Niiyama Tech finally regained their serve, but the players' expressions had grown grim.
Stepping up to the service line, their wing spiker Saijō Naoya didn't have the confidence to score directly with his serve.
Next, they would face Aoba Johsai's attack.
Could they hold their ground?
No one dared to answer that question aloud.
Saijō's jump serve was decent, but it posed no threat to Seijoh.
Iwaizumi Hajime received the ball with ease, sending a perfectly accurate pass to the setter.
Niiyama Tech scrambled into defensive positions, only to see a shadow soaring toward the net on the opposite side.
Yes, they'd seen this quick attack in videos.
But only now, witnessing it in person, did they realize just how terrifyingly fast it really was.
They didn't even have time to move their feet.
The ball slammed onto the floor behind Niiyama's front-row defenders before anyone could react.
[Aoba Johsai 4 – 1 Niiyama Tech]
It couldn't have taken more than ten seconds.
No—maybe even less than five.
Aoba Johsai regained the serve.
Kaedehara Taichi's expression was remarkably calm, as if the last point hadn't been his doing at all.
The cheers from the crowd reached a fever pitch. Seijoh's students knew that any team making it to the nationals would be formidable, but they hadn't expected their team to dominate this much.
Hanamaki Takahiro stepped up for the serve, delivering a solid jump serve.
The ball landed cleanly, and Niiyama's wing spiker Terazawa Kiyo managed to receive it.
Setter Koike Fumi lifted the ball high, setting up their ace, Izumi Takeo, for another attempt at an attack against Seijoh.
This time, Oikawa Tōru and Kaedehara Taichi were waiting at the net.
Once again, there wasn't a single opening.
Izumi couldn't find a clear angle to spike through.
Izumi's forced attempt was blocked directly by Kaedehara Taichi.
Once more, Niiyama Tech's ace was stopped cold by Seijoh's wall.
[Aoba Johsai 5 – 1 Niiyama Tech]
Izumi landed on the court, his mind blank.
Niiyama Tech's journey to the nationals had been built on Izumi's prowess.
As their ace, he had consistently stepped up in critical moments to save his team and turn games around.
There were times when Izumi believed he might truly be a volleyball prodigy.
The title "ace" wasn't just for show—it was proof of his ability to carry his team when all hope seemed lost.
But now, looking at the first-year across the net, he suddenly felt—maybe it was time to wake up from this dream.
Hanamaki served again. Niiyama's libero Kanazawa Tomoyuki received the ball cleanly this time.
Koike prepared to set, but as he looked at Izumi's unmoving figure, he hesitated.
With no other choice, Koike sent the ball to the right wing for their middle blocker, Naruse Keie, to attempt a spike.
"One touch!" Kindaichi was quick to block, deflecting the ball.
Hanamaki scooped it up, and Oikawa stepped in, sending a high set soaring into the air.
Niiyama's players glanced at the ball as it hung in midair—it wasn't a quick attack.
Izumi snapped out of his daze, rushing to join his teammates in forming a triple block.
As Niiyama's front row leapt to block, they realized something: Wasn't the ball set too high?
Before they could process it, a massive hand appeared behind the ball.
Kaedehara Taichi's spike blasted past the triple block, scoring effortlessly.
[Aoba Johsai 6 – 1 Niiyama Tech]
Niiyama's coach had no choice but to call a timeout.
But thirty seconds wasn't enough to fix anything.
Hanamaki's serves continued to land with precision, and Aoba Johsai's relentless attacks kept racking up points.
Whether it was Seijoh's towering front-row blocks or their impenetrable back-row defence, Niiyama Tech couldn't find any answers.
They could only struggle to hold on.
Even Seijoh's students, who had been cheering loudly moments ago, fell silent. The gym's atmosphere grew heavy as everyone felt the weight of Niiyama's plight.
Finally, after Hanamaki Takahiro's serve went out of bounds, Niiyama Tech's score changed at last.
[Aoba Johsai 15 – 2 Niiyama Tech]
Niiyama regained the serve.
Izumi Takeo stepped up to the service line, his movements noticeably stiff. None of his teammates said a word, though—it wasn't like they were in much better shape.
Izumi tossed the ball up, but his thoughts were far from the court.
This is probably my last high school volleyball game...
I won't even play volleyball in college.
So, this is probably my last game ever...
Izumi's serve hit the net directly.
[Aoba Johsai 16 – 2 Niiyama Tech]
No one expected this to happen.
But when it did, no one was surprised either.
Izumi stood frozen, looking up at the ceiling, unable to say a word.
Niiyama Tech called for a substitution.
Katsuragi Shuto IN, Izumi Takeo OUT.
Aoba Johsai served next, with Kindaichi Yūtarō stepping up to the line.
"Kindaichi," Taichi suddenly spoke, his tone calm yet firm, "Giving your all is the greatest respect you can show your opponent. Serve well."
Kindaichi blinked in surprise. It was the first time Taichi had spoken during this match.
Taichi had been quiet throughout, focused and serious, his presence like a steady force on the court.
"I got it," Kindaichi replied earnestly.
He hadn't forgotten the sting of their loss at nationals a few months ago. Back then, his blocking had been vital to the team's strategy, but when it was his turn to serve in the back row, he became their weakest link.
That memory had stayed with him.
Kindaichi's jump serve flew with power. While it still wasn't a major threat, it was no longer a free ball for the opponents to exploit.
Kanazawa Tomoyuki, Niiyama's libero, received it cleanly, and the rest of Niiyama's players rushed forward.
Multiple offensive options in motion.
Aoba Johsai's front-row blockers spread out, their eyes fixed on Niiyama's setter.
Koike Fumi's slight hesitation revealed his plan—he boldly set for a back-row attack through the middle.
But the instant the ball left his hands, Seijoh's blockers reacted.
Matsukawa Issei and Kaedehara Taichi quickly crossed over, stepping toward Oikawa Tōru in the centre.
In less than a second, Niiyama's wing spiker, Terazawa Kiyo, found himself staring at a triple block.
The ball rebounded off Seijoh's iron wall, falling back onto Niiyama's side of the court.
[Aoba Johsai 17 – 2 Niiyama Tech]
It was like the last bit of fight had drained from Niiyama Tech. They couldn't muster any resistance anymore.
Kindaichi's serving streak didn't last until the end. After a serving error, Niiyama briefly regained the serve.
But their attacks continued to falter against Seijoh's defence. Under relentless pressure, they quickly handed the serve back.
[Aoba Johsai 22 – 3 Niiyama Tech]
Kaedehara Taichi stepped up to serve.
His powerful left-handed jump serve secured three consecutive points, sealing the set.
[Aoba Johsai 25 – 3 Niiyama Tech]
The first set ended, with Aoba Johsai emerging victorious.
After a brief moment of silence, the stands erupted into thunderous cheers.
Aoba Johsai had won with a staggering 22-point margin.
This broke a nearly decade-old record for the largest single-set point difference in the Miyagi Prefecture Spring High representative tournament!
[T/N] - If you guys want to read 50 Chapters in advance of the current story, you can support me on my . Trust me, it's awesome!
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