Current Score: [Aoba Johsai 9 - 7 Wakunan]

  Aoba Johsai's serve. Issei Matsukawa sent the ball into the gap between Kazumasa Hanayama and Naruko Teppei. The hesitatioweewo pyers cost them the perfect timing to receive.

  Naruko Teppei quickly attempted to recover, and Kazumasa Hanayama barely mao set the ball high over Takeru Nakashima.

  "Three-man block!" Kaedehara Taichi, Iwaizumi Hajime, and Oikawa Tōru lined up in unison.

  Nakashima locked his target on Taichi's left hand and spiked fiercely toward it.

  But in that split sed, Taichi's hand suddenly pulled back, and the ball sailed over where his palm had been, crashing against the wall at the back of the court.

  Nakashima's spike went out of bounds! Aoba Johsai scored.

  [Aoba Johsai 10 - 7 Wakunan]

  "Woohoo! Taichi!" Kindaichi Yūtarō cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines.

  Impossible! Nakashima was stunned.

  He had studied Kaedehara Taichi's pying style and hat his jump height wasn't particurly remarkable. Such a short hang time shouldn't have allowed for such precise timing—unless…

  Nakashima g Taichi and caught sight of those sharp, focused eyes locked onto him. So that's how it is, he thought, f a wry smile.

  Kaedehara Taichi had anticipated Nakashima's move. With an unstable first touch, Wakunan's setter had no choice but to make a desperate set to their ace. And in this situation, Nakashima would undoubtedly rely on his signature on—a tool-out shot.

  Thus, when Taichi jumped to block, he was already prepared to retract his hand, perfectly luring Nakashima's spike into ay zone.

  Their gazes crossed in midair, and Nakashima finally identified the familiar feeling that had been b him. Though Taichi's height didn't match the parison, his pystyle was undeniably remi of the Little Giant!

  Aoba Johsai tinued serving. Matsukawa targeted the same gap between Kazumasa Hanayama and Naruko Teppei.

  This time, having learned from their mistake, Kazumasa quickly stepped aside, allowing Naruko to receive ly. Kazumasa then adjusted ahe ball again for Nakashima.

  "!" Nakashima accelerated, leapt, and stretched out in midair.

  It's a power spike! Taichi and Iwaizumi Hajime braced themselves, arms stiff aended as they jumped to block.

  But just as Nakashima swung at the ball, he subtly slowed his motioly tipping it with his fiips. The ball floated delicately over Taichi's outstretched arms, nding behind him in Aoba Johsai's court.

  [Aoba Johsai 10 - 8 Wakunan]

  "Wow, that was so smooth, Takeru!" Kawakami Shunki, Wakunan's pineapple-haired libero, excimed in admiration.

  "Haha, you could do it too," Nakashima replied, quickly retreating to his position.

  "No worries! Shake it off and focus on the ball!" Hanamaki Takahiro immediately called out to steady Taichi's nerves.

  Wakunan's serve. Walking up to the service line was first-year Matsushima Tsuyoshi, the tallest pyer oeam at over 180 timetres. Aoba Johsai's pyers tighteheir formation in anticipation.

  Bam! The ball rocketed toward Aoba Johsai's side.

  "Out!" Watari Shinji judged decisively, letting the ball go.

  A service error! Aoba Johsai scored.

  [Aoba Johsai 11 - 8 Wakunan]

  "You better practice your serves properly when you get back!" Shiroishi Yūki shouted at Matsushima.

  "Yes, I'm sorry, senpai!" Matsushima's soft demeanour seemed oddly at odds with his imposi.

  "Let's hold the point!" Nakashima rallied his team.

  The situation was growing grim for Wakunan, as the rotation had brought Oikawa Tōru to the service line.

  Just watg Oikawa walk leisurely toward the lih the ball in his hands filled Wakunan's pyers with dread.

  Oikaoi Matsushima Tsuyoshi. "Hey, first-year, don't fet to work on your receiving skills too!"

  With those words, Oikawa Tōru's serve shot straight toward Matsushima Tsuyoshi.

  Bam! The ball didn't hit the ground!

  Takeru Nakashima had anticipated that someoh Oikawa's cheeky personality wouldn't just be bluffing. As soon as the serve left Oikawa's hand, Nakashima closed in on his first-year teammate and mao receive it just in time.

  However, the sheer power behind the serve caused the ball to rebound high into Aoba Johsai's court.

  "ce ball!"

  Issei Matsukawa calmly received the ball, passing it perfectly to Oikaosition. On cue, Kaedehara Taichi and Iwaizumi Hajime jumped oher side, poised for attack.

  Oikawa set the ball to Iwaizumi on the right. With a powerful swing, Iwaizumi smashed it down.

  Wakunan's libero, Kazeteru Akiu, made a desperate dive and mao save it. Amid the chaos, Kazumasa Hanayama barely set the ball to the right for Kawatabi Shunki.

  "Two-man block!" Taichi and Iwaizumi Hajime leapt together, cutting off Kawakami's spike.

  "Touched once!" Kaedehara Taichi called out as he nded, immediately sprinting toward the left.

  Just as Oikawa was about to orchestrate the attack, he noticed Taichi already airborne on the left side, his posture screaming for a spike.

  "Pass it here! I'll spike it!" Taichi's as seemed to shout at Oikawa.

  "This guy…!" Oikawa gritted his teeth, doing his best to set the ball to Taichi.

  "Damn, it's too short," Oikawa muttered the moment the ball left his hands, realizing it was slightly off.

  Taioticed too. His body was already desding, but he reached out with his right hand, barely brushing the ball.

  The volleyball grazed the top of the , wobbling precariously before tumbling into Wakunan's court.

  [Aoba Johsai 12 - 8 Wakunan]

  "What was that?"

  " you even call that a quick attack?"

  "It felt even faster than a normal quick…" Nakashima pondered silently.

  "Was that Karasuno's 'weird quick attack'? Even though it didn't quite succeed," Iwaizumi remarked, gng between Oikawa and Taichi.

  Taichi himself wore a sheepish grin, clearly still reeling from the adrenaline. Moments ago, an idea had sparked in his mind: if he could mimiata Shoyo's speed for defence, why couldn't he use it for offence?

  Ohe thought took hold, he couldn't suppress it. His body had moved on its own.

  Oikawa, the other party involved, uood the situation eveer. They had, without pnning, attempted to mimic Karasuno's 'weird quick attack.' The problem was that Taichi cked Hinata's insane jump height and speed, and Oikawa's set wasn't nearly as precise as Kageyama's.

  But they had almost succeeded.

  This meant it ossible to replicate. That absurd quick attack might just be within reach!

  And then there was Taichi's demeanour midair, fidently demanding the ball—it had startled even Oikawa.

  This guy wasn't joking when he said he wao bee the ace!

  "Taichi, you o discuss these things with me first! That was reckless," Oikawa pined, exasperated.

  "Got it!" Taichi, still brimming with excitement, grinned widely. "But I knew you'd pass it to me, Oikawa-senpai."

  "Huh? And how were you so sure?"

  "Because if Kageyama make that pass, then Miyagi's top setter definitely do it too." Taichi's fident ughter filled the air.

  For a moment, Oikawa was stunned.

  Aoba Johsai's teammates had always trusted him, that much he knew.

  But their trust was rooted in his past achievements. As the team's ad setter, he was expected to hahe most responsibilities—yet no one ever demanded more from him than what he already delivered.

  Kaedehara Taichi was different. He believed Oikawa could grow even stronger. If Kageyama could do something, then surely the pyer Kageyama aspired to surpass could achieve it too.

  He doesn't hold back at all, huh? For the first time in a while, Oikawa felt as though someone ushing him to move forward.

  _________

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