"Keep up our rhythm. Don't rush. We haven't fully gained the upper hand yet, so in the next phase of the game, we still need to, "
Coach Ukai Keishin was in the middle of giving instructions to Karasuno when he noticed something off about Oda Miki's expression.
"Oda, what's wrong?"
Oda Miki quickly averted her gaze from Aoba Johsai and shook her head. "It's nothing... Probably just my imagination."
Seeing that, Ukai didn't press the issue and turned back to continue his pep talk.
But the very next moment,
Every Karasuno player suddenly felt a wave of pressure crash down on them, like a ferocious beast had locked eyes on its prey. Instinctively, they all whipped their heads toward the opposite side of the court.
And they saw it.
A boy with an emotionless face, his entire presence cloaked in an ominous, black aura, Akashi Asuka.
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BEEP!
The referee's whistle called the players back to the court.
Karasuno served the ball from the back line. After Watari Shinji received it cleanly, Oikawa Tooru sent a textbook high set, so straightforward it left the attack point fully exposed.
Karasuno's front line hesitated for just a moment, but Hinata Shoyo, Asahi Azumane, and Sawamura Daichi quickly moved up to block.
And then,
A massive figure suddenly soared from Aoba Johsai's back court, spreading its wings like a great eagle taking flight. His towering frame blocked out the light, casting a shadow that engulfed all three blockers.
"Jump!"
Hinata, Asahi, and Daichi jumped together, timing it perfectly so they'd reach their peak just as Akashi swung for the ball.
Under normal circumstances, that would've worked.
But reality was different.
When Karasuno's trio jumped, Akashi was already in the air.
When they reached their peak, Akashi was still in the air.
When they began to fall, Akashi remained suspended, unmoving.
To them, it felt like he was frozen in midair, wings spread wide.
And then, as their bodies began to drop,
WHAM!
Akashi finally swung.
The ball thundered through the block like a cannon shot, tearing through the three-man wall and slamming into the court with unstoppable force.
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BEEP!
Aoba Johsai scores.
11:10.
Karasuno fell silent.
They turned to look at the ball that had bounced far out of bounds, then at Akashi Asuka, who had already turned away from the net. A heaviness settled in their hearts.
"T-That was insane…"
"Whoa! What even was that?! A back-row attack that powered through a triple block? Is that even possible!?"
"Did you see that?! Number 8 from Aoba Johsai, it was like he stopped in midair!"
The stands on the second floor exploded with shouts and chatter.
That point had been nothing short of miraculous.
Even in professional volleyball, a spike like that was almost unheard of.
────────── ✦ ──────────
"That guy... Was he not playing seriously until now? You've gotta be kidding me."
The Karasuno players wore grim expressions. It wasn't just the shock of that last point, they were frustrated by the feeling that Akashi had been toying with them until now.
"No... Maybe Aoba Johsai just switched tactics." Kageyama Tobio, deep in thought, spoke up. "Up until now, their strategy revolved around Oikawa-senpai. But now it looks like they're centering everything around Akashi Asuka."
With Akashi as the core, Aoba Johsai transformed into something completely different than it had been with Oikawa at the helm.
────────── ✦ ──────────
BEEP!
The referee's whistle urged the game onward.
With that point, Aoba Johsai regained service, and Akashi rotated to the front row.
Karasuno received the serve, and with a perfect combo from Kageyama and Hinata, they scored to even the game:
11:11.
────────── ✦ ──────────
Next rally.
Karasuno served. Aoba Johsai gained possession.
After receiving the ball, Oikawa didn't hesitate. He immediately set it to Akashi.
This time, Akashi faced a double block, Daichi Sawamura and Tsukishima Kei, who had just rotated in for Nishinoya. With his height and reach, Tsukishima was well-positioned to intercept Akashi's spike.
His outstretched arms formed a towering wall before Akashi.
But–
Akashi didn't even blink. Without a moment's pause, he unleashed his spike.
BOOM!
The ball shattered through Tsukishima's block like paper, the double block collapsing instantly before Akashi's raw power.
12:11.
Aoba Johsai pulls ahead again.
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"Damn it...!"
Kageyama clenched his fists.
The sight brought back memories of a painful loss in Junior High, when no matter what tactics they tried, their opponent's overwhelming power rendered everything meaningless.
"You hate it too, don't you? This 'absolute power.'"
Unexpectedly, Oikawa spoke up beside him.
"I hate it too–" Oikawa said with a bitter smile. "It feels like it mocks the efforts of ordinary players like us."
Kageyama looked over, stunned.
"But now that he's my teammate–" Oikawa continued, "as a setter, it's my job to bring out one hundred percent of my spiker's strength. So, "
He glanced at Kageyama.
"Be ready, Tobio. I won't hold back."
Kageyama met his gaze and replied firmly, "There's no need to, because I will win this match."
────────── ✦ ──────────
Aoba Johsai served again.
Karasuno's Tanaka received the ball and passed it to Kageyama.
In the very next instant,
Whoosh!
The ball zipped from Kageyama's hands toward the net with no warning.
A small figure had already leapt high into the air at just the right moment.
Aoba Johsai's players were shocked.
"A back-row quick attack!? Is that even possible?!"
SMACK!
With a crisp sound, the ball rocketed toward Aoba Johsai's court.
Matsukawa tried to chase it down, but a figure was already moving faster.
Just as the ball was about to clear the net,
SLAP!
With a single hand, Akashi batted the ball right back into Karasuno's court.
Landing without a word, he looked coldly toward the Kageyama-Hinata duo on the other side of the net.
"Sorry... But I've already grown tired of that move."
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