Burned ⇀ Koshi Sugawara

Chapter 4: Broken Spirit

24-23

It had been match point and Tony was as locked in as he had ever been during a game, the boy's eyes followed the ball like some possessed animal, it was currently flying through the air on the other side of the court, right into Tsukishima's hands to set for Daichi.

It all happened in slow motion as Daichi smashed the ball off of the fingertips of Kageyama who was blocking. The ball shot off of his fingertips backward, over Tony's head. The boy watched the ball fly overhead, his legs working faster than his brain did.

It was his old habits that his old coach had instilled in him. 'Chase every ball like it's your last because it very well could be.'

Tony picked up speed as he dove for the ball, stretching his arm to get underneath it as he felt his mind flashback to the last time he played.

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Tony felt the sweat drip from his face, he heard the referees whistle signaling it was time for him to serve, he had eight seconds. This was it, the high-school finals in Tennessee, if they could win this, they would be considered the best team in the state.

Tony took a breath before throwing the ball high into the air and beginning to march at it, keeping his eyes on it. He felt the tension in the air as he jumped as high as he could, swinging his lanky arm back before he slammed it forward to hit the ball.

The ball flew forward over the net before it curved through the air, turning to the right. It flew past the backline and landed straight in the corner. Right where he wanted it.

"YEAH!"  Tony shouted as his team shouted along with him. He caught the ball to serve again as he backed himself into the server's position. He bounced the ball off of the ground, psyching himself up for the serve.

The whistle blew as he rolled his head back, calming himself. This is what he was known for, he was the sniper. He had some of the best control of the ball anyone had ever seen.

With breathing out he threw the ball into the air, repeating the motion as before. This time just slightly tweaking his hand position, causing it to fly through the air, over the net. He slightly smiled as the ball turned to the left, swerving right past the face of the back left player and right into the corner.

It was in, once again.

"YES!" Tony shouted as he heard the crowd yell in surprise. No one thought of his team as the best team in the state, no they weren't but he would be damned if that made him try any less.

"One more Tony! Let's do this!" His senior captain Austin yelled to him causing him to nod and grunt.

The boy held the ball in his hands, this was it, it was 23-24, they were losing. They could come back right now and prove everyone else wrong. The boy felt his body shake and his chest tighten as the whistle blew.

"Come on, one last time. I will not lose!" Tony yelled to himself as he tossed the ball into the air before jumping to follow it. He felt his body morph as he let the power of his arm smash against the ball. The ball flew through the air, this time straight to the Libro.

No. Not like this, how did he get under it? How did he dig that up with that much power behind it? Tony quickly ran to the front line, taking his spot as wing spiker. He watched as the ball was passed to the setter who glanced to the left, on the other side of the court.

Oh no, you don't! I'm getting that!

Tony took off running cross-court, faster. Go faster. The boy reached the position right as the ace of the other team smashed the ball over the net. Tony jumped through the air to try to close the distance. The boy stretched his arm out to keep the ball in play. Just keep it on play!