The second set between Karasuno and Aoba Johsai was clearly much more intense than the first.
Karasuno's offensive power wasn't necessarily top-tier, but they made up for it with an arsenal of new techniques, constantly catching their opponents off guard with unexpected plays.
At the 24-minute mark of the second set, the score stood at 22:23.
Despite Akashi Asuka and Oikawa Tooru's impressive scoring ability, Karasuno managed to hang on using a string of creative plays, maintaining the one-point lead they had gained at the start of the set.
But that lead didn't last long. Barely ten seconds after Aoba Johsai scored a point,
Boom!
With an ear-shattering crack, a powerful spike slammed into Asahi Azumane's arms. The impact was so intense that even the "fifth-year player's" muscular arms buckled slightly.
Although Asahi somehow held his ground and kept the block intact, the ball ricocheted off like a rubber bullet, flying far out of bounds and landing, astonishingly, in the second-floor spectator seats.
"Uh…"
Watching the crowd scramble to grab the ball, even the referee was left speechless.
Unlike baseball, volleyball doesn't have a "whoever catches the ball keeps it" tradition, but in matches like this, if the ball flies into the crowd and someone decides to keep it as a souvenir, no one's really going to argue. The organizers certainly wouldn't make a fuss over a single ball.
So, in most cases, if the ball ends up in the stands and isn't returned, the referee simply swaps in a new one.
Normally, this kind of incident wouldn't be a big deal, if anything, it would add some fan interaction and boost the match's energy.
But this was the fifth time a ball had flown into the crowd.
And all five had come off Akashi Asuka's spikes.
Seriously!?
Just because he's a power hitter!?
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"Man, that guy's got some insane firepower. Even Asahi-senpai can't block Akashi?" Despite already knowing how terrifying Akashi's spikes were, Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio still couldn't hide their surprise.
After all, Asahi was the strongest player on Karasuno when it came to raw power.
In terms of spike strength alone, he could even rival Ushijima Wakatoshi.
"Yeah…" Asahi nodded gravely, his arms still tingling. "Now that I've actually blocked him… I'd say Akashi's spike might even surpass Ushijima's."
Asahi had faced Ushijima before, and although he hadn't blocked him cleanly, Ushijima hadn't been able to break through either, it was mostly the spin from his left-handed spike that made the ball unpredictable.
But Akashi was different. If his spike had been even slightly stronger just now, Asahi was convinced it would've punched straight through his block.
"Yikes…"
"No way… Someone can hit harder than Ushiwaka? Is he even still in high school?"
"I don't know if he is or not," Daichi Sawamura said, "but I do know one thing, if we want to make it to Nationals, we have to beat both Akashi Asuka and Oikawa Tooru."
That one statement from Daichi fired up the entire Karasuno squad.
The match resumed. Aoba Johsai served, Karasuno took control of the offense.
Taking full advantage of the opportunity, Karasuno managed to reclaim their one-point lead.
23:24.
Set point, and, as luck would have it, it was Kageyama Tobio's turn to serve.
"Everyone, focus! We cannot let them take this point!" Hajime Iwaizumi roared from across the court as Kageyama stepped into the service zone.
Technically, Asahi had the strongest serve on Karasuno, with his powerful jump serve. But against Aoba Johsai, Kageyama's serve posed a greater threat.
Because, truth be told, he was too much like Oikawa.
Bzzzt~~
But just as everyone was bracing for Kageyama's serve, Karasuno shocked the entire stadium by using their final substitution.
No one saw it coming, except for one person. A sharp glint flashed in Akashi's eyes as if he had suddenly remembered something.
Sure enough,
A freckled boy stepped onto the court holding the substitution card, replacing Kageyama at the service line.
Upon seeing the boy, Oikawa's eyes widened. A memory clicked, and he quickly warned, "Everyone, stay sharp. If I remember correctly… that kid specializes in jump float serves."
The substitute was none other than Yamaguchi Tadashi.
Like the rest of Karasuno, Yamaguchi had undergone intense training over the summer. His jump float serve had improved dramatically, far beyond what it was in the original series.
Back in the match against Shiratorizawa, Yamaguchi had used this very serve to win three consecutive points and shift the momentum in Karasuno's favor.
Those three points were exactly why Oikawa remembered him so vividly.
"Jump float serve?"
Watari Shinji and Iwaizumi were both caught off guard. It wasn't that they'd never heard of it, it was just the first time they'd seen it in real life.
"Seriously? Where the hell is Karasuno learning all this ridiculous stuff?" Watari muttered under his breath.
"But still, Karasuno's coach must have some serious guts… Sending in their key server at a moment like this? What if he screws up?"
Set-point substitutions put pressure on the opponent, but they also put immense pressure on the server. If Yamaguchi failed, it could leave a psychological scar.
Smack!
Just as everyone was busy criticizing Karasuno's risky decision, Yamaguchi suddenly let loose his serve.
The sound was faint. The ball wasn't fast. But in the air, it wobbled unpredictably, floating up and down, veering left and right…
Shkk!
Then, without warning, the ball clipped the edge of the net. The slight deflection changed its trajectory again, and the entire Aoba Johsai team went wide-eyed in shock.
"What the hell?!"
Iwaizumi and Watari wanted to curse, but there was no time. They lunged forward like mad dogs chasing a frisbee, diving for the landing spot,
But they were a moment too late.
Thud!
The ball hit the court.
And with it, the referee's whistle blew loud across the gym.
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria