Chapter 85: Self-Sacrificing Strike x Rampaging Fighting Spirit
But just as Sugawara Koshi prepared to seize this wave of morale boost from two consecutive god-level saves and sound the horn for a counterattack against the first-year team...
This first pass that Sawamura Daichi had barely managed to save wasn't as high quality as the previous passes he'd delivered. His setting options were cut by more than half the instant this ball was passed.
'No good, need to quickly think of a way to break through.'
'If we don't seize this opportunity, there might not be another chance like this to overturn the score.'
His brain was spinning frantically, and his feet had already begun running madly.
'Can't stop, can't stop.'
'Whether it's thinking or running, can't stop either one.'
'Come on, come on, come on!'
'Make the contribution you should make for the team.'
Sugawara Koshi's consciousness urged his body to deliver this pass faster and better.
Looking at this pass's direction, Sugawara Koshi suddenly realized.
The volleyball would hit the wall, and relying on his own speed, there was no way to complete his turn and deliver the set before the volleyball hit the wall.
'Right now, I don't want to think about so many things anymore.'
'This ball, I absolutely must deliver the best I can possibly do!'
Gritting his teeth, Sugawara Koshi abandoned thinking about what consequences his upcoming actions might produce.
Without care or concern, he continued charging forward. Just before hitting the wall, Sugawara Koshi used his running momentum to jump directly toward the wall.
In mid-air, he barely managed to complete his turn, then caught the volleyball that was about to hit the wall with both hands, his gaze extremely focused as he locked onto his ace's favorite setting position.
He delivered what might be the most accurate long set among all the sets he'd made since he started playing volleyball.
The volleyball traced a perfect arc through the air. According to Sugawara Koshi's will, it traveled to a position somewhat distant from the net and slightly high.
But he himself, carrying tremendous kinetic energy, slammed hard into the volleyball court's wall with his back. This impact was solid. There was no chance for deflection or evasion.
To deliver this ball, Sugawara Koshi completely ignored the impact he was about to endure, throwing himself wholeheartedly into the setting motion.
The impact force transmitted through his back instantly stopped Sugawara Koshi's backward momentum. Half the force of hitting the wall transmitted unimpeded into Sugawara Koshi's frail body.
Not only did it make him painfully open his mouth wide, his body instinctively expelling all air from his lungs to dissipate as much impact force as possible.
The vibration sensation from his internal organs being struck made him immediately drop to his knees the moment he slid down the wall to the ground, barely managing not to collapse completely by supporting himself with his arms.
"Asahi!!!!"
Takeda-sensei prepared to stop the match, but was prevented by Ukai Keishin.
The moment their eyes met, the information was already completely absorbed by both adults.
Need to call timeout!
You'd be negating his effort.
...
Looking at this volleyball that Sugawara Koshi had delivered with everything he had, Azumane Asahi's mind flashed through all the various desperate actions the three of them had made in matches during the past two years since becoming third years.
'Attackers can spike because setters deliver passes.'
'And setters can set because first passes make the effort.'
Nishinoya Yuu's two-centimeter palm fortress, Sawamura Daichi's diving save.
Both players' postures when making saves.
'Everyone on the court is doing what they should do.'
'Of course I should also do the best I can possibly do!'
But his naturally gentle nature still made Azumane Asahi continue questioning internally.
'Even if I fail?'
Still his teammates' postures, and everything they'd experienced together.
Certainly, a delicate heart would give this outwardly rugged ace completely different thoughts and viewpoints from other aces. It would also make him more easily fall into self-blame and unwillingness to hold back the team.
But it was precisely this delicacy that gave him the belief to risk everything for his teammates and fight until the final moment.
'Even if I fail!'
Looking at this volleyball that Sugawara Koshi had set for him.
Azumane Asahi upheld his teammate's belief, not looking at him barely managing to stay upright without collapsing. Instead, he put all his strength into this one spike.
Stepping back several paces, giving himself enough approach distance.
Carrying a trace of anger.
Azumane Asahi swung his arms and began running.
At the point where he jumped highest, he took flight.
Carrying this anger, his power exploded to 120%.
Adrenaline made Azumane Asahi mobilize every muscle in his body, facing three blockers and delivering what might be the most powerful spike he'd ever executed since he started playing volleyball.
No precise targeting, only ridiculously powerful force.
The volleyball slammed into Hyakuzawa Yudai and Ichise Guren's arms.
As if there was a moment's pause, both the volleyball and the two players' movements fell into slow motion.
The two players, their expressions extremely fierce from exerting too much force, and the volleyball that had crashed into their arms and was undergoing massive deformation.
The volleyball thunderously broke through the ironclad net these cousins had laid down.
'What kind of joke is thisâ€"is this the kind of power a high schooler should have?!'
Hyakuzawa Yudai, experiencing being knocked away by a volleyball for the first time, thought exactly this.
Meanwhile, Ichise Guren, who had also been knocked aside but still managed to control his balance in mid-air, reached the peak of his fighting spirit. The violence in his eyes could no longer be suppressed at this moment, like a typhoon howling across the ocean surface, sweeping over everyone in the entire gym.
'I will destroy them.'
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