After Kindaichi Yūtarō ehe match, Aoba Johsai's blog height saw a noticeable improvement. His spikes were also simpler, more direct, and packed a punch.

  For Takeru Nakashima, this was actually a relief. He no longer had to worry about the odd, uable blog ideas of Taichi Kaedehara or his stant darting around the court, allowing Nakashima to perform more freely in the air.

  "Takeru!" Kazuyuki Hanayama set the ball perfectly above Nakashima.

  "Got it!" Nakashima jumped with all his might.

  "Double block!" Kindaichi and Iwaizumi Hajime leapt together to form a strong wall.

  Smack!

  Nakashima's spike smmed against Kindaichi's arm, defleg sharply into Aoba Johsai's court.

  [Aoba Johsai 16 vs. 14 Wakunan]

  Watg from the sideliaichi's eyes lit up. "So it's possible to do that! By aiming for the blocker's arms instead of their palms, the ball is less likely to be deflected out of py. But it demands precision in both timing and angle."

  Kindaichi was momentarily stunned. All along, he had been proud of his height advantage. With his exceptional physical attributes, his blog had been a signifit obstacle for oppos in numerous matches.

  Yet, against a main spiker like Nakashima, who was agile, adaptable, and teically skilled, his height advantage seemed to have turned into a on for the other side.

  From the sidelines, Kindaichi had been puzzled. "How someone who's barely 170 timetres tall, without Shōyo Hinata's insane speed or jump height, repeatedly break through Aoba Johsai's defence?"

  "Um, I suggest something?"

  Hearing the voice, the Aoba Johsai pyers turned around to see Akira Kunimi speaking up.

  "Let's st to block his straight spikes directly. Instead, leave a gap along the sideline. I'll try to receive the ball from the back," Kunimi suggested, carefully choosing his words.

  "There's o give him a 'target' to aim for. From what I've observed, Nakashima-senpai doesn't seem as skilled at hitting cross-court spikes. If we use a double bloit his options slightly and I focus on straight spikes, we rely on Hanamaki-senpai to handle any defles off blockers."

  Kunimi tinued, "By fog our block more toward the tre, we'll have more time to react to deflected balls. It's not a perfect solution, but..."

  "Alright, let's give it a shot!" Iwaizumi immediately made the call.

  "Uh, thank you, Iwaizumi-senpai." Kunimi was taken aback that his suggestion ted so readily, without much debate.

  "What's the big deal? I've known all along that you're the smartest among the first-years," ōikawa Tōru said, g Kunimi on the shoulder and motioning for everyoo get into position.

  "Yes, sir!" Kunimi responded loudly.

  Kindaichi turned away, stepping bato his game face. "I don't really get the strategy, but if you say so, I'll just follow along."

  Three years of pying together in junih had already fed an unspoken boweewo.

  Wakunan served.

  "Nice receive, Kunimi!"

  ōikawa quickly set the ball to Kindaichi, who spiked it forcefully.

  "Nie, Wataru!" Hanayama received Kawatabi Shunki's pass ahe ball back up for Nakashima.

  When Kindaichi's spike didn't score, Aoba Johsai's pyers swiftly adjusted their formation.

  "What's this?" Nakashima was already in midair, ready to spike when he suddenly noticed the opening in Aoba Johsai's formation. "Araight line? No way I'm passing this up!"

  Nakashima poured all his strength into the spike, aiming for the clear path. But Kunimi was already in position, effortlessly receiving the ball.

  "Free ball!" Kunimi shouted to ōikawa.

  ōikawa quickly followed up, sending the ball to the left side. Matsukawa Issei spiked it for a score.

  [Aoba Johsai 17 vs. 14 Wakunan]

  "We held it!"

  "Great job, everyone!"

  "Nice receive," Matsukawa Issei said calmly to Akira Kunimi.

  "Thanks." Kunimi's lips tightened in a small smile—he hadn't expected praise from Matsukawa-senpai a a touch of happiness.

  Takeru Nakashima's face grew serious. Aoba Johsai -tier team in the prefecture, and after half a set, they had already started figuring out his attack patterns and prepared a deferategy.

  "Sorry, I set the ball a little too low earlier," Kazumasa Hanayama apologized sheepishly.

  "Argh, Nakashima-senpai got blocked by the other team…" Freshman Tsuyoshi Matsushima began to panic slightly.

  "They're pulling ahead again! What should we do? What should we do?!" Kawatabi Shunki, his pineapple-styled hair boung, shouted in a panic.

  "Maybe he should've aimed for the block to force a defle out of bounds. Sihey've left the ne open, it's obviously a trap," Yūki Shiroishi analyzed calmly from the sidelines.

  Gathering himself, Nakashima shouted, "Hey, you guys! At least try to ence me!"

  The team fell silent but looked at him with unwavering trust in their eyes.

  "Man, there's no time to feel down, huh?" Nakashima exhaled deeply, crouched into a defeance, and muttered, "Bring it on, Aoba Johsai."

  Aoba Johsai served.

  "Too far! Sorry!" Kazeteru Akiu misjudged the reception, and the ball soared into Aoba Johsai's court.

  "Spike it back!" Iwaizumi Hajime barked.

  ōikawa Tōru leapt into a, spiking the ball back with lightning speed.

  "Damn it!" Nakashima jumped too te, and the ball slipped past him.

  Kawatabi Shunki dove desperately, managing to bump the ball up with an incredible save. "Don't give up! I got it!"

  The ball wobbled along the before slowly desding. Kazumasa Hanayama dashed forward, scooping it high with a quick hook shot.

  "Go for it, Takeru!"

  Taking a few steps baakashima charged forward with full force.

  "Don't uimate Wakunan's grit!" Nakashima roared as he unched into the air, spiking the ball down with porecision.

  Akira Kunimi read the py perfectly and positioned himself to receive the ball. However, the sheer ford spin on the spike exceeded his expectations. As the ball collided with his hands, the impad trajectory overwhelmed him, and the ball ricocheted untrolbly out of bounds.

  Nakashima scored!

  [Aoba Johsai 17 vs. 15 Wakunan]

  "Wakunan really is a persistent oppo," Coach Irihata muttered, gng at the opposing sideline. He locked eyes with Coaikobe and remarked, "That old devil didn't just raise a star pyer; he built an incredible team."

  Both teams showcased well-rouyles, with solid defence as their foundation. Aoba Johsai relied on ōikawa Tōru as their axis, orchestrating the team's offence. Wakunan, oher hand, leaned heavily on Nakashima's individual firepower to keep them afloat.

  Coach Irihata shifted his gaze to Taichi Kaedehara, still seated but attentively watg the match. If Aoba Johsai wants to elevate their offeo the level, it all depends on how quickly our neon develops.

  The game tinued after the referee's whistle.....

  [Aoba Johsai 17 vs. 16 Wakunan]

  [Aoba Johsai 18 vs. 16 Wakunan]

  [Aoba Johsai 18 vs. 17 Wakunan]

  ...

  [Aoba Johsai 22 vs. 20 Wakunan]

  It was at this point that Aoba Johsai ged pyers: Kindachi Yūtarō out, Kaedehara Taichi in.

  _________

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