For Aoba Johsai's victory, her Shiratorizawa nor Karasu any surprise.
On paper, Date Tech was undoubtedly the weakest of the top four teams. They were also the only team among them with a pletely revamped lineup after their third-years graduated.
Shiratorizawa and Karasuno both had the fideo defeat Date Tech.
However, her team believed they could dominate as effortlessly as Aoba Johsai had just done.
Perhaps it was a matter of team matchups. Date Tech's renowned "Iron Wall" was virtually useless against Aoba Johsai's serves.
But then again, could Shiratorizawa or Karasuno hahose serves aer?
The weight of this question was written across the faces of both teams' pyers.
The Karasuno pyers sat quietly in their observation area, a rare moment of siletling over them.
"Leave Oikawa's serves to me," Nishinoya Yū decred bluntly. "But for Taichi's, I'll need your help from the very start."
Oikawa Tōru's serves were powerful, but Kaedehara Taichi's were uable.
It was not the time to let pride dictate decisions, especially when it might cost the team valuable points.
Looking at Nishinoya's calm determination, Sawamura Daichi gradually felt at ease.
"Still," Nishinoya added with a grin, "we o beat Shiratorizawa first!"
-----
In Shiratorizawa's observatiohe mood was no lighter.
ōhira Reon noticed a hint of unease on Yamagata Hayato's face. a reassuring smile, he said, "We'll hahe receives together."
But before he could eborate, a steady voiterrupted.
"I will help with receives," Ushijima Wakatoshi stated firmly.
The ace's gaze was unwavering.
"Only oeam will reaationals."
-----
The sed set began swiftly.
Aoba Johsai's new lineup sisted of:
Front row—Middle Blocker Hanamaki Takahiro, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō aer Oikawa TōruBack row—Wing Spikers Kunimi Akira, Opposite Hitter Iwaizumi Hajime and Middle Blocker Matsukawa Issei (Libero Watari Shinji).
Date Tech, in turn, fielded:
Front row—Wing Spiker Onagawa Tarō, Middle Blocker Aoakanobu aer Koganegawa KanjiBack row—Wing SpikerYutaka Obara, Middle Blocker Fukiage Jingo (Libero Sakunami Kōsuke) and Opposite Hitter Futakuchi Kenji.
Both teams had made adjustments, but the extent of Aoba Johsai's ges stood out.
The Date Tech coach couldn't fathom it.
Hanamaki and Kaedehara had performed exceptionally in the first set—so, why take Kindaichi off the court?
Moreover, the substitution seemed to reduce Aoba Johsai's blog height.
From their steady performan the first set, it didn't seem like Aoba Johsai would be uimating their oppos.
But the ao their strategy would soon bee evident as the set unfolded.
-----
The set began with Date Te serve.
As Kenji Futakuchi stepped onto the service line, he immediately noticed something unusual.
Aoba Johsai's new lineup featured an exceptionally strong receiving formation in the back row: Kunimi Akira, Iwaizumi Hajime, and libero Watari Shinji.
Suddenly, Futakuchi found himself without a clear target.
He chuckled bitterly. So, this lineup is just for my serves, huh?
But it didn't matter—he wasn't on the same level as those two monsters oher side.
Futakuchi shook his head, banishing the intrusive thoughts. He tossed the ball high and swung with precision.
Boom!
The serve darted straight toward Kunimi Akira, the furthest pyer from Oikawa Tōru.
Smack!
Kunimi received it ly, direg the ball forward. Oikawa darted toward the tre.
—Whoosh!
Without hesitatio a quick back-row toss. The ball soared precisely to mid-air above the .
-----
During the brief break after the first set, Coach Irihata had begun a straightforward analysis of their performance.
He couldn't help but notice Kaedehara Taichi's pensive expression.
"Taichi, do you have something on your mind?" the coach asked.
The rest of the team turheir attention to him. Based och so far, there haven't been any signifit issues.
If Taichi had a , there was likely only one expnation: he had pns.
"I just feel that if it's only about winning, it'd be b." Taichi's eyes began to gleam with iy, his excitement tagious. "We're up against su incredible defence. I want to test if I break through their Iron Wall."
His tone was unusually serious, but even he realized it was an audacious request.
He looked around at his teammates, half-expeg disbelief, but found none.
Oikawa sighed dramatically, smirking. "I figured as much. If there's no challenge, you'll create one, won't you?"
"My only dition is that we win this set," Iwaizumi said simply.
"You better make it quick," Kunimi quipped, feigning exasperation.
"Taichi, go for it!" Kindaichi chimed in, his admiration for the absp;evident in his grin.
Thus, Aoba Johsai's lineup ges were revealed to have a singur purpose: fulfilling their ace's request.
-----
Kaedehara Taichi sprinted into his approach, leaping powerfully into the air.
"Double block!" Aoakanobu and Koganegawa Kanji positiohemselves in front of him.
Boom!
Without hesitation, Taichi's spike collided with Koganegawa's arms, sending a tremor through them.
However, the ball rebounded into Aoba Johsai's court.
"I got it!"
Hanamaki Takahiro dove and mao save the ball, sending it upward. Oikawa Tōru swiftly repositioned himself, setting the ball high into the air once again.
Taichi retreated, gathering momentum before taking another approad leaping into the air.
"Double block!"
Date Tech's Iron Wall remained unyielding.
This time, Taichi's view of the court was sharper than ever. He notiot just the blockers' movements at the but also Sakunami Kōsuke stepping forward in the back row.
Are they preparing for a tip shot?
Taichi's mind raced as he processed the information. But his arm didn't hesitate for a moment. He swung with full force.
Boom!
The ball struck Koganegawa's arms again, rebounding high into the air.
Right above the !
As the three pyers hey immediately jumped again.
"Push it over, Aone! Koganegawa!"
"Push it back, Taichi!"
At the , all three hands met the ball simultaneously. With Aone and Koganegawa's birength, the ball deflected bato Aoba Johsai's court.
Oikawa extended his arm and scooped it up with one hand.
From the back row, Watari Shinji leapt ahe ball high into the air.
Even Date Tech could now see what Aoba Johsai's iions were: they were challenging the Iron Wall head-on.
Don't get cocky!
"Double block!" Aone and Koganegawa rose for the third time.
Even if Taichi mao score, Date Tech would prove to the spectators that their Golden Iron Wall was unbreakable.
Taichi, unfazed, had just steadied himself. With a siep, he surged forward a into the air again.
This time, his approach was rushed, but his view was the clearest it had been so far.
[Ding! The host has entered burst mode]
[Kaedehara Taichi (Burst Mode):Height: 188 bsp;| Power: 99 | Jump: 90 | Stamina: 95 | Speed: 95Teique: Serve: 95 | Receive: 90 | Set: 85 | Spike: 95]
Cross-court, a tip to the baseliooling the blockers—Taichi's mind visualized all the possibilities.
Left side? Right side? Or the gap between Aone and Koganegawa?
He could score however he wahe choice was his.
But none of those options were what he truly wanted.
Taichi's muscles tensed as he swung his arm downward with all his might.
—Boom!!—
The ball struck Koganegawa's arms with such force that they were pletely overpowered. He nded awkwardly, falling straight onto his back.
The ball ricocheted off the 's edge, boung slightly before dropping onto Aoba Johsai's side of the court.
[Aoba Johsai 0 – 1 Date Tech]
Date Tech had scored a point, but no one celebrated.
Aone nded and didn't eve to help Koganega. He simply stared at Kaedehara Taichi oher side of the .
"Sorry."
Taichi's apology was directed at his teammates for his reckless py, which had cost them a poie their efforts to save the ball.
But his eyes never left Aone's.
On the court, every pyer—whether they faced Kaedehara Taichi head-on or saw him from behind—could feel two words emanating from his presence:
Fervor.
He would not give up.
As if oaichi's gaze shifted to Futakuchi Kenji standing at the service line.
"Let's go. One more ball!"
_________
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