It wasn't some hidden skill—Aoba Johsai's pyers were equally stunned as they watched Kentarō Kyōtani.
That was the first time any of them had seen him use a tip shot in a match.
"An attack isn't satisfying unless it's at full force!"
During their practice game with Nekoma, eveetsurō Kuroo's blog repeatedly stopped his attacks, Kyōtani had brushed it off with those words.
In subsequent matches, Kyōtani merely adjusted his angles—switg between cross-court and straight spikes—to avoid the blockers.
Every pyer has their own style, and for someone like Kentarō Kyōtani, this level of adjustment robably his limit—or so everyone in Aoba Johsai, including the coach, had thought.
But that tip shot...
"Nice kill!"
The Aoba Johsai pyers surrounded Kyōtani. Iwaizumi Hajime tousled his hair, while Tōru Oikawa and Takahiro Hanamaki patted him on the back. Even Akira Kunimi and Taichi Kaedehara stood nearby, their smiles restrained but present.
", Kunimi," Taichi suddenly said in a low voice.
The set had offered an excellent view a little time for Inarizaki's blockers to adjust.
Notig the spiker's state while setting—Kunimi truly showed the instincts of a setter.
Kunimi was momentarily startled, then suppressed a smile. "Just average."
Aoba Johsai prepared to serve. Inarizaki's cheering squad tiheir relentless distras, but Kunimi paid no heed.
Smack!
The ball soared sharply toward the back er where Rintarō Suna stood.
"What's with this team? Do none of their pyers care about distras?" an irritated member of Inarizaki's cheering squad muttered. This was the third pyer in a row to igheir interferenpletely.
Kunimi's serve was dangerously precise, skimming the edge of the court. Suated for a split sed but ultimately decided to receive it.
Miya Atsumu wasted no time, sending the ball to an ideal position at the tre of the .
Aran ōjirō leapt up and spiked hard.
"Double block!"
Iwaizumi and Kyōtani jumped to meet him at the .
Thud!
Even so, Aran ōjirō, one of the top five spikers in the try, bsted the ball over the blod scored.
[Aoba Johsai 6 – 4 Inarizak
"Inarizaki hasn't been rattled by Aoba Johsai. They're g their way back using their best strategies."
"Although they're still trailing, they're finding their rhythm again."
Inarizaki's serve. Osamu Miya dragged out the full eight seds before delivering the ball.
Taichi lit sed te in his reception, and the ball veered toward the sideline.
"Sorry!"
Takahiro Hanamaki scrambled to save it, and Iwaizumi, blocked at the , resorted to tipping the ball softly into Inarizaki's backcourt.
"ce ball!" Osamu called out, and the first touch sent the ball perfectly into position.
Miya Atsumu leapt on the right side, faking a set. Instead, he executed a quick attack of his own, sg ly.
[Aoba Johsai 6 – 5 Inarizak
"Miya Atsumu's movements are as steady as ever—it's nearly impossible to predict his move!"
"And Osamu's set was excellent too. If you don't pay close attention, you might not evehem apart..."
"I've got a brilliant trick, though. Want to hear it, Aoi-san?"
"Oh? Do tell, ōtomo-san!"
"Just look at their jersey numbers!" ōtomo decred with absolute fidence.
"...Ahahaha…"
Osamu served again.
Kunimi received it, and Oikawa set the ball to the left wing. Iwaizumi jumped, drawing away a blocker.
The real attacker was Taichi Kaedehara, ing in from the back row!
"Block him!"
Ren ōmimi, standing tall, formed a perfect solo block.
Smack!
Pop!
Taichi spiked with his left hand.
The ball ricocheted off Osamu's waiting hand at the boundary and flew out of py.
Taichi blinked in surprise.
Osamu stared at his hand, equally baffled.
[Aoba Johsai 7 – 5 Inarizak
"Kaedehara Taichi has always been a fiercely petitive pyer. After losing a point from his mistake earlier, he immediately took it back with a powerful back-row attack."
"Aoba Johsai's back-row attacks are being increasingly refined. Iwaizumi's decoy opened up a great opportunity for Kaedehara's spike."
"Oikawa-senpai," Taichi murmured, "it seems they've figured it out." The previous py made it clear—Miya Osamu had read his straight shot, positioning himself perfectly at the boundary.
"It was bound to be noticed eventually. Sg won't be as easy from now on," Oikawa said grimly, his sharp eyes glued to Inarizaki's lineup. Aoba Johsai had revealed most of their cards—what about Inarizaki?
"Aren't you just useless, Osamu? Couldn't even catch that ball in position," Atsumu taunted his twin brother with a look of mock disdain.
"You idiot, Atsumu! Spin from a left-handed hit isn't the same as from a right-handed o takes time to adjust," Osamu instinctively retorted.
A setter's sensitivity to an attacker's hitting style was unparalleled.
-----
Last night, Coach Kurosu had emphasized the diversity of Aoba Johsai's #10's attacks.
Atsumu, watg the footage alone, had posed a critical question.
"When #10 hits a straight shot, does he use his left hand?"
It was an odd characteristic but one easy to verify.
-----
Aoba Johsai's serve. Hanamaki Takahiro jumped and delivered a powerful jump serve.
Miari Akagi smoothly received it. Atsumu set it up to the left. With a perfect first touch, it was now up to the ace to finish the py.
Aran ōjirō sprinted a into the air.
"Double block!" Oikawa and Iwaizumi sprang up at the .
With Oikag Kyōtani in the block, the overall height noticeably increased.
Smack!
Aran's spike smashed into Iwaizumi's arms.
"Oouch!" Iwaizumi's strength matched Aran's.
Kunimi immediately set the ball high over Oikawa, initiating a multi-direal attack.
All five Aoba Johsai pyers—except Oikawa—charged toward the .
Oikawa sent the ball to the far right. Kyōtani hammered it down, sg decisively.
[Aoba Johsai 8 – 5 Inarizak
"What's going on? Doesn't this team care about defence?"
This aggressive style of attack left no room for recovery if the block read them right. Aoba Johsai's opening pys were riskier than expected.
Aran g Iwaizumi. He had used all his strength, yet he hadn't broken through the block. Truly, a man who bore the same #4 jersey.
If Iwaizumi were just a little taller, he might've been aougher oppo.
Aran fshed a friendly grin, his pearly white teeth gleaming.
"Iwa-, that guy you just blocked is gring at you with a scary pitch-bck expression," Oikawa teased in a low voice.
"My skin is already bck!" Aran shouted back, exasperated.
Hanamaki served again. Osamu's perfect first touch sent the ball straight above the . Atsumu was right there, spiking it immediately.
"Not a sed time!"
Kunimi received the ball ly, and Oikawa stepped in to set it toward the .
Iwaizumi powered the ball down with a fierce spike.
Akagi dived, barely saving the ball. Atsumu set it high to the left wing, and Aran came in for another spike.
Smack!
A sharp cross-court spike avoided the block, but three defenders awaited it in the back row!
Hanamaki mao keep the ball in py, though it ricocheted bato Inarizaki's court due to the sheer force.
"ce ball!"
"Watch the quick attack!"
Atsumu didn't rush to receive the ball. Instead, he goward Osamu.
Osamu seemed to uand instantly as if their thoughts aligned.
Akagi's first touch sent the ball directly above Atsumu.
"Osamu!"
"Atsumu!"
Osamu ran forward a from the back row. Just as he assumed his spiking form mid-air, the ball Atsumu set arrived at the perfect spot.
The position. The ahe timing.
Perfect!
Smash!
Aoba Johsai's blockers couldn't rea time. Osamu scored with a hit.
[Aoba Johsai 8 – 6 Inarizak
"Th-that py just now..."
"Wasn't that the Oikawa-Kaedehara super quick attack?!"
"The Miya twins just perfectly replicated Aoba Johsai's abo!"
"Pfft~ Of course, we're not as polished as that setter over there. I just wao copy their fshy special move," Atsumu said with a sly grin.
_________
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