"Hmm..." Kenma Kozume averted his gaze, speaking softly. "Siheir offence revolves around that Number 10, we just o stop him..."

  Lifting his head, Kenma tinued, "If his strength is speed, then we'll use speed to ralize him."

  "Inuoka, you're the fastest among us. Keep chasing him down. When he goes for a spike, just slow the ball down."

  "Got it, Kenma-senpai!"

  "Even games that seem uable at first be cleared if you py them enough times," Kenma's expression turned serious, his golden eyes glinting with determination. "Let's start by taking away their quick attack."

  Beep!

  The timeout ended, and the match resumed.

  Hmm? They've ged their defeup?

  Stepping bato the court, Toru Oikawa quickly notiekoma's new deferategy.

  They shifted three blockers to the right, likely assigning their fastest pyer to limit Taichi's quick attacks.

  This was simir to how Aoba Johsai had previously used Taichi to ralize Shoyo Hinata's speed.

  But Taichi is not the same as Hinata back then...

  Oikawa exged a gh Taichi Kaedehara, whose smirk was subtle but clear. Taichi made a quick gesture toward Inuoka, and Oikawa immediately uood.

  "Let's see how long they keep up," Oikawa muttered, a sly grin spreading across his face. This kid really has a wicked mind, huh? Works for me.

  The serve came from Aoba Johsai. Iwaizumi Hajime delivered a powerful shot aimed at Kenma. Fukunaga Shōhei helped with the receive, setting it up for Kenma to deliver a precise set to the right. Nobuyuki Kai leapt into the air and smmed the ball down.

  Matsukawa Issei intercepted the spike with ease, allowing Oikawa and Taichi to move into position.

  Here it came agaiai-Oi Quick Attack'.

  Boom!

  Inuoka was a fra of a sed too slow. The volleyball nded ly on Nekoma's side of the court.

  Taichi Kaedehara scored.

  [Aoba Johsai 13 – 8 Nekoma]

  "Damn it! Just a little more!" Inuoka shouted, visibly frustrated.

  "It's fine! Shake it off and focus!" Yamamoto Taketora called out encingly. "We'll get the one!"

  The atmosphere on Aoba Johsai's side buzzed with energy.

  "One more!"

  "Hey, you're Inuoka, right?" Taichi suddenly called out to the first-year who had beelessly chasing him. "e on, try a bit harder. You're almost there."

  "Huh? Are you messing with our first-years?" Yamamoto gred menagly at Taichi from across the .

  "No, no, I'm a first-year too!" Taichi replied with a pyful grin.

  Kenma couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Despite Inuoka gradually closing the gap on Taichi's quick attacks, Number 10 still looked pletely unfazed, as though everything was going acc to pn.

  Aoba Johsai served again, with Iwaizumi's powerful shot flying straight and true.

  "ce ball!" Yamamoto called as Yaku Morisuke made a reception.

  Kenma sent a set to the middle, and Yamamoto unleashed a devastating spike.

  Boom!

  The volleyball powered through the double block set by Taichi and Kunimi Akira, smming into Aoba Johsai's court.

  Yamamoto scored.

  [Aoba Johsai 13 – 9 Nekoma]

  "Ahhh—!" Yamamoto roared at the two Aoba Johsai first-years, his voice eg across the court.

  Kunimi: "..."

  Taichi: "..."

  Nekoma served , with Kenma delivering another sharp, well-pced shot.

  Matsukawa made the receive, and Oikawa quickly set the ball, once again targeting Taichi for a quick attack.

  "This one's low!"

  Oikawa's hurried set left the ball slightly off, giving Inuoka the ce he'd been waiting for. Taichi's spike barely brushed against Inuoka's outstretched fiips as it flew past.

  "I got it! I touched it!" Inuoka yelled iement, his voice brimming with pride.

  The ball soared toward Nekoma's bae, where Yaku Morisuke smoothly received it.

  "Nice receive!"

  Kenma Kozume set up another quick attack, sending the ball to the right for Nobuyuki Kai to spike.

  Smack!

  Iwaizumi Hajime anticipated the trajectory, managing to barely keep the ball in py.

  "Cover!"

  Oikawa Toru sprioward the ball, setting it high toward the .

  Not a quick attaekoma's blockers quickly adjusted, positioning three pyers uhe ball.

  From the back row, a figure came charging in—a streak of blue and white. Number 10 leapt into the air.

  "Three-man block!" There was no time to overthink. Inuoka Sō, Yamamoto Taketora, and Nobuyuki Kai all jumped together, f a formidable wall at the .

  In mid-air, Taichi locked onto the slight opening on Inuoka's left hand and smashed the ball with precision.

  Smack!

  Thud!

  The volleyball ricocheted off Inuoka's fiips, nding out of bounds.

  Taichi Kaedehara scored.

  [Aoba Johsai 14 – 9 Nekoma]

  Landing steadily, Taichi took a deep breath. Today's scrimmage, held during Golden Week, had few spectators siudents were on break.

  There were no cheers to follow his success, but that didn't faze him.

  His gaze drifted past the three blockers, settling on Kenma Kozume, whose widened eyes betrayed his surprise.

  "Kenma-senpai," Taichi called out with a sly grin, "the game's entering phase two now~."

  For a moment, Kenma looked startled, but his expression soon shifted. His furrowed brow rexed, his amber eyes sparkled as if unc a hidden treasure, and the ers of his lips curled into a faint, amused smile.

  I see....Kenma realized something crucial—Number 10 on the opposing side was a kindred spirit.

  A fellow 'pyer' immersed in the same game-like mi as himself!

  Suddenly, the match became far more intriguing.

  Aoba Johsai served again.

  Kunimi Akira aimed his serve at Nekoma's bae, targeting Inuoka Sō. While the first-year had exceptional athleticism, his receiving skills were still underdeveloped—worse thaaichi's when he first joihe team.

  Sure enough, Inuoka's receive went awry. Kunimi's serve earned a point.

  [Aoba Johsai 15 – 9 Nekoma]

  "Inuoka! You better work on your receives after this! They're treating you like a weak link," Kuroo Tetsurō shouted from across the court.

  "Yes, Kuroo-senpai!"

  Despite his usual cheerfulness, Inuoka felt the sting of his mistakes. Kenma-senpai had trusted him to block the oppo's quick attacks, but instead, they had exploited the time it took for him to adjust, sg even more points.

  Now, even their serves were targeting him. No one openly bmed him, but Inuoka couldn't help feeling a twinge of shame.

  "Inuoka," Kenma's calm voice broke through his thoughts. "Catg up to Number 10's quick attacks isn't meaningless. They've had to adjust their strategy because of you. Their quicks aren't ag as decoys anymore. Don't let them mess with your head."

  "Yes, Kenma-senpai!" Inuoka straightened up, shaking off his doubt. Now wasn't the time to sulk. He readied his stahis time, I'll receive it.

  Kunimi served again, once more targeting Inuoka. Kenma moved quickly, stepping sideways to intercept and receiving the ball with practised ease.

  Nekoma was now without their setter. Aoba Johsai's pyers teheir eyes log onto the tre.

  Nobuyuki Kai leapt, attempting to spike directly.

  Kunimi mao dig the ball, and Oikawa sent it to the right for Taichi to execute another quick attack.

  "Oouch!" Kuroo appeared seemingly out of nowhere, managing to graze the ball with his fiips.

  The ball was then passed high above Kenma.

  On Nekoma's side, Yamamoto and Kuroo both ran from the left and right respectively, charging for a synized spike.

  Smack!

  Kenma's set, however, went to Kuroo, who sent the ball crashing into Iwaizumi's face. The ball ricocheted but stayed in py.

  The pace of the rally intensified. Oikawa quickly set the ball to the left this time.

  It was Hanamaki Takahiro's quick attack—a pletely ued move!

  Hanamaki soared into the air, ready to spike. Just as he swung his arm, a massive hand suddenly loomed in front of him.

  Smack!

  The ball was blocked by Kuroo's outstretched arms and fell bato Aoba Johsai's side of the court.

  [Aoba Johsai 15 – 10 Nekoma]

  _________

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