Opening Serve
Mika Asano dashed across the worn wooden floor, balls flying past with sharp sounds. Rain thudded against the old gym roof. “We have to make it to regionals. That’s it for us if we don’t,” Mika called, her voice echoing.
Her friends, Sora with his wild hair and Midori, fidgeted near the net, glancing at each other. The crowd that once filled the gym was gone. This was all that remained — the last three members of East Koganen Youth Volleyball Club.
Have you ever felt the weight that comes when a group shrinks yet the dream won’t die? It hung in Mika’s words with every serve.
Lost Cause or New Hope?
Coach Ishikawa watched, jaw tight. “Three can’t make a team. We fold if there are no tryouts,” he bluntly told them after drills. Sora kicked the ball. “There’s gotta be a way,” he muttered, almost to himself.
That word — tryout — lit Mika’s face. “We’ll find more, Coach. Give us a week.”
Every sport club has its own doom clock, right? These three had just seven days of hope.
Recruitment Blitz
Sora printed posters with his jerky penmanship, taping them to every door. Midori took the court, tossing balls to anyone curious enough to wander by. Mika made tired speeches at lunch: “Come for snacks, stay for friends, fall in love with the game.”
Not a single sign-up after four days. They nearly gave up once. “No taste for lost causes, I guess,” Sora shrugged.
That’s real, too. The slice of doubt any dreamer knows. Would you throw it away or push past the sting even harder?
The New Players
Morning five, Midori eavesdropped on two freshman girls bickering over gym class serving scores. Both liked a clash more than the game itself. “Hey, you two. Want to show someone who’s really good?” Midori challenged, tossing them a ball and catching them mid-argument. 
To everyone’s shock, they agreed.
When Mika spotted high-jump club captain Rio climbing the bleachers alone, she took the wild chance. “Can you still spike if it’s from a standing leap? Women’s team needs your guts.” It was just a sentence. Rio grunted, tried, and their group grew by one wild card.
Ever helped a group try something they never thought they could? Or tried it yourself?
The Last Practice
It rained every afternoon that week. Each day more students came, some curious, half just there to escape the weather, a few wanting to burn off tough feelings. The gym felt less empty.
The five new girls didn’t know passing from serving, but grit out mistakes, chasing under Sora’s teasing.
“Move those feet! Not scared of the ball, are you?”
A practice match against the boys’ junior squad ended 21-8, but nobody hung heads. They laughed sticky with sweat, backs pink where the ball struck hardest.
By Friday, new members signed up. Still short of the six needed.
The Rival Looms
East Koganen drew Funezaka High for the first round regional play-in. Funezaka, with a fierce ace named Tomoe, was everyone’s pick to win. Midori found the match poster. Their jaws tightened.
The club debated. Was it kinder to forfeit, wait for next year? Mika slammed her hands on the locker: ”Let’s make them remember us. Even if it’s the only match we get.”
The messages on their group chat filled up. “Back you all,” Rio texted at 1 AM.
Ever faced someone or something you knew was stronger, but went anyway?
The Night Before
Mika lay in bed, phone glowing soft in the dark. She thought about quitting after last year’s blowout loss, wondered how she’d even stayed. Her dad texted, “Dream, don’t let go.” She sent no reply.
Vague nerves made her want to scream. Was it just pride? Or love for this tiny club on the edge?
You ever felt so run-down and worried before a key day that you can’t even sleep?
The Match Begins
They marched out under low gym lights, crowd slim but loud. Opponents tall, already warming up with fierce spikes. East Koganen huddled, breathless.
Coach whispered. “You’ve already done more coming this far than most would. Don’t fake yourself. Just play.”
First serve left Mika’s hands shaky, but seconds in, Rio blocked a wicked smash. Sora’s serve found the corner, stun silence from the rival side. 
They surged, trading the lead, stray cheers echoing each point.
1 set down, 4 match points against. All could see the gap, but the smallest cheers grew. Fresh members hustled, dove for balls nobody should reach. Even Midori grew braver in digs she barely touched a week before.
The Cliffhanger
They brought it back, tie at 23-23. Mika sweat in her eyes, heart banging. “All we need is a second to claim forever for this club,” she thought just as Tomoe glared through the net, grinning.
The ball rose, hang time long as fear. Mika leapt. Crowd on feet. Cut to black.
What would you do for the club that saved you? Or gave you a place to want victory?
