resonantrhyme

Tooru paused in front of the gym doors, taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes. It was sudden enough, that Arturo and Marco, his teammates, bumped into his back. As Marco was ready to scold him, Arturo held up a hand.

He and Tooru had played together since Tooru first came to Argentina. If there was anyone on their team that knew the routine, it would be him.

Marco opened his mouth to question them, but the moment had already passed, "Vamos! Vamos!" Tooru threw open the doors and the Argentina National Men's Volleyball Team advanced.

Unlike yesterday, they would play in the main gym of the recently-opened Ariake Arena.

This time, there was only one court, in the middle of a crowd numbering in the tens of thousands. This being both the twelfth day of the 2021 Olympics and the men's volleyball semifinal, the sight didn't faze Tooru as he and the rest of his teammates made their way to the benches.

He wouldn't lie and say he wasn't a little rattled, though. Theirs would be the first game of the day and the most challenging. And that was after taking down powerhouse Italy in the quarterfinal.

This was another beast altogether. Argentina versus Japan. Both teams with something to prove, and everything to lose.