"Out of bounds!"

  "Oooouuuuut!"

  Inarizaki's cheering squad erupted with boos and jeers, their voices loud aless. They refused to believe Aoba Johsai's pyers could maintain their posure under such auditory pressure.

  Kaedehara Taiontly used his pinky fio his ear, then cupped his hand around it in a mock listeniure.

  The Inarizaki supporters stared, momentarily fused.

  Before they could react, Taichi exaggeratedly mouthed the words:

  "Too quiet! 't hear you!"

  For a brief moment, there was stunned silehen the Inarizaki supporters collectively realized what he meant, their faces twisting in disbelief.

  "You little punk! Who do you think you are?!"

  "e down here if you've got guts!"

  "Your serve is definitely going out!"

  Over in Aoba Johsai's bench area, Coach Irihata buried his fa his hands. After three years with Oikawa Tōru, he thought he had built up immunity to troublemakers.

  But now, Kaedehara Taichi roving to be an even bigger headache—albeit aertaining one.

  "Beep!"

  The referee signalled for quiet in the arena, issuing Taichi a formal warning.

  On Inarizaki's side, Miya Atsumu couldn't hide his grin.

  "This guy…He's got my kind of style," Atsumu remarked, thhly amused by Taichi's antics.

  Taichi's attention turned back to Inarizaki's bae. He carefully studied their formation—Ginjima Hitoshi, Miya Atsumu, and Akagi Miari were positioo receive.

  Not easy.

  If the serve went to Atsumu, there was a high ce he would nail a pinpoint pass, setting up a lethal quick attack. Aiming for the libero, Akagi, would likely yield nothing but a perfect reception.

  I'll have to mix things up.

  As the referee's whistle sighe py, Taichi stood ready, ball in hand. Inarizaki's pyers lowered their tres of gravity, brag for a powerful serve.

  Three seds passed…

  Nothing.

  Five seds passed…

  Still no movement.

  By the eighth sed, the referee's brow furrowed, and the whistle was ready to blow.

  Inarizaki's pyers began to shift uneasily when—

  Boom!

  Kaedehara Taichi unched a serve at the st possible moment. Though it wasn't his usual aggressive jump serve, his precision was razor-sharp.

  The ball shot toward the seam between Ginjima Hitoshi and Aran Ojiro, nding irio-man's-ween the front and back rows.

  For a split sed, fusion rippled through Inarizaki's ranks. But Ginjima didn't hesitate—he rushed forward and bumped the ball ly into the air.

  "Nice save!"

  Atsumu quickly rotated into positioing the ball to the attacker, Ren ōmimi.

  "Double block!"

  Kyōtaarō and Hanamaki Takahiro leapt together, their hands f a tight barrier over the . But Ren, always calm under pressure, tipped the ball delicately past their fingers, dropping it just beyond their reach.

  Dive!

  Iwaizumi Hajime hurled himself forward, making a spectacur diving save. The ball popped bato the air, and Oikawa stepped iing it to the right side.

  Kunimi Akira charged forward, his jump timed perfectly with the set. He unleashed a powerful spike, aiming for the seam in Inarizaki's block.

  "Block it!"

  Aran Ojiro shut down Kunimi's cross-court attempt, his hands f an imperable wall. The ball ricocheted off his fingers, but Akagi Miari was there to scoop it up effortlessly.

  "ce ball!"

  Atsumu was already in position, raising the ball high with a trolled set to the right wing.

  Aran Ojiro sprinted into his approach, his strides powerful and deliberate. He soared into the air, his arm swinging down in a devastating arc.

  Boom!

  The ball rocketed past Kunimi's hands, clearing their fiips and smming into Kaedehara Taichi's outstretched hand.

  The force was overwhelming, and the ball deflected out of bounds.

  [Aoba Johsai 5 – 2 Inarizak

  "Damn it." Taichi ched his teeth. This summer, I absolutely have to perfect my serving.

  Oher side, Kunimi Akira found himself feeling uncharacteristically restless. Ever since Aoba Johsai qualified for the nationals, his emotions have been in turmoil.

  Volleyball, as a high school club activity, was something Kunimi inteo take seriously.

  Although he often gave off the impression of sg, he had never ed any of his responsibilities. Kunimi simply pleted every task with effiothing more, nothing less.

  In fact, his sistent position as a starting member of Aoba Johsai proved his dedication.

  His attitude wasn't the issue.

  Yet Kunimi was acutely aware of ohing: after graduating, he probably wouldn't tinue pying volleyball. Knowing this, he often wondered—was it really wiving everything for something that would only st three years at most?

  If Aoba Johsai hadn't made it to the nationals, Kunimi wouldn't have thought too much about it. His skills were suffit for Miyagi Prefecture.

  Even if he put ira time to improve slightly, it wouldn't have made much difference if they still failed to qualify.

  But now, standing oional stage, Kunimi realized Aoba Johsai had bee a focal point for attention.

  "Is it enough to just meet the bare minimum?" This question had been lingering in his mind throughout the tour.

  Until today. Until just now.

  Kunimi khe opposing teams had started targeting him as a weak link.

  If it were just about improving himself, Kunimi couldn't summon the same drive as his peers, like Kaedehara Taichi or Kindaichi Yūtarō.

  But if his shortings led to Aoba Johsai's defeat oional stage, that was something Kunimi absolutely couldn't accept!

  Inarizaki's serve.

  Ren ōmimi mirrored Kaedehara Taichi's earlier tactic, holding the ball for the full eight seds before serving.

  "Su annoying spot…" Iwaizumi Hajime muttered as he moved to the sidelio receive the ball.

  "Mad Dog-!"

  Oikawa Tōru raised the ball high to the left wing.

  Kyōtaarō sprinted sideways into his approach, fag Inarizaki's stro blog lineup.

  "Triple block!"

  Miya Osamu, Aran Ojiro, and ōmimi Ren formed a solid wall in front of him.

  Bang!

  Kyōtani avoided the block, driving the ball down the edge with a powerful straight shot.

  "Out!"

  The referee immediately signaled.

  [Aoba Johsai 5 – 3 Inarizak

  "Inarizaki's blog is terrifying," one entator noted. "ōmimi Ren, standing at 191 timetres, pletely shut down Kyōtaarō's favourite diagonal shots. Miya Osamu also did an excellent job sealing off the straight path. That straight shot from Kyōtani was clearly forced."

  "Sorry," Kyōtani said bluntly.

  The rest of Aoba Johsai's pyers, witnessing Kyōtani's development over this tour, felt a lump rise ihroats.

  "Don't worry about it!"

  "Shake it off; we'll get the point!"

  "We'll take back the one!"

  Their chorus of encement only made Kyōtani scowl in irritation.

  "...Hah."

  Seeing his expression, they collectively stopped talking auro their positions, preparing to receive the serve.

  "Let's get a good one!"

  "Beep!"

  Bang!

  Almost as soon as the whistle blew, Ren ōmimi unleashed his serve, aiming to catch Aoba Johsai off guard.

  "Front row!"

  "This serve is targeting Aoba Johsai's front row. While it doesn't pack much power, the pt is exceptionally tricky!"

  Kunimi Akira turned his body, forcefully bumping the ball upward. It soared high, heading toward the left wing.

  You must feel frustrated too. That's why you're always ready…

  "Mad Dog-senpai!" Kunimi shouted instinctively, realizing a moment too te that he'd mimicked Taichi's niame for Kyōtani.

  Fortunately, Kyōtani didn't notice. His focus was locked solely on the ball arg toward him.

  "Was that a receiving error from Aoba Johsai's #13, Kunimi Akira? The ball isn't heading toward the setter's position."

  "No! That's a pass! The ball is heading high to the left wing!"

  Kyōtaarō sprinted into his approace more. This time, fully prepared, he exuded an even more menag aura.

  Stepping onto the court, Kyōtani unched himself into the air, his body stretg to its limits as he formed an arched silhouette. His right arm tightened, muscles taut with power.

  "Didn't learn your lesson, huh?"

  "Triple block!"

  Once again, Inarizaki's three-man bloed in front of him.

  Kyōtani's powerful swing halted abruptly at the moment of tact. Instead of smashing the ball, he gently pushed it over the block.

  "It's a tip!"

  The ball dropped behind the blockers. Ren ōmimi dove forward but failed to save it.

  Tap, tap, tap…

  Kyōtaarō scored with a well-executed tip.

  [Aoba Johsai 6 – 3 Inarizak

  "This… this is ued!"

  "Aoba Johsai's #16, Kyōtaarō, is known for his raw power. His diagonal and straight shots have left a sting impression. Who would've thought he had a tip like that in his arsenal?"

  "The timing of his swing adjustment was fwless, pletely outsmarting Inarizaki's blockers!"

  _________

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