The final match of the national tournament qualifiers was scheduled for Monday.
While it couldn't match the fever-pitch atmosphere of the actual nationals, the qualifiers still drew considerable attention locally. To ensure students and workers could watch the finals despite weekday obligations, the match was broadcast live throughout Miyagi Prefecture.
The showdown between Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa was set for Monday afternoon. By the end of the second set, most junior high students had already been dismissed from school.
Karasuno High was among them.
Having been eliminated early in the regular season by Aoba Johsai, the Karasuno volleyball team had been feeling down for quite some time. Still, once school ended, they all gathered in the clubroom to watch the final match together.
"How strange. Aoba Johsai doesn't seem very aggressive in this set. Are they planning to give up on the fourth set like Shiratorizawa did earlier?" asked Daichi Sawamura, standing to the right of the TV, thoughtfully stroking his chin.
"No–" came a sharp response.
It was Ukai Keishin, seated directly in front of the screen, a cigarette between his fingers. He shook his head. "Actually, it's the complete opposite. Aoba Johsai isn't giving up the fourth set at all, they're using it to pave the way for the fifth and final set."
"Have you noticed what's different about this set compared to the previous ones?"
The Karasuno members exchanged confused glances but remained silent.
Ukai smacked his forehead. "Right, I forgot, you didn't see the first two sets. I'll just lay it out for you. This fourth set between Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa is significantly longer than the previous three, both in duration and in the number of rallies."
"And what's more, Shiratorizawa's main offense relies almost entirely on Ushijima Wakatoshi, while Aoba Johsai's key players, Akashi Asuka and Oikawa Tooru, are staying surprisingly quiet."
"In fact, Oikawa has even delegated his setting duties several times to other teammates…"
Hearing that, Tobio Kageyama's eyes lit up in realization. "Aoba Johsai is trying to wear down Ushijima's stamina."
Ukai gave him a nod. "Exactly."
"In a sense, they are giving up this set, but unlike Shiratorizawa, who surrendered the third to regroup, Aoba Johsai is sacrificing the fourth to drain Ushijima's endurance."
"If I had to guess, they'll keep stretching rallies, rotating players frequently, and if needed, they might even sub out Akashi and Oikawa…"
BEEP!
As if on cue, the TV screen showed Aoba Johsai signaling a substitution, and the player leaving the court was none other than their ace setter, Oikawa Tooru.
Coming on in his place: #13 Akira Kunimi.
"Tch! What a gutsy move–" Ukai clicked his tongue.
Though he had predicted the plan, there was a world of difference between guessing and actually executing it. If he were Aoba Johsai's head coach, Ukai wasn't sure he'd have the guts to bench the team's core setter, even if it was the logical decision.
After all, swapping out a team's strategic center was incredibly risky.
To make it more nerve-wracking, his replacement was a first-year wing spiker with neither the technical experience nor positional background to match.
"Maybe the swap is to prevent a big drop in blocking ability–" Kageyama speculated after a moment.
"Exactly–" Ukai replied. "Right now, having a top-tier setter doesn't matter to Aoba Johsai. They're not aiming for explosive attacks anymore."
"They're focused on slowing down Ushijima's offense with soft-touch blocks, forcing longer rallies. And in that aspect, Oikawa and Kunimi don't differ all that much. So it makes more sense to let Oikawa rest."
"I've got a question" a voice chimed in.
The group turned and parted to reveal Hinata Shoyo, hand raised.
"If Aoba Johsai can rotate players… why doesn't Shiratorizawa do the same?"
The others exchanged resigned glances, by now they were used to Hinata's lack of grasp on the basics, and sighed in unison. Sugawara Koushi spoke up:
"Hinata, Shiratorizawa can't afford to take that risk. They're the ones behind right now. If they try a gamble and it fails, they'll lose their ticket to nationals."
"And if they take Ushijima off the court, the rest of their team might not be able to penetrate Aoba Johsai's blocks–" he added.
Ukai nodded. "From what I know, Shiratorizawa has never used a 'throw-the-set' strategy. But now, Aoba Johsai got them backed into a corner."
"Tactically speaking, Aoba Johsai has Shiratorizawa completely pinned down. Oikawa Tooru… he's a scary one."
The screen cut to Oikawa sitting in the resting area, smiling warmly as he waved at the camera.
"Yeah… But even with someone like Oikawa, Aoba Johsai has never beaten Shiratorizawa–" said advisor Ittetsu Takeda, sounding suddenly wistful. "It's hard to imagine how strong Ushijima must be, he is one of the top three aces in the country."
Everyone turned to look at him, causing Takeda to flinch.
"W-Wait, did I say something wrong?"
"No, not at all. We're just surprised to hear you know this much about the team–" Ukai replied, shaking his head.
Takeda scratched his head sheepishly. "Hahaha… I just picked up bits and pieces during your practice sessions. Besides, Ushijima's pretty famous. It's not hard to dig up info on him."
"You're right about that–" Ukai said. "I looked into him too, and what I found was pretty terrifying."
"Oikawa and Ushijima have been rivals since junior high. Every team Oikawa's led has had airtight tactics, sharp techniques, and seamless teamwork."
"But even so, Ushijima has always managed to crush them single-handedly, with overwhelming victories."
"Honestly, there hasn't been a player like that, not even in my time."
"So sure, Aoba Johsai might look like they've got the upper hand now… but who knows how it'll really end?"
────────── ✦ ──────────
BEEP!
The long whistle blew.
As the referee signaled the end of the fourth set, players and spectators alike exhaled in relief.
That set had gone on forever.
While the previous sets had wrapped up in about twenty minutes, this one dragged past the forty-minute mark, twice as long as the others.
Yet when the final score appeared, 18:25, the audience was stunned.
A seven-point difference in such a drawn-out set? If they hadn't seen it themselves, they wouldn't have believed it.
The players walked off the court soaked in sweat and gasping for breath.
Especially Shiratorizawa, many of their players' uniforms were drenched. Some collapsed onto benches, others heaved for air, their faces pale.
Seeing this, Shiratorizawa's assistant coach felt a chill in his chest.
Even after all their harsh training under Coach Washijo, no one could say how much fight they had left in them now.
Worse still, Aoba Johsai's two aces, Oikawa and Akashi, barely seemed winded.
"Coach Washijo, should we…" the assistant began.
"No need–" Washijo cut him off sharply. "A little cleverness won't matter. As long as they can't stop our offense, the win is still ours."
"This final set, everyone listens up, we have no strategy. Just get the ball to Ushijima. That's your one and only job. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
It sounded simple, but this was Shiratorizawa's strongest strategy.
Coach Washijo didn't raise teams, he raised stars. And a star's job was to carry the game when it mattered most.
So even though Ushijima was clearly exhausted, he didn't object. He just nodded.
On the other side of the court,
Coach Irihata's response was even simpler.
He didn't speak at all.
Because Oikawa had already said everything that needed to be said.
Ushijima was a superstar.
But Oikawa was Aoba Johsai's heart and soul.
As the whistle blew again, the final fifth set began.
Unlike previous sets, the fifth set is played to 15 points, and a team must win by at least two.
A coin toss decided the serve.
Shiratorizawa guessed correctly and took the first serve.
Their server? Ushijima Wakatoshi.
Standing behind the service line, sweat glistened on his face and arms under the bright lights. He was completely drained, but focused.
He exhaled deeply, calming his racing heart, then tossed the ball,
BOOM!
The serve exploded over the net and slammed onto Aoba Johsai's backcourt line.
BEEP!
The referee raised the flag, Shiratorizawa point.
1:0.
The Aoba Johsai players were stunned.
Even Oikawa blinked in disbelief, then broke into a fierce grin. "You bastard… You can still serve like that in your condition?"
Staring at the gasping Ushijima, even Oikawa couldn't help but feel a flicker of respect.
It was undeniable,
The title of ace was well-earned.
"But… the win still belongs to us."
BOOM!
Ushijima's second serve flew in, spinning with an unpredictable leftward curve. Even libero Watari struggled to track it.
But just in time, Oikawa lunged out, not with his hands, but with his entire body, forcing the ball back into the air.
"You're not pulling away with just your serve!"
"Iwaizumi!"
"Don't need you to tell me!"
Iwaizumi dashed in, setting the ball forward, and there, already airborne, was a tall shadow ready to strike.
"You're not getting past us!"
Shiratorizawa's front line, Goshiki, Tendo, and Shirabu, all jumped at once, forming a triple block.
But the moment Akashi Asuka leapt, their expressions shifted.
He's so high!
The three blockers were shocked.
In a heartbeat, Akashi's jawline was above their heads, and then, like a hammer striking down, he spiked the ball cleanly above their fingertips.
For a second, they weren't sure if it was Akashi or Ushijima in front of them.
BOOM!
The ball rocketed past the block, but just before it could hit the floor, another figure lunged forward,
Ushijima.
SMACK.
The ball hit his arm, but immediately ricocheted out of bounds with a heavy thud.
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