Current Score: [Aoba Johsai 9 - 7 Wakunan]
Aoba Johsai's serve. Issei Matsukawa sent the ball into the gap between Kazumasa Hanayama and Naruko Teppei. The hesitation between the two players cost them the perfect timing to receive.
Naruko Teppei quickly attempted to recover, and Kazumasa Hanayama barely managed to set the ball high over Takeru Nakashima.
"Three-man block!" Kaedehara Taichi, Iwaizumi Hajime, and Oikawa Tōru lined up in unison.
Nakashima locked his target on Taichi's left hand and spiked fiercely toward it.
But in that split second, Taichi's hand suddenly pulled back, and the ball sailed over where his palm had been, crashing against the wall at the back of the court.
Nakashima's spike went out of bounds! Aoba Johsai scored.
[Aoba Johsai 10 - 7 Wakunan]
"Woohoo! Taichi!" Kindaichi Yūtarō cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines.
Impossible! Nakashima was stunned.
He had studied Kaedehara Taichi's playing style and noted that his jump height wasn't particularly remarkable. Such a short hang time shouldn't have allowed for such precise timing—unless…
Nakashima glanced at Taichi and caught sight of those sharp, focused eyes locked onto him. So that's how it is, he thought, forcing a wry smile.
Kaedehara Taichi had anticipated Nakashima's move. With an unstable first touch, Wakunan's setter had no choice but to make a desperate set to their ace. And in this situation, Nakashima would undoubtedly rely on his signature weapon—a tool-out shot.
Thus, when Taichi jumped to block, he was already prepared to retract his hand, perfectly luring Nakashima's spike into an empty zone.
Their gazes crossed in midair, and Nakashima finally identified the familiar feeling that had been bothering him. Though Taichi's height didn't match the comparison, his playstyle was undeniably reminiscent of the Little Giant!
Aoba Johsai continued serving. Matsukawa targeted the same gap between Kazumasa Hanayama and Naruko Teppei.
This time, having learned from their mistake, Kazumasa quickly stepped aside, allowing Naruko to receive cleanly. Kazumasa then adjusted and set the ball again for Nakashima.
"Nice set!" Nakashima accelerated, leapt, and stretched out in midair.
It's a power spike! Taichi and Iwaizumi Hajime braced themselves, arms stiff and extended as they jumped to block.
But just as Nakashima swung at the ball, he subtly slowed his motion, gently tipping it with his fingertips. The ball floated delicately over Taichi's outstretched arms, landing behind him in Aoba Johsai's court.
[Aoba Johsai 10 - 8 Wakunan]
"Wow, that was so smooth, Takeru!" Kawakami Shunki, Wakunan's pineapple-haired libero, exclaimed in admiration.
"Haha, you could do it too," Nakashima replied, quickly retreating to his position.
"No worries! Shake it off and focus on the next ball!" Hanamaki Takahiro immediately called out to steady Taichi's nerves.
Wakunan's serve. Walking up to the service line was first-year Matsushima Tsuyoshi, the tallest player on the team at over 180 centimetres. Aoba Johsai's players tightened their formation in anticipation.
Bam! The ball rocketed toward Aoba Johsai's side.
"Out!" Watari Shinji judged decisively, letting the ball go.
A service error! Aoba Johsai scored.
[Aoba Johsai 11 - 8 Wakunan]
"You better practice your serves properly when you get back!" Shiroishi Yūki shouted at Matsushima.
"Yes, I'm sorry, senpai!" Matsushima's soft demeanour seemed oddly at odds with his imposing height.
"Let's hold the next point!" Nakashima rallied his team.
The situation was growing grim for Wakunan, as the rotation had brought Oikawa Tōru to the service line.
Just watching Oikawa walk leisurely toward the line with the ball in his hands filled Wakunan's players with dread.
Oikawa pointed at Matsushima Tsuyoshi. "Hey, first-year, don't forget to work on your receiving skills too!"
With those words, Oikawa Tōru's serve shot straight toward Matsushima Tsuyoshi.
Bam! The ball didn't hit the ground!
Takeru Nakashima had anticipated that someone with Oikawa's cheeky personality wouldn't just be bluffing. As soon as the serve left Oikawa's hand, Nakashima closed in on his first-year teammate and managed to receive it just in time.
However, the sheer power behind the serve caused the ball to rebound high into Aoba Johsai's court.
Issei Matsukawa calmly received the ball, passing it perfectly to Oikawa's position. On cue, Kaedehara Taichi and Iwaizumi Hajime jumped on either side, poised for attack.
Oikawa set the ball to Iwaizumi on the right. With a powerful swing, Iwaizumi smashed it down.
Wakunan's libero, Kazeteru Akiu, made a desperate dive and managed to save it. Amid the chaos, Kazumasa Hanayama barely set the ball to the right for Kawatabi Shunki.
"Two-man block!" Taichi and Iwaizumi Hajime leapt together, cutting off Kawakami's spike.
"Touched once!" Kaedehara Taichi called out as he landed, immediately sprinting toward the left.
Just as Oikawa was about to orchestrate the next attack, he noticed Taichi already airborne on the left side, his posture screaming for a spike.
"Pass it here! I'll spike it!" Taichi's actions seemed to shout at Oikawa.
"This guy…!" Oikawa gritted his teeth, doing his best to set the ball to Taichi.
"Damn, it's too short," Oikawa muttered the moment the ball left his hands, realizing it was slightly off.
Taichi noticed too. His body was already descending, but he reached out with his right hand, barely brushing the ball.
The volleyball grazed the top of the net, wobbling precariously before tumbling into Wakunan's court.
[Aoba Johsai 12 - 8 Wakunan]
"Can you even call that a quick attack?"
"It felt even faster than a normal quick…" Nakashima pondered silently.
"Was that Karasuno's 'weird quick attack'? Even though it didn't quite succeed," Iwaizumi remarked, glancing between Oikawa and Taichi.
Taichi himself wore a sheepish grin, clearly still reeling from the adrenaline. Moments ago, an idea had sparked in his mind: if he could mimic Hinata Shoyo's speed for defence, why couldn't he use it for offence?
Once the thought took hold, he couldn't suppress it. His body had moved on its own.
Oikawa, the other party involved, understood the situation even better. They had, without planning, attempted to mimic Karasuno's 'weird quick attack.' The problem was that Taichi lacked Hinata's insane jump height and speed, and Oikawa's set wasn't nearly as precise as Kageyama's.
But they had almost succeeded.
This meant it was possible to replicate. That absurd quick attack might just be within reach!
And then there was Taichi's demeanour midair, confidently demanding the ball—it had startled even Oikawa.
This guy wasn't joking when he said he wanted to become the ace!
"Taichi, you need to discuss these things with me first! That was reckless," Oikawa complained, exasperated.
"Got it!" Taichi, still brimming with excitement, grinned widely. "But I knew you'd pass it to me, Oikawa-senpai."
"Huh? And how were you so sure?"
"Because if Kageyama can make that pass, then Miyagi's top setter can definitely do it too." Taichi's confident laughter filled the air.
For a moment, Oikawa was stunned.
Aoba Johsai's teammates had always trusted him, that much he knew.
But their trust was rooted in his past achievements. As the team's ace and setter, he was expected to handle the most responsibilities—yet no one ever demanded more from him than what he already delivered.
Kaedehara Taichi was different. He believed Oikawa could grow even stronger. If Kageyama could do something, then surely the player Kageyama aspired to surpass could achieve it too.
He doesn't hold back at all, huh? For the first time in a while, Oikawa felt as though someone was pushing him to move forward.
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