"Two JNT players step on opposite sides of the net. What do you think will happen?" Madoka leaned back in her seat and slurped on her drink.

Tokyo University's stadium was packed for the Friday night home game. Thousands of fans for both teams were crammed into the stands. Their cheers could be heard clear across the street. Volleyball had become an even more popular sport on campus than it had been. According to the university polls, it had more views than Baseball. Which had held titles for being the most popular sport for years.

Chihiro shrugged, "I don't know, but it's going to be a fire game." She was already standing. "I don't know who to cheer for anymore!" She whined and flailed her arms at her side.

"Same!" Madoka whined along.

The entire game had everyone on their feet. There was no possible way of predicting who would win. Uehara and Lucy had an insanely good read on Saki thanks to Mitsumi. They were successfully able to either block her out entirely or slow the ball down. The downside was that Makoto was also in the same pickle.

"One touch!" Lucy called out to her teammates.

Mitsumi quickly analyzed the current formation and smirked. "Got it!" She got right to the center. The ball shot straight up to the ceiling.

This rally was getting longer by the second. Everyone would be getting a good night's rest. Sato was on the court as a second setter. She didn't play on the court often, but when she did, she knew things were going to be fiery. She was at the point of the triangle while Yuki was two people back. Her olive hair flew behind her as she jumped in the air as if she were going to spike. Miyagi's blockers moved to the center of the net.

"Eh?! Is Sato actually going for it?!" Chihiro was shocked at the bold move. As a setter herself, she knew how risky it was. Sato suddenly set backward to Yuki. The ball zoomed to the left. Yuki spiked a clean line shot right in front of Arikawa, the new captain. Chihiro grabbed her head in shock. Her jaw was hitting the floor. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"

The crowd went wild at the play. "NICE KILL KANAGAWA!" Everyone cheered to the beat of the taiko drums.

The final set was now at a deuce. Just like all of the other sets. Everyone was really playing at 110% just because of their "friendly" rivalry. Tokyo wasn't going to lose to the people they had just beaten in a major National tournament. However, Miyagi wanted to prove they were able to steal the crown.

Saki rotated into the front row. She was eyeing Mitsumi through the net. They both had a clear view of each other. This was the first game that Chie didn't need to step to the service line. She knew that the libero was calculating the next play. Saki could see it in her eyes.

Makoto was up to serve. She smacked a powerful serve that curved to the left. Arikawa was pretty sure it was going to go out. Saki recognized the move, "Captain, it's in!"

Arikawa saved the ball and got it up. "Someone cover!"

...

Tokyo won the game. Mitsumi gave a polite smile as she shook hands with Saki. They had a death grip on each other's hands.

"You really suck, you know that right?" Saki gritted her teeth. Miyagi would have won if Mitsumi hadn't made a risky dive.

"I'm just doing my job. You know that." The libero was unfazed by the compliment. They both laughed before joining their teammates in thanking the spectators.

Riza celebrated with everyone in the locker room. They were celebrating the start of the season with a bang. Everyone was excitedly talking about all the crazy plays that had happened. It was like nobody was exhausted after a full game. She collected everyone's towels in a laundry basket and chucked them into the washing machine in the back.

"Hey, Mitsumi! You have a couple of visitors out on the court." Yukirin dashed through the doors panting. She looked like she had just seen the man of her dreams or something.

Mitsumi finished tying her shoes and tossed her bag on her shoulder. She acknowledged the manager with a nod. She was praying it wasn't the media. She was too tired to deal with it.

Madoka and Chihiro were laughing at some jokes that Saki had made. The stadium was now empty and it was just the cleaning crew cleaning the seating areas. Chie walked over and yawned. "You guys are noisy. Aren't you supposed to be with your team, Saki?"

Saki blew a raspberry at the libero. "They are talking with some of your teammates at the bus loop. It'll be a while."

"Mitsumi, you have to teach me that last play! The setter switch one! That setup was insane!" Chihiro jumped in place. She still had adrenaline running through her.

Mitsumi rubbed her neck, "You'd have to talk with Yuki and Sato."

"I was an idiot for falling for that one." Saki spat. She had totally forgotten that Sato was also a setter. "I kept thinking Sato was a spiker."

Madoka laughed so hard that she leaned forward while holding her sides. "Idiot!"

"You thought the same thing too, Madoka!" Chihiro smacked the back of the blocker's head. "Anyways, let's get a picture and we have to get going. She has a train to Nagoya." She whipped her phone out and held it up.

They took several photos. A few normal ones, and some funny ones with filters. Madoka had an idea for one more photo. "Mitsumi, please." She knew it would be hilarious. "I promise I won't post it!"

"No, I don't trust-"

"It's a great idea!" Saki was all for memorable pictures.

Mitsumi sighed, "Fine..."

Riza had been watching this whole thing go down. "I'll take it for you guys so all of you can be in it."

There was no going back now. Saki laid on the floor on her side as if she were dead. Mitsumi lightly put her foot on her hip as if she had defeated some sort of final boss. She pumped a fist in the air as if she held a sword and leaned her head back as if she were laughing in victory. Madoka was behind Mitsumi in a celebratory post while Chihiro knelt on the floor as if she were praying for a different outcome.

In all honesty, it was a funny picture. And Mitsumi was going to print it to add to her photo wall. She spent a few more minutes talking with her friends before waving and returning to where everyone was waiting for her. And by everyone, she meant Mei and Koushi.

"Great game you two!" Suga took the bag like usual.

Mei's body ached. She had been subbed in for Takahashi when the starting spiker had dislocated a finger and now was exhausted. "Miyagi is no freaking joke." She was ready to go to bed.

"Nope, Saki is the new ace. And they really took their run for our money with that." Mitsumi cracked her neck as they walked through the now quiet campus.

Suga remembered that the had something for Mei and reached into his pocket. "Oh yeah, Mei, I need to return this." He handed Mei a multitool that could be clipped onto a keychain. It concerned everyone that he needed it for something. 

"Oh yeah! Thanks!" Mei smiled gently and hooked it onto her bag for safekeeping. "I hope it wasn't a hassle to use." She heard a car honk and jumped. "That's my ride. I'll see you guys tomorrow!"

Mitsumi waved as the car left with Mei. "I'm so glad she didn't bike home." She sighed heavily remembering what happened before the game.

"She was going to bike home? After that kind of game?!" Suga blinked several times. "Is she crazy?! Even Hinata would walk his bike home or catch a ride."

She nodded and took his hand. "I convinced her out of it and one of her friends picked her up." Mitsumi knew her body was going to kill in the morning. Thankfully it was the weekend and a game-free one at that. "Ice cream and a movie at home?"

He hummed and nodded in agreement. "After you shower and get the wash started. I don't think snuggling a sweaty human is pleasant." Suga laughed at her puffed cheeks. He was in for an earful for sure. 

Mitsumi calmed down after a couple of seconds. "So, the multitool? Did something break?"

"Bokuto needed it, and so I returned it for him." Neither of them knew what their friend had done. And neither of them wanted to know. He extended his hand out to her, "Come on, let's get going."