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Host: Akashi Asuto
Height: 184.1 cm
Weight: 80.4 kg
Strength: 80.8 [Core Strength 80.8; Arm Strength 80.8]
Speed: 77 [Burst Speed 76.5; Reaction Speed 77.5]
Stamina: 78.3 [Endurance 78.4; Cardiopulmonary Fitness 78.2]
Jump: 79.3 [Vertical Jump 80.6; Hang Time 78]
Basic Techniques: 74.7 [Serve 76.8; Receive 72.8; Pass 66.8; Spike 80.9; Block 78; Defense 73.1]
Advanced Skills: [Cross-Court Spike 78.4]; [Straight Spike 79.2]; [Power Jump Serve 80]
——
Four to five months had already passed since the end of Nationals.
During this period, the disbandment of the Sengoku Junior High Volleyball Club meant that Akashi Asuto could no longer train with the team, greatly reducing the efficiency with which he earned [Involution Grind Value]. However, Asuto was obviously not the type to sit around doing nothing.
This period just so happened to coincide with a crucial stage in his physical development. Even without intensive training, some of his basic physical attributes naturally improved as he grew taller, his bones and muscles developed, and his overall physique changed.
For example, his [Vertical Jump] was exactly like that. During these four months, Asuto hadn’t done much foundational physical training, yet as he grew taller, his [Vertical Jump] naturally broke past the threshold and rose above 80 points.
Of course, physical growth did not automatically increase strength.
Once a physical stat surpassed 80, it could no longer grow through ordinary methods. The only way to increase it further was to consume [Involution Grind Value] and allocate points. This was also why his strength had improved relatively slowly over the past few months.
After Nationals ended, Asuto mainly focused his training on various offensive techniques and serving skills.
Especially his [Spike] and [Power Jump Serve]. After several months of hard practice, both had surpassed 80 points, enabling him to score directly with two consecutive serves.
As for the ‘violent aura’ that Mishita Ryuhei had sensed from him, Asuto genuinely hadn’t felt anything unusual about it.
After all, in his own eyes, he was an honor student with top-tier grades. How could he possibly be violent?
Mishita Ryuhei: “Heh~~ Don’t tell me you forgot you used to be a delinquent!”
······
“Hey, Yahaba, are you alright?”
No one knew how much time had passed before someone from the White Team finally helped Shigeru Yahaba up off the floor.
“I’m fine.” Shigeru Yahaba rubbed his chest, still shaken as he said, “Sorry, I failed to receive that ball just now.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Not being able to return a Serve like that is normal. After all, even Oikawa’s Serves aren’t that powerful.”
“Oye~~ who said my serve is inferior to that of first-year’s?”
“Hah! Isn’t that obvious? Your serve only scored one point, while he’s already scored two.”
Iwaizumi Hajime pointed towards the nearby scoreboard. At that moment, the score between the Red and White teams was already 3:1.
Freshmen versus upperclassmen.
Only three minutes into the welcome match and the upperclassmen’s team were already at a complete disadvantage.
······
“What an astonishing serve!” Standing on the edge of the court, Aoba Johsai’s coach, Irihata Nobuteru, watched Asuto’s performance with delight. “Even though his serve looked incredible in the recordings, you can only truly appreciate how terrifying it is when you see it in person.”
“Exactly! Using only two serves to completely destroy the favorable atmosphere that the White Team had worked so hard to create; this kind of strength is simply not something that a junior high school student should possess. As expected of this year’s best junior high school player. Our Aoba Johsai really struck gold by getting Asuto this time,” One of the assistant coaches chimed in from the sidelines.
“Speaking of which, Coach, when we first approached Asuto, didn’t he reject us? So why did he end up coming to Aoba Johsai now? Did Shiratorizawa reject him or something?”
“Hehe~~ How could that be? From the very beginning, he never planned to advance through a club-recommendation admission route.”
······
“Ara ara~~ Looks like things are starting to get troublesome. It seems the opponents are planning to crush us with their serves alone.”
If he hadn’t brought it up, it would have been fine, but the moment the topic came up, Iwaizumi instantly exploded in anger.
“And you still have the nerve to talk, Trashykawa! If you had scored a few more points with your serves at the start, we wouldn’t be in such a disadvantageous position now. You’re not even on the same level as a first-year. I think you should just retire already!”
Oikawa Tooru: “(￣(エ)￣)ゞ Eh~? Isn’t this because Iwaizumi-chan failed to receive the ball properly?”
Iwaizumi Hajime: “(╬￣皿￣) = ○ # (╬￣皿￣) 3 ￣)”
Bang!
A rock-hard fist smashed into Oikawa’s forehead, and the world instantly became peaceful again.
Iwaizumi calmed his heaving chest before grabbing Oikawa, who now had a swollen bump on his head, and gathering everyone together.
“For the next few plays, leave all backcourt defense to me and this bastard Oikawa. Unlike Oikawa’s serves, the opponent’s serves may be more powerful and faster, but they lack control. As long as we can accurately judge the landing point and absorb the force properly, there’s a high chance we can return them.”
“Understood!”
Although Iwaizumi had also initially been taken aback by Asuto’s serve, as vice captain he had quickly identified the opponent’s weakness.
At that moment, Asuto was just preparing for his third serve.
After his [Power Jump Serve] stat exceeded 80, not only had the power of the serve improved, but its success rate had increased as well.
As practice matches had no timeouts, Asuto still retained a good feel for the ball even after firing two consecutive serves. The moment he tossed the volleyball into the air, he had a premonition that this serve was going in too.
Bang!
Sure enough.
Accompanied by the sharp sound of impact, the volleyball screamed over the net once again and dropped into the opponent’s court.
This time, however, just as it was about to hit the floor, a figure suddenly slid into its path. Extending both hands forward, the ball bounced high into the air with a dull thud.
This time, however, the volleyball did not fly out of bounds.
“Nice one, Iwaizumi-chan! Great Receive!”
Oikawa praised him, then shifted his steps and sent a backward parallel set. He coordinated a quick attack with Hanamaki Takahiro while Kindaichi Yutaro was a step too slow on the block, enabling the White Team to successfully score.
“Ohhh!”
“Well done!”
“See that, first-years? This is the strength of your seniors! Don’t think that just because you can serve well, you can defeat us so easily. You’re still a hundred years too early for that!”
After scoring, the White Team members became extremely excited and celebrated enthusiastically.
Standing near the net and watching the opposing team cheer wildly, Mishita Ryuhei was utterly baffled.
‘How strange.’
‘You’re obviously the seniors, so why are you more excited than us after scoring?’
‘Which side are the third-years on exactly?’
······
(End of Chapter)
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