The match began with Aoba Johsai serving.

  For this practice match, Coach Irihata set up Aoba Johsai's defensive lineup right from the start. The back row sisted of Hanamaki Takahiro, Shinji Watari, and Iwaizumi Hajime—a defensive wall designed specifically to ter Hyakuzawa Yūdai's t spikes.

  "Iwaizumi-senpai, give them a strong serve!"

  Iwaizumi unched his serve. While his serves might only be average in national tours, they came across as ferocious for Kakugawa Academy.

  Kakugawa's libero, Minamida Taishi, anticipated the ball's trajectory and quickly moved into position to receive it.

  So heavy!

  The serve caused Minamida to stagger slightly, but he mao send the ball back towards the setter.

  "Hyakuzawa!"

  Komaki Yuzuru called without hesitatiht now, their team's most dangerous on was Hyakuzawa's spikes. Against Aoba Johsai, they heir aake a statement.

  The ball was set towards the right wing, where Hyakuzawa began his approach from the back row. His massive frame exuded an intimidating aura as he surged forward.

  Seeing this, Taichi also pulled back for a running start.

  Both pyers jumped simultaneously, with Hyakuzaiking the ball against Taichi's solo block.

  Boom!

  Hyakuzawa's spike sailed over Taichi's outstretched hands.

  Taichi's eyes narrowed. That tact point…might even be higher than Ushijima Wakatoshi's.

  "Two meters really is an incredible natural advantage."

  However, the spike's trajectory was too simple—something easy to predict. From the back row, Iwaizumi Hajime ly dug the ball.

  The power isn't as overwhelming as expected?

  Oikawa Tōru quickly stepped in to set. As Taided, he dashed towards the left wing.

  Having faced spikes from pyers like Ushijima Wakatoshi, Kiryū Wakatsu, and Aran Ojiro, Aoba Johsai's defence wasn't about to crumble from something like this.

  At the far-left side of the court, Kaedehara Taichi jumped. Kakugawa's front-row pyers, still processing their surprise at Hyakuzawa's failed spike, were caught off guard.

  The ball was set perfectly in front of Taichi.

  Bang!

  A and decisive point for Aoba Johsai.

  [Aoba Johsai 1 - 0 Kakugawa]

  Kakugayers were left reeling.

  So… this is what a national-level offence looks like?

  Their minds buzzed with questions:

  Didn't their block just fail? Why didn't they score? How did that guy who blocked on the right suddenly appear in the air on the left wing? And that set—when did it evehere?

  It was inprehensible.

  Hyakuzawa Yūdai stood frozen in pce, equally baffled.

  What just happened?

  He had spiked the ball the same way he always did. But almost instantly, the ball was smmed back to their side!

  Taichi, who had inteo keep to himself as the quiet, modest type, couldn't help but quip when he saw Hyakuzawa's bnk expression:

  "Volleyball isn't that simple, big guy."

  Iwaizumi stepped up to serve again.

  Bang!

  This time, the ball dropped between Kaito Asamushi and Isao Inagaki, who hesitated for a brief moment, letting it nd untouched.

  [Aoba Johsai 2 - 0 Kakugawa]

  "Wow, it's been ages since Iwa- scored directly on a serve! What a rarity!" Oikawa shouted dramatically.

  "Oh, is that so?" Iwaizumi smiled pleasantly while holding the ball but fixed Oikawa with an icy gre.

  Oikawa gulped, shifting nervously. "Aaah..um...Iwa-, we're still in a match…"

  "Hmph."

  Iwaizumi served again, but this time, he misjudged the force.

  Boom!

  A wild 'home ruhe ball flying out of bounds behind Kakugawa.

  [Aoba Johsai 2 - 1 Kakugawa]

  "Tch. Should've aimed for that Bakakawa's head," Iwaizumi muttered under his breath.

  Oikawa shuddered but pretended not to hear.

  Kakugawa took the serve, with Yoshiaki Nurukawa sending the ball into py.

  To Aoba Johsai, it posed no threat.

  Shinji Watari received it effortlessly, delivering a perfect pass to Oikawa.

  Kaedehara Taichi leapt from the right wing. Hyakuzawa, still rooted iared in fusion.

  Why are you jumping? Isn't the ball still above the setter?!!

  Almost as soon as Taichi reached his peak height, the ball was there, set perfectly in his strike zone.

  Boom!

  Another spike from Taichi. Another point for Aoba Johsai.

  [Aoba Johsai 3 - 1 Kakugawa]

  "Was it too soon t Kakugawa Academy here?" Coaabara murmured anxiously. "It's not just Hyakuzawa—the whole team's gap in ability is gring. I'm worried they'll…"

  "There's only a month until the Spring High qualifiers," Coach Washijō said sternly, his tone unpromising. "He'll have to face this reality sooner or ter."

  "I years, plenty of young monsters have emerged. If he stays at Kakugawa to 'develop slowly,' he'll never catch up." Washijō offered a brief expnation.

  Coaaibara fell silent, recalling how his Johzenji had been obliterated by Aoba Johsai ier-High qualifiers.

  Karasuno, Date Tech, Aoba Johsai, Shiratorizawa, Wakunan…

  Looking back, if their group had been any tougher, Johzenji might not have even made it to the prefectural top eight.

  —Bang!

  Ihe court, Taichi scored yet again with a spike using the same method.

  Hyakuzawa Yūdai iralling into deep self-doubt.

  Three months ago, when the coach approached him, he fidently decred: "Height and power—these simple and pure attributes, ohey surpass a certain threshold, bee unmatched ons."

  But now…why is this happening?!!

  "Hey, big guy, this is the third point already. I think it's time to ge things up," \ Taichi said suddenly.

  Aoba Johsai served again, with Kunimi Akira targeting Hyakuzaosition.

  Though Hyakuzawa's teammates tried to shield him from receiving, their efforts to cover for him often got in the way of his approach runs, further hindering his offence.

  "Cover"

  Inagaki Isao's first touch was slightly off, sending the ball toward the left side.

  Asamushi Kaito saved it, sending the ball back toward the .

  The set was low enough that Hyakuzawa didn't eveo take an approap and spike.

  But suddenly, a rge pair of hands appeared diagonally in front of him.

  Smack!

  The ball ricocheted off Kaedehara Taichi's arm, dropping bato Kakugawa's court.

  [Aoba Johsai 4 - 1 Kakugawa]

  "Ah, this point was just an act. I didn't expect your spike to be so weak," Taichi remarked with a grin toward Hyakuzawa.

  "Ah, it feels like that big guy's spirit is about to shatter," Terushima Yūji said with a flicted expression. He had thought a match against someowo meters tall would be exg, but now it just felt like Taichi was bullying him.

  "Why are you sympathizing with the oppo?" Futamata Takeru asked.

  "Well, didn't we lose to them before?" Terushima replied matter-of-factly. "Of course, I see them as enemies now…"

  "..."

  Fair enough. Painful memories of their loss resurfaced.

  -----

  Smack!

  Hyakuzawa's spike was once again received by Aoba Johsai.

  This feeling of helplessness was unbearable.

  Aoba Johsai relied solely on Taichi to block Hyakuzawa, with four pyers in the back row ready to cover any rebounds.

  Hyakuzawa found himself straining to jump for every ball, fearing that aation would result in Taichi intercepting him.

  "It's ing," Oikawa Tōru set the ball high to the right wing as Taichi sprinted in for his approach.

  The high set gave Kakugayers time to react. As long as Aoba Johsai didn't use their strange quick attacks, Kakugawa felt fident they could block it!

  Hyakuzawa jumped across from Taichi, his hands fully extending above Taichi's striking position.

  "This time, I've got it!"

  Hyakuzawa was fident in his block's positioning.

  —BANG!

  The ball flew past Hyakuzawa's left side, smming into Kakugawa's court.

  Kaedehara Taichi's sharp cross-court spike earned Aoba Johsai another point.

  [Aoba Johsai 5 - 1 Kakugawa]

  Even though his body was fag forward, how could Taichi spike with su angle?

  Hyakuzawa no longer wao tinue pying…

  "Don't give up, Hyakuzawa! We'll add one more blocker!" Minamida Taishi shouted from the back row.

  "That's right! If we match his blocks, we'll find a way!" Middle blocker Eiji Makodo enced.

  Really?

  Hyakuzawa g the expressioaichi across the .

  Would adding more blockers even help against someone who could ge their tacti a whim?

  But wasn't this even monizing for his seniors oeam?

  Hyakuzawa nodded resolutely. No matter what, he would give it his all.

  Oikawa Tōru g Taichi. Somehow, it felt like this guy was turning Aoba Johsai into the vilin team.

  As the match progressed, even with Kakugawa adding ara blocker, Taichi's cross-court spikes tio score.

  When Kakugawa resorted to triple blocks, Taichi switched to line shots, leaving them helpless.

  When Kakugawa included their libero in the back row to guard against his line shots, Kaedehara's tips and touch-outs became the final nails in Kakugawa's coffin.

  At this point, Kakugawa had four or even five pyers focused solely on defending against one pyer.

  Ahey still couldn't stop him!

  Kakugawa's setter, Komaki Yuzuru, had long realized that Aoba Johsai was deliberately letting their first-year ace attack solo. There wasn't even a o sider other strategies!

  So this is what a national-level ace looks like.

  The other Kakugayers were steeped in despair.

  Kaedehara Taichi, oher hand, was thriving. This was his first semi-official match sihe national tour, and the excitement of the game had him fired up.

  With the opposing team beiively weaker, Taichi's teiques—ohat struggled to score during nationals—were now shining.

  Uhe pressure of strong oppos, this freer enviro allowed Taichi to vividly envision the heights he would rea the future.

  "Taichi!"

  Oikawa shouted, setting the ball high in the middle.

  From the back row, Kaedehara began his approae step, two steps, three steps—croug low. With a resounding "thump", his arms swung back as he soared into the air like an eagle.

  It was the final point of the first set, but Taichi felt weightless, his vision expansive, and an endless surge of power c through him.

  —B O O M—

  His right hand smashed into the ball at its peak.

  Smabsp;The ball collided with Hyakuzawa's arm.

  But with su iive block—

  In the instant, the ball bsted through Hyakuzawa's arms, smming heavily into Kakugawa's court.

  The two-meter giant's wall was shattered by Kaedehara Taichi's relentless spike.

  [Aoba Johsai 25 - 8 Kakugawa]

  The referee's whistle blew. The first set was over.

  Kakugayers stood in stunned sileheir gazes toward Kaedehara Taichi tinged with fear.

  Hyakuzawa Yūdai had attempted 17 spikes that set, sg only 3 points.

  Meanwhile, Kaedehara Taichi attempted 21 spikes including 2 cross-court errors, 1 line error, and 1 deflected shot. Adding a point from blog, he scored a total of 15 points in a si!

  _________

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