Chapter 7: The Immortal Wall
The scoreboard stood like a monument.
Unmoving.
Unquestioned.
50 - 0
Date Tech did not celebrate loudly.
They never did.
No roaring cheers.
No wild grins.
Just quiet nods.
Measured breaths.
Because victory, for them,
was expected.
At the center of the court,
she stood.
Reon Ōhira's older sister.
Fans had given her a name.
Not because she asked for it.
Not because she declared it.
But because they felt it.
"Date Tech's Immortal."
Not for her offense.
Not for flashy plays.
But because
nothing got through her.
Ever.
A spike slammed toward her.
She didn't jump early.
Didn't rush.
Didn't panic.
She simply
arrived.
Hands up.
Form perfect.
The ball met her block
and died.
Not deflected.
Not slowed.
Stopped.
Like it had reached the end of its existence.
The opponent stared.
"…Again?"
Because that had been the fifth time.
Same hitter.
Same angle.
Same result.
He adjusted.
Changed timing.
Shifted direction.
It didn't matter.
She was already there.
Not reacting.
Waiting.
Because to her
the attack wasn't something to stop.
It was something that had already been stopped.
The whistle blew.
Match over.
Another 50-0.
She stepped down from the net.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"Good work," she said simply.
Her teammates nodded.
That was enough.
Because playing with her
felt like playing behind a wall that could never crumble.
And somewhere in the stands
a familiar figure watched.
Reon Ōhira.
Arms crossed.
Eyes locked.
"…Still ridiculous," he muttered.
Because no matter how many times he saw it
It never made sense.
Flashback.
"…You're going to lose."
Her voice had been calm.
Flat.
Reon looked up.
Annoyed.
"What are you talking about?"
She leaned against the gym wall.
Watching him train.
"You."
A pause.
"…And him."
Reon's eyes narrowed.
"…Ushijima?"
She nodded once.
"He will surpass you."
Silence.
The air shifted.
Not tense.
But heavy.
"…No," Reon said firmly.
She didn't argue.
Didn't dismiss him.
She simply asked
"Why?"
Reon clenched his fists.
"Because I won't let that happen."
She tilted her head slightly.
"That's not an answer."
"…What do you want me to say?"
"The truth."
Reon hesitated.
"…I'll train harder."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"…That won't be enough."
The words landed harder than any spike.
"…What?"
She opened her eyes again.
"He will also train."
A step forward.
"And he has more talent."
Another step.
"And better instincts."
Another.
"And stronger fundamentals."
She stopped in front of him.
"So tell me."
Her gaze locked onto his.
"How do you win?"
Reon had no answer.
Because everything she said
was true.
That was when
something shifted.
Not around her.
Within her.
"...You're approaching this incorrectly."
The voice was quiet.
Cold.
Precise.
Reon blinked.
"…What?"
She didn't react.
But her eyes sharpened slightly.
"That wasn't you," Reon said.
"No."
"…Then who"
"Someone who understands."
Silence.
Reon stared.
"…Explain."
She didn't.
But the voice did.
"You're trying to catch up."
A pause.
"That's why you'll lose."
Reon's jaw tightened.
"…Then what should I do?"
The answer came instantly.
"Become something he can't surpass."
The words echoed.
Not louder.
But deeper.
"…How?" Reon asked.
A single word.
"Consistency."
He frowned.
"That's it?"
"No."
A pause.
"Absolute consistency."
She moved again.
Standing beside him now.
"If you cannot outgrow him in spikes…"
Her gaze shifted to the court.
"Then become the foundation he cannot break."
Reon followed her eyes.
"…Defense?"
"Not just defense."
A beat.
"Presence."
Silence.
"Become the player that forces the game to stabilize around you."
Reon exhaled slowly.
"…That sounds impossible."
"It is."
A pause.
"Until it isn't."
That was the beginning.
Not of chasing.
Not of competing.
But of becoming something else entirely.
Training changed.
Reon didn't just hit harder.
He learned
to endure.
To stay in rallies longer.
To maintain form under pressure.
To remain stable when everything else fell apart.
And beside him
she stood.
Not correcting loudly.
Not pushing aggressively.
But watching.
Always watching.
And when he faltered
"Again."
When he hesitated
"Stabilize."
When he doubted
"Stand."
Simple words.
But absolute.
Time passed.
Reon improved.
Not explosively.
But steadily.
Relentlessly.
And one day
he faced Ushijima again.
The spike came.
Heavy.
Unstoppable.
Reon moved.
Not faster.
Not stronger.
But
ready.
He received it.
Clean.
Perfect.
Silence.
Ushijima blinked.
Not surprised.
But
interested.
Reon stood there.
"…I won't be surpassed."
Not a challenge.
A declaration.
Back to the present.
She stood at the net again.
Calm.
Still.
Immovable.
The title fit her perfectly.
Not because she couldn't be defeated.
But because
she didn't change.
Didn't break.
Didn't fall.
No matter what came at her.
And somewhere deep within
that voice remained.
Watching.
Guiding.
Refining.
Not loud.
Not dominant.
But absolute.
Because in a world of overwhelming power
true strength…
was the one thing that could never be shaken.
And as another ball rose into the air
she moved.
Already there.
Already waiting.
Already certain.
That nothing
would ever pass her again.