“BEEP!!!”
“Hey, hey! Karasuno has already used up two timeouts so quickly. Is that really OK?”
“For the current Karasuno team, the Freak Quick Attack is probably their strongest offensive weapon. Having an attack like that completely shut down must be a huge blow…”
“Ah! This is making me so nervous!”
…
Ukai Keishin had urgently used up his second timeout.
Seeing this, several Karasuno supporters in the stands could not help but start worrying.
‘Why? Why was he there? How had he got over there?’
Hinata Shoyo’s mind was still replaying the scene he had witnessed when he opened his eyes.
This scene was not unfamiliar to him.
After all, it was the third time this had happened.
Their Freak Quick Attack had previously been stopped during the practice match against Nekoma and in the game against Date Tech.
Hinata suddenly hated this feeling.
Not because his spike had been blocked, but because he had absolutely no idea what had happened before his spike was shut down.
“Hey, Hinata, Hinata… are you OK?”
A voice suddenly brought Hinata Shoyo back to reality. Still somewhat absent-minded, he came back to his senses and realized that a crowd had gathered in front of him at some point.
The coach, the advisor, his teammates…
The one speaking was Sugawara Kōshi.
“Huh? Ah! I’m fine. Sorry about that!”
Hinata Shoyo scratched his head and hurriedly apologized.
“Seriously, Coach is explaining the strategy right now. What are you daydreaming about?” Kageyama Tobio asked. “That last play was just an accident. Next time, I’ll set up a play that nobody can stop. So pull yourself together!”
“Don’t worry! I’m fine.”
Ukai Keishin glanced at Hinata. Although he was somewhat concerned about Hinata’s state of mind, he couldn’t think of a good solution at the moment, so he continued speaking.
“There’s no doubt that Aoba Johsai, with Oikawa and Asuto, is an extremely offense-oriented team. But right now, their blocking ability is no less impressive than their offense.”
“And because every one of Aoba Johsai’s starters possesses remarkable height, even when the team rotates, there are virtually no weaknesses in their front-row block.”
“This may sound a bit frightening, but the truth is that the current Aoba Johsai might deserve the ‘Iron Wall’ title even more than Date Tech.”
“In other words, the opponent we’re about to face is most likely a Date Tech that also possesses overwhelming offensive power.”
“Ehhhh~”
The moment Ukai Keishin had finished speaking, Azumane Asahi hugged his shoulders and shivered violently.
He had to admit it.
The words ‘Iron Wall’ had left a considerable psychological scar on him.
Just imagining an opponent with an impenetrable defense like Date Tech’s combined with overwhelming offensive strength was enough to make Azumane Asahi shiver.
Truthfully, it wasn’t just Azumane.
In the past, whenever he showed his more timid, ‘maiden-like’ side, someone would usually step forward to comfort him because they couldn’t bear to see him so nervous.
But this time, nobody said a word.
Even Ukai Keishin’s brows were furrowed so tightly that they nearly formed a deep vertical crease.
Analyzing the situation was one thing.
Actually solving the problem was another matter entirely.
After all, the mere thought of facing a Date Tech with an even stronger offence than defence was enough to make anyone despair.
“Anyway… Kageyama, be extremely careful when you use the Freak Quick Attack from now on. At the moment, we still can’t determine whether Number 8 on the other side stopped it because he deciphered our signals or whether he used some other method to intercept the Quick Attack.”
“I understand.” Kageyama Tobio nodded.
Just then, the referee blew the whistle to resume play.
“Well, well! We meet again so soon. By the way, Kageyama Chan, have you figured out how you’re going to deal with us yet? Don’t tell me you’re still planning to use the Freak Quick Attack! If that attack keeps getting blocked, that little guy might not be able to handle the psychological blow!”
Even without hearing the voice, everyone on Aoba Johsai’s side knew who had said something so irritating.
The veins on Kageyama’s forehead twitched and his blood pressure rose several notches.
Meanwhile, Asuto, standing beside Oikawa, moved slightly further away from him.
He felt that if Oikawa were to die unexpectedly and donate his body to science, the doctors performing the autopsy probably wouldn’t be able to find his heart.
Because that man’s heart was undoubtedly covered entirely in eyes, without even a single piece of normal flesh left.
Aoba Johsai continued serving.
The volleyball floated lightly over the net and was received by a Karasuno player before being passed to Kageyama.
In the front row, Hinata and Tanaka simultaneously began their approach and jumped.
The other front-row player, Sawamura Daichi, didn’t move at all.
Up until now, he had never participated in a front-row attack once. But precisely because of that, Aoba Johsai’s blockers were even more wary of him.
The setter position was mentally demanding.
Sometimes, after practice, when Asuto and Oikawa showered together, Asuto would see Oikawa lose a few strands of hair while washing it.
Kageyama Tobio was probably no different.
In this rally, Kageyama attacked, and Oikawa defended; in the end, they both lost hair.
No, wait…
They both acted at the same moment.
Whoosh!
The volleyball flew from Kageyama Tobio’s hands.
Oikawa reacted instantly, rushing towards the center of the block. There were no front-row attackers there at that moment, but Azumane Asahi suddenly leapt into the air from the back row.
Bang!
The sound of contact echoed out as the volleyball hit the floor.
Ultimately, Oikawa failed to stop the attack.
Despite all the feints and misdirection, Kageyama Tobio had chosen to set the ball to Hinata Shoyo after all.
“What a ridiculously bold attack.”
The veins at Oikawa’s temples throbbed visibly. It was clear that he was unwilling to accept losing that point.
The rest of Aoba Johsai’s players couldn’t be bothered to look at him anymore.
That childish idiot can do whatever he wants.
14:8.
Karasuno successfully pulled one point back.
However, before they could enjoy it, Aoba Johsai immediately took the point back.
15:8.
15:9.
16:9.
…
In the blink of an eye, Karasuno and Aoba Johsai were once again engaged in a fierce battle of offense and defense.
Relying on the flexible orchestration of their setters, both teams maneuvered around the opposing defense, scoring point after point.
The difference, however, was clear.
Karasuno found it extremely difficult to earn every point.
Aoba Johsai, on the other hand, scored far more easily.
In fact, even as the set neared its conclusion, the breathing rhythm of Aoba Johsai’s players remained steady and unbroken.
Amid this relentless exchange of attacks and defenses, the pace of both teams’ offense and defense gradually increased without anyone noticing.
(End of Chapter)