Cote: Elite in Action

The Weight of Every Point

Three victories were already secured for our class, and I felt incredibly happy with the progress we had made. As the events passed, I saw that winning the upcoming competitions wouldn't be difficult. The difference between Class A and Class B was more than evident, both physically and academically. Class B, no doubt, was very competent academically, but overall, there was no way they could outperform us.

That difference became even clearer as the fourth event unfolded: the women's volleyball match. It was about to begin, and I had already selected the participants for my team. All that was left was to wait for the signal from the official to start the competition.

I was convinced that our class would win this event, and with that, the victory in this special exam would be practically sealed. After all, we would only compete in seven events, and if we won four, the victory would be ours, even if we lost the remaining three. Of course, that wasn't going to happen, as we were determined not to leave anything to chance.

I looked through the cameras where my teammates were already aligned, prepared, and ready to start the women's volleyball game. The emotion and concentration on their faces filled me with confidence. This event would be just another step toward our victory.

....

The gym was far from full. Only a few classmates had gathered around the court: the teammates of the players and a couple of teachers watching closely. It wasn't a large-scale event, but the atmosphere was still charged, each point felt like a small battle, and the voices of the classmates in the stands echoed with force, filling the air with support and nervousness.

The Class A players lined up on their side of the court, their breaths heavy but controlled. The Class B players, equally focused, were preparing to receive the first serve. The referee raised his hand, signaling the start of the first set. Class B served, and the ball flew over the net, marking the beginning of a match that would be much closer than anyone had anticipated.

First Set:

The first rally was quick. Class B, with their captain Anna leading, started strong. A powerful serve caused our reception to be a bit out of control, but Mako, our captain, stepped up to organize the attack. The first point went to them, but that only sparked determination in our team.

The points kept coming, one after another. Class A played with speed and precision, and with each point we won, the pressure in the air was palpable. But the Class B players didn't give up; they stayed strong. Every time we took the lead, they countered, and the tension built with each exchange.

"Come on, A! Don't give up!" one of our teammates shouted from the corner of the court, while Class B responded with their own cheers. There weren't many spectators, but the shouts of support rang out among the few classmates who were the most passionate.

As the set progressed, the plays became more intense. The scoreboard kept climbing. Suddenly, with a perfectly placed spike from Ichiji, one of our tallest players, Class A took the lead at 12-10. Class B, now just three points away from losing the set, called a timeout, trying to regroup.

In the silence that followed, the coach of Class B quickly gave instructions that helped them reassemble. But the Class A team was already determined. The atmosphere was electric when the timeout ended, and the game continued.

With Mako's serve, the game started again. Class B made an error, a serve out, which gave us the 14th point. And with the next play, after a long and exhausting rally, Mako, with a spike from the center of the court, put us at 15-13. First set won.

A brief sigh ran through the Class A team, but there was no relaxation. The match was far from over.

Second Set: