview. He gave me an apologetic smile and hurriedly joined his teammates in the media room. I nodded at him, with a smile.

He waved at me looking all giddy. It must have been the smile.

I waited patiently for Ran to complete his interview, as I knew it would be our final farewell before I had to return to my hotel. As his teammates passed by, I offered them warm congratulations. They knew me already ever since that Paris Olympics two years ago.

After his interview, Ran quickly made his way back to me, his expression clouded with sadness. "Do you really have to leave now?" he questioned, his tone filled with longing.

"Let's just meet up again tomorrow, if you win," I chuckled teasingly. "You have to rest tonight, you have the finals tomorrow. Remember, you're on your way to the gold medal," I continued.

Looking defeated, Ran agreed with determination in his voice. "We'll win, Ryann. I promise you that!" he declared confidently.

I smiled while nodding. "I'll give you a gift once you win," I said.

His eyes widened. "WHAT'S THAT?!" he exclaimed.

"Of course, I won't tell you! Stop prying!" I said.

Looking very determined, Ran asserted, "I. WILL. WIN. TOMORROW."

I chuckled softly and responded, "Alright then, I believe in you."

I bid my farewell to Ran and he did not even want to let me go. I even had to ask Yuki-san to refrain Ran from holding me back. It was a funny scene, but Ran listens when Yuki's getting serious, so he did let me go.

That night, I made my way back to my hotel, carrying with me the anticipation and excitement for the upcoming day.



--- 



The following day arrived, and I followed my usual routine, working for half a day before getting ready for the final match later on.

Ran called me suddenly to inform me that his mother and her sister were able to catch on a flight to support him in this final match. I agreed to welcome them into my hotel.

Mama Sayuri-san hugged me as soon as we saw each other.

"Thank you for supporting Ran here, Ryann-chan," she said.

"I'll always support Ran," I replied, gleaming with smile.

After a few hours, we made our way to the stadium. We were seated near the court as the team Japan's special guests.

I was filled with nerves as our team prepared to face Poland in this last match. My stomach churned with anxiousness.

I observed as Ryujin Nippon began their warm-up drills, their movements perfectly synchronized and their determination evident. The excitement within me grew as I realized I was about to witness an extraordinary showdown between the volleyball powerhouses.

Once the match started, the energy in the stadium reached its peak. Each rally, each point won, was met with applause and cheers from the passionate fans. The Ryujin Nippon team showcased their exceptional skills and unwavering teamwork, leaving both their supporters and opponents in awe.

Sitting on the edge of my seat, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride whenever Ran delivered his pipe attack or that hell of an angled spike or executed a perfectly timed block. He shone on the court, living up to his reputation as one of the league's finest players.

As the match progressed, the tension mounted. Both teams fought tooth and nail, refusing to give an inch. The score remained neck and neck, with every point carrying even more significance. The players, including Ran, pushed themselves to their absolute limits, their exhaustion evident but their determination unwavering.

In the decisive final moments, with the crowd on their feet and anticipation running high, Ryujin Nippon managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. They emerged as the winners against Poland, achieving a score of 3-2.

It was an incredible moment for the Japanese team. I couldn't help but shed tears of joy along with them.

The stadium erupted into a symphony of cheers, applause, and jubilant celebrations. The team had done it, and I couldn't have been prouder of them.

Mama Sayuri, Riry and I hugged each other in happiness.

The awarding ceremony followed shortly, and Ryujin Nippon dominated the dream team! Ran won again as the best outside hitter.

As the confetti rained down and the players embraced each other in pure elation, I caught Ran's eye from the stands. In his gaze, I saw a sense of fulfillment and contentment, knowing that all his hard work and sacrifices had paid off. We locked eyes and shared a moment of silent celebration, an unspoken acknowledgment of the bond we shared and the joy we felt in that moment.

They emerged as the winners of the match, securing the gold medal in this VNL.

Ran stayed true to his word, and his actions overwhelmed me with emotion. Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt an immense sense of pride for him.