[83] Grade 11: Spring National High School Competition
Kierkegaard studied the relationship between choice and anxiety.
Freedom is not unlimited; full freedom gives people choices.
The more freedom one has, the more anxious one becomes about making choices.
When a person stands at a crossroads of countless possibilities, the ability to "choose" becomes a heavy burden.
Because every "choice" means giving up other possibilities, this irreversible decision can plunge people into fear of the unknown.
At this moment, the members of the Okagani team, standing on the field of the Spring High School Finals, are personally experiencing this predicament.
Faced with the encirclement of the Wooden Rabbit by the Crane Cry Pavilion, they had two choices. Within the meticulously constructed encirclement of the Wooden Rabbit by the Crane Cry Pavilion, they faced two drastically different options:
The first option is to "give up"—temporarily shelve this young and ambitious ace in his first year and turn to a more stable multi-pronged attack.
The second option is to "persist"—continue to use the Wood Rabbit as a trump card to deal with Crane Cry Pavilion, betting that it can break through the encirclement.
Clearly, they haven't given up.
They will not give up.
After the whistle blew to end the timeout, and as Mokuto walked onto the court with a wandering gaze, the third-year setter from Fukutani unhesitatingly and firmly set the first ball steadily in his direction.
The volleyball cuts through the air, creating a sharp gust of wind, but it carries warmth—the warmth of a year's worth of trust built up between partners.
Even if the road ahead is full of risks, they will not panic or tremble.
Owl Valley will not set aside what they consider their trump card.
With encouragement from teammates and supervisors during the timeout, Mokuto finally recovered slightly from his slump.
When he returned to the field, his golden eyes, though still somewhat unfocused, had at least regained some focus.
After the serve from the Crane Pavilion, the defensive first pass from Komihan, and the adjustment and transition by the third-year setter, the volleyball was suspended at the most comfortable hitting height for Muto.
The wooden rabbit leaped high into the air, its pupils, as big as copper bells, reflecting the yellow and blue volleyball.
This ball embodies the beliefs of everyone in Xiaogu.
"Bang—"
The volleyball was hit hard by the wooden rabbit.
This smash, delivered with a do-or-die spirit, aimed straight for the blind spot of the Heming Hall court.
The ball was thrown at such a tricky angle that it almost touched the sideline, and its intense spin caused it to hiss in the air.
Just as the Fukutani bench was preparing to cheer—
"Bang--"
Saotome executed a side slide tackle, appearing at the landing point of the volleyball.
Its diminutive size unleashed astonishing energy, supporting the precious stone.
The expectation on the faces of the people in Xiaogu froze into obvious disappointment.
Even the sideline supervisor, who had been clenching his fist, slowly relaxed.
...This free agent from Heming Pavilion is too troublesome.
The ball that Saotome saved was amazing, but it wasn't quite right enough to pass to Imadegawa in the other corner.
"I'll do it!"
Koizumi quickly filled in at setter, deftly flicking the ball with his wrist to pass it to Akiyama, who was making a run from the back row.
"Adjust your strategy!"
Amidst the chaotic defensive movement, a voice rang out, seemingly from nowhere.
Akiyama met the imperfect pass, leaped high, slightly rotated in the air, avoided the block that Fukutani had just set up, and delivered a diagonal spike straight into the open space.
"I can do it too—!!!"
Who isn't a free person?
Xiao Jian gritted his teeth and slid in to support the volleyball.
The free agent at Crane Cry Pavilion is indeed very strong, but he's not bad either!
It's no surprise that Imadegawa caught the ball.
He quickly moved and adjusted his defensive position along with the others from Heming Pavilion. (ioyP)
This ball was then passed to Kito by setter Fukutani.
Koizumi's azure pupils reflected a cold light in the light, a stark contrast to her gentle expression.
Even if Fukutani and his crew chose not to abandon their trump card, so what?
Crane Cry Pavilion's tactics have never been that simple.
The difficult choice that Izukawa secretly laid in is not only a choice for the entire Owl Valley team, but also a choice for the individual players.
Faced with Heming Hall's impenetrable defense and unpredictable offense, the opposing team in the other half will have countless choices at various times, whether it's time to attack or defend:
Should I spike a powerful attack or lob the ball?
Should we monitor their straight lines or their diagonal lines?
Should we stick close to that elusive free agent, or block the high ground in front of the net?
Every choice is like a fork in the road, leading to an unknown outcome.
What's even more anxiety-inducing is that they have no idea whether there's a better answer on the path they weren't chosen.
'Left! No...right!'
Wood Rabbit hesitated briefly.
After a fraction of a second of hesitation, the wooden rabbit reluctantly struck the ball.
—If we don't deduct it now, it will be too late in time.
His hesitation and his final, flustered spike were all witnessed by Aoyagi.
The green willow's barrier pressed down like a mountain.
The volleyball was blocked hard.
"Beep—"
Hemingguan scored with a block.
......
As the score difference widened on the scoreboard, the setter, Okabe, felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
As the setter, he is the one chosen by the team to execute the play, and every time he sets the ball, it's a gamble.
He also had more choices than others.
His predicament stems precisely from having more choices.
Faced with each trusting pass from his teammates, he could only frantically rehearse in his mind:
Should we pass to the power forward position to organize a strong attack?
No, Aoyagi and Akiyama's double net was watching him intently.
That lob shot was a sneak attack on the back row of Heming Pavilion?
That won't work either. Saotome's starting speed is too fast, and his positioning also blocks the path of the drop shot.
Then how about organizing a quick attack to break through?
Tsurumeikan's defensive formation shifted when he looked at Washio, who was best suited for fast breaks.
It seems that every choice leads to the same path, and the end point is a cliff from which there is no turning back.
......
choose,
Another choice.
Xiao Gu Er Chuan felt like he was trapped in an endless loop maze.
No matter which path he chooses, it seems he will ultimately arrive at the same ending: the volleyball is either blocked by an omnipresent hand or saved by a mysterious figure.
He could feel the sweat on his fingertips soaking the rough surface of the volleyball, and every breath he took almost carried a rusty, metallic smell.
The shouts from the audience became distant and indistinct, as if separated by a screen.
He is an ordinary character trapped in the television screen, dizzy and disoriented, futilely crashing against the transparent boundary, unable to break through the predetermined maze script.
......
choose,
Another choice.
The numbers on the scoreboard jumped around like a stopwatch counting down.
This time, should he trust reason or intuition?
Should we follow tactics or instinct?
Every option is dazzling, and every option hides a trap.
The figure of Mu Tu leaping in front of the net began to appear blurry, and the shouts of his teammates became intermittent.
After making this choice, he looked down at his palm, the lines on his palm resembling a map from a maze.
......
choose,
Another choice.
When the referee blew the whistle again, setter Fukutani realized he had lost count of how many times he had made a choice.
He kept making choices until he reached the game point at Heming Pavilion.
Regardless of which choice he made, it ultimately led to the same outcome.
This time, it seems he may truly have no way out.
He seemed unable to find the exit from the maze.
......
This will be the final choice in this round.
Imaizumi gently rubbed the tape wrapped around his index finger with his right thumb.
The serve at the set point of Tsurumeikan was not served by Imadegawa, nor by any of the SSRs.
Instead, the serve was taken by a regular SR substitute player who was substituted on.
The volleyball flew in a smooth arc towards the Xiaogu court.
Perhaps due to the server's limited ability, or perhaps because Shirotani was fully focused, the ball was received steadily by Shirotani's libero, delivering a near-perfect first pass.
"Great pass!" Setter Xiaogu thought with certainty.
The ball feel came from my fingertips, and this time the ball was smoothly delivered, comfortably sending it in front of the leaping wooden rabbit.
An opportunity to attack!
The entire Xiao Valley seemed to see a glimmer of hope.
However, the flame of hope flickered only briefly before being extinguished.
Just as the volleyball left Bokuto's fingers, Koizumi and Akiyama's double block completely blocked Bokuto's attack route once again.
Although Bokuto's spike wasn't completely blocked, Koizumi still managed to touch it with his fingertips, neutralizing the force, and sending it flying high into the backcourt of Tsurumeikan.
"An opportunity!" someone shouted.
Saotome judged the landing point, moved into position silently, and easily placed the volleyball back to the net with a low pass.
The volleyball obediently flew towards the net, at just the right height and position.
Imaizuchi didn't even need to move; he simply tiptoed slightly.
His gaze was not on the attackers of Heming Hall, nor on the front row blockers and back row defenders of Xiaodiao Valley.
His field of vision was focused on the volleyball, followed by the defensive formation of Ootori and the group of people in Tsurumeikan who were poised to make a move.
The volleyball landed in his palm.
And his wrist trembled so slightly—
The volleyball flew towards the three-meter line in an extremely tricky arc.
There, Akiyama had already taken a running start and jumped.
That was a perfect back-row high shot!!!
The sudden coordinated attack completely shook off Xiaogu's defenses, leaving Qiushan with an open field in front of him, almost deserted!
Without hesitation, he stretched out his body and delivered a straight smash!
"I'll handle this!" Xiao Jian shouted, moving to the side to prepare for defense.
"Mine!" Almost simultaneously, the third-year ace of Xiaogu reacted instinctively and retreated to the backcourt.
It was this split-second, dual response and subtle miscommunication that led to the most fatal consequence—
Both hesitated for a moment because of the other's actions, and their steps faltered slightly.
The volleyball plummeted downwards—
It landed in the gap between the two!
"Bang!" The volleyball bounced heavily off the ground.
"Beep!" A crisp whistle rang out from the side.
The second game of the final has also ended.
————————!!————————
(Sniffling at my paws—) It's so strange, I get sleepy so easily lately, my eyes are practically closing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
