???
What was that move?
Was that really Ushijima Wakatoshi?
A soft tip was one thing—Aoba Johsai could understand that. After all, it was a valid form of attack.
But who would have thought that Ushijima would actively avoid a block and set up a pass instead?
Tendō Satori, brimming with excitent, ran up to high-five Ushijima. Though Ushijima remained stoic, he still raised his hands to cooperate.
"Wakatoshi, you and I are the most synchronized pair ever!" Tendō declared, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hmm. Though my synergy with Shirabu is also—"
Before Ushijima could finish, Tendō had already bounded back to his position, practically skipping.
Shiratorizawa's teamwork was steadily improving. Their players were already individually exceptional, and their growing familiarity with one another only added to their cohesion. While their earlier strategy had revolved around fully supporting their ace, they were now beginning to incorporate more intricate plays.
With a string of consecutive points, Shiratorizawa had tied the ga in the closing stages of the set. Montum seed to be shifting in their favour.
Shirabu Kenjirō stepped up to serve. Despite the high stakes, he remained remarkably composed.
The ball was aid deep in Aoba Johsai's back-left court. Iwaizumi Haji decisively stepped forward and received it with precision.
Oikawa Tōru moved into position, setting the ball toward the middle. Kaedehara Taichi jumped.
"Triple block!" Tendō, Ushijima, and Ōhira Reon all leapt to et him at the net.
Shiratorizawa had been observing Taichi's growing exhaustion—they intended to completely neutralize Aoba Johsai's ace.
Smack!
Unable to find an angle, Taichi resorted to a gentle tip, placing the ball behind the blockers.
Goshiki Tsutomu was quick to follow, diving to save the ball.
Shirabu stepped in, setting it high. Ushijima, having already landed, imdiately backed off to gain a running start before taking flight.
"Double block!" Kindaichi Yūtarō and Oikawa jumped to challenge him at the net. anwhile, Taichi, unable to recover in ti, fell back to the rear.
—Boom!!!—
Ushijima, still brimming with stamina, smashed the ball with overwhelming force. It ricocheted off Kindaichi's arm and soared into the stands.
[Aoba Johsai 22 – 23 Shiratorizawa]
Shiratorizawa had taken the lead! With three consecutive points, Aoba Johsai's situation had beco precarious.
"Don't let it get to you!" Iwaizumi shouted, his voice steady and commanding. "Focus on the next point! Stay calm!"
Iwaizumi was undoubtedly Aoba Johsai's most composed player at this mont. He believed that they had faced tougher situations before.
Now was the ti to showcase Aoba Johsai's grit.
Shirabu sent his fourth serve hurtling over.
Once again, Iwaizumi received it, allowing Oikawa to position himself under the ball.
Kaedehara Taichi sprinted to the far-left side of the court. Though his pace had visibly slowed due to fatigue, Tendō remained glued to him.
In this state, purely relying on physical actions won't fool Tendō anymore, Taichi thought to himself.
Yet, he resolved to put everything into every jump!
As Taichi leapt on the left, Oikawa's set followed closely.
"You still dare to send it to him?" Tendō marvelled at Oikawa's audacity.
In mid-air, Taichi swung his arm with all his might.
Swing and miss?
No—Kunimi Akira was right behind him! Aoba Johsai had executed a staggered attack!
Smack!
Pop!
Shirabu read the play perfectly, receiving Kunimi's back-row attack. Goshiki then soared up from the back, delivering a sharp waist-level spike.
A lightning-fast counterattack!
Pop!
Watari Shinji lunged forward, managing a diving save.
"Give it to !!!"
Kaedehara Taichi began his run along the left sideline, starting his approach from the baseline. With a single explosive step inside the three-ter line, his legs generated trendous power, launching him into the air.
"Triple block!" Shiratorizawa's front three rose to et him at the net once more.
Tendō's eyes widened in shock.
Oikawa's set was perfectly tid, and Taichi's strike point was above the triple block!
"This is the final stretch!"
These guys are insane! Tendō thought. That first-year who jumps like his life depends on it, and that setter who dares to make such risky decisions—they're both out of their minds!
—Boom!—
A thunderous spike launched the ball straight into Shiratorizawa's backcourt.
But—
Tendō Satori's lips curled into a peculiar smile.
"We've given you our highest priority..."
Shirabu Kenjirō appeared precisely at the ball's trajectory, his hands sinking to absorb the impact.
Smack!
The volleyball struck his hands but ricocheted out of bounds.
[Aoba Johsai 23 – 23 Shiratorizawa]
"My bad~" Kaedehara Taichi's eyes glead as he gave a slightly unsettling grin. "I knew he'd be there."
Switching to his left hand for the final strike wasn't just a gamble—it was because he'd spotted Shirabu moving forward.
It wasn't enough to simply receive the ball; they had to neutralize it completely.
Both teams gave everything in the relentless rallies, but Aoba Johsai ultimately secured this crucial point. The match dynamics shifted yet again, and the tension on the court grew increasingly palpable.
It was at this decisive mont that Oikawa Tōru stepped up to the service line.
mories of their fateful prefectural final against Shiratorizawa flashed in his mind. At that ti, Aoba Johsai had also faced Ushijima Wakatoshi's brutal serves during the endga.
To Oikawa, it felt like destiny was giving him the chance to flip the script.
Calming his breathing, Oikawa exhaled slowly, loosening the tension in his tightly wound muscles.
With a gentle toss, the ball arced into the air. Oikawa began his asured steps, leaping as the ball descended. His body arched perfectly, his arm whipping through in a powerful motion.
The mont his palm struck the ball, it flattened slightly, then shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
BOOM!
Shirabu and Goshiki barely had ti to shift their positions before the ball slamd down on Shiratorizawa's baseline.
A no-touch ace!
Aoba Johsai claid the first set point.
[Aoba Johsai 24 – 23 Shiratorizawa]
In re minutes, the tide had turned once more.
The spectators held their breath, enraptured by the nail-biting showdown. Matches like this were a rare sight, even on the national stage.
Oikawa stood poised on the service line. The second set could end at any mont.
Shiratorizawa's players retreated slightly, bracing for what could be the final ball.
BOOM!
Even noticing Shiratorizawa's defensive adjustnt, Oikawa didn't opt for a safer float serve. At this mont, he trusted his most reliable weapon above all else.
SMACK!
Goshiki was blown backwards by the sheer force of the serve, tumbling over as the ball arced high into the air.
They'd received it!
"Give it to !" Ushijima's voice bood as he charged forward. He was determined to reclaim the point and keep the set alive.
Shirabu stepped in, setting the ball high in front of the net.
Ushijima began his approach from the back row, his intense gaze locking onto Kaedehara Taichi across the net.
"Bring it on!"
Ushijima soared, fully extending his fra, while Taichi t him midair.
The unstoppable spike of the reigning king faced the unyielding resolve of the rising sun.
Taichi's arms stretched diagonally, fingers splayed tightly, every muscle in his body coiled and pressed downward with unwavering conviction.
—BOOM!
SMACK!—
The volleyball slamd into Kaedehara Taichi's arms but was deflected straight back into Shiratorizawa's court with even greater force.
No one could have predicted it—Ushijima Wakatoshi, the invincible ace, had been blocked in a one-on-one showdown!
[Aoba Johsai 25 – 23 Shiratorizawa]
"Ushijima-senpai, your ti to graduate has co," Taichi remarked, his tone as calm as Ushijima's ever had been. "Look around you...Miyagi has already crowned her new King."
The Shiratorizawa players stood stunned, still reeling from the sudden shift in montum.
Their gazes fell upon Kaedehara Taichi, whose expression remained composed, much like Ushijima's had been two years prior when Aoba Johsai first faced him.
"Tweet!—" A long whistle echoed across the court.
The second set was over.
Winner: Aoba Johsai!
Fittingly, with Kaedehara Taichi's final block against Ushijima, his personal tally for the set also reached eighteen points—the sa as Ushijima's.
_________
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