[Aoba Johsai 25 – 16 Date Tech]

  [Aoba Johsai 25 – 15 Date Tech]

  Even though Date Tech was one of the top four teams in the prefecture, the spectators hadn't expected Aoba Johsai to sweep the match with such a signifit point difference, seg an easy two-set victory to advao the finals.

  "It looks like this year's Spring High Representative Tour champion is already in Aoba Johsai's pocket," a spectator remarked with a sigh.

  "That's not necessarily true! Shiratorizawa still has a ce!" anued.

  "Well, regardless, the stro pyer in the prefecture has to be Wakatoshi Ushijima!"

  "No way, it's gotta be Oikawa Tōru from Seijoh now!"

  "You're both wrong—it's Kaedehara Taichi! Just look at his ret sg stats; he's already surpassing Ushijima!"

  "But not yet, right? I'll admit he's the stro first-year, but if we're talking about all pyers, it's still Ushijima!"

  "Enough! As a childhood fan of Taichi, let me expin—"

  "Boo!" jeered the crowd from all sides, with a few empty bottles even flying toward the overly zealous fan.

  Regardless, Aoba Johsai, the team that had long been seen as perpetual runners-up, was now being discussed as a potential powerhouse surpassing Shiratorizawa.

  -----

  Aoba Johsai's pyers were busy pag up their equipment. After loading their bags onto the bus, they'd finally get a ce to grab some food and replenish their energy.

  Iernoon, they would watch the match between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa.

  Aoba Johsai had faced both teams during the summer—Shiratorizawa even joihem for a joint training camp.

  In terms of strength, Aoba Johsai believed Shiratorizawa held the upper hand.

  After all, they prided themselves on never losing a si to Karasuno, whereas their matches against Shiratorizawa always came down to the wire.

  But the charm of sports y in its uability. Every game was a new beginning, and any team could achieve the impossible.

  The practice match against Karasun the summer had left a strong impression on Seijoh.

  Kageyama Tobio, Hinata Shōyō, and Nishinoya Yū—all three possessed the potential to explode into a on the court.

  How much had those scrappy crows grown sihen? Could Shiratorizawa stumble against them?

  Aoba Johsai's oppo would be decided iernoon match.

  "Hey, Iwa-, who do you think will win?" Oikawa Tōru, now wearing gsses that gave him the air of a mischief, asked while feigning the demeanour of a reporter.

  "Shiratorizawa," Iwaizumi Hajime replied without hesitation, gring at Oikawa briefly.

  "What about Hanamaki and Matsukawa? Your thoughts?"

  "Shiratorizawa," both answered in unison.

  "Oho, I see. And what about Mad Dog- and Watari?"

  "Doesn't matter." Kyōtaarō shoved past Oikaatiently.

  "Either is fine," Watari Shinji said politely.

  "Hmm, a ral stance here! So, what about our first-years?"

  "I hope it's Karasuno," Kindaichi Yūtarō said. "I want to face Kageyama head-on."

  "Same here," Kunimi Akira replied zily.

  Oh, what an ued answer, Oikawa thought gleefully. If Taichi also votes for Karasuno, then the most critical vote will be mine!

  Oikawa eagerly turo Kaedehara Taichi.

  "Doesn't matter. We'll beat whoever it is," Taichi said nontly.

  Oikawa: "…"

  Who asked if you'd beat them?

  B! I'm done pying!

  None of them knew why Oikawa suddenly stormed off, and none of them cared enough to find out.

  -----

  "Damn it. I thought we could make it further," Kenji Futakuchi muttered, frustration evident in his voice.

  During the summer camp, Date Tech had failed to beat either Shiratorizawa or Aoba Johsai even once.

  Yet, Coach Oiwake remained satisfied.

  With the third-years retiring, the rapid iion and development of the first- and sed-years had exceeded his expectations.

  Their teical skills were improving at a phenomenal rate.

  Although Futakuchi had boldly decred they were there to win the game, the truth was that this current Date Tech lineup had a full year to improve.

  Coach Oiwake held high hopes for them.

  "Alright, team—" Futakuchi began, but his voice faltered when he saw the banner hanging on the sed-floor railing: "Date's Iron Wall."

  Standing behind the banner, smiling, were the third-year seniors. Futakuchi's wot caught in his throat.

  "Futakuchi, you're the captain now! Say something already, idiot!" Kaname Moniwa shouted, shaking his fist from above.

  Taking a deep breath, Futakuchi pushed down his emotions.

  "Thank you for your support!"

  "Thank you for your support!" the team echoed in unison.

  "Now that's more like it!" Moniwa said warmly, looking at them with pride.

  In one of the rest areas ihe gymnasium:

  "Hmph. The netain still isn't good enough at managing the team during matches. He 't handle supp the others yet," Yasushi Kamasaki ented, arms crossed. "See now how great Moniwa really was?"

  "I've known that fes!" Futakuchi retorted irritably.

  "Geez…" Kamasaki muttered, looking at the dejected first- and sed-years. "You all just o improve faster! Today's match showed that everyone gave their best effort…"

  "I'm sorry!" Onagawa shouted loudly.

  Takeshita cpped him on the head lightly. "No worries! You've still got tons of room to grow!"

  "Keep w hard!" Moniwa added with a grin. "Bee eveer than you are now!"

  "You guys definitely bee the stro Iron Wall in Date Tech history!"

  As Monio step back quietly after delivering this encing speech, Futakuchi suddenly grinned slyly.

  "Well then…" Futakuchi turo the third-years. "Since you all came to watch the match, that means you're free nht? How about ing back to practice with us?"

  "Huh?!" Moniwa was caught off guard.

  "Please, e help us train!" Futakuchi insisted with a pyful smile.

  "Well, I guess we 't refuse you guys!" Kamasaki excimed as he eagerly loosened his tie.

  "Hey, hey, hey! Don't start taking your clothes off here!" Sasaya Takehito quickly pulled him back.

  Finally, a familiar mischievous gri onto Futakuchi Kenji's face.

  It was only after taking over as the volleyball team captain that he truly realized the weight of the responsibility.

  Yet, in front of these senior pyers, Futakuchi could temporarily shed his burdens and speak freely.

  "Kamisaki-senpai, don't you think you've got too much muscle? Won't it make it hard for you to jump?"

  "Huh? Why would you say that?"

  "Because muscles are heavy, duh."

  "Is it? Is that true, Moniwa?"

  "Well...yes and no. Anyway, just don't listen to Futakuchi."

  "Futakuchi, you little punk!!!"

  While Futakuchi joked around with his seniors up ahead, Aoakanobu and Koganegawa Kanji trailed behind.

  "I'll keep practising so I always set the ball to our ao matter the situation!" Koganegawa enced himself.

  "And blog too!"

  "To live up to our Iron Wall name, I'll stop every spike, no matter how strong the oppo is!""Mm." Aone finally found his ce to speak. "ime, I'll block Kaedehara Taichi's spike for sure!"

  -----

  "Is it just me, or is Taichi improving way too fast?" Sugawara Koushi seemed genuinely baffled.

  "The scary part is, judging by this match, it felt like he was slowly chipping away at the Iron Wall bit by bit," Azumane Asahi said, a bead of sweat trig down his forehead. "If it were the old me, I'd probably try three times at most befiving up."

  "Two times at most," Sugawara chimed in.

  "Oime," Sawamura Daichi added with a chuckle.

  "Hey, could you guys stop crushing my fidence?" Asahi excimed, his eyes welling up with mock tears.

  In the past, his teammates wouldn't have dared tease Asahi like this—he was still rec from the trauma of being blocked by Date Tech during the Prefectural Sports Tour in March.

  However, the addition of the Hinata-Kageyama bnited his fidence as a team ace through their friendly rivalry.

  "Tsukki, do you think you block Taichi?" Yamaguchi Tadashi whispered from the side.

  "Huh? Of course not," Tsukishima Kei replied ftly. "Didn't we just watch the match? He tore apart Date Tech's Iron Wall. How am I supposed to block him?!"

  Hinata Shōyō overheard the versation and, with zero sense of boundaries, joined in.

  "Why not? Taichi's a first-year too, and you're taller than him."

  "Huh? Are you an idiot?" Tsukishima stared at him in disbelief.

  Hinata tilted his head, a puzzled expression on his face. "???"

  "Fine! If you 't do it, I will!" Hinata decred with enthusiasm. "I'll block Taichi, and you handle Ushijima-senpai from Shiratorizawa!"

  Tsukishima: "..."

  Deg it oiue with the idiot, Tsukishima turned away, ign him.

  Sugawara watched the first-years bickering with a smile. His gaze then shifted to Kageyama Tobio, who was sulking nearby.

  Initially thinking Kageyama set about something trivial, Sugawara was surprised to hear him mumbling softly to himself.

  "I want to beat Oikawa-senpai...I want to set for Taichi...I want to py...I just want to get on the court already..."

  Meanwhile, Nishinoya Yū and Tanaka Ryūnosuke were goofing around with Shimizu Kiyoko, while Daichi silently observed his teammates with a hint of reluce. This was their final tour as third-years. If only...

  SMACK!

  Sugawara nded a solid sp on Daichi's back.

  "You're not Asahi, okay? How a captain start doubting himself like this?"

  Asahi didn't argue, instead muttering, "As long as we win, it doesn't have to end today."

  The fact that Asahi was f him was a wake-up call for Daichi. Straightening up, he looked around at his teammates with newfouermination.

  "Let's go. It's time to prepare for our match."

  "Yeah!"

  -----

  "Wakatoshi, are you excited?" Tendō Satori asked curiously, looking at Ushijima Wakatoshi.

  It wasn't a strange question. Those familiar with Ushijima could tell something was different about him—he was smiling.

  The usually stoid serious Ushijima had a visible smile on his face.

  —Join a strong team. The kind of enviro where strength thrives will attract both strong and iing people. If you bee strong, you'll get to battle many different oppos. Strong ones, odd ones, new ohey'll all help you grow stronger.

  Ushijima remembered his father's words clearly.

  However, he suddenly realized he'd been overly fixated on joining a strong team. That was merely a starting point, not the end goal.

  What his father truly wao tell him was that fag diverse oppos would help him grow stronger.

  Letting go of his obsession with Oikawa Tōru, Ushijima found himself fog on Kaedehara Taichi during this match—the oppo he now most wao defeat.

  "Wakatoshi?" Tendō waved a hand in front of his face.

  Snapping out of his thoughts, Ushijima's expression startled his teammates.

  "Tendō, I'm fired up now. I 't wait to face Aoba Johsai."

  "Is that so?" Tendō chuckled. "But first, we've got to beat Karasuno. Taichi called them a surprising little crow, and I'm curious about them too!"

  "Mm. Then we'll defeat Karasuno first."

  Ushijima's voice was calm as if simply stating aable fact.

  -----

  That afternoon, Aoba Johsai's pyers sat rexed iands, watg the match between Shiratorizawa and Karasuno.

  Karasuno's pyers were visibly tense as their match approached; after all, they were up against the former kings of Miyagi.

  In trast, Shiratorizayers seemed unfazed—some even uimated Karasuno.

  However, both teams couldn't ighe presence of Aoba Johsai iands. Their posed demeanour loomed over the pyers like an immovable mountain.

  With a sharp whistle, the match began.

  Karasuno opened with Azumane Asahi's serve. After carefully feeling the ball, he tossed it into the air, took a precise approach, a high, delivering a powerful swing.

  The first serve was at 80% power!

  Bang!

  The ball cut through the air, heading straight for Shiratorizawa's backcourt.

  Yamagata Hayato anticipated its trajectory and quickly adjusted his position to receive it.

  Smack!

  The serve was heavy, but Yamagata mao pop it up high. Shirabu Kenjirō moved into position ahe ball high on the left.

  With three quick steps, Ushijima Wakatoshi leapt into the air, his body fully extending. His left arm tightened with power as he swung from behind, sending the ball hurtling forward.

  BOOM!

  "Triple block!" Tanaka Ryūnosuke, Hinata Shōyō, and Sawamura Daichi jumped in unison.

  Despite Hinata's modest 163 cm height, his jump matched the height of his taller teammates, effectively sealing off most of Ushijima's attack options.

  THWACK!

  Ushijima's diagonal spike was intercepted!

  Nishinoya performed a backward roll as he received the powerful hit, his arms briefly tingling from the force. "Got it!"

  The ball sailed to the bae, where Kageyama swiftly set it perfectly to the . A figure was already airborne, waiting.

  Right on time!

  Hinata Shōyō hammered the ball, but it was met with a pair of hands in front of him!

  Bang!

  Thud!

  Caught off guard, Hinata couldn't retra time. Tendō Satori's block sent the ball crashing bato Karasuno's court.

  [Karasuno 0 – 1 Shiratorizawa]

  Asahi's improved serve, Ushijima's power spike, Kageyama's precise set, and Karasuno's quick attack—every sequence was filled with surprises, and Aoba Johsai's pyers watched with i from the stands.

  "Hey, Little Guy, I've seen that move way more than I'd like." Tendō fshed an enigmatic smile at Hinata.

  _________

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