[Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Court D]

  Twenty minutes remained before the match would begin.

  pared to the Sendai City Gymnasium—the venue for the Miyagi Prefecture Finals, which occasionally hosted iional-level matches—the Tokyo Gymnasium was on airely different scale.

  The sheer size of the arena was overwhelming, especially for a first-time visitor. It would take some time to adjust to the sense of distance, and the pyers o mentally prepare.

  Warm-up sessions were crucial for acclimating to the new enviro.

  "Taichi, we probably shouldn't rely on that ultra-quick attack for now," Oikawa Tōru remarked with a serious expression. The venue's impa his game was greater than he had anticipated. The height and precision of his sets would require recalibration using new visual reference points.

  "Yeah, let's stick to high sets for now," Kaedehara Taichi agreed. He, too, felt the difference. His usual tactic of spiking off blockers' fiips for out-of-bounds points now required sharper angles.

  To make things worse, Aoba Johsai's first oppo was her than Nohebi Academy, a team hailing from Tokyo.

  Taichi couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. Shouldn't the tour start off with a less challenging oppoo ease them in?

  Instead, they were up against this ing, snake-like team known for its devious pying style. Was this a recipe for disaster?

  Nohebi Academy Pyer Stats:

  [Suguru Daishō, Captain and Wing Spiker. Overall rating: 84. Height: 178.6 cm. Strength: 75, Jump: 90, Stamina: 82, Speed: 82. Teique: Recieve: 88, Spike: 90.]

  Taichi recalled that Suguru was one of those 'normies' with a hot girlfriend—a solid pyer but not particurly exceptional for a national-level captain.

  [Isumi Sakishima, Setter. Overall rating: 85. Height: 174.3 cm. Strength: 82, Jump: 82, Stamina: 88, Speed: 84. Teique: Set: 88.]

  [Kazuma Numai, Wing Spiker. Overall rating: 87. Height: 178.8 cm. Strength: 94, Jump: 88, Stamina: 90, Speed: 82. Teique: Spike: 80.]

  "This guy must be their ace," Taichi mused. While his teique wasn't stelr, his raw athleticism made up for it.

  [Yoshiya Takachiho, Wing Spiker. Overall rating: 87. Height: 178.8 cm. Strength: 94, Jump: 88, Stamina: 90, Speed: 82. Teique: Spike: 80.]

  [ Sō Akama, Libero. Overall rating: 85. Height: 172.3 cm. Strength: 88, Jump: 80, Stamina: 88, Speed: 88. Teique: Recieve: 80.]

  [Naoyasu Kuguri, Wing Spiker. Overall rating: 84. Height: 180.6 cm. Strength: 80, Jump: 88, Stamina: 86, Speed: 75. Teique: Spike: 90.]

  [Kōji Hiroo, Middle Blocker. Overall rating: 79. Height: 185.5 cm. Strength: 72, Jump: 75, Stamina: 80, Speed: 85. Teique: Spike: 85.]

  "Probably just a height boost for blog," Taichi thought. Given Nohebi's average height, even Iwaizumi-senpai could spike freely against them.

  [Akihiko Seguro, Middle Blocker. Overall rating: 84. Height: 186.7 cm. Strength: 88, Jump: 82, Stamina: 82, Speed: 78. Teique: Spike: 78.]

  -----

  Wheeams lined up on the court, Aoba Johsai's pyers clearly had a height advantage over Nohebi's lineup.

  Kaedehara ched his fists, feeling the results of a month's worth of interaining.

  [Kaedehara Taich

  Height: 185 cm

  Strength: 90

  Jump: 78

  Stamina: 85

  Speed: 91

  Teique: Recieve: 78, Serve: 80, Spike: 84.

  He couldn't help but feel…a little overpowered.

  As his nervousness gradually faded, fidence surged through him.

  "Now, we begin the first round of the National Inter High School prehensive Volleyball Tour. Representing Miyagi Prefecture: Aoba Johsai High School! Representing Tokyo: Nohebi Academy! The match starts now!"

  "Today, I will—" Oikawa Tōru paused mid-sentence as he stepped onto the court. He turned back with a rare solemnity in his eyes.

  "—Captairust you!" Before he could finish, his teammates beat him to it, their voices filled with unwavering fidence.

  Oikawa froze for a moment, startled by the weight of their trust. His third year had brought him here at st.

  He looked at his team a an uncharacteristic warmth in his chest, his eyes stinging slightly.

  "Alright, everyone!" Oikawa decred, standing tall. "Let's take the first set!"

  Iwaizumi Hajime led the charge, his voiing as they ehe court with unstoppable energy.

  On Nohebi Academy's side:

  "Naoyasu, are you even awake?" Kazuma Numai shook his half-asleep teammate, Naoyasu Kuguri.

  "Huh? Yeah, I'm awake…kinda," Naoyasu muttered groggily.

  "Your hair looks like you're fired up for battle!"

  "Huh? No, it's just bedhead. Didn't bother fixing it…"

  Suguru Daishō pulled the two aside. "Don't bother trying to fire Naoyasu up—it's a lost cause."

  "This oppo seems pretty tough, but if we're talking about who's more annoying, we definitely won't lose!" Suguru grinned.

  "Let's crush them!"

  "Yeah!!"

  Aoba Johsai's lineup:

  Front row—Middle Blocker Kaedehara Taichi, Wing Spiker Hanamaki Takahiro, Wing Spiker Kunimi AkiraBaiddle Blocker Kyōtaarō (Libero: Watari Shinji), Setter Oikawa Tōru and Outside Hitter Iwaizumi Hajime.

  Nohebi's lineup:

  Front row—Middle Blocker Hiroo Kōji, Setter Sakishima Isumi, Wing Spiker Suguru DaishōBaiddle Bluro Akihiko (libero Akama Sō), Wing Spiker Numai Kazuma and Outside Hitter Naoyasu Kuguri.

  "Let's have a good match!"

  Nohebi opened with the serve. Naoyasu Kuguri aimed at the midpoint of the three-meter line and lightly floated the ball over.

  "So annoying!"

  Oikawa Tōru dove forward and barely saved the ball. Kunimi Akira stepped up to cover and passed it to the tre, where Hanamaki Takahiro spiked it.

  "Touched it!" Hiroo Kōji leapt to blod mao get a hand on the ball.

  Naoyasu Kuguri quickly bumped the ball back to the . Suguru Daishō jumped and delivered a sharp spike.

  "Double block!" Hanamaki Takahiro and Kunimi Akira rose together to test.

  But Suguru Daishō tipped the ball lightly over Kunimi's reach, aiming for the back row. Watari Shinji dove, stretg out fully to save the ball.

  "Cover!"

  Oikawa quickly stepped uhe ball a a high set to the far left. Kaedehara Taichi sprihen unched himself into the air.

  "Double block!" Hiroo Kōji and Sakishima Isumi jumped in unison to intercept.

  Taichi spiked sharply, targeting the side of Hiroo's hand. The ball grazed Hiroo's fingers and fell out of bounds on Nohebi's side.

  [Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Noheb

  "Phew..." That was close.

  Taichi thought he had seen Hiroo Kōji iionally pulling his hand back during the block.

  "Did it even touch?"

  "That was obviously Aoba Johsai's mistake!"

  "The ball was out! What's wrong with the ref's eyes?!"

  Unpleasant murmurs erupted from the audiehe referee frowned slightly but refrained from issuing a warning sihe ents came from the spectators, not the pyers or coaches.

  Aoba Johsai's pyers were momentarily uled by the situation.

  Normally, pyers questioning a referee's call could lead to a yellow card uhe coaally requested a challenge. But this was airely different issue—heg from the stands.

  The atmosphere greard.

  "I did touch it!" Hiroo Kōji raised his hand toward the crowd, signalling that the referee's call was correct. Gradually, the noise subsided.

  "I apologize for the trouble!" Hiroo then bowed politely toward the referee.

  The referee didn't respond verbally but nodded slightly, visibly impressed by the pyer's sportsmanship.

  "Let's focus and do well on the ball!" Hiroo enced his teammates.

  "Got it!"

  "What's with this guy? Are pyers like that even real?" Aoba Johsai's pyers exged baffled gnces.

  Kaedehara Taichi had a vague feeling about Hiroo but couldn't quite put his finger on it. After all, his only prior impression of Nohebi was that Suguru Daishō was a det entator.

  Like an idiot, he superficially skimmed over the Nekoma, Nohebi and Fukurodani matches wheched the anime, and as a result, he couldn't remember a thing.

  "That's definitely fake. What a sneaky, goody-two-shoes act," Oikawa muttered, narrowing his eyes.

  Aoba Johsai's turn to serve. Kunimi Akira aimed for the far er of Nohebi's court.

  "Out!"

  Naoyasu Kuguri simply stepped aside, letting the ball nd outside the line.

  The referee sighe point to Nohebi.

  [Aoba Johsai 1 – 1 Noheb

  It was rare for Kunimi to make a serving error.

  On the sideline, Coach Irihata reflected ouation. Kunimi's serves were usually reliable and strategically pced to disrupt the oppo's formation rather than to score directly. His sistency was one of his strengths, and he didn't even attempt jump serves.

  For him to miss like this, it seemed the unfamiliar court was indeed affeg the pyers.

  "So lucky! Looks like that rookie first-year doesn't even know how to serve!" Suguru Daishō smirked and shouted loudly enough for everyoo hear.

  Kunimi Akira's expression darkened, his face turning slightly ashen.

  _________

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