[Unyielding Spirit: This ability only be activated when the host, as a member of the Aoba Johsai team, is trailing by 5 points during a match. It ehat the team does not succumb to low morale. For every point regained, all team members' prehensive ability increases by 1 until the score is evened out, at which point the team buff disappears.]

  Hmm, the effect is excellent, but it's so hard ter. In volleyball, uhere's a signifit skill gap, tinuous sg streaks are rare outside of serving sequences.

  And being down by five points in a match typically means the differen skill levels is immense, making a eback seem almost impossible.

  Still, despite his inner pints, Taichi uood the importance of this skill. A team buff—it was the first time he had seen an ability that could positively affect his teammates.

  "Taichi, daydreaming again, huh?" Toru Oikawa strolled over with a teasing smile.

  For some reason, Oikawa always felt that this undercssman of his didn't quite blend with the team. Taichi seemed sharp, trained diligently, and treated his seniors with utmost respect. Yet, there was always a sense of detat between him and the rest of the squad.

  Oikawa often spotted him either the team ily or standing off to the side, lost in thought.

  That won't do, Oikawa thought. As captain and senior, it's my duty to help my introverted kouhai.

  With this ention, Oikawa slung an arm around Taichi's shoulders from behind. "Hey, Taichi, want to secure a spot iarting lineup? How about I teach you a few tricks?"

  Taichi subtly stepped out of Oikawa's grasp, maintaining a polite smile. "Sure, Oikawa-senpai. I've actually been w on some eiques I'd like to test. Could you set the ball higher for me ter, and then..."

  Though momentarily disappointed by Taichi's avoidance, Oikawa quickly perked up, noddihusiastically. As the versation unfolded, the rest of the first-years gathered around, discussing strategies for the uping 6v6 match. After all, a starting lineup spot was on the line, and uhe ever-posed Oikawa, most of them were anything but secure.

  Seeing Taichi engaging with the others, Oikawa noticed something different about him. Nice, my pep talk seems to have worked.

  "Tweet!" The coach's whistle blew. "Two teams, take your positions. The match is starting."

  The game began with fierpetitioween the uppercssmen and undercssmen. Coach Irihata and team manager-coach Mizoguchi stood at the sidelines, analyzing the pyers' performances with their tactics board.

  "Hanamaki and Matsukawa, as third-years, are teically solid across the board and rarely make mistakes," Coach Irihata ented. "Their long-term synergy with Oikawa and Iwaizumi is evident. A single gnce from Oikawa is enough to coordinate a py."

  "As for Watari," Mizoguoted, "his receiving has improved siderably, but as a libero, he cks the ability to anchor the team during critical moments. That could be fatal in matches against tougher oppos."

  The first-years, oher hand, showcased distinct strengths, but their gring weaknesses made them easy targets. However, if utilized properly, their uability could turn them into wild cards.

  "Block him!" Iwaizumi, Hanamaki, and Matsukawa leapt into position, f a formidable three-man block.

  "Whoa, the third-years aren't holding back!"

  "Triple block!" Oikawa called out to Taichi, who oised to spike. The initial pass hadn't been ideal, and Oikawa's set was slightly low—there was little ce of breaking through such a solid wall.

  Oikawa stepped back, preparing to recover the ball o was iably deflected.

  "Sed ce! Let's go again!" Taichi shouted decisively. Realizing he couldn't scainst the block, he aimed his spike at the top edge of their hands.

  It worked. The ball ricocheted off the blockers' fiips and floated into the undercssmen's side.

  Was that luck? Oikawa wondered, Taichi prepare for his attao, it wasn't. This kid... Was that his new move?

  Watari received the ball ly, sending it back to Oikawa for another set.

  "Here we go, hit it again!" Oikawa called, delivering the ball to Taichi with perfect timing.

  "Not a ce!" The three blockers leapt agaiermio shut him down.

  This time, Taichi stretched mid-air, his body fully extended. Riding the momentum of his earlier py, he felt in peak form. With precision, he spiked the ball toward the edge of the block.

  The ball struck Hanamaki's wrist and deflected out of bounds.

  An off-the-block shot! Taichi scored with a well-pced spike!

  "Yesssss!" Taichi roared, pung the air iement. Though his shot was slightly off from where he had aimed, he had finally captured the elusive feeling he'd been chasing. Oikawa's sets felt far better than practising solo spikes.

  "Nice spike," Oikawa Toru praised, raising his hand for a celebratory high-five.

  Taichi leapt up, meeting Oikawa's hand with ahusiastic smack. The st time he scored was during the practice match against Karasuno. Back then, just keeping up with Shoyo Hinata had drained all his energy.

  But this....this was the first time Taichi had achieved victory in an intense aerial exge ehrough his own ability. This moment encapsuted everything he found captivating about volleyball. It ignited a longing for more—more moments like this, more opportuo discover that unique joy in every jump, every py, every csh.

  Oikawa caught a glimpse of Taichi's expression and froze for a brief moment. His sharp instincts detected a hunger in Taichi's eyes—a burning desire for victory, a restless drive to keep improving.

  On the sidelines, Coach Irihata let out an impressed hum. After a few more pys, he turo Manager Sadayuki Mizoguchi. "What do you think? About that kid?"

  Mizoguchi knew Irihata was referring to Taichi Kaedehara. After some thought, he replied, "Taichi's ball sense is solid, and he shows promise in blog. But his fuals are still g—there's a lot he o learn..."

  "I'm pnning to put him iarting lineup," Coach Irihata interrupted decisively.

  Mizoguchi was taken aback. "Why? If we're talking about overall bahe third-years are far more reliable. Even among the first-years, Kindaichi and Kunimi, who came up from Kitagawa Daiichi, are more immediate assets than Taichi."

  Irihata waited patiently for Mizoguchi to finish before responding with a meaningful look. "Do you remember Taichi Kaedehara from two weeks ago?"

  Mizoguchi blinked in surprise. He struggled to recall anything specific about Taichi from two weeks ago—just an ordinary pyer with det speed, nothing particurly memorable.

  Irihata chuckled. "Never uimate how quickly young pyers grow. Sometimes, all it takes is a moment for them to break out of their co and emerge as somethiirely different."

  "But," Mizoguchi hesitated, "couldn't we use him the same way we did in the practice match against Karasuno? Let him py a key role when it's critical. With less than two months until the Inter-High preliminaries, wouldn't it be safer to rely on pyers with a stronger foundation?"

  "Mizoguchi!" Irihata's voice grew firm. "We've pyed it safe before, haven't we? Did that win us the match against Shiratorizawa? If we want to evolve as a team, we o find neons!"

  "Neons?" Mizoguchi murmured, his gaze shifting back to the court. Taichi was once again fag a triple block.

  Will it be another off-the-block shot? Mizoguchi wondered. Yet, as he watched Taichi's movements, something ued happened, making his eyes widen in shock.

  A tip.

  Taichi had tipped the ball gently over the three blockers, sending it into the empty space behind them. Watari and Tamaki dove desperately to save it, but their efforts were in vain. The ball nded just out of reach. Lying on the floor, they raised their heads to stare at Taichi.

  Witnessing this, Sadayuki Mizoguchi suddenly uood what Coach Irihata was aiming for.

  _________

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