The Lucky Winner

Chapter 3

A/N: WE'LL BE GOING ON A VACATION FOR A COUPLE WEEKS SO THERE WON'T BE CONSTANT UPDATES FOR ABOUT A MONTH. TO MAKE UP FOR IT, THIS WILL BE A LONGER UPDATE. -simplyc

          "Alright, let's do this girls!"

          Suki throws the ball towards me and I catch it effortlessly. She gives me a warm smile before turning her back to me. The Coach blows the whistle, signaling the start of the first set.

          I look over to the opposite side while bouncing the ball a few times to get a good feel. Kenta was at the back row while Daichi was at the front, smirking at me. I roll my eyes at him.

         Taking in a deep breath, I throw the ball into the air. I feel myself flying and in the next second, my hand makes contact with the ball.

January 19, 2015 // Monday // 3:23 PM

          The ball makes contact with my hand as I jump into the air. I watch as the ball cuts through the air, past the net and goes straight towards Kenta. Unfortunately for my team, Kenta was already in a receiving position and bumps the ball to the setter without fail. Natsumi and Miku gets in the position to block as the setter tosses the ball to spiker. However, the ball is spiked right through the opening between Miku's arms and it bounces to the floor on our side. Coach blows the whistle, signaling that the boy's team has gained one point.

          "That was too easy." Daichi brags before Kenta kicks him from behind to shut him up.

          "I'm sorry, Captain! My form was absolutely terrible!" Miku apologizes to Suki next to her.

          "Don't worry. We'll get the point back." Suki gives her a reassuring smile before turning to me.

          "Hey Kiyoko, just wondering, but that wasn't your "super serve" just now was it?"

          "No." I reply with a simple answer. I know some of them are probably asking why I didn't do the "super serve." I just felt that it was not necessary to use such an advanced skill in a simple practice match like this. Even though I answered Suki with a simple answer, she nodded and I knew that she understood. It was as if she read my very thoughts just now. I smile to myself.

          Maybe she isn't as bad as I thought.

          "Alrighty guys. It's time for us to show them our skills." Daichi grins with a smug face as he gets ready to serve. He moves back a few feet from the end line. The end line is the line at the very back at the court. The server's foot cannot cross the end line when he/she serves or else it will be considered a "foot fault". The ball will then have to be forfeited to the opposing team.

          Daichi tosses the ball high into the air before jumping up and slamming the ball straight towards the back row of the girl's team. Ayuna receives the ball with excellent form and the ball is sent in a high arc towards the setter.

          "Nice receive, Ayuna!" Suki yells as she gets into her position to set the ball. In the few seconds that the ball is still in the air, I watch Suki attentively as she gives a small hand signal to Natsumi and Miku next to her. Since I just joined the team, I didn't know what the signals meant but when she turns to me and mouths, "back attack." I nod, knowing instantly what to do. I run in front of Ayuna but just enough to not pass the attack line. Anytime a player is in the back row, he/she cannot "attack" the ball in front of the attack line-- which separates the front row from the net by 10 feet-- or it will be considered foul.

          On the boy's side of the team, three tall players watch as Suki tosses the ball to towards the general direction of Miku and Natsumi who both jump. They smirked and I heard one of them say, "too easy," as they suddenly make a big leap from the floor, their hands arched in a way so when the spiker spikes the ball, it will bounce back to the opposing team. However, they watch in dismay as Miku and Natsumi swing at air and drops down. By the time the blockers noticed me kicking off from the floor behind Miku, they were already descending from their jump. As the ball makes contact with my hand, I slam the ball straight down to the boy's side of the net. Coach blows the whistle and I whip my head to the scoreboard.