[January 6 – The Sed Day of Nationals]

  For Aoba Johsai, today marked their first match at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

  [Nekoma 29 – 27 Kiyokawa][Nekoma 25 – 21 Kiyokawa]

  Yesterday, Nekoma had secured a 2-0 victory, advang to the sed round. The moment Kiyokawa lost the first set, the Aoba Johsai pyers had already beeain of Nekoma's win.

  For most of Seijoh's team, it didn't matter much which team advanced—after all, their e with Nekoma was limited to a single practice match.

  However, their absp;had apparently formed an unusual friendship with Nekoma's setter after that match.

  When Taichi visited Tokyo before nationals, Kenma had taken good care of him. Out of both se and reason, the team had naturally started rooting for Nekoma's victory.

  Now, the long-awaited match had arrived.

  [Spring High – Sed Round Match: Aoba Johsai vs. Nekoma]

  Miyagi Representative – Aoba Johsai High School Returning t High Nationals for the eighth time, their first appearan five years.

  Tokyo Representative – Nekoma High School Returning t High Nationals for the eleventh time, their first appearan five years.

  Court E, Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

  The sed-round match between Aoba Johsai and Nekoma is about to begin!

  "Now, let's introduce the starting lineups for both teams!"

  "Starting with Aoba Johsai:"

  #1 – Captain Oikawa Tōru, the mastermind behind Seijoh's offend a masterful setter with an all-around skill set.

  #2 – Matsukawa Issei, a middle blocker who excels at reading attacks and shutting them down.

  #4 – Iwaizumi Hajime, the team's defensive anchor and a powerhouse wing spiker.

  #7 – Watari Shinji, the quiet yet dependable libero, the unseen bae of Seijoh.

  #10 – Kaedehara Taichi, the first-year absp;who shone brilliantly at Interhigh.

  #12 – Kindaichi Yūtarō, the team's tallest pyer and a key blocker.

  #16 – Kyōtaarō, a relentless, uable outside hitter with ferocious attacks.

  "And now, Nekoma High School:"

  #1 – Captain Kuroo Tetsurō, an all-around middle blocker, widely reized as one of the best in the try.

  #2 – Kai Nobuyuki, a dependable third-year outside hitter known for his posure and steady py.

  #3 – Yaku Morisuke, the libero and defensive powerhouse of Nekoma.

  #4 – Yamamoto Taketora, the team's aggressive sed-year ace.

  #5 – Kozume Kenma, the brains of Nekoma—an unassumier who effortlessly lures oppos into his traps.

  #6 – Fukunaga Shōhei, an uable outside hitter with an incredibly diverse attack range.

  #11 – Haiba Lev, a first-year middle blocker with raw athleticism and terrifying natural talent.

  "Ladies alemen, please give a round of appuse for both teams as they prepare for an intense showdown!"

  -----

  A Sea of Blue

  The st time Aoba Johsai peted at Nationals, they were barely noticed.

  Back then, their opening match had bee with scattered appuse at best. pared to the host team from Tokyo, and even against powerhouses like Inarizaki from Hyōgo and Mujinazaka from ōita, Seijoh's cheeriion had seemed almost ent.

  But this time—

  A wave of blue filled the stands.

  Fwoosh!

  In the front row, two Aoba Johsai students, dressed in school uniforms, unfurled a massive banner, hanging it promily over the railing fag the court.

  RULE THE COURT

  The bold decration loomed over Nationals for all to see!

  "Whoa, that's…a pretty intense slogan."

  "I've never seen that school before…Do they even know what it means to put up a banner like that on this stage?"

  Some speurmured among themselves, but the Seijoh students paid no mind.

  This was their first time experieng Nationals firsthand.

  "Good thing we made it in time—these banners were heavy!"

  "I had no idea our volleyball team was this strong—this is way beyond what I expected!"

  "This is my first time watg a volleyball mat person!"

  "Silence!"

  The voice of Hirata Mitsuaki, Seijoh's strict faculty advisor, cut through the chatter. Standing at the very front, he firmly motioned for the students to stay in order. His gestures were sharp and anding, instantly refog their attention.

  "Brass band, step forward!"

  At his and, a group of students emerged from the crowd, instruments in hand.

  Dressed in crisp uniforms, their faces shoh fidend anticipation. They carried a full ensemble—trumpets, flutes, saxophones, percussion. It was clear they had prepared meticulously for this moment.

  "Cheer squad, step forward!"

  Another order and the cheerleaders swiftly assembled at the walkways on both sides of the stands.

  With the brass band and cheer squad now in position, the atmosphere ignited.

  Hirata lifted his hand one final time—

  And with one grand motion, music erupted from the band.

  The cheerleaders waved their pom-poms and ribbons with electriergy, their voices rising in perfect rhythm.

  "Seijoh, fight! Fight! Fight!"

  "Victory, victory, victory! Seijoh!"

  The roar of the crowd surged like waves, sweeping across the eadium!

  "Whoa, I 't even tell who the home team is anymore. There are way too many people cheering for them!" Lev Haiba said enviously.

  "If you py well, people will cheer for you," Yaku Morisuke replied offhandedly. "Speaking of which, where's Akane-? And Lev's sister?"

  "Go, go, go! Nekoma!!"

  "Attack, attack!! Nekoma!!"

  Just as Yaku finished speaking, Yamamoto Akane and Alisa Haiba appeared at the front of Nekoma's cheeriion.

  "Ehehe!" Akane giggled excitedly, leading the cheers with a megaphone.

  "Where's Kenma? Hiding again?" Yamamoto Taketora searched around.

  "Don't bother him, Yamamoto," Kuroo Tetsurō held him bad gestured toward the court.

  Kozume Kenma stood still, his gaze fixed on the empty court. He seemed eerily quiet.

  "Kenma's never been too ied in winning or losing, so he often es across as g enthusiasm…"

  "But right now, this sile's different. Kenma is watg the game before it even begins."

  "Beep! Both teams, please enter for warm-ups."

  "Alright! Same routine as always!" Kuroo raised his hand.

  "—We are the blood." Nekoma's pyers gathered in a huddle. "We must flow smoothly, delivering oxygen, so the 'brain' fun properly!"

  This time, Kenma didn't resist his teammates' enthusiasm. Though it was subtle, there was a faint trace of excitement in his expression.

  "Let's go!"

  Starting Lineups: Nekoma:

  Front row—Middle Blocker Lev Haiba, Outside Hitter Taketora Yamamoto, Outside Hitter Nobuyuki KaiBaiddle Blocker Tetsurō Kuroo (Libero: Morisuke Yaku), Outside Hitter Sōhei Fukunaga aer Kenma Kozume.

  Aoba Johsai:

  Front row—Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Middle Blocker Yūtarō Kindaichi, Outside Hitter Kentarō Kyōtani.Back row—Outside Hitter Hajime Iwaizumi, Middle Blocker Issei Matsukawa (Libero: Shinji Watari) aer Oikawa Tōru.

  Against an oppo like Nekoma, the key was to strike hard from the very beginning—take them down before they could fully adapt.

  Even just standing on the court, Aoba Johsai's pyers exuded an overwhelming presence.

  "Beep—!" The match begins!

  Aoba Johsai to serve first. Oikawa Tōru stepped up to the service line.

  Having not pyed a match yesterday, Aoba Johsai's pyers were at a slight disadvantage in terms of adjusting to the venue pared to Nekoma.

  But as a seasoned setter, Oikawa had already itted every aspect of the enviroo memory—the size of the court, the height of the ceiling, the esticity of the floor, and even the brightness of the overhead lights.

  First Serve—Aoba Johsai!

  Oikawa tossed the ball high into the air.

  "Oooohhh—Heeey!!"

  The familiar cheer rang out for Oikawa. The Nekoma pyers tensed instinctively at the sound.

  "Here it es!"

  BOOM!

  The ball rocketed toward Nekoma's back row like a missile.

  Kenma stepped forward.

  Smack!

  Oikawa's first serve was successfully received!

  "Yaku!!"

  The ball rebounded off Kenma's arms, veering out of bounds. The sheer force behind Oikawa's serve was undeniable.

  But—

  This was Nekoma's defence.

  Yaku Morisuke dove, barely reag the ball and sending it back toward the .

  A high ball—

  "Lev!!!"

  Lev Haiba took off from the back row. For the first time, the grounded cats of Nekoma had a true on in the air!

  "So high!!"

  Lev soared in the front row, his nky frame making his height even more intimidating.

  Bam!

  A less-than-perfect set from the scramble was still well within his range. He struck—

  Smack!

  "How is that even—"

  Lev's cat-like eyes widened in shock.

  A hand.

  At this height—where there should have been nothing but open air—

  A hand had appeared.

  The ball was stuffed straight down into Nekoma's court.

  Block—Kaedehara Taichi!

  Kenma, thrown off by Oikawa's serve, had no time to react. Yaku, who had chased the ball outside the court, couldn't recover fast enough.

  None of them had anticipated it—

  Thud, thud, thud...

  The ball hit the ground.

  Kaedehara Taichi had scored with a block.

  [Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Nekoma]

  [Lev Haiba—Middle Blocker: Overall Rating: 83; Height: 196 bsp;Strength: 85, Jump: 85, Stamina: 88, Speed: 88; Key Attributes: Receive 72, Spike 80.]

  A solid skill set—but nothing more.

  Taichi didn't even spare a g Lev, who was gring at him from across the . Instead, his eyes locked onto Kenma's.

  "Your ons go beyond just this, don't they, Kenma?"

  _________

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