"Greetings! My name is Tomas, captain of the Volleybomb team." The tall, handsome, blonde, muscular, sharp, fnfnfnfnnf. said. "Are you three interested in trying out?"
Huh? I thought we were just here to visit, so what's this all about?!
"Errrmmm... I think I'll pass."
"Yeah, sorry, but I have duties as a member of the student council..."
Audi and Stu were slowly backing off, leaving me face to face with him.
"Hey, wait a minute! Where are you guys going?!"
They made a run for it, ducking their heads as if another bomb was sent flying across the field.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. Behind me was Tomas, grinning ear to ear, holding a bomb with his other hand.
KA-BOOOOMM!!!
I rolled over, narrowly avoiding his serve. For some reason, I was playing against the captain of the team.
"And that's another point!" The referee shouted. "So far, it's zero for Boles, and twenty-four for Tomas!"
I don't care about anything anymore. I'm just glad that I'm still somehow even alive right now. IT WOULD BE NICE IF I HAD SOME KIND OF MAGIC OR BLESSING THAT I COULD USE!
"Game point!"
I instinctively curled up as I saw him get ready to serve once more.
Not now!
I surrender! I yield!
Just stop!
"I think we should stop." Tomas said, putting down the bomb. "He isn't cut out for the dangers of the battlefield."
...?
Just like that, the game was halted. Everyone sat in silence as they watched him approach me.
"Kid. I admire your courage to step onto the arena. I know how scared you might've been, but it's great that you built the resolve to face me."
"R-really? I was just... uh... wait, so did I fail?"
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"That depends. Failure only happens if you give up."
He squatted down to my level.
"Truth be told, you aren't cut out for Volleyball."
I looked down with disappointment, unable to stare him in the eyes. All I did was run around and scream like a big baby.
"But, this club isn't Volleyball. This is Volleybomb. And there's one final challenge left to prove yourself."
One final challenge? Is it really true? I can't back down...
"W-what is it, sir?"
He tossed a golden beetle onto the ground. It was scurrying about frantically.
"Catch this beetle."
"I- huh? What?"
"You gotta catch the beetle."
...
"Yeah, I heard you fine, it's just... what exactly does this have to do with anything?"
"Go catch it."
I locked my eyes on the critter. It was moving left and right.
From my years of gaming, I have developed a skill called pattern recognition.
I closed my eyes and let fortune guide me.
And when I opened my eyes, I felt it in my hand.
Everyone burst into cheers. I was tossed up and down.
"HE'S DONE IT!!"
"THIS LAD CAUGHT THE GOLDEN BEETLE!!"
"W-huh. Okay, but what was that all about?"
"OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE NOW PART OF THE TEAM!!"
On the surface, Volleybomb seems nearly identical to Volleyball (minus the bomb, of course). You need, like, twenty-five points to win or something, and you have the basic rules like no double-touching. But there's a secret component to this sport that makes it drastically different...
"You see, Boles, this sport can be won in two ways." Tomas said. "You play normally and the team that reaches twenty-five points wins that game."
"Okayy??"
"But the second way is through catching the golden sn- ahem." He coughed, clearing his throat. "The golden beetle. Each team has one seeke- uh, I mean, searcher. And whoever catches the beetle will win a million points for their team."
"So does that mean I'm the official searcher of the Volleybomb team?"
"Naturally. Why else would I be explaining all of this to you? We've been lacking a searcher for a while, you see. In my first year, when I was just like you, our team made it to nationals and won. But I haven't seen that happen ever since..."
That topic seemed to be a sore spot for everyone. There was a lot of silence and neck scratching going on. Tomas had to awkwardly clear it out.
"Anyway, will you join our-"
"No. It's not good enough that I join, is it? I can see it in all of your hearts how much this sport means to you. I can't say I have the same level of love and commitment. As I am now, I'll only be letting you all dow-"
They all bowed their heads.
"Please. We have no other choice. There's no one else. We need you."
...
"I'll come clean and say again that I don't have that same passion. But... I have a dream."
Tomas raised his head, staring at me with confusion.
I extended out my hand.
"I'll join your team under one condition: that we win the world series."
CLAP.
He grinned, exchanging the handshake.
"You're right. That's the only right way to send this off."
"...And let me guess? They all stood up, cheered, and started clapping for you, too?"
Audi muttered, scarfing down some fries.
"Wait, how'd you know that? Are you psychic?"
"Erm, actually, I believe she's making a mockery of your story."
Stu took a swig of orange juice, slurping obnoxiously like a toddler.
"Oh. That makes sense. But that's okay, since she's my sweet little angel. Right, Audi?"
"Yeah, sure. Love ya too." She said, looking around the table. "Can you pass the salt?"
It was cooler now that the day was nearing an end. Clubs didn't last too long, and there was nothing else to do. We eventually reunited, finding comfortable benches outside, enjoying the view of the sunset.
Man.
Life in another world is kinda good.
Except for that time with Scarlet.
And except for that time I got nearly assassinated.
And whatever's been going on with Elise and her brother and Don Disgrace.
...
Okay, maybe I should just shut up before I find more things to complain about.