Bang!
The volleyball tore through layers of players without any obstruction and smashed down onto the floor.
1–0.
The Aoba Johsai High School Volleyball Club had scored the first point.
As Akashi Asuto came down from his jump, the Shiratorizawa Academy Volleyball Club members looked at him, then at the ball rolling across the floor behind them. They couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.
“A direct spike off the first receive?”
“He could still reach that ball at that height? Since when has Aoba Johsai had a player like this?”
On the sidelines, Washijo Tanji exploded in fury.
“You bunch of idiots! What are you all standing around in a daze for? That ball wasn’t impossible to block, was it?! Tendō, what were you doing?”
To the players of Shiratorizawa, Washijo Tanji’s roar was more effective than electric shock therapy.
The instant they heard his furious yell, every player jolted awake and recovered quickly from the shock of the previous play.
“Seriously… none of you ever let me relax…”
Washijo grumbled as he sat back down. Beside him, the assistant coach looked towards Asuto, who was already surrounded by his Aoba Johsai teammates on the other side of the court and said somewhat regretfully:
“He really is incredible… Akashi Asuto. With his height and power, he should have come to Shiratorizawa instead of Aoba Johsai. What a pity.”
“Hmph. There’s nothing regrettable about it. Having Ushiwaka alone is enough for us. He won’t lose to any other player.” Washijo Tanji snorted coldly.
Yet, judging by the way his eyes remained fixed on Asuto, it was clear that this wasn’t what he truly thought.
Absolute height and power had always been the philosophy of the Shiratorizawa Academy Volleyball Club.
From that perspective alone, Asuto’s natural attributes suited Shiratorizawa perfectly. After the high school entrance exams, both Shiratorizawa and Aoba Johsai believed that Asuto would eventually join Shiratorizawa.
However, Washijo Tanji never expected that not only was Asuto absurdly talented at volleyball, but his academic grades were equally impressive.
So, when Washijo later learned that Asuto had chosen Aoba Johsai because of a scholarship, nobody could have imagined just how complicated his emotions had been at the time.
This was no longer just a volleyball issue.
It was the psychological blow that a high achiever had dealt to a less able student.
“Hmph! I can’t control academic grades, but in volleyball, Shiratorizawa will never lose to anyone.”
······
“Nice one, Asuto!”
“What a spike!”
“You brat! I never thought you’d dare spike a ball like that!”
The members of the Aoba Johsai High School Volleyball Club surrounded Asuto excitedly in the middle and showered him with praise. Even Oikawa Tooru wore an excited expression on his face.
Come to think of it…
This was actually the first time that Oikawa had teamed up with Asuto in an official match since joining Aoba Johsai.
Because of that, he was feeling rather complicated emotions right now.
‘How should he put it?’
Simply speaking, because Oikawa was the type of setter capable of bringing out one hundred percent of his teammates’ abilities, the upper limit of his teammates determined the upper limit of his own performance.
Aoba Johsai’s regular starters were not weak. But that depended on who they were being compared to.
If one had to use an analogy…
In past matches, Oikawa had been like someone fighting enemies with a small wooden stick.
Now, however, with Asuto on the team, his weapon has suddenly changed from a tiny wooden stick into a refined steel spear.
Even for Oikawa, it was difficult to adapt to such a terrifying difference in a short time.
Oikawa hated ‘geniuses.’
In a certain sense, deep within his heart, he instinctively resisted relying on Asuto’s power.
But in reality, his body was completely beyond the control of his heart, honestly expressing excitement and exhilaration instead.
Because the refined steel spear was simply too useful.
It was so useful that Oikawa had even begun to feel afraid… afraid that once he had fully adapted to using the steel spear, he would never be able to return to the days when a tiny wooden stick was enough.
Tweet!
A sharp whistle sounded as Oikawa served the second ball.
This Serve was excellent but not significantly better than the first. As a result, Shiratorizawa’s libero successfully received it this time.
The moment the setter got into position, there was no hesitation whatsoever… the volleyball was immediately sent high above the head of the Great Ace, Ushijima Wakatoshi.
Asuto instantly shifted sideways in front of Ushijima and leapt up with all his strength to block.
Although Ushijima Wakatoshi’s maximum spike reach exceeded Asuto’s, reaching 345 cm, during an actual match, unless Ushijima hit the ball at his absolute highest point, Asuto’s blocking height was enough to defend against his spikes.
But…
This only referred to blocking height, though.
Bang!
While still suspended in mid-air, Asuto heard only an explosive sound. The next instant, a blur flashed past, and the volleyball had already slammed onto the floor behind him.
“So strong…”
Asuto looked at Ushijima, who was several centimeters taller than him and stood on the opposite side of the block. He instantly felt an overwhelming pressure rushing towards him.
According to the System’s evaluation standards, Ushijima Wakatoshi’s attributes in Strength, Jump, and Spike were all above 84.
On top of that, he had the additional advantage of being left-handed, which the raw data could not display.
Without a doubt, the current Ushijima Wakatoshi had already reached a level of volleyball skill that was beyond that of ordinary high school players.
Even more terrifying was the fact that he had only just entered his third year of high school. He still had seven to eight more months before graduating, meaning he could continue to grow stronger.
“So this is one of the nation’s top three aces… This really is… kind of exciting.”
· · · ·
Tweet!
The score was tied at 1–1, and it was now the Shiratorizawa Academy Volleyball Club’s turn to serve.
Besides Ushijima Wakatoshi, several Shiratorizawa players had also mastered jump serves. However, theirs were only ordinary jump serves.
The volleyball flew over the net and was steadily received by Watari Shinji.
The very next second, Asuto, Iwaizumi Hajime and Kindaichi Yuutarou moved simultaneously.
Aoba Johsai’s offensive strategy was based on tactical coordination.
This concept was one of the fundamentals of a powerhouse school, and even after Asuto joined, that philosophy did not change.
Confronted with Aoba Johsai’s tactical interference, Shiratorizawa’s defensive focus instantly scattered. By the time they reacted, the volleyball had already risen above Asuto’s head.
“You think you can shake me off that easily?”
Suddenly, a figure with flashy crimson hair appeared in front of him.
Tendou Satori’s blocking style was completely unpredictable. He relied entirely on instinct for his blocks. In a sense, he was the natural enemy of strategic setters like Oikawa Tooru and Kageyama Tobio.
Tendou Satori leapt high to meet Akashi Asuto… But in the very next second, his expression abruptly changed.
Because Asuto hadn’t jumped.
Only after Tendou Satori had begun descending did Asuto finally leap into the air, swinging his arm to strike the ball from above Tendou’s head…
(End of Chapter)