Seeing this blocker, Arai on the comntary table had a look of amazent in his eyes.
Then he whispered to Takano beside him.
...
"What?"
"What just happened?"
In the originally quiet audience, the sound of murmuring conversations spread.
"Ushijima's attack was stopped by that Karasuno's No. 7!"
"I didn't even see what happened! Didn't he jump to the right? Ushijima also aid to the right!"
"But why did his block and Ushijima's spike appear on the left at the sa ti?"
"I couldn't see clearly! Everything on the court changed too fast!"
Most of the spectators hadn't registered the rapid exchange between Akira and Ushijima just now.
Their movents were simply too fast.
It sounds like a lot, but in reality, this entire sequence took only a mont!
From Ushijima's decision to change his spike direction to Akira's perfectly tid block...
It all happened almost simultaneously!
"Did you catch what just happened?"
Heiji Yoshino asked, still stunned.
Just as he had taken a sip of water, Ushijima's spike had already been stopped.
He almost choked.
"I didn't see it clearly, but I can guess the general idea."
As an experienced middle blocker, Mitsuda wasn't just skilled at attacking.
His blocking was formidable as well.
"Just now, Akira made multiple calculations and completely controlled Ushijima's offensive ntality!" he said, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"In previous blocks, they focused on stopping diagonal shots, but this ti they prioritized the straight shot."
"This subtle shift made Ushijima slightly wary! He would naturally start questioning why Karasuno changed their blocking strategy."
"And then… when he saw Akira jumping to the diagonal, Ushijima thought he figured it out."
Mitsuda paused, stroking his chin.
"The unknown is the most terrifying! When a threat is exposed, people let their guard down."
"When Ushijima discovered what he believed was the reason behind Karasuno's change, he imdiately found a way to counter it!"
"At that mont, Ushijima's vigilance was at its lowest!"
"His mind relaxed, and instinctively, he aid for the seemingly open path to score."
"But… Akira had already set the trap. He was just waiting for Ushijima to step right into it!"
"And then, he shut the door!"
"This..."
Heiji Yoshino and Naoto Kunimura exchanged looks, both breaking into a cold sweat.
"Was there really that much psychological warfare happening just now?"
Kunimura clutched his chest in shock.
"That level of mind gas... If I were playing against him, would he completely outplay ?"
"Absolutely! Soone as straightforward as you would get a spike to the face every ti!" Yoshino teased, laughing.
On the court, Ushijima stared at the volleyball rolling away into the back row, still in shock.
And he wasn't the only one. Every single mber of Shiratorizawa stood frozen, staring at the blocked ball.
Since the start of the ga, aside from the ti Ushijima intentionally targeted the blockers' arms, this was the first ti his spike had been stopped outright!
And…
It happened in such a manner!
Did this an…
No. The mbers of Shiratorizawa refused to entertain that thought.
"Ushijima..."
"No need to say anything."
Semi Eita had just opened his mouth to speak but was imdiately cut off by Ushijima.
"This is no one's fault but mine."
He had realized it now.
Looking back, every move Akira made had been purposeful.
It was all designed to guide him step by step into a trap.
"When..."
"When did he co to understand so well?"
Not only had Akira anticipated his initial attack route...
But even his instinctive reaction to an unexpected situation had been perfectly predicted!
He had read his mind completely!
Ushijima turned his gaze to Akira on the opposite side of the net.
Then, he turned back toward his teammates.
In the coach's dugout, Washijo Tanji clenched his fists tightly.
No way… Can he already play at this level?
Or was that just a coincidence?
Washijo didn't want to overthink it, but his original plan to take down Karasuno in four sets was now uncertain.
But at this point, Shiratorizawa had no choice.
They had to fight with everything they had.
Chirp!
Karasuno had scored. The ga continued with another serve.
However, this ti, Ushijima's gaze was sharp with determination.
He locked onto the three blockers at the net, watching their movents closely.
Avoid the block.
Score.
That was the role of an ace.
That was the very aning of an ace's existence!
An ace who cannot score is no ace at all!
Ushijima had made a mistake once, and his pride would not allow him to make another.
Bang!
After a well-received serve, Semi Eita imdiately scanned the court.
Two of Karasuno's third-years were locked onto Ushijima.
And that number 7… He seed to be monitoring the movent of Karasuno's front-row attackers, as if preparing to block them.
But Semi knew that the mont he set the ball for Ushijima, Akira would rush forward and join the block instantly.
That can't happen!
Semi gritted his teeth. If he set the ball for anyone else, there was a higher risk of getting blocked!
That number 7 from Karasuno—his aerial control was overwhelming!
Even if he couldn't always directly stop the spike, he could consistently make contact with the ball.
And if he touched it, the ball could turn into a chance play for Karasuno!
That was sothing Shiratorizawa could not afford.
But if he set the ball to Ushijima… they still had a great chance to score!
They couldn't afford to lose faith in their ace just because of one failed spike!
Bang!
Semi leaped and set the ball!
With a sharp spin, the ball flew perfectly toward Ushijima.
Akira, standing on the other side of the net, imdiately sprang into position, ready to block alongside Karasuno's middle blockers.
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