Daichi picked up the falling dump and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a sigh. "I knew someone would get fired up and try something like that."
Tsukishima rubbed his nose—Daichi-senpai was definitely not talking about him.
The ever-reliable Daichi delivered a perfect first pass. Kageyama moved to the net with the ball, calmly surveying the court, while Oikawa watched him just as closely.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kageyama caught Oikawa's gaze—and without hesitation, answered with a setter dump of his own.
"Huh?!"
Oikawa hadn't even processed it before Iwaizumi rushed in to dig the ball, barking at him, "Damn it, Oikawa! What were you spacing out for?!"
"Ahhh! Sorry, Iwa-chan!"
Oikawa raked a hand through his hair, visibly annoyed.
"Brat…" That completely undisguised dump had worked—it had provoked him.
On the sideline, Sugawara watched with a fond smile. "Ah… Kageyama's actually learned how to taunt people."
"Suga, are you his mom or something?!"
Iwaizumi sent the ball to Oikawa, who immediately organized the next attack. Hanamaki and Matsukawa prepared for the block.
Remembering the previous dump, Tsukishima and Hinata instinctively assumed Oikawa would try it again. Tsukishima jumped hard, bringing Hinata up with him.
Midair, Tsukishima clearly saw the sly curve of Oikawa's lips.
His heart dropped.
Sure enough, Oikawa set the ball at an extreme angle. Iwaizumi, who had already been waiting on the right, surged forward and hammered it down before anyone could react.
Point.
The stands exploded.
"Seijoh! Seijoh! We reign supreme!"
"Iwa-chan! Iwa-chan! One more!"
On Karasuno's side, Tanaka clicked his tongue. "Damn normies. Drop dead, all of you."
Daichi patted Tsukishima and Hinata. "It's fine. One more point. Oikawa's always been strong—stay calm."
Oikawa walked to the service line with the ball in his arms. The moment he stood there, everyone on Karasuno tightened up instinctively.
Oikawa's serve was a nightmare.
Nishinoya spread his arms wide. "One point for the side-out!"
"Oh—hey!"
With the crowd's rhythm as backing track, Oikawa's serve shot out, spinning viciously.
Nishinoya tracked it. A straight shot at his face? No—
It curves!
He shifted his center of gravity in a sharp lateral move and received it cleanly.
"Nice one!"
Oikawa scratched his head. "Man, Karasuno's libero is seriously strong."
On the sideline, Ukai narrowed his eyes in thought. Takeda-sensei looked over. "What's wrong? Was something off?"
Ukai nodded. "That serve was aimed at Nishinoya on purpose. If he hadn't taken it, it would've crushed our momentum."
Takeda shivered. "That's… underhanded."
Oikawa only smiled faintly.
Nishinoya sent the ball to Kageyama.
Kageyama's touch felt hotter than ever. He was in peak condition—he felt like he could send the ball anywhere.
After rotating, Matsukawa and Hanamaki were now in the front row, watching him closely. The pressure was real.
"I'm here!"
Hinata burst out from behind Azumane like a small orange crow. Daichi prepared to jump. Azumane lurked in the back row, ready. Tsukishima tracked the block with a dark expression.
Matsukawa and Hanamaki locked onto Kageyama. Who's it going to?
Both instinctively focused on Hinata and jumped to Block. Anyone who had seen the Freak Quick would instinctively react.
Hinata alone drew two blockers.
And Kageyama set to the completely empty left side.
"What is he doing?!" Goshiki shot to his feet.
Hinata landed—and just like in their practice match, he sprinted laterally, slipping past the block. Fast as lightning, he chased down the still-floating ball.
He leaped.
The ball met him at the perfect hitting point.
"Bang!"
Watari felt an orange whirlwind rush past him before the ball slammed into the floor.
Karasuno scored.
The arena went silent for a heartbeat—then erupted.
"That little guy's amazing!"
"He jumps so high!"
"Mom, is he flying?"
Hinata and Kageyama had completely ignited the atmosphere.
"What… was that?" Goshiki stared, stunned.
Yunohama, who had been slouched moments ago, sat upright. "That quick was insanely fast. And that little guy—he jumps so high. How's he that fast too?"
Ryosuke smiled. "That's why I wanted you guys to watch. Pretty exciting, right?"
Goshiki was still in shock. If it were him… could he have hit that?
So he's that good.
Ryosuke had definitely achieved what he wanted.
Oikawa clicked his tongue. Another one of those annoying quicks.
Watching Kageyama laughing with his teammates, Oikawa steadied himself.
The King is still the King. Your sets are still reckless. Even if you sheath your claws, it doesn't change what you are.
His expression shifted back to his usual playful grin. "Next point—I won't let you score."
Hinata was still floating from the praise when Kageyama smacked the ball into him.
"Idiot. It's your serve."
"Oh! Right!"
Hinata served a completely ordinary, soft floater.
Sugawara and Tanaka both let out quiet sighs of relief. As long as it went in. For now, they weren't expecting much from his serve.
Watari received it easily. Oikawa set to Iwaizumi through the crowd, and Iwaizumi spiked with perfect timing.
Tsukishima got a touch on the Block. Coincidentally, the ball dropped right between Azumane and Daichi. If either of them had taken it, they wouldn't have been able to join the attack.
Daichi shot Azumane a look, stepped forward, lowered his center of gravity, and dug it himself.
Kageyama set to Azumane.
Boom.
"Whistle—"
Oikawa turned and called a timeout. Coach Irihata nodded, and Aobajosai gathered off court.
"Why call it now?" Goshiki frowned.
Ryosuke shrugged. "Who knows."
Oikawa pulled his team close.
"That weird quick of Karasuno has a code. Every time the little guy shouts 'I'm here,' it's the Freak Quick. When he calls for the ball normally, like "Pass to me," it's a regular quick.
Irihata considered it. "You're sure?"
Oikawa nodded seriously. He never made claims without basis.
"When he shouts 'here,' either Hanamaki or Matsukawa marks him. When he shouts 'pass,' watch Kageyama first. Confirm the set direction before jumping. Got it?"
"Got it!"
Everyone straightened under Oikawa's gaze.
On Karasuno's side, Tsukishima and Tanaka swapped after the timeout. Tanaka roared excitedly—he'd been waiting.
Kageyama, standing beside Hinata, felt uneasy watching Aobajosai's huddle. It felt like they'd been targeted.
From the stands, Ryosuke grinned. "I get it now."
Goshiki tilted his head. "Get what?"
"I bet Oikawa-senpai cracked their code. I don't know the exact signal, but from Hinata's shouts—'I'm here,' or calling Kageyama—it's probably that. So Oikawa-senpai's having them mark both of them accordingly. Man… he's scary."
Goshiki's expression turned complicated.
If anyone was scary, it was probably you—the one predicting Oikawa's prediction.
Yunohama wasn't surprised. He'd always known Ryosuke wasn't normal. That was the gap between genius and everyone else.
And man… setters really are ruthless.
...
The first half of the set was evenly matched. Long rallies, back and forth.
At 15:14, Oikawa made his move.
After rotation, Hanamaki, Matsukawa, and Kindaichi were up front for the block.
This time, Oikawa didn't aim for Nishinoya.
He aimed at Tanaka.
Tanaka, freshly subbed in, had no idea he'd been targeted.
"Oh—hey!"
The serve rocketed toward him.
Tanaka could spike well—but his receives weren't as stable as Daichi or Azumane's, let alone against Oikawa's jump serve.
Still, Tanaka never lacked courage. He lowered his stance and focused.
Bang!
He missed completely.
The spinning ball slammed into his shoulder and flew out of bounds. He grunted.
Daichi's face darkened.
Oikawa had locked onto Tanaka.
"It's fine! One more!"
"Go, Tanaka!"
Sugawara could only encourage him anxiously from the sideline.
"Ace! Ace! One more!" the girls in the stands screamed.
"Oikawa-senpai is so cool!"
"He's the best!"
Iwaizumi's forehead twitched—but since Oikawa was performing, he let it slide.
The next few serves proved Daichi right.
Four consecutive serves—all at Tanaka.
Not one missed.
Tanaka clenched his teeth. Each time the ball smashed into him.
He still couldn't receive it cleanly.
"Karasuno's in trouble."
Ryosuke and the others turned toward the unfamiliar voice.
The man in glasses smiled awkwardly. "That shaved-head kid's important. He's their mood-maker—the reliable senior the underclassmen lean on. If he breaks, Karasuno's in real trouble."
Ryosuke nodded politely. "Thank you. I'm Ryosuke Hanyu. These are my teammates."
"Makoto Shimada," the man replied. "Didn't expect someone from Shiratorizawa to enjoy watching matches."
Yunohama spoke first. "Isn't it interesting? I'm curious whether the Freak Quick or that serve wins out."
Shimada laughed. "You're right. Guess I shouldn't believe stereotypes."
...
After the timeout, Tanaka trailed behind.
Hinata kept glancing back, wanting to comfort him.
Suddenly—
Smack!
Tanaka slapped himself hard.
"I'm sorry! Next ball—I'll receive it! I shouldn't be scared! I'm sorry!"
Ukai chuckled and patted his shoulder. "That's more like it. We're not blaming you. You've got teammates behind you. Don't be afraid."
"Yes!"
Ukai had worried for nothing.
The timeout disrupted Oikawa's rhythm. His next serve wasn't as sharp.
Tanaka prepared to take it—
—but Nishinoya slid in and saved it first.
Daichi adjusted the ball.
Kageyama thought: After all that tension… who should take this?
Of course.
"Tanaka-senpai!"
Tanaka jumped without hesitation.
Across the net, Hanamaki, Matsukawa, and Kindaichi formed a triple block.
In that instant, Tanaka's vision sharpened. He could see the empty space behind them. Hear his own breathing.
His love for volleyball deepened.
Bang!
He drove the ball into the open space beside Watari. Watari lunged—
Too late.
Point.
Hinata and Tanaka shouted at each other like idiots, grinning wildly.
"Nice one, Tanaka!"
"Nice!"
Daichi walked over, dark aura radiating, and rubbed their heads roughly. "Cut it out. The ref's watching."
They froze instantly under the referee's disapproving stare.
Oikawa ran a hand through his hair. "What a pain. I thought we could grab a few more points."
Iwaizumi patted him. "We'll get another chance."
From the stands, Ryosuke sighed. "Kageyama and Tanaka are impressive. One dares to set, one dares to spike. They broke the flow Aobajosai built."
Goshiki pouted. "It's not that impressive."
Yunohama snorted. "Says the one who stood up earlier."
"Shut up!"
"Then why's your face red?"
Goshiki flushed deeper. Ryosuke burst out laughing.
"Alright, stop teasing him."
Behind them, Shimada watched, surprised.
So this was Shiratorizawa off the court.
They were… just a bunch of interesting kids.
...
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