"Aone-senpai, you block Ushijima-senpai's spike like that?"
Oher side of the court, the ee Tech team, defeated by Aoba Johsai just yesterday, sat iands. Evehird-year graduates joio watch this finals match.
Aoakanobu stared ily at the court, lost in thought.
"Date Tech's Iron Wall was never about just one person. Everyone blocks together, idiot," Futakuchi Kenji said nontly.
No one in their right mind would try to challenge such a monster one-on-one.
"I believe you guys do it. Actually, both Taichi and Ushijima's sg effi the sed set was only around 60%," Moniwa Kaname said, holding a stat sheet prepared by their team manager, Sakuma Mai.
"Only 60%?" Sasaya Takehito chuckled bitterly.
For most teams, an ace achieving that level would already be sidered exceptional. Ahese two were relentlessly targeted by each other's defences.
"Well...it is Taichi and Ushijima, after all," Monilied with an awkward ugh.
"But we're not here to be scared of how strong they are! And anyway, while it may sound like we're avoiding the issue, year, your oppo will only be Taichi—and without Oikawa Tōru by his side!" libero Sakunami Kōsuke said as if a suddeion struck him.
"Phew—! That doesn't sound half as bad," Futakuchi said, as though a weight had been lifted.
"Eh? That's a shame. I was hoping to beat them at their peak with you guys," Koganegawa Kanji said with a serious expression.
Futakuchi covered his face with his hands and sighed deeply.
He had a sinking feeling that even with their third years gone, year's Aoba Johsai would remain one of their most challenging oppos.
"Futakuchi, as the captain, show some spirit!" Kamasaki Yasushi said, spping him hard on the back with his heavily muscled arm.
"I got it, I got it—" Futakuchi said helplessly. He wondered again how Moniwa had mao vince him to take on the role of captain.
What a pain...
"Kamasaki-senpai, stop spping me already. If you keep it up, Date Tech might end up without a captain..."
-----
In the best-of-five finals, Aoba Johsai had shogly taken the first two sets, earning three match points.
This ued development had the Aoba Johsai supporters cheering wildly, with even the school administrators standing to appud several times.
The match's iy was undeniable, leaving the audieisfied.
Matches oional stage weren't necessarily more thrilling than this one. Most had expected this game to go to a full five sets. Now, with the current momentum, that seemed increasingly unlikely.
Aoba Johsai had truly risen.
The third set began, and while the audience expected Aoba Johsai to ride their momentum to secure victory, a g their starting lineup raised eyebrows.
Aoba Johsai's lineup:
Front row—Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Outside Hitter Hanamaki Takahiro and Middle Blocker Matsukawa IsseiBack row—Outside Hitter Iwaizumi Hajime (Libero: Watari Shinji), Outside Hitter Kyōtaarō aer Oikawa Tōru.
Shiratorizawa's lineup:
Front row—Middle Blocker Kawanishi Taichi, Outside Hitter Ushijima Wakatoshi, Outside Hitter ōhira Reon.Baiddle Blocker Tendō Satori (Libero: Yamagata Hayato), Setter Shirabu Kenjirō and Wing Spiker Goshiki Tsutomu.
Kaedehara Taichi wasn't iarting lineup!
Iaichi was sitting on the bench, casually chatting with Kunimi Akira.
"Taichi, isn't it o take a break? Shiratorizawa is down two sets, so they'll go all out ihird set. Even if you pyed, you'd be too tired to make much of an impact," Kunimi said bluntly, eyeing Taichi, who looked eager to get ba the court.
"Hmm, I know. But still, it's frustrating," Taichi admitted, his eyes glued to the court. The match was in full swing.
Kunimi rolled his eyes. What's there to be frustrated about? Things were looking great for them. Anyone who uood volleyball, or even those who didn't, could tell from the st two sets how much of an impact Taichi had made.
As if reading Kunimi's thoughts, Taichi tinued, "This is my st high school to face Ushijima-senpai. I want to be on the court and send him off with a 3–0 loss."
Kunimi: "???"
Kunimi shot him a bnk stare. What's wrong with this guy? Is this some attempt at humour? Does he seriously think Ushijima would thank him for such a "respectful" send-off?
Kunimi couldn't uand these volleyball-obsessed people, nor did he want to. He was already tired from all the dives and defensive pys he had to make in the sed set.
He wasn't pining about being subbed out for the third set—it felt more like a reward than a punishment.
"Kunimi, thank you," Taichi suddenly said, turning to him. "If it weren't for your ce against Ushijima's spikes in the sed set, we wouldn't have won."
"Well, only because the blockers mao absorb most of the force. I wasn't pnning to take those spikes head-on," Kunimi replied nontly.
Victory was never achieved by one person alone.
Even Taichi, who had scored 18 points in the sed set, wouldn't cim that Aoba Johsai won solely because of him. Kunimi certainly didn't think of himself as the key to their wiher.
"Of course. Everyone's role is unique and irrepceable," Taichi said with a sincere smile.
Before Kunimi could fully process the pliment, Taichi's pyful voice followed: "Speaking of which, I heard from Kindaichi that you trained with him over summer break. Weren't you the one who used to say, 'Effort is my sed least favourite phrase'?"
Damn it. So embarrassing!
Kunimi's fastantly turned red. "It was just a bit of training, nothing like giving it my all!"
"Oh? And here I thought your least favourite phrase was 'hard work,'" Taichi teased, grinning mischievously.
"Now my least favourite phrase is 'Kaedehara Taichi,'" Kunimi deadpanned, silently cursing Kindaichi for being such a bigmouth.
-----
"Achoo!" Kindaichi sneezed.
"Kindaichi, are you okay? Did you catch a cold?" Iwaizumi asked, ed.
"I don't think so. I made sure to wear my jacket during the break," Kindaichi replied early.
"Don't tell me you're scared because that brat isn't on the court?" Shiratorizawa's Tendō Satori teased with a grin. "If yiving up on this set, just surrender already."
"Who said anything about giving up? We're going to beat you 3–0," Oikawa shot baot bag down in the slightest.
Aoba Johsai had no iion of giving up this set lightly. Resting Kaedehara Taichi was just part of their strategy to prepare him for the fourth set.
If Shiratorizawa uimated them, they might find themselves losing in three straight sets.
Even without their a the court, this Aoba Johsai team was strohan ever.
For Shiratorizawa, every remaini was critical. There was no room for error, and they had to give it their all!
-----
[Thirty Minutes Later]
[Aoba Johsai 22 - 25 Shiratorizawa]
"Tweet—!"
The whistle sighe end of the third set.
Winner: Shiratorizawa.
Both Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa had been improving steadily. Ihird set, no one uimated their oppo or scked off.
Was Kaedehara Taichi off the court?
To the fourteen pyers on the court (including the two liberos), the moment the whistle blew, such matters became irrelevant.
Tactid strategies were ohing, but on the court, there was only ohought in everyone's mind—to win.
However, the score reflected the current differeweewo teams' lineups.
Oikawa Tōru and the rest of the team walked off the court.
Kaedehara Taichi had inteo tease them with a lighthearted remark, but the moment he caught sight of Oikawa's expression, he froze.
"Taichi, we must take the fourth set. I refuse to lose another oo Shiratorizawa." Oikawa's serious demeanour was oaichi had never seen before.
"Yes, Oikawa-senpai!"
-----
The fifteen-mierval betwees flew by in the blink of ahough for Kaedehara Taichi, it felt like a full hour of rest.
As the referee's whistle echoed once more, the fourth set between Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa officially began.
Shiratorizawa's lineup:
Front row—Middle Blocker Tendō Satori, Outside Hitter Ushijima Wakatoshi, Outside Hitter ōhira Reon.Baiddle Blocker Kawanishi Taichi (Libero: Yamagata Hayato), Wing Spiker Goshiki Tsutomu aer Shirabu Kenjirō.
Aoba Johsai's lineup:
Front row—Middle Blocker Yūtarō Kindaichi, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Setter Oikawa TōruBack row—Wing Spiker Kunimi Akira, Outside Hitter Iwaizumi Hajime and Middle Blocker Kyōtaarō (Libero: Watari Shinji).
For the fourth set, Aoba Johsai shogly left only two third-years, Oikawa Tōru and Iwaizumi Hajime, on the court. Three of the starters were first-years.
While the spearvelled at the talent of Aoba Johsai's newers, they also sehe winds of geional ge.
Shirabu Kenjirō stepped up to serve. His jump float serves had caused Aoba Johsai signifit trouble in the sed set.
But this time—
Oikawa's determination was evident from the start, something Kaedehara Taioticed immediately.
[Ding! Oikawa Tōru has entered Burst Mode.]
[Oikawa Tōru (Burst Mode): Overall Ability Rating: 95Height: 186 bsp;| Power: 99 | Jump: 92 | Stamina: 95 | Speed: 90Teique: Serve: 100 | Set: 100]
At this moment, no one could doubt Oikawa's genius.
Having broken through his limits, he could er his peak state more easily, boasting two perfect scores in his skillset.
Victory would e naturally if he maintaihis form!
Bang!
Shirabu Kenjirō served, and the ball floated over the .
"I've got it!" Kunimi Akira, who had been fooled by Shirabu's jump float in the sed set, fidently stepped forward to receive.
Kaedehara Taichi instinctively made space, trusting his teammate, and simultaneously ran toward the left. Tendō Satori and Ushijima Wakatoshi immediately followed to block.
Kunimi's reception erfect, and the ball was delivered with precision. Taichi jumped on the left, ready to spike.
"Not happening!" Tendō also jumped diagonally, his hands stretg high above the .
Thud!
Instead of spiking to the left, Oikawa executed a perfect back set, sending the ball to the right.
Iwaizumi Hajime, waiting in the back row, delivered a , decisive attack to secure the first point.
[Aoba Johsai 1 - 0 Shiratorizawa]
"Wha…"
With Taichi ba the court, Aoba Johsai's offence seemed revitalized. His presence diverted the blockers' attention, allowing Oikawa's orchestration to shine even brighter.
"Damn it, we were tricked!" Tendō growled in frustration, gritting his teeth.
"Don't dwell on it, Tendō," Ushijima said calmly, though he couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't about the block. If they hadn't gone for Taichi, the set would have goraight to him.
Smack!
Oikawa and Iwaizumi high-fived in celebration.
"Shirabu, let me teach you what it means to be a setter with a knife," Oikawa decred, his voice brimming with fidence. He could feel it—his state was immacute.
Oikaroached the service line, and Shiratorizayers instinctively took a step back.
"That's not the right move~" Kaedehara muttered under his breath, his tone unreadable.
Oikawa smirked, tossing the ball lightly into the air.
A trolled approach, an effortless jump, a precise strike.
Boom!
Despite Shirabu's readiness, the float serve zipped toward him, deceptively slow yet fast enough to throw him off.
It was toe!
Shirabu froze as the ball veered toward his face. Reflexively, he shut his eyes and braced himself.
Thud!
The impact he anticipated never came. By the time Shirabu opened his eyes, the ball had already nded outside the court.
A no-touch ace.
[Aoba Johsai 2 VS 0 Shiratorizawa]
"Beautiful serve!!" The crowd erupted into cheers.
To them, Shirabu seemed to have made no effort to respond. More shogly, the ball, initially headed straight for him, suddenly curved right and dropped sharply to the ground.
Incredible!
Even Oikawa could only vaguely perceive the ball's trajectory, but it reassured him of his form.
"All right, let's go for the one!"
This was different—pletely different!
Shiratorizayers were at a loss. Oikawa's serves had always been powerful and fearsome but predictable. Now, his movements seemed almost too casual, throwing them off.
Once again, Oikawa tossed the ball lightly, his body tilting slightly as he began his approach. His steps were measured yet brisk. Nearing the ball, he suddenly accelerated a.
His arm swung back, his wrist snapping forward like a whip, sending the ball flying with deceptive ease.
Here it es again!
Shirabu locked onto the ball, f himself to igs illusory slowness and stepped forward for the receive.
The ball wavered midair, veering slightly.
A moment of hesitation was all it took—Shirabu missed.
Thud!
The ball hit the floor.
Oikawa's secutive service aces had widehe gap.
[Aoba Johsai 3 VS 0 Shiratorizawa]
"This is bad…"
Semu Eita, standing on the sidelines, frowned deeply. The momentum of the fourth set was entirely skewed.
Shiratorizan had been to push the matto a fifth set, but now—
Semu had always sidered himself simir to Oikawa, a setter capable of standing out on the court. But at this moment, doubt crept in. Even his jump float serve paled in parison to Oikawa's.
It felt like the differeween a mortal and a genius.
-----
[T/N] - Oikawa finally having his Shounen Ment!
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