After the timeout, the match resumed.
Akashi Asuto’s first serve after returning to the court resulted in an error, costing Aoba Johsai High School a point.
The score became 5–4.
However, in the next rally, after Shiratorizawa Academy served, Oikawa Tooru suddenly launched a setter attack, reducing the deficit to two points once again.
The next rally began.
Aoba Johsai served, and Shiratorizawa gained the offensive initiative.
Following a tactical feint, the volleyball ended up in Goshiki Tsutomu’s hands once again. This time, however, he did not target Asuto with his attack, instead choosing a standard spike.
As the only first-year player in Shiratorizawa’s starting lineup, Goshiki’s skill was beyond question.
Although his spikes lacked the overwhelming impact of Asuto’s, his technique was equally refined. The volleyball narrowly avoided the block and hit the floor before Kindaichi Yuutarou could reach it, scoring a point.
The point difference returned to one:
6:5.
“Oh? Has the first-year brat finally gotten smarter? So you know when to give up now, huh?”
Standing in the front row, Oikawa Tooru looked towards Goshiki Tsutomu on the opposite side of the net. As a tactical setter with a dirty mind, if he didn’t seize the chance to throw out a few taunts and mess with the opponent’s mentality after seeing a change like this, then he wouldn’t be Oikawa.
Unfortunately for him, Goshiki Tsutomu seemed completely unaffected.
“I’ve never known what giving up means. That last play just wasn’t the best opportunity.”
Before the match resumed, Tanji Washijō’s words to Goshiki Tsutomu were never intended to make him give up competing against Asuto. He was simply telling him that, once he had made his decision, he should not regret it.
After all, Washijō always kept his word. If Goshiki Tsutomu was still intent on challenging Asuto, then this match would be his opportunity. At the same time, none of the subsequent punishments would be reduced.
Goshiki Tsutomu was clearly not someone who was afraid of punishment.
The match continued.
The score difference remained at one or two points as both teams chased each other relentlessly until Aoba Johsai finally reached set point.
The final rally began.
Shiratorizawa served. After Aoba Johsai received the ball, Oikawa quickly organized the offense. Following several rapid exchanges and tactical manoeuvres in the space of a second or two, the volleyball ultimately fell into Asuto’s hands once more.
Asuto leaped into the air.
This time, two blockers stood before him: Goshiki Tsutomu and Ōhira Reon.
Bang!
Making the most of his brief hang time, Asuto chose Goshiki Tsutomu as the point of breakthrough. The volleyball smashed through Goshiki’s arms with tremendous power before ricocheting out of bounds.
“BEEEEEP~~~”
A long, sharp whistle echoed through the gymnasium.
The first set had officially come to an end.
“OOOOOOHHHHHH…!”
“Asuto, nice one!”
“Great shot!”
As soon as Asuto landed, the Aoba Johsai players rushed towards him and surrounded him in a tight circle, celebrating wildly.
Their excitement was understandable.
After all, throughout all these years, Aoba Johsai had never once defeated Shiratorizawa in an official match. Even in practice matches, they could only occasionally scrape a victory or two when Shiratorizawa was out of form or missing players.
But today, against a perfectly formed Shiratorizawa lineup, Aoba Johsai winning the first set was historic.
In contrast…
The atmosphere on Shiratorizawa’s side had become noticeably quieter.
The court fell silent, with only the sound of heavy breathing echoing softly through the air.
No one knew how long the silence would last until a hand suddenly landed on the back of Goshiki Tsutomu, who had remained silent throughout.
“You did well. Keep it up in the next set.”
The moment those words were spoken, the dimness in Goshiki Tsutomu’s eyes transformed instantly into frustration and a refusal to accept defeat.
As Goshiki himself had said earlier during the first set, he would never give up challenging Asuto, the ‘best middle school ace.’
However, before he could properly issue that challenge, he had already been utterly defeated.
This was because, during the latter stages of the set, Asuto repeatedly targeted Goshiki’s side with his attacks, continuously scoring points.
But this was clearly not Asuto childishly accepting the challenge.
Rather, in those circumstances, the area Goshiki Tsutomu was defending simply happened to be the court’s weakest point.
And precisely because of that, the blow to Goshiki Tsutomu’s pride was even more devastating.
Back in the resting area, Tanji Washijō looked at the players before him and remained silent for a long time.
Only after a while did he finally speak.
“For today’s practice match, I won’t be giving any more instructions.”
The moment he said this, the members of Shiratorizawa Academy, who had been preparing themselves for a telling-off, were all stunned.
“Aoba Johsai has indeed become stronger after adding several new players this year. But if we’re talking about overall strength, we are unquestionably the stronger side. Whether we win or lose the rest of this match will depend on how you perform.”
………
After the break, both teams returned to the court.
The moment they stepped back onto the court, every Aoba Johsai player immediately felt enormous pressure surging from the opposite side.
It was like the crushing weight of a mountain, causing everyone to falter momentarily for breath.
Iwaizumi Hajime grinned slightly.
“Heh… looks like the troublemakers are finally getting serious.”
Oikawa Tooru quickly encouraged the team.
“Don’t be afraid, everyone! We won the first set, so let’s win the next one!”
The second set began with Shiratorizawa serving first.
In this set, Shiratorizawa had substituted in a grey-haired player:
Semi Eita.
He had once been the team’s starting setter, but after Shirabu Kenjiro joined, he became a substitute and now mainly served as the team’s key server.
In terms of individual skill alone, Semi Eita’s setting ability actually surpassed that of Shirabu Kenjiro.
However, his personal style as a setter was far too strong.
Tanji Washijō believed that Shiratorizawa’s setter should be a perfect tool for bringing out the full strength of Ushijima Wakatoshi, rather than someone who emphasized their own individuality and technical flair.
Semi Eita had too many ideas of his own.
That was why he had been replaced.
Semi Eita’s serve was also a powerful jump serve.
Although it could not compare to Ushijima Wakatoshi’s or the Serves of Oikawa Tooru or Asuto on the opposing side, it was still powerful.
To score directly from a serve, you did not need a better serve than your opponent’s.
You only needed a serve that was stronger than your opponents’ reception.
Bang!
The ball flew past the blockers and landed sharply in the corner of Aoba Johsai’s back court.
In the next instant, however, Iwaizumi Hajime managed to save it with a desperate reception.
However, the ball deflected high into the air above Shiratorizawa’s court.
“Chance ball!”
Shirabu Kenjiro shouted.
Just as he prepared to set it, though, a figure suddenly leapt high beside him and spiked the incoming volleyball head-on.
BAM!
The ball slammed heavily onto the floor, then crashed powerfully into the wall behind Aoba Johsai and bounced back.
In an instant… The air on the court froze solid.
(End of Chapter)