A tremendous pressure swept across the court.
As soon as Ushijima Wakatoshi touched down, the Aoba Johsai High School team felt as though they were facing an insurmountable mountain.
A massive shadow descended upon them all.
“Damn it… that monster.”
Sweat slid down Oikawa’s forehead.
Compared to Asuto, the current Ushijima Wakatoshi undoubtedly felt far more like a true monster.
Just like the spikes Asuto had unleashed against Shiratorizawa in the first set, Ushijima Wakatoshi had returned the favor at the start of the second set in exactly the same manner.
And yet…
His spike carried an even greater sense of power and oppression.
“So strong…”
The players of Aoba Johsai were not the only ones stunned by that spike; even his own teammate, Goshiki Tsutomu, stared in shock.
Goshiki Tsutomu had joined Shiratorizawa Academy because he admired Ushijima Wakatoshi’s strength and wanted to surpass him one day.
However, ever since entering the school, he had never truly understood how powerful Ushijima really was.
During normal training, every match Ushijima played ended in overwhelming domination.
Only today…
After Aoba Johsai managed to take the first set, was this ‘Top Three National Ace’ finally forced to reveal his true strength?
………
“All right! Snap out of it already!”
Just as the Aoba Johsai players were still reeling from the shock of Ushijima Wakatoshi’s spike, Oikawa suddenly clapped his hands, bringing everyone back to their senses.
“Don’t be too afraid. We’ve always known how strong Ushiwaka is. But we’ve got our own weapons too. Stay steady and take it one point at a time.”
Although Oikawa was usually unreliable and playful, he was undoubtedly an exceptional player during a match, both as a setter and as a captain.
As long as he was on the court, it felt as though Aoba Johsai’s rhythm would never truly collapse.
The team adjusted their breathing and formed up once again to receive Shiratorizawa’s second serve.
Soon…
The referee blew his whistle, and Semi Eita delivered his second serve.
This time, Watari Shinji cleanly received the ball.
Oikawa took the ball and quickly organised the offense.
Ultimately, the volleyball fell into Asuto’s hands once again.
Asuto jumped decisively, but at that exact same moment, a blocker followed him instantly.
It was Shiratorizawa’s middle blocker, Kawanishi Taichi, who was 188.3 centimeters tall.
Kawanishi stood at 188.3 centimeters tall.
Honestly speaking, that height was far from short.
However, stopping Asuto’s spike alone would obviously be extremely difficult.
After all, while excellent, the other Shiratorizawa players were still merely excellent, not Ushijima Wakatoshi.
However, the real problem was not just the single blocker in front of him.
Asuto quickly scanned the court midair, relying on his increasingly powerful hang time ability, only to discover, in shock, that there were no visible openings in Shiratorizawa’s defense at all.
Directly ahead, Kawanishi had completely sealed off the straight course.
On both sides were Shiratorizawa’s libero and ace spiker, whose serves were equally reliable.
“I’m being targeted.”
Asuto instantly understood the situation.
There was no time to think deeply.
After hesitating for only a moment, he decisively spiked the volleyball towards the area defended by Reon Ōhira.
Smack!
As expected, the spike was returned.
However, the sheer power of Asuto’s attack meant that Ōhira Reon could not control its direction properly, causing the ball to rebound back towards Aoba Johsai’s court.
“Sorry!”
Reon quickly apologized.
Meanwhile, the players on Aoba Johsai’s side shouted:
“It’s fine! Chance ball!”
Aoba Johsai High School quickly stabilized their formation once more. After receiving the volleyball from the back court, Oikawa organized a second wave of offense.
Oikawa had already noticed that Asuto was the target of Shiratorizawa’s defense.
After a brief moment of thought, he decided to hand this attack over to Kindaichi Yuutarou.
However, when the volleyball flew towards Kindaichi, Oikawa suddenly realized something surprising.
Kawanishi Taichi, the middle blocker assigned to keep Asuto in check, was standing in front of Akashi without moving.
“Are they planning to abandon defending everyone except Akashi?”
A trace of confusion crossed Oikawa’s face.
However, in the very next instant, Kindaichi’s spike was suddenly blocked.
Bang! Smack!
The volleyball slammed into a pair of arms and fell back onto the court of Aoba Johsai.
The person who had blocked Kindaichi’s spike was none other than Tendou Satori.
The score became 0–2.
“Sorry!” Kindaichi said guiltily.
“It’s fine, it’s fine! Just focus on the next point.”
The others tried to comfort him while Oikawa carefully observed Shiratorizawa’s positioning, finally realizing what was happening.
“So that’s their plan…”
“They’ve assigned a middle blocker solely to shut down Asuto, while leaving all the other blocking responsibilities to Tendou Satori?”
“To think they’re already so wary of Asuto…”
“We’re being underestimated here.”
A dangerous grin slowly spread across Oikawa’s face.
Because Ushijima Wakatoshi was not participating in defense, Shiratorizawa already had one fewer defensive player than normal.
Now, to completely seal off Asuto’s attacks, they had assigned another player exclusively to mark him.
That meant…
As long as Ushijima remained in the front row, Tendou Satori was the only blocker left in Shiratorizawa’s front line defending against every attacker other than Asuto.
You could call it a defensive tactic.
But at the same time…
In Shiratorizawa’s eyes, this also meant that, of all Aoba Johsai’s attackers, only Asuto was worth paying attention to.
“Iwaizumi-chan!”
“Yeah~ you don’t need to remind me. I already figured it out.”
Iwaizumi Hajime cracked his fingers, grinning fiercely as an almost villainous expression gradually appeared on his face.
“Then let’s show these Shiratorizawa bastards…”
“…who the real ace of Aoba Johsai is.”
Tweet!
Semi Eita served for the third time in a row.
The power behind the serve remained fierce, but Watari Shinji, now gradually adapting to Shiratorizawa’s serving rhythm, received it steadily.
Afterwards, Oikawa took the volleyball, and all three front-row players jumped simultaneously.
But Tendou Satori remained completely unmoved.
Until a certain moment…
A twisted, almost sickly smile suddenly spread across his face as he shifted rapidly towards the far right of the court and leapt for a block.
At the same time, Matsukawa Issei slowly descended from the opposite side of the court, revealing Iwaizumi Hajime soaring upwards from the back row behind him.
“Got you, Aoba Johsai’s ‘Ace’.” Tendou Satori said with a grin.
Facing him, Iwaizumi Hajime showed no change in expression whatsoever when he saw Tendou appear directly in his attack path.
He simply swung his arm down without hesitation.
BOOM!
The volleyball shot forward instantly with the sound of impact, leaving a straight afterimage in the air as it pierced Tendō Satori’s defense and slammed onto Shiratorizawa’s sideline.
Tweet!
The referee blew his whistle.
After landing on the court, Iwaizumi Hajime looked towards the Shiratorizawa players and shouted:
“Don’t underestimate the pride of us seniors, you Shiratorizawa bastards!”
(End of Chapter)