The Birth of A Volleyball Legend

"Yeah! Good job, Yuki!"

"What a comeback! We deserve this win!"

"Come on, Tsunemori!"

It was the end of the first set, and the morale was on the high end for the home team. Everyone was full of excitement, kept talking about the game and their contribution during the last set. Their reaction while a bit exaggerated was understandable since this was the first time they escaped from the death door after being down by five points or more.

However, the main preparator of the comeback himself didn't feel like celebrating. Yuki who was going crazy at the end of the first set could be seen panting heavily, his breath was unsteady. The amount of sweat he produced was unhealthy, making him look far worse than anyone else on the team.

Megumi who saw this panicked, rushing at him immediately. "Yuki-kun! What's wrong?! Are you okay?!"

It was after she approached that everyone finally noticed his pitiful state. Within a second, all the Tsunemori players surrounded the glasses boy with concerned gazes. Gone was the excitement they felt before, replaced by worry.

"Don't… Don't worry… I am okay…" The glasses boy said, trying to give his best 'I am okay' impression. However, no one believed him, especially since he was still sweating a lot.

"Man, don't force yourself. Your temperature is so high right now." Riku said after checking his friend's forehead. "You have a fever right now. It is better to rest in the clinic rather than forcing yourself and collapse. It would give Baasan and the children more trouble, you know?"

This was enough to shut down all the arguments Yuki had inside his head. If there was one thing Yuki wanted to avoid the most, it was for him to make his family worry. He didn't want to repeat the incident where he had to be sent to the hospital for acting stupidly heroic during the excursion to the Maiko Pharmacy Factory last summer, knowing full well how much the matron lost her sleep.

So, even though he was reluctant, Yuki still allowed himself to get dragged by Megumi outside of the building.

"Hey, Yuki leaves the building! What is going on here?!"

"I don't know! Man, I hope he is okay!"

"It shouldn't be injury, right? He didn't look like he hurt himself before!"

"What the hell are you talking about?! He had just done ten consecutive ace services in a row! There is no way he would get injured out of nowhere!"

"Hey, he looks so pale and sweats so much! Do you think he might get sick?"

"Well… Maybe?"

Yuki's departure also left the crowd confused and worried. After all, Yuki's performance during the first set was probably the best out of all the Tsunemori players, so having him out in the second set would be a huge blow for the team. There was also a small group of people who were tensed once they saw Yuki was out. They kept their eyes all the time until the boy disappeared from everyone's sight before the older one rose from her seat. "Let's go. We have to see him."

The other people – or children – around her nodded simultaneously, following the woman immediately.

Those were Aiko, the children she brought, Kato, and Arina Sugawara. They all were here because of Yuki, after all. So, when the main attraction was gone, they lost interest in the game immediately and decided to leave early.

"Man, it is a pity that he is out." One of the Matsuyama Kita High players on the stand also commented. "It seems our purpose here wouldn't be fulfilled today." Yeah, they came here just to observe Yuki's playing style, recognizing the glasses boy as the most dangerous player on the team. So, they all couldn't help but feel disappointed when they saw the boy was out.

"Well, even without our main target on the court, it is still necessary for us to watch until the end." Tondo, the team's captain spoke. "After all, we can see a team's quality by looking at how they would adapt when their best player is taken out of the game."

Amagi himself didn't say anything. Now that Yuki was out of the equation, it was natural for him to turn his eyes on Riku, the team's second-best player who was also the setter for Tsunemori High. 'Come on, Blondie. Show me how you will adjust from this point, and show your worth as a setter!'

-0-

"Go a little bit slower, Baasan! Neechan and Yuki-kun will not go anywhere else!" Kato panted as she tried to keep up with Aiko's pace. "No, no, no! Baasan, wrong turn! You should've gone to the left!" She raised her voice when she saw the older woman take a wrong turn.

Honestly, she knew Aiko was worried about Yuki. She herself also felt the same. However, the older woman went too far, even leaving the children she brought just for the sake of the boy. Fortunately, Arina Sugawara followed from behind, so they didn't have to worry about the children.

"Sorry, Kato-chan, I cannot help it," Aiko said with her heavy breath. "Apart from today, I have only seen Yuki being unwell once, and it was when he saved you in your excursion. I don't know what is wrong with him today, but my consciousness cannot stay calm right now."

Well, when Aiko said it like that, Kato couldn't help but feel guilty since she was the main cause of the incident the last time Yuki was sent to the hospital. She speeded up immediately, guiding the older woman to the clinic. Right when they were about to enter, they could see Yuki who was already under the blanket, being forced by the doctor of the school to rest.

"Ah, so, you are Aiko-Baasan, his guardian, right?" The doctor, a young woman who probably was in her early thirties exclaimed. "Good! Now that you are here, he would probably be able to relax a little bit and stop thinking about his silly game."

It is not a silly game, Sensei!" Yuki complained weakly.

"Yeah, yeah, tell that to your body." The doctor waved his complaint nonchalantly. "Anyway, please, sit here."

Right as Aiko and Kato were about to sit in the clinic, the children burst into the scene, jumping to the bed straight away. "Yuki-nii! What is going on? Are you sick?!"

"Please, don't die!"

"Hey, give me some space!"

Yuki could feel his face flushed in embarrassment as the three children in front of him barged in rudely. Aiko also felt the same, apologizing to the doctor immediately. "Sorry, Sensei! We will wait outside!"

The two little girls pouted immediately at her words. Fortunately, the doctor was such a chill woman and allowed them all to stay. "Oh, don't worry. I am used to children's invasions like this. At least, this would put their mind at ease."

All of them sighed in relief as they watched the doctor go back to her office. Silence fell for a moment before Yuki asked, "If you all are here who is watching the game?"

Kato just rolled her eyes in exasperation before she hit the boy on his head with a weak karate chop. "If I don't know better, I will think your brain melts with your sickness. Do you think we will be able to watch the game in peace knowing that you are here?" She chided.

"But…."

"Ah, no but!" Kato waved her finger bossily. "I know what you are thinking about, so I will say it here. Stop worrying about the game! Even without you, the other players would be able to fill up your role! Trust the! For now, rest, and before you know it, Riku-kun and the other players will be here bringing the victory for you!"