[Aoba Johsai High School, Css 1-5]

  On the podium, the math teacher wiped the board with slightly teary eyes—Kaedehara Taichi, perhaps the ziest student in his css(as far as anything except volleyball was ed), was finally not sleeping today and was actually paying attention to the lecture.

  It might have been because the final exams were scheduled for this week, but this was enough to fill the teacher with relief.

  Taichi was indeed listening, but the more he listehe more bored he became. Eventually, he started doodling randomly on his notebook. After a while, he noticed that the page was filled with the names of Inarizaki's pyers.

  "Tch...those pesky foxes..."

  A wave of emotion finally surged within Taichi. He forcefully wrote the words "Spring High" on the paper and then lifted his head. In his onk stare, a ravenous determination began to gleam.

  This defeat was just the start of something new. He couldn't afford to lose again—absolutely not!

  -----

  That afternoon, the Seijoh pyers gathered in the audiovisual room. This was their first time advang to Nationals, and sequently, their first time experieng elimination as a team iour. Together, they sat to watch the National Finals.

  The final match was between Inarizaki and Itachiyama.

  By an uny ce, all three teams that had crossed paths at the Tokyo Gymnasium souvenir shop on the sed day had been eliminated by the afternoon of the third day.

  Kamomedai was defeated by Itachiyama, while Fukurodani lost to Ichirin.

  Boom!

  Miya Atsumu's serve scored directly, elig another wave of cheers from the audience.

  "Tch..."

  Oikawa Tōru watched the familiar oppo with a detached expression. My serves aren't any worse than his, he thought.

  Though he believed he had e to terms with their loss, seeing Inarizaki still brought back the vivid memory of their defeat.

  Why are WE not standing there right now?

  Boom!

  "Miya Atsumu's sed serve has been successfully received by libero Komori Motoya!"

  "Itachiyama's #13, Komori Motoya, was a formidable outside hitter in middle school. However, due to his height, he made the bold decision to transition to a libero in high school. What a ceous choice!"

  "Indeed, judging by Komori's performance, I thihe top libero in this year's Nationals!"

  "Absolutely. Excelling in two pletely different positions is truly admirable."

  Iwaizumi Hajime, watg Komori—who stood at a height of 180 cm—fell into deep thought.

  "Hey, Iwa-, just be yourself," Oikawa suddenly said, turning to look at Iwaizumi.

  "Idiot, I know that." Iwaizumi's gaze was firm. "I was just thinking—I still get stronger..."

  "Oh! The twins' minus-tempo quick attack! What an incredible move—Itachiyama's blockers didn't have time to react at all!"

  "Those guys...they're terrifying," Taichi muttered. Having withis on firsthand just days ago, he could see how seamlessly it had now bee part of Inarizaki's regur offence.

  Inarizaki would only get strohey wouldn't wait around for ao catch up.

  , it was Sakusa Kiyoomi's turn to serve.

  Aoba Johsai's eeam, having already faced two of the "Top Three Aces" in Nationals, paid close attention to this st offensive powerhouse.

  He had a slender build, quite different from Ushijima Wakatoshi or Kiryū Wakatsu.

  So, what was it that allowed him, as a sed-year, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the nation's best?

  Bang!

  Sakusa's serve flew across the court.

  The speed wasn't impressive, nor did the power seem overwhelming.

  Inarizaki's libero, Akagi Miari, easily received the ball.

  Pop!

  But—

  The volleyball hit Akagi Miari's hands and flew out of bounds.

  Aoba Johsai's pyers: "???"

  "Was that a mistake? Did he not receive it properly?" From the video, nothing unusual arent.

  Sakusa Kiyoomi remained calm, his expression devoid of emotion, as if this oute was entirely expected.

  Under Seijoh's watchful gaze, Sakusa served again.

  It looked just like the first serve—pin and unremarkable.

  Pop!

  Akagi received the ball again, but once more, it flew out of bounds.

  Akagi Miari was certainly not a weak libero. It was impossible for him to make the same mistake twice. Having just faced Inarizaki themselves, Aoba Johsai's pyers khis well.

  So, there was definitely something unusual about that serve.

  "What's going on…" Oikawa Tōru leaned in closer, as if that would help him see more clearly.

  "It's the spin," Kaedehara Taichi said. "I watched Sakusa-senpai's spikes up close during my time in Tokyo."

  "Sakusa-senpai's ball trol is outstanding. His wrist is incredibly flexible, allowing him to spike from various angles—and to apply all kinds of spins to the ball as well."

  "pared to Ushijima-senpai's difficult-to-handle left-handed spin, this kind of uable rotation might be even trickier."

  "Tsk, what a troublesome guy," Kunimi Akira ented, which was rare for him. "Why is Nationals full of these absurd monsters?"

  At least you uand, thought Taichi as he g Kunimi. If Seijoh wao quer Nationals, the growth of every single pyer was crucial.

  Inarizaki's defensive lireated two steps, clearly as a precaution for balls that might once again fly out of bounds.

  Boom!

  Sakusa served for the third time, and this time, Akagi chose to receive with a high, powerful dig. As expected, the ball still veered out of bounds, but it gave Inarizaki's other pyers a ce to salvage it.

  Ginjima Hitoshi mao keep the ball in py, and Miya Atsumu had no choice but to send it over the without a proper attack.

  Itachiyama's ce ball. Komori Motoya effortlessly set the ball high above the setter.

  Tsukasa Iizuna faked a tip and smashed it down the middle instead, sg ly.

  Boom!

  That kind of power rivalled the primary attackers of most teams…

  Ironically, the seemingly weakest pyer on Itachiyama was their ace, Sakusa Kiyoomi. It was truly ued.

  Inarizaki still couldn't break Sakusa's serve rotation. The atmosphere in the audiovisual room grew heavy. Inarizaki, who had defeated Seijoh, was now being overwhelmed by aeam.

  This only made Seijoh's pyers feel even more frustrated.

  Eventually, Inarizaki found a way to respond. On the sixth serve, the long-suppressed Ojiro Aran recimed the serve with a powerful spike.

  "In Itachiyama's service rotation, Sakusa Kiyoomi secured five secutive points!"

  Watari Shinji felt the weight of this. If it had been him, could he have found a solution to that serve within five points?

  Iwaizumi Hajime seemed to share the same thoughts. He noticed Shinji's expression and patted him on the back. "Don't bear that pressure alone. We're a team."

  Even if one person improves, the team won't win unless everyone grows. Don't worry about it.

  After losing to Inarizaki, none of Seijoh's pyers had tried to sole one another. "Now's not the time to wallow in frustration." Words like these didn't o be spoken, because each pyer already thought the same way.

  The reason they all felt pressured while watg this match was that every Seijoh pyer was imagining themselves on the court.

  Whether it was Inarizaki or Itachiyama, at that moment, they were all Seijoh's hypothetical enemies—oppos they would have to defeat iure.

  "Tweet—!"

  The whistle blew, signalling the end of the match.

  The final champions of this year's Inter-High Nationals were the reigning Kings of Tokyo, Itachiyama.

  Inarizaki had lost, just like that. Seijoh's pyers couldn't quite figure out what they felt at that moment.

  On the s, Itachiyama was cheering in celebration. Oher side, Inarizaki looked exactly as Seijoh had two days ago.

  Amid the noise, Kaedehara Taichi quietly stood up.

  "Let's go train."

  Iwaizumi and Oikawa exged gnces and smiled.

  "Yeah," Iwaizumi said. "The new jourarts now."

  -----

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