Nekoma had travelled all the way from Tokyo for one primary reason: to py a long-awaited practice match against Karasuno. However, this trip had an additional and equally important purpose—to train and evaluate their first-year rookies.

  For any team, trainialent is crucial. Through match simutions, first-year pyers adapt to the iy of high-level petition uhe guidance of their seniors.

  This not only hoheir individual skills but also helps them find their roles withieam dynamic, ying a solid foundation for joining the main lineup iure.

  Apart from Lev Haiba, whose fuals were still too weak to participate, Coaekomata brought along two other first-year pyers—Inuoka Sō and Shibayama Yūki—both of whom he had high hopes for. In this practice match, he ehey had ample court time.

  Coaekomata inteo uhe potential of these rookies through such exges, iing fresh blood into the team's petitive roster. However, this didn't meach was just for fun.

  Every practice match, especially oreated like an official game, recious.

  In high school volleyball, the elimination format of tours is harsh and unfiving. A single mistake could spell the end of a team's journey.

  This stark reality made every training match profoundly signifit.

  As the sed set began, both Nekoma and Aoba Johsai adjusted their starting lineups.

  Aoba Johsai's lineup:

  Front row: Kyōtaarō (middle blocker), Oikawa Tōru (setter), Hanamaki Takahiro (outside hitter).Back row: Kindaichi Yūtarō (outside hitter), Matsukawa Issei (middle blocker, libero Watari Shinjirō), and Iwaizumi Hajime (outside hitter).

  Nekoma's lineup:

  Front row: Kai Nobuyuki (outside hitter), Yamamoto Taketora (outside hitter), Kuroo Tetsurō (middle blocker).Back row: Inuoka Sō (middle blocker, libero Yaku Morisuke), Fukunaga Shōhei (outside hitter), and Kozume Kenma (setter).

  By positioning Kuroo Tetsurō in the frht to start the rotation, Nekoma immediately strengtheheir defend atta the opening three pys.

  Meanwhile, in the back row, Yaku Morisuke substituted for Inuoka Sō duriions, greatly enhang their defeability.

  Nekoma opehe sed set with their stro lineup, showing their determination to dominate. But then…

  Wait—did Aoba Johsai ge their lioo?

  Kuroo Tetsurō's sharp eyes locked onto the figure of Kyōtaarō, who had repced Taichi Kaedehara.

  "So, they're sending in that guy," Kuroo mused.

  "You py freely for the most part," Oikawa Tōru instructed Kyōtani. "But if you mess with the team's rhythm, I won't pass the ball to you."

  Kyōtani, expressionless, simply nodded.

  Iwaizumi Hajime shot him a warning gnce. "Don't try any reckless moves that'll hurt the team."

  "Yes, sir!" Kyōtani replied immediately.

  "Tch, this guy only listens to Iwa-…" Oikawa muttered through gritted teeth.

  Aoba Johsai served.

  Yaku Morisuke received the ball with ease, and Kozume Kenma set it to the left. Kai Nobuyuki spiked.

  Kindaichi Yūtarō intercepted it smoothly, sending the ball s toward Oikawa.

  "Hanamaki!"

  Oikarecise set reached the right wing, and Hanamaki Takahiro leapt to attack.

  Kuroo Tetsurō jumped in sync, blog Hanamaki's straight-line spike trajectory.

  Out of nowhere, Kyōtaarō surged from the back row, colliding with Hanamaki mid-air and redireg the ball into a sharp cross-court angle.

  "Watch out!"

  Bang!

  The ball grazed past Yamamoto Taketora, nding just ihe court.

  Kyōtaarō scored.

  [Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Nekoma]

  Hanamaki crashed onto the court, startled, as Kindaichi quickly rushed over to che him.

  "Hanamaki-senpai, are you okay?"

  "Hey—"

  Oikawa Tōru had barely opened his mouth when Iwaizumi Hajime stormed forward from the bad delivered a firm smack to Kyōtaarō's head.

  Oikawa swallowed nervously. It seemed like Iwaizumi was genuinely furious this time…

  "Didn't I just tell you not to pull off reckless moves?!" Iwaizumi barked, gring at Kyōtani.

  "It's fine, I'm okay," Hanamaki Takahiro interjected, already ba his feet as he tugged at Iwaizumi's arm to calm him down.

  Kyōtani lowered his head, his voice stiff as he muttered, "I didn't get to py i rally, so I really wao spike the ball…"

  Tweet!

  The referee sigowards Aoba Johsai, asking if they o call a timeout to avoid deying the game.

  "Sorry! Everything's fine now!" Iwaizumi pressed down on Kyōtani's head, bowing deeply in apology to both the referee and Nekoma.

  "Whoa...scary," Kozume Kenma muttered with visible disdain. "Just like Yamamoto was before."

  "Hey, Kenma, I was nothing like that!" Yamamoto Taketora protested vehemently, waving his arms in denial. "I'd never hurt a teammate!"

  "I holy thought they were about to start fighting," Kuroo Tetsurō remarked casually to Oikawa. "Didn't expect you guys to sub in someone pletely different from your No. 10."

  "They all have their quirks," Oikalied with a shrug, his tone ced with exasperation. "Especially when they don't respect their seniors."

  The game resumed with another serve from Aoba Johsai.

  Kozume Kenma received the ball, but it bounced awkwardly toward the .

  A failed reception?

  No—he'd set it up deliberately!

  As the ball hovered just above the , Kuroo Tetsurō leapt into a.

  "Block him!"

  "Double block!" Oikawa and Hanamaki jumped simultaneously to intercept.

  But Kuroo gently tipped the ball with a soft touch, sending it over Oikawa's shoulder and into the space behind him.

  Nekoma scored.

  [Aoba Johsai 1 – 1 Nekoma]

  "Don't aim your serves at our setter," Kuroo quipped with a smirk. "It's a quick way to hand us a free point."

  The serve rotated to Nekoma.

  Watari Shinji received the ball ly on Aoba Johsai's side.

  Oikawa sed the court briefly. Nekoma's front row now sisted of Kuroo Tetsurō, Yamamoto Taketora, and Inuoka Sō—clearly their stro blog lineup.

  Uhese circumstahe most logical option would be to avoid their blockers entirely or split the pressure aultiple attackers.

  However, sensing an intense desire radiating from his right, Oikawa decided to give Kyōtaarō the opportunity to let loose.

  "Go wild, Mad Dog-!"

  Oikawa sent a high set toward the right wing.

  "Huh? With such tight blog, you're still setting to the right?" Kuroo frowned, puzzled by Oikawa's decision.

  "Mad Dog? What a cool niame! Should I e up with something like that too?" Inuoka thought to himself, entirely uo the block.

  Kyōtani's approach began almost parallel to the , his explosive speed allowing him to close the distance quickly. As he leapt, his body twisted into a reverse arch, extending to its full length. His right arm tensed, muscles rippling as he swung with all his might.

  "Triple block!"

  "Owo—jump!"

  At Kuroo's and, he, Yamamoto, and Inuoka formed a solid wall, jumping in unison to close off Kyōtani's aheir synized bloed high over the hreatening to pletely shut down Kyōtani's attack.

  Boom!

  A sharp cross-court spike tore through the tiny gap between the blockers' hands and the top of the , smming into Nekoma's court at an impossible angle.

  Kyōtaarō scored!

  [Aoba Johsai 2 – 1 Nekoma]

  _________

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