[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

It is not only the final round of a volleyball tournament but the final point of the pick-up tournament. Sea day led to a boardwalk of food trucks and booths using the tournament as a spectacle amongst competitors willing to sign up — all proceeds going to beach restoration and upkeep projects.

A few classmates signed up and unbeknownst to me, they included my name. Turns out, I enjoy volleyball. The thrill of winning is similar to combat. The tactics work the same, too.

It was my turn to serve and I had developed a monstrous spike in my few games here. The technique needed to be improved but we were all amateurs. Unfortunately, my opponent was agile. Freakishly, so. I was told she was a hero student but unfamiliar with her skillset. I sacrificed a few points experimenting with the win condition. But it brought me here to my final serve.

I’d bury her.

---

JoJo

[JoJo]

Ya know, sometimes you find little places for example sports where you can let loose, and no one bats an eye. For Josie, that sport turned out to be volleyball. Luckily for her, not a soul pinpointed her to be even close to Peacekeeper. As far as every student and civilian was concerned The Peacekeeper was some tween with too much power and needed a stern talking from their parent or guardian.

So over the past couple of weeks, Josie moved forward with her quirk. Not flat out using the power like the Peacekeeper however she did find little ways to use it here and there. Though in this tournament she found herself in, her quirk hadn't been needed yet. Instead, she focused on using her skills whether it be acrobatics or her strength.

Josie had no idea how much fun all this could be when it came down to the nitty gritty and here was now in the finals of this little session. Ohhh if Windy could see her now... thank god he couldn't the last thing she needed was anything being pinpointed back to her Vigi.

So with a crack of her neck and tiny hops up and down she waited for the finale. What he would try and do? Regardless, she'd be ready and knock it right outta the park! Wait not that, she'd be disqualified. Well, Josie would do somet

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

The first step was positioning.

There wasn’t a serve that could sneak past JoJo. Instead, I’d place her exactly where she needed to be for our follow-up. I toss the ball into the air, take three steps — the final veering to the left — and slam toward the end of their court, barely in bounds. If she were to misjudge the distance, they would lose the point and assure us victory. If not, she’d fall right into our hands.

At this angle, with this speed, and this power… she was the only one who could receive leaving her teammate in the front. I rush forward and my teammate takes the rear. It was a signal I had implanted in the middle of the match.

Quirks weren’t allowed here. I didn’t have to adjust for unknown abilities, only the raw, physical talent displayed before me. But when you relied on instinct, you revealed your limitations. And I knew exactly where I’d break them.

---

JoJo

[JoJo]

"Whoa, chico came to play."

The words left Josie's mouth under her breath listening to the smack of the ball after that quick toss-up into the air. The way this fella played was with stratagem, but stratagem only got you so far when you're in a game like this with this eventual hero. Instinct was always looked down on but she had this fella read like a book.

Of course, he'd try for the back, sending that ball flying. The way they were able to have that ball barely touch the net when it passed told ya how much this dude quantified quality control in his work. That didn't matter right now though what mattered was setting up for the next action. You could have all the plans in the world, but they go out the window when ya get a good punch in the face.

Strafing towards the back while keeping her eye on the ball she smiled and decided to be cheeky. Dropping down, she split while cupping her hands together, the ball on cue to hit in only a moment. A bump of her own sent that little sphere flying back and the smile on her face crept up, unfortunately, she forgot that throughout most of her P.A. exercises she never showed this much prowess.

Now because she was having fun she was getting a little lost in her sauce.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

I can tell when someone’s holding back. There’s brief discordance between their body and mind — thoughts before action. And when you offer the luxury of foresight, the future will dematerialize, leaving what they’ve carved of their fates in its place. Instead, I force her hand. She lets the moment win and in doing so guarantees her defeat. She returns the ball with little coordination with her teammate, trying to put the pressure immediately on us.

But I trust my teammate. They have one job. And although they fumble the pass, I look at the wobbly arc and rush to the opposite side of the court while parallel with the net. I jump throwing all of my weight into the body and threaten a sharp cut.

JoJo’s teammate falls for the bait.

He steps in JoJo’s way leaving her out of play. And instead of a cut, I stop the momentum of my swing, having intended as such from the beginning, and give it a light tap.

The ball rolls over the net.

---

JoJo

[JoJo]

"Crap, Crap, Crap!"

Josie said aloud and immediately was back on her feet after that split. Of all the no-good dirty cheap stratagem to pull this was something from her brother's playbook. Using her teammates and putting them in the way of the ball. Although there was a way to still win this, if she launched herself where she was right now she could get at least a bit of a bump and hope for their teammate to strike the ball back at them.

However, there was an immense catch to that.

If she did that, there'd be no more excuses whatsoever for her P.A. exercises. Lord knows how crazy the teachers would get after that wanting to bring out her true potential. Not to mention Windy if he saw one clip from this may be able to start putting pieces together.

Unfortunately, as that light tap hit, she kept her face blank but oooo in her head she was flipping the hardest bird she had ever flipped. She needed to give herself an out now.

Josie took two quick steps and then 'tripped' while holding her hand out uselessly from afar watching the ball head for the ground while their partner inevitably missed.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

The ball plopped onto the sand.

If JoJo had tried her best, she would have been close to returning the ball only for her and her teammate’s lack of cohesion to cost them the game. But instead, she pulled back. For whatever reason, she returned to her previous self. Had receiving the serve been a mistake in the first place? Everyone else saw her mistake as a mistake but I knew when someone was playing dead.

Nonetheless, victory was ours. I duck beneath the net and walk to the other side of the court. I shake hands with her teammate before heading to her and offering my hand.

“Good game,” The winning team gets a free meal, but I’m not above paying for it to learn more about her and what happened here. “Let’s grab dinner. On me.”

People are cheering. There’s an announcer advertising… too much, honestly. I drown it out and focus on only her.

---

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

[JoJo]

Kneeling on the ground for a second she shook her head and the sand went this way and that while a small smile appeared on her face. Getting ready to head to her teammates and give them a hug followed by a handshake to the the opponents.

That didn't end up happening instead making a beeline straight towards her was Mr. Tap. Tippy Tapping his way over the same he did that friggin ball, but what can ya do. He offered a good game, and of course, her reply was the same. Couldn't be too bitter now or otherwise, she'd be her brother.

Standing up straight, of course, he was taller than her, then again everyone was taller than her, that wasn't anything new. What was new though was his inviting her to dinner.

That's a little strange considering he got a free meal outta this, though she wasn't sure if they were saveable or anything like that.

"Dinner, well sure! Though I'd feel kinda bad not inviting the teammates not that you have to pay for them of course! Just don't want anyone feeling left out. Though sounds like a great idea!"

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

“The offer is for the both of you.” I look back at my teammate who is having a similar conversation with hers. “There’s more value in getting to know the both of you than a free meal.” I’m lying. The only value is in understanding why she was the way she was. Why was she holding back in such a pivotal moment when seconds prior she looked to win at all costs?

People were more receptive to groups. And if they weren’t, if she wasn’t, then I’d use that to my advantage to probe about whatever extracurriculars she had.

“Plus the publicity doesn’t hurt either.” Photos are being taken of them during the event. They aren’t the stars and their victory means nothing. It’s all promotional for the companies here. And what better way to exploit the companies exploiting them than to turn it into a good reputation?

“Let’s get out of here.”

---

JoJo

[Jinx]

☆ MISSION SUCCESS ☆

A hit and a win! But where shall their stories lead~
Great thread you two!

+ 75 Tokens!!

Rahul: 250 // 325
JoJo: 100 // 175

tag: 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲,JoJo