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This time, the Yamabuki team took a timeout not to set up any new tactics but purely to regroup and stabilize the team.
Conceding three goals in quick succession at the start of the match had genuinely left Yamabuki’s Coach and the team stunned.
This was especially true at this stage of the match.
Most tactical strategies had already lost their effectiveness. The only strategy that Yamabuki’s coach could arrange was to focus on Nishison Tomohiko.
Although he did not understand why this substitute setter also shared such incredible chemistry with the opposing ‘Ace’, it was likely that the substitute setter only had exceptional coordination with the Ace. Therefore, as long as the substitute setter organized the offense, they simply needed to focus all their attention on the opponent’s Ace.
After implementing this strategy, Yamabuki’s coach resumed the match.
By strengthening their defense after the restart, the Yamabuki team finally managed to stop Akashi Asuto’s spike during the second offensive exchange with a triple block.
The score became 4:1.
Although Nishison Tomohiko’s appearance on the court strengthened Asuto’s core strength-based offensive power, it left a weakness in the backcourt defense. Therefore, if Sengoku Junior High could not form an effective block when Yamabuki began attacking, the opponent would most likely score.
5:1.
5:2.
6:2.
6:3.
· · · ·
As the match entered its most intense stage, both teams gradually shifted into a fierce battle of trading points.
However, thanks to their three-point lead at the start, Sengoku Junior High team maintained their advantage throughout. In the blink of an eye, the game reached match point, with the score at 24–19.
Nishison Tomohiko made the final serve. The volleyball flew past the block and was received by Yamabuki’s libero, while the others immediately organized a counterattack, but Kazama Jūjirō in the front court managed to touch the ball with his block.
The volleyball floated high above the court at Sengoku Junior High, presenting the perfect opportunity for their offense.
“Stop him!”
At this point, the three Yamabuki blockers at the front abandoned everyone else completely and closed in decisively on Asuto’s position, and their decision proved right as the final ball did indeed end up in Asuto’s hands.
Bang!
Facing the Triple Block head-on, he swung without hesitation, smashing a cross-court spike that pierced the wall of blockers and slammed onto the floor near the three-meter line.
The instant the volleyball hit the ground, the referee’s whistle echoed throughout the arena.
25:19.
Match over.
Advancing from the fifth round of the Nationals preliminaries: Sengoku Junior High School!
…
Meanwhile…
At the Kitagawa Daiichi vs Izumiishi Junior High School match court…
Shortly after Sengoku Junior High School’s match ended, the Kitagawa Daiichi vs Izumiishi Junior High School match also came to a close, with Kitagawa Daiichi emerging as the final victor.
…
…
“The battle I’ve been waiting for is finally about to begin!”
That evening, Asuto lay on his bedroom bed and muttered softly. A data panel, visible only to him, was reflected before his eyes.
—
Host: Akashi Asuto
Strength: 80.2 [Core Strength: 80; Arm Strength: 80.4]
Speed: 75.9 [Burst Speed: 76; Reaction Speed: 75.9]
Stamina: 76.7 [Endurance: 76.4; Cardiopulmonary Fitness: 77]
Jump: 77.8 [Vertical jump: 79.5; Hang time: 76.1]
Basic techniques: 73.3 [Serve: 74.3, Receive: 72.1, Pass: 65.8, Spike: 79.8, Block: 76, Defence: 72.1]
Advanced Skills:
[Cross-Court Spike 74.6]
[Straight Spike 74.8]
[Power Jump Serve 75.4]
—
Right after the extra training session this afternoon, Akashi Asuto’s Core Strength and Arm Strength attributes finally broke past 80.
This was a breakthrough right before a major battle.
This was undoubtedly excellent news for Akashi Asuto.
Although it appeared to be merely a numerical increase, the breakthrough in Core Strength, when combined with his Arm Strength attribute, effectively elevated the power of his Spikes to a whole new level.
The power behind his spikes now rivaled that of peak-period Azumane Asahi.
Even at the high school level, he could be considered a ‘main cannon’ attacker.
As for the middle school level, only two words were needed to describe it…
Absolute domination.
In addition, after this period of training, Asuto’s Power Jump Serve had finally crossed the 75-point threshold. This was largely due to the special state he had unexpectedly triggered during today’s match against Yamabuki Industrial.
…
The next day.
The Sengoku Junior High team arrived at the arena early in the morning.
For today’s match, every single member of Sengoku Junior High had been holding a fierce determination in their hearts to win it.
The venue appeared somewhat empty because only two matches were scheduled for the entire day:
Sengoku Junior High School vs Kitagawa Daiichi, and
Kosen Junior Academy vs Chisei Junior High.
However, although the arena itself felt spacious, there were noticeably more spectators in the stands than before.
After all, these were the semi-finals. Although middle school matches did not attract as much attention as high school games, there were still quite a few spectators and reporters interested in watching by this stage.
The first match to begin was Sengoku Junior High School vs Kitagawa Daiichi.
Even before the match started, the atmosphere was already gradually filling with the smell of gunpowder as both teams entered through their respective player tunnels.
“Please take care of us.”
“Please take care of us.”
The two sides warmed up separately and exchanged bows afterwards, after which the match officially began.
Very few of the spectators present were aware of the rivalry between Sengoku Junior High and Kitagawa Daiichi. After all, the two teams had only met once before, in the Round of 16-to-8 match at the Prefectural Athletic Meet.
At that time, neither Sengoku Junior High nor this stage of the tournament had attracted much attention.
However, the two teams themselves were well aware of the rivalry, even if outsiders were not.
There was no need to mention Sengoku Junior High.
In preparation for facing Sengoku Junior High, Kitagawa Daiichi had done a tremendous amount of preparation during this period. And the more they studied Sengoku Junior High, the more everyone on Kitagawa Daiichi realized just how terrifying this current Sengoku Junior High team had become.
The first set began.
Sengoku Junior High served first.
Against Kitagawa Daiichi, Shimokawa Mitsuto did not use the opening strategy they had employed against Yamabuki Industrial.
This was because Kitagawa Daiichi’s defense was far more stable than Yamabuki Industrial’s. If Asuto were to serve the opening ball and fail to score, he would then only be able to remain in the back court. This would make it very easy for Sengoku Junior High to fall into a disadvantageous position early on.
Therefore, the opening serve was entrusted to Oda Miki.
Kitagawa Daiichi’s libero steadily received the serve. The next second, Kindaichi and Akira Kunimi in the front court, along with the captain positioned in the back court, jumped simultaneously.
A synchronized first-tempo attack.
Looking at the multiple figures before them, Sengoku Junior High’s blockers were thrown off for an instant. Even Asuto was unable to predict Kageyama Tobio’s set.
By the time the blockers had reacted, the volleyball had already landed in their court.
Tweet!
0:1.
The referee blew the whistle to announce Kitagawa Daiichi’s point.
“Damn it!” Omae Masato clenched his fist unwillingly.
Serve possession switched.
After the rotation, Kitagawa Daiichi’s Kunimi stepped up to serve. Once the volleyball landed inside Sengoku Junior High’s court, Oda Miki received it, and the Setter immediately sent the ball toward Asuto.
Compared to Kitagawa Daiichi’s tactics, Sengoku Junior High’s offensive intentions were incredibly obvious. Before Asuto could even Spike, the opposing Block had already formed in advance.
But in the very next moment…
Asuto leapt forward in a single step. Facing Kindaichi’s Block head-on, he showed no intention of dodging and fiercely swung his arm down on the ball.
Bang!
A far louder explosion of sound than any of his previous Spikes erupted through the air. In the next instant, the flying volleyball smashed directly into Kindaichi’s arm before overwhelming the resistance and blasting straight through it…
(End of Chapter)
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