"Damn it, so close..." Kaedehara Taichi stared at his right hand. Just a mont ago, the ball had felt perfect when it left his fingertips.
"That guy...was he aiming for a straight shot from the start?" Hoshiumi Kōrai fixed his gaze on Taichi, searching his expression for any clues.
Kamodai seized the opportunity during their second strong rotation, turning the score around in one swift move.
Coach Aaron watched the court with a satisfied smile. Disrupting the opponent's reception with a strong serve, forcing a predictable attack, and then sealing the point with an impenetrable block—volleyball's simplest yet most effective strategy.
Kamodai's players: "Hold on a little longer—make sure Aoba Johsai rembers that our block is unbreakable!"
Aoba Johsai's players: "Co on, we have to score this ti!"
Suwa Aikichi sent out his third serve.
Bang!—
Smack!
Oikawa Tōru received the ball overhead.
"Aikichi, that was a great serve!" Nozawa Izuru shouted. Aoba Johsai's best setter had been forced to receive, making it easier to predict their No. 10's attack.
Kunimi Akira stepped in to assist with the set, but before he could act, Watari Shinji had already positioned himself.
Oikawa pointed toward the net, and Kunimi imdiately understood—so that was why the ball was placed just a step behind the three-ter line. With Watari able to set without jumping, he had extra room to adjust.
Aoba Johsai launched their attack all at once—a five-man offence!
!!!
Against Kamodai's blocking system, they had left themselves no backup plan.
No defence at all!
Boom!
Oikawa spiked the ball straight down.
[Aoba Johsai 18 - 19 Kamodai]
"Oi, oi, oi...isn't that move a little underhanded?" Hirugami Sachirō muttered, looking at Aoba Johsai's lineup in disbelief.
A gamble like that was reckless—even if the block didn't stop them, as long as Kamodai picked it up and countered with a quick attack, Aoba Johsai wouldn't have ti to retreat into defence. They would lose the point either way.
But regardless, their gamble had worked. In crucial monts, taking risks was inevitable—just as Kaedehara Taichi had done earlier.
"Forget it. That move would've worked against anyone," Nozawa reassured from the back row. "Shake it off and get ready to receive."
"Yes!"
Service switched—Aoba Johsai to serve.
Kamodai's front-row blockers hadn't rotated out yet. Just the sight of them was enough to make anyone feel pressured.
Kindaichi Yūtarō tossed the ball high—a powerful jump serve!
"Damn it! That ball—"
The ball clipped the top of the net, deflecting sharply into Kamodai's court.
"This guy—!"
Hoshiumi crouched low, swinging his arm up with one hand to pop the ball back into play.
"Whoa—!"
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
"How did Hoshiumi even manage to save that?!"
Hakuba Gao leapt from his spot, spiking the ball the mont it was set.
"A quick attack—right off the recovery?!"
"Double block!"
Kunimi and Kaedehara Taichi jumped up just in ti.
Thud!
But even with a standing jump, Hakuba's contact point was far above Kunimi's reach.
"There's no way I can block soone who's two ters tall!" Kunimi scread internally.
Smack!
Oikawa dug the ball up.
With Kunimi in the block and Watari not on the court, Aoba Johsai suddenly had no setter available!
"I'll do it!"
Iwaizumi Haji stepped in. Two blockers stood in front of Kaedehara Taichi, while only one covered Matsukawa Issei.
After a brief hesitation, Iwaizumi decided to send the ball to the left. Asking Taichi to break through a possible triple block with an improvised set was too risky.
Matsukawa leapt for the spike, facing Hirugami alone.
Boom!—
He avoided the block with a sharp cross shot.
—Smack!
A small pair of hands reached up and shut it down—the ball dropped straight back into Aoba Johsai's court.
[Aoba Johsai 18 - 20 Kamodai]
Kamodai was the first to reach twenty points.
As Hoshiumi landed, his short fra seed to loom over Matsukawa with an overwhelming presence.
Another point from Kamodai's block!
A 2 1 blocking formation—ensuring at least a double block at all tis!
Hoshiumi had already begun moving toward the left the mont Iwaizumi set the ball.
"Sorry, I set it too close to the net," Iwaizumi admitted. The mont he had made his choice, his intention had already been read.
"It's fine," Matsukawa said, shaking his head. "I saw that little guy—I thought a sharp cross shot would get past him..."
This was Nationals.
Only by facing Kamodai's defence directly could they truly understand the pressure Taichi had been dealing with this whole ti.
His attacking choices felt as if they were completely exposed to the opponents.
The serve rotated, and it was now Kamodai's turn. The only good news for Aoba Johsai was that Hirugami Sachirō had moved to the back row.
Hirugami tossed the ball into the air, his approach looking effortlessly relaxed before he struck the serve.
"Watch my Kicking Them While They're Down serve!"
Bang!
It was a float serve—targeting Matsukawa Issei, who had just been blocked on his last attack.
"This guy looks like a nice guy, but he's just as ruthless as Taichi!" Matsukawa finally understood what it felt like to be on the receiving end of focused targeting—just as Kaedehara Taichi had been.
The ball cleared the net and dipped sharply. Matsukawa stepped forward, crouching to receive it.
Smack!
The ball slipped past his hands.
Hirugami's serve scored directly!
[Aoba Johsai 18 - 21 Kamodai]
"Hehehe!" Hirugami flashed a victory sign toward the cheering crowd behind him.
"Hirugami! Hirugami! What a serve!"
"Hirugami! Hirugami! What a defense!"
"With the immovable Hirugami scoring on his serve, Aoba Johsai takes another blow!"
Even if this match went to a third set, they had to find a way to deal with Kamodai's strategies...
"Tweet!—" Aoba Johsai called for a tiout.
"Matsukawa, you okay?" Hanamaki Takahiro imdiately checked on him.
"I'm fine…I just didn't expect to be the target in a Nationals match," Matsukawa said with a wry smile.
"Haha, that just ans you've been noticed!" Oikawa Tōru spread his arms dramatically in front of Matsukawa. "Have you finally reached my level?"
"You damn idiot, Oikawa! Get over here and rest!" Iwaizumi Haji tossed him a bottle of water, signalling for him to sit down.
"Matsukawa-senpai, don't worry. Let us handle this one," Kaedehara Taichi stepped in front of Matsukawa, with Kunimi Akira and Kindaichi Yūtarō behind him.
"But Taichi, if I'm in the back row, that ans it'll be Watari-senpai on the court," Kindaichi added at the worst possible mont.
Kaedehara Taichi: "…"
When the new first-years joined next season, Kindaichi would definitely not be included in any motivational monts.
"Haha, I've always believed in you," Matsukawa gave Taichi a wink. "Our ace."
"Tweet!—"
The referee's whistle blew. Tiout was over. The match resud.
"Even if they've reset their ntal state, a bad receive is still a bad receive," Hirugami muttered, sticking to his target.
Once again, his float serve flew toward Matsukawa.
Bang!
"I got it!" Kunimi had anticipated it.
Sure enough, Taichi's prediction about his teammate's tendencies was accurate.
Whoosh—!
Kunimi directed the ball toward the centre of the court. Oikawa leapt from the back row. Hakuba irō jumped to block.
"Tch, guess I can only fool one of them?" Oikawa smirked, sending the set high and to the far right.
BAM!
Kaedehara Taichi sprinted from the baseline, launching himself into the air.
"Three-man block!!!"
Hakuba landed, but he imdiately jumped again, his 2-ter fra making his block just as high as his teammates'.
Kamodai's front line had ford another three-man block!
"So what?" Taichi's eyes locked onto the baseline—where his last shot had gone out.
"Again!"
Boom!!—
The ball shot past Bessho Kazuyoshi's right side. Nozawa Izuru was already positioned at the baseline, ready for it.
Last ti, the ball had gone out of bounds. Kamodai wouldn't make the sa mistake twice!
Smack!
But this ti, there was an added left-handed spin—that was why Oikawa had set him up!
The ball deflected off Nozawa's arm and flew out of bounds.
Kaedehara Taichi scored!
[Aoba Johsai 19 - 21 Kamodai]
Aoba Johsai kept the score within reach!
At Nationals, most teams were already aware of Kaedehara Taichi's left-handed attacks. Against opponents who had specifically prepared for him, the move had lost its surprise factor. That was why he had gradually reduced the use of his left hand.
It was all for this mont—catching the opponent off guard!
"By the ti you get used to it, the match will already be over."
_________
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