They won!

  Aoba Johsai defeated Shiratorizawa 3-1 in a decisive victory, g the championship of the Spring High Prefecture Representative Tour.

  Uhe nerve-wrag IH Qualifier Finals filled with suspehis time, Aoba Johsai demonstrated overwhelming strength and fidence from the start.

  Their victory felt iable, setting the tht from the first serve.

  Throughout the match, the difference arent—not only in teique but also iality.

  Fag Shiratorizawa, Aoba Johsai showed no fear. Their hunger for victory, coupled with their groyers, filled them with unshakable fidence.

  With minimal errors, seamless coordination, and precise execution of their strategies, Aoba Johsai maintained trol of the game, showg their strengths to the fullest.

  When the final whistle blew, signalling the end of the match, the Aoba Johsai cheeriioed into thunderous appuse.

  "I never realized our school's volleyball team was this strong! Way better than I imagined!!"

  "That was Shiratorizawa they beat!! Shiratorizawa!!"

  From the sed set onward, it felt like Aoba Johsai had already secured their victory.

  The words spoken by Kaedehara Taichi and Oikawa Tōru during the pre-tour rally echoed iudents' minds.

  This year's Aoba Johsai really was aiming to domiionals!

  The students screamed themselves hoarse, cheering wildly.

  Kaedehara Taichi basked in the moment, celebrating with his teammates in the middle of the court.

  Meanwhile, Oikawa Tōru didn't rush to take the spotlight.

  A peculiar feeling washed over him—a sense of light illuminating the path forward in the final year of his high school journey, keeping his dreams alive.

  Oher side of the court, Shiratorizayers stood in silehe sting of loss etched across their faces.

  No oepped onto the court expeg to lose, but they had felt the differen strength throughout the match.

  "Goodbye, my paradise," murmured Tendo Satori, having already made peace with his decision to retire from volleyball after this season.

  For pyers like him, along with the other sed and third-years who had peted at nationals before, the loss was heavy but bearable.

  For first-year Goshiki Tsutomu, however, the pain was overwhelming. Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed untrolbly.

  "Goshiki, it's up to you to lead Shiratorizawa back to nationals from now on," said ōhira Reon, firmly patting his shoulder.

  Ushijima Wakatoshi, ever posed, appeared calm. But that ess stemmed from his hoy—with others, and especially with himself.

  For him, the loss marked the end of his high school volleyball career, halted at the Spring High Representative Finals in his third year.

  Yet, it was also just the beginning of his professional career.

  Ushijima walked to the . One side rejoiced, the other despaired—a hat drew a boundary between joy abreak.

  Aoba Johsai had already noticed their long-time rival approag. Uanding the moment, they stepped aside, creating space for Kaedehara Taichi to face Ushijima across the .

  "Taichi, this time, you've won," Ushijima said calmly, but his words carried immense weight. "ime, I hope we meet again on another court."

  "Definitely!" Taichi responded with unwavering resolve.

  -----

  After more than ten minutes of celebration, Miyagi Prefecture's Governor, Murai Yoshihiro, stepped into the tre of the gymnasium. The staff quickly ahe pyers aers into their respective positions.

  Murai, his face beaming with pride, approached Aoba Johsai's pyers, coaches, and school leaders. Taking the championship trophy adorned with the names of past winners, he ha to Oikawa Tōru.

  At first, Oikawa maintained his posure, but the moment he grasped the trophy, his eyes filled with tears. In an instant, he burst into untrolble sobs, tears and even a bit of snot threatening to drip onto the trophy.

  Iwaizumi Hajime, who had been ready to celebrate, immediately recoiled in mock disgust. The team quickly and carefully passed the trophy around before returning it to Oikawa, who cradled it tightly.

  "gratutions on winning the Spring High Representative Tour Championship!" Murai said early, shaking Coach Irihata's hand.

  "To end the outstanding performance of both schools during this match, and to wish Aoba Johsai great success in the uping national tour, let's give them all a big round of appuse!"

  Cp, cp, cp…

  The entire gymnasium erupted into appuse, celebrating both teams' efforts.

  Amid the enthusiastic cheers, Kaedehara Taichi and Oikawa Tōru raised the championship trophy high together as the team gathered for a orative photo.

  Following the celebration, it was time for the pyers' victory speeches.

  After all the senior members had shared their thoughts, Kaedehara Taichi stepped forward as the final speaker to deliver his closing remarks and discuss the team's aspirations.

  "Winning the championship feels amazing. It’s a testament to how much stronger we’ve bee," Taichi said fidently, standing uhe spotlight with a victorious smile. His words carried the weight of pride aainty.

  "Last time, I said we aimed to domihe nationals, but we only made it as far as the quarterfinals."

  The audience chuckled good-naturedly.

  Ambitious goals were ong sports clubs, but most spectators uood how difficult they were to achieve.

  "This time, oal hasn’t ged—we're still aiming to domihe nationals!" Taichi decred, his tone firm, full of unwavering faith in himself and his team.

  "Because for us, there is no other choice!"

  Three other teams heard Kaedehara Taichi’s bold procmation from the stands. Karasuno and Date Tech could only ugh it off for now; her team had yet qualified for the nationals.

  With Aoba Johsai still standing in their way, the idea of national dominatio like a distant dream.

  The pyers from Shiratorizawa, however, were stunned. Most of them had already experiehe national stage, with the third-years attending four times.

  In Miyagi, Shiratorizawa had reigned as undisputed champions for years, but their best result at nationals was still only a top-eight finish.

  Four times!

  And each time, their journey ended in the quarterfinals.

  For someoo so boldly procim a national championship after experieng the nationals firsthand—this was no small thing.

  This guy...Is it fidence? ance?

  He’s too full of himself!

  Yet, deep inside, a glimmer of expectation began to stir in their hearts.

  Maybe…if it’s this Aoba Johsai team...Just maybe...

  -----

  A few days ter, the Aoba Johsai team discovered something peculiar in the locker room.

  “What’s this?” Iwaizumi Hajime asked, holding up a strange object he had taken from the outside of Oikawa’s locker. It looked like a hanger, but it had Oikawa’s face printed on it.

  “An Oikawa hanger? Hahaha!” Hanamaki Takahiro burst into ughter at the bizarre item.

  “Wait, is this a hanger with Oikawa-senpai’s fa it???” Kindaichi Yūtarō asked, walking over to get a closer look.

  “ I see it for a moment?” Kunimi Akira seemed unusually intrigued. “It looks like it’s made of paper. Why does something like this exist?”

  “Wow!” Oikawa snatched the hanger back, admiring the “artwork” with a delighted expression. “What do you mean, ‘something like this', Kunimi?”

  “Uh, well…doesn’t it seem kind of suspicious?” Kunimi mumbled.

  “No, no, no! What’s suspicious about it? This is a masterpiece!” Oikawa clutched the haightly, his voice rising in indignation.

  “Where did this strahing even e from?” Iwaizumi demanded, snatg it from Oikawa’s hands again.

  “Apparently, when Oikawa-senpai ordered the team jerseys st time, he asked the store staff to make it for him,” Taichi revealed casually, dropping a bombshell.

  “You requested this yourself? That’s so embarrassing!” Matsukawa Issei remarked with a straight face.

  “Everyone, don’t be jealous!” Oikawa beamed, striking a smug pose.

  “No one’s jealous of you...” Hanamaki stifled a ugh behind his hand.

  “If you fold it like this, you probably make a funny face out of it,” Iwaizumi said, holding the hanger and looking as though he was ready to experiment.

  “Don’t you dare, Iwa-! You’re just jealous, aren’t you?!” Oikawa cried out in panic.

  Bang!

  Just as the hanger was on the verge of being deformed, Mizoguchi Sadayuki suddenly burst into the locker room.

  “Taichi! Oikawa! You’ve beeed!”

  _________

  [T/N] - I am excited for the U19 Arc. Let's go!!!

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