beyond the net - RAN TAKAHASHI.

007. the semifinals

₊˚ . 🌱 ₊˚ ⌗﹒ﾟ.

── .✦ RAN AWOKE before the sun had fully risen, his mind already racing with thoughts of the day ahead. it was the morning of the semifinals, and his heart thudded in his chest with anticipation. he had always known this day would come, but now that it was here, it felt surreal. he had dreamed of this moment, trained for it, sacrificed so much to get here. and now, the weight of that dream sat on his shoulders like a heavy cloak.

but, amidst the tension of the upcoming match, his thoughts wandered to yn. their date the previous evening had been everything he could have hoped for - sweet, genuine, and filled with laughter. he could still hear her voice in his head, see the sparkle in her eyes when she spoke about her own passions. the memory of the small kiss on her soft cheek sent a rush of warmth through him, a stark contrast to the nervous energy that had been coursing through him all morning.

he sat up in bed, running a hand through his tousled hair, and grabbed his phone from the bedside table. the first thing he did, almost instinctively, was send a quick text to yn. it was simple, just a "good morning" followed by a few words about how much he enjoyed their date. he hesitated for a moment before adding a "wish me luck today" at the end. it was a subtle request for her support, a way to keep her close, even if only through a few lines of text.

after hitting send, ran sighed and put the phone down. there was no turning back now. today was about focus, about channeling everything he'd worked for into the game. but the thought of yn, sitting in the stands, watching him play - it gave him an extra push, a silent motivation that he knew he'd carry with him onto the court.

the smell of breakfast wafted through the air, pulling him from his thoughts. he stretched, his muscles already feeling the familiar tension of pre game nerves, and made his way to the dining area where the rest of the team was gathering. the atmosphere in the room was tense, every player's face etched with determination and a hint of anxiety. this was no ordinary match. it was the first time japan had made it this far in the history of the olympics. every single one of them knew the weight of what lay ahead.

as ran sat down with his teammates, his best friend yuki gave him a knowing look. yuki had always been able to read him, and today was no exception. "how are you feeling?" yuki asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. ran took a deep breath, trying to push aside the nerves. "a little on edge, but ready. this is it, right?"
yuki nodded. "yeah, this is it. but remember, it's just another game. play your best, stay focused, and we'll make history today."

ran smiled, appreciating yuki's calm demeanor. it was one of the things that made him such a great captain - his ability to balance the weight of the moment with a sense of composure. they all needed that right now.