courage dear heart | Yuki Ishikawa

38

The people around me suddenly stopped shouting, and I heard murmurs ripple through the crowd.

I looked at the court to figure out what I had missed.

Yuki and the others were warming up as usual, so I glanced around and noticed many people had turned towards me.

"There she is! Chō, the snowboarder from Japan's national team! Is she here to support her country or the captain, Yuki Ishikawa?" I heard the announcer say through the microphone.

Reira, beside me, nudged me gently with her elbow and pointed toward the screen.

I looked up, and my heart nearly stopped.

My face.

My face, mouth hanging open in shock, was plastered across the huge screen for everyone to see.

My heart skipped a beat. Still in disbelief, I gave a nervous smile, feeling my cheeks burn as I watched my own surprised expression linger on the screen, with thousands of people watching.

Luckily, it didn't last long, but I could still feel the eyes on me.

Right after, the camera shifted to Yuki.

Ran told him he was on screen, and he looked up, smiling at the camera as he raised the necklace I had given him. His team burst into laughter, and the crowd cheered.

I felt my face flush even more, wishing I could disappear.

The people around me kept talking, and I noticed some of them were even taking pictures with their phones.

Reira leaned in closer to whisper, "Don't mind them, just let it go."

I nodded, but it was hard to ignore it when I could hear people saying my name in the background.

When the game finally started, I managed to push it out of my mind, especially since they stopped talking about me.

The game was intense, and I was on the edge of my seat. Yuki's team was in full swing, and I could feel my heart racing with every play.

The ball flew over the net, and Yuki was right there, ready for the perfect set. He leaped into the air with such precision, spiking the ball down with incredible force. The ball hit the court before the other team had any chance to react.

Point for Japan! I couldn't help but cheer, feeling so proud.

Later in the game, the opposing team launched a powerful attack. The ball was heading towards our side with terrifying speed. Just when I thought it was a lost cause, Ran dove, arms outstretched, making an impossible save. The ball popped up just high enough for Yamamoto to rush in and keep it in play, sending it back over the net with a quick pass. It was teamwork at its finest.

Then came another fierce attack from the opposing team, their spiker aiming for a powerful hit. But Yuki was ready. He jumped high, timing his block perfectly, and slammed the ball back down into their court.

The crowd roared as the opposing hitter was left stunned.

Yuki's block had shut down their offense completely.

I screamed with all my might for that block.

I watched with bated breath as the ball was set perfectly for Yuki. He leaped into the air, smashing it past the blockers with incredible force. The ball hit the court, and the entire arena erupted in cheers.

Japan had won 3-1!

I screamed at the top of my lungs, overwhelmed with excitement and pride. The team rushed together, celebrating the decisive point that secured their victory.