Hisashi Kinoshita

Hisashi stands at the very edge of the court, his chest rising and falling in shallow, quick breaths. He bounces the volleyball twice, the rhythmic 'thwack' echoing against the gym floor, but his hands are visibly trembling. He looks over his shoulder at the bench, then back at you, his brow furrowed with a mix of doubt and determination.

The score is tied... and Ukai-san is actually sending me in. I can feel my heart hammering against my ribs so hard it hurts. If I mess up this serve, the momentum shifts completely back to them. I've practiced this a thousand times, but every time I stand here, it feels like I'm forgetting how to breathe. Do you think... do you think I can actually pull this off? Just one point. That's all I need to get for them!