"Akashi! The final point is yours!"
"You're not getting past !"
Ryuhei Sanshita set up a high ball. Akashi Asuka launched into the air, soaring for the spike. At the sa ti, Haji Iwaizumi, Kindaichi, and Kunimi leapt together, forming a solid triple block across the net.
Hovering briefly in the air, Asuka took just a split-second to observe the court, then decisively swung his arm.
Smack!
The ball cut across the court in a sharp diagonal arc, flying toward Iwaizumi's direction.
"You're not breaking through!"
At the critical mont, Iwaizumi shifted his hands mid-air, perfectly aligning with Akashi's spike trajectory. It looked like the ball would be stopped,
But just then, the ball suddenly curved mid-flight, grazing past Iwaizumi's fingertips with the slightest touch.
Thud!
The ferocious spike, trailing a streak of white air, slamd to the floor.
Beeeeep~~!
"Ga over! Red Team wins, 25 to 22!"
The referee's cold announcent was like a dagger to the Blue Team, led by Oikawa Tooru and Haji Iwaizumi. The players let out groans of frustration.
"Ughhhh, damn it!"
"Akashi's spikes are starting to feel like Ushijima's! They're getting harder and harder to receive!"
"Wait, you noticed it too? I thought it was just . I swear, I read his spike path clearly a bunch of tis, but the ball still slipped past. It's like his spikes are... curving!"
"Yeah, yeah, exactly, so you felt it too?!"
One by one, the Blue Team blockers shared their tornt, as if they'd finally found soone who understood their pain. They had been completely wrecked by Akashi Asuka today.
Iwaizumi stood in place, staring at his hands. The image of that spike he failed to block replayed in his mind. He looked deep in thought.
"You noticed it too, didn't you, Iwa-chan?"
Oikawa Tooru walked over, his face wearing a forced but polished smile.
That smile, though familiar, managed to ease Iwaizumi's irritation a little. He nodded. "Yeah. I did."
"Adding spin to the spike to increase the curve of the ball's flight... Just one week after the qualifiers, and he's already found a new evolution. What a monster."
"Monster or not, he's still our teammate now. Don't tell you're planning to beat up your junior again like you did in Junior High?"
Iwaizumi shot him a glance.
Oikawa flushed red with embarrassnt. Back in Junior High, driven by jealousy, he nearly punched Kageyama Tobio. It remained one of Oikawa's most shaful mories.
"Didn't we agree never to bring that up again, Iwa-chan?"
"Heh."
With a snort, Iwaizumi turned away and called out to the others, "Alright, losers! Ti for the punishnt, dive rolls around the whole court!"
"Yessss..."
The Blue Team replied feebly, dragging their tired bodies into motion.
anwhile, on the Red Team side, Akashi Asuka was sipping water at the bench. Ryuhei Sanashita walked over, took a drink, and asked, "That move just now, was that a new technique?"
Akashi shook his head. "Not really a new move. I just added a little twist during my spikes and serves."
"Looks like your match against Shiratorizawa had quite the impact on you. I rarely see you this desperate, trying out new techniques in the middle of a match, no less."
Akashi replied, "Can't be helped. Nationals are only a few days away. And Shiratorizawa, as strong as they are, only placed top 8 last year. If cramming last-minute works, I'm going to cram like hell."
Of everyone at Aoba Johsai, Ryuhei Sanashita understood Akashi Asuka best. Not even Oikawa could compare.
Like today, Oikawa had noticed the changes in Akashi's spikes, but Sanshita sensed the inner urgency behind them. Normally, Akashi would never use an unpolished move in a match, not even in a practice ga.
After regular training ended, Akashi and Sanshita stayed behind for their usual extra drills.
And it wasn't just them. With Nationals approaching, the entire Aoba Johsai team had taken up extra training. Yet, Akashi was always among the last to leave.
By the ti he left the gym, the sky was already pitch black. After saying goodbye to Oikawa and the others, he was about to head out, when they all noticed a familiar figure sitting on the stairs outside the gym.
"Huh? Wild Pup?!"
────────── ✦ ──────────
anwhile, at Karasuno...
"You all haven't forgotten that final exams are next week, right?"
Takeda Ittetsu pushed up his glasses, the lenses flashing a cold glint.
And just like that, Kageyama, Hinata, Tanaka, and Nishinoya felt their hearts drop into a bottomless void.
The Karasuno Volleyball Club had entered crisis mode.
Let's rewind a bit...
The day after the regional finals ended, the Karasuno team saw Oikawa and Akashi's photo on the cover of Volleyball Monthly. Alongside that was the announcent that Wakatoshi Ushijima had joined the U-19 Japan Youth Team.
This news fired up Kageyama and Hinata, they made a pact to defeat both Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa in the upcoming matches.
Right on cue, Karasuno's old rival, Nekoma High, sent over an invitation. Coach Nekomata invited them to Tokyo to participate in a special training camp organized by the [Fukurodani Academy Alliance].
The [Fukurodani Alliance] was a practice match network led by Fukurodani Academy, consisting of powerhouse schools. Getting into this group without connections was nearly impossible.
Naturally, the Karasuno team was thrilled. Especially Kageyama and Hinata, those two volleyball maniacs were practically dreaming of this opportunity.
But their excitent was short-lived.
Because reality ca crashing down in the form of...
Final Exams.
The universal nightmare for students across the world.
"If you fail the finals, you'll have to attend weekend makeup classes. Depending on how bad it is, you might even have to take lessons through sumr break. So realistically, going to Tokyo is off the table."
Thus spoke Karasuno's fearso guidance counselor.
Now let's take a look at the academic performance of Karasuno's top four volleyball players.
First, the second-years:
Tanaka Ryunosuke: 34, 29, 47, 36, 41…
Nishinoya Yuu: 36, 33, 49, 39, 42…
With 40 as the passing mark, you could say these two were… "consistently inconsistent."
Then, our lovable first-years:
Hinata Shoyo: 8, 11, 9, 26, 17…
Kageyama Tobio: 12, 11, 9, 16, 19…
Subarashii!
A report card full of "potential."
The mont Takeda Ittetsu announced that "Anyone who fails next week's finals will need redial classes–" both Hinata and Kageyama froze like they'd seen a ghost.
Not even their past losses to Aoba Johsai hit them this hard.
Hinata: "We're dood we're dood we're dood~~~"
Kageyama: "Ababababababababa~~~"
"Calm down, Hinata!"
"This is bad! Sensei, I think Kageyama's stopped breathing!"
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Get it together!"
With just one announcent, the Karasuno team plunged from celebration into total despair.
"Everyone, calm down." Team captain Sawamura Daichi finally spoke.
"There's still ti. We can make it. No matter what, we're all going to that Tokyo training camp together. That ans hellish study sessions start now!"
Kageyama and Hinata went stiff with horror.
They could face any volleyball-related training without flinching, but studying… that was an entirely different battlefield.
Sensing their hesitation, Oda Miki stepped forward and said, "Didn't you two say you wanted to beat Akashi? Well, here's your chance. Akashi's ranked in the top 30 academically. Are you really going to give up now?"
Kageyama: "Huh? Give up? No way!"
Hinata: "That's right! Whether it's volleyball or school, we're not losing to Akashi!"
Just a bit of provocation, but it worked wonders.
With Miki's "encouragent–" Kageyama and Hinata erupted with fiery determination.
Seeing this, the rest of Karasuno breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Oda. If it weren't for you, we might not have gotten them fired up–" Sugawara said. "But… was what you said true? That Akashi guy's really that smart? I thought Aoba Johsai was a college prep school, but even so, top 30 in the whole grade?"
Oda shook her head. "Not the grade…"
Sugawara: "Oh, I see, I thought, "
Oda: "He's ranked in the top 30 of the entire Miyagi Prefecture."
Sugawara: "..."
────────── ✦ ──────────
One thought can take you to heaven, another to hell.
As the four Karasuno players sank into study hell, faces twisted in agony...
On the other side, Aoba Johsai's players, beaming with excitent and hope, stepped onto the road to Nationals at the Tokyo tropolitan Gymnasium.
==========
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