By the time they reached the court where Nekoma was playing, Ryosuke noticed that the stands were actually packed today. It looked like Nekoma's matches really were popular.
When Sarukawa Tech's coach saw Nekoma enter, he came over to greet them.
The two coaches stood together. Nekomata looked at the boy who used to cry while practicing, now grown into a reliable coach, standing in front of him and using the second generation of Nekoma he had trained to face Nekomata's own team.
It really did look like a fated showdown.
Aritaka Shishio looked at Coach Nekomata, who seemed just as he had back then. For a moment, he felt as if he had returned to his high school days, when Coach Nekomata used to take him around to compete in matches.
"Not bad, Aritaka. You look like a proper adult now."
Nekomata laughed heartily and patted Shishio on the shoulder.
And so, the kids from Sarukawa Tech watched as their coach, who was usually as stern and unyielding as a cold-faced king of hell, turned red around the eyes.
"Long time no see, Coach Nekomata. I carried Nekoma's system on."
Those were the first words Shishio said after seeing Coach Nekomata.
He would never forget that casual sigh from Nekomata many years ago.
"In a few more years, Nekoma might be left behind by the times. People don't really like matches that rely only on defense anymore. Maybe no one will remember what holds Nekoma together."
Shishio was stubborn. He silently carved those words into his heart, then after graduating, he went to another school and became a coach. He wanted to bring Nekoma's unique style to other places. He wanted more people to see Nekoma's fierce and tenacious way of fighting.
Standing behind the coach, Kuroo curled his lip. He really wanted to say something to Shishio.
"This is our coach! What's with that look in your eyes?"
Shishio called the kids from Sarukawa Tech over to meet his former mentor.
Nekomata smiled as he looked over the group. The admiration in his eyes was genuine.
Shishio opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but Nekomata cut him off.
"Alright, enough with the greetings. Let's settle the rest on the court. Show me what you've made of Sarukawa over the years."
"Yes!"
Shishio instinctively answered with a sharp "yes," just like a player receiving an order from his coach.
Once the greetings were over, everyone went onto the court to warm up.
The players from Sarukawa Tech could not stop looking at Nekoma, full of curiosity. So this was the Nekoma their coach talked about every day?
They did not look all that special. Although Sarukawa Tech did not know much about each Nekoma player's personality, they had prepared thoroughly for this match. Their coach had also said that this one match did not prove everything, but they had to win. Only the winner could stand on a higher stage. This was a match between two generations of Nekoma.
At that moment, the announcer's voice rang out.
"Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. This is the second day of the National High School Boys' Volleyball Tournament. In yesterday's fierce competition, twenty-four teams were already eliminated. Competition is cruel. It is survival of the fittest. We hope the teams that were eliminated will shine again at the next IH."
"Now, let's turn our attention to the court. The two teams currently warming up are Sarukawa Tech, the representative from Okinawa Prefecture, and Nekoma High, Tokyo's third representative."
"I hear the coaches from these two schools have quite a connection."
"That's right. Sarukawa Tech's Coach Shishio was once a student of Nekoma's Coach Nekomata. After graduating, he chose the path of coaching without hesitation. Today's Sarukawa Tech is extremely similar to Nekoma in every aspect. This match is between two teams that are both skilled at receiving. What kind of sparks will they create? Let's look forward to the start of the match."
As Shishio watched the children warm up and heard the announcer's voice over the broadcast, he lifted his head with a smile and looked toward that side. So Shinjirō and Kijirō were here today too. Twenty years later, everyone had reunited on the court again in a strange sort of way.
Through the stadium's big screen, the Oda brothers could see the teammate they had once spent day and night with. He was also looking at them through the camera. For an instant, it felt as if they had crossed through time.
Even though they had not met face-to-face, Shishio knew they were watching him.
Nekomata watched the children with an indescribable happiness in his eyes. He was already so old, and in a few years, he would retire. Being able to watch such a wonderful match before retiring was truly worth it.
Nekoma's lineup had changed slightly compared to yesterday.
Kai was swapped out for Inuoka, and Yamamoto and Lev took the court at the same time.
Lev looked completely confused. He had no idea why the coach had sent him onto the court. Hadn't he only come this time to broaden his horizons? Why did he have to play too? This was not what they had agreed on.
Yaku glanced at Lev, who was still spacing out, and the more he looked, the angrier he got. This damn kid. The match was about to start, and he was still zoning out.
Yaku quietly approached Lev, then delivered a spinning kick.
"Ow!"
Lev rubbed his backside and turned around pitifully, his eyes full of accusation. Before he could even speak, Yaku launched into a rapid-fire lecture.
"Why are you making that face? Do you not want to play? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Since the coach put you on the court, there has to be a reason. Get yourself together!"
Lev lowered his head under Yaku's scolding and mumbled.
"But I'm scared I'll drag everyone down."
Kuroo walked over with a smile and raised his arm around Lev's shoulders.
"What are you scared of? This is Nekoma, and we've got Yaku holding the line. What's there to be afraid of? He'll clean up after you."
Yaku very much hated the phrase "clean up after you," but he could not deny that Kuroo was right.
Lev looked as if he had been encouraged by everyone. With Yaku there, he had courage.
On Sarukawa Tech's side, they were still warming up very seriously. They placed great importance on this match and had come in with the mindset that they had to win. Seeing Nekoma's players still talking over there, everyone from Sarukawa Tech chose not to look anymore.
"Beep----------"
The whistle for the start of the match sounded.
The two teams that had been warming up bowed to the stands, then faced each other across the net.
Sarukawa Tech's captain, Masakazu Nakata, extended his hand to shake Kuroo's.
He had heard plenty about Nekoma's captain long ago. To be able to organize such an outstanding and coordinated team, this Captain Kuroo really was no ordinary person.
"Please take care of us!"
"Please take care of us!"
The match officially began, and this time, the serve was in Nekoma's hands.
Standing in position one was their captain, Kuroo.
He walked to the service area with the volleyball in hand, and a burst of cheers rose from the stands.
"Aaaaah, Kuroo-senpai, go!"
"Go!"
"Take the first point!"
Ryosuke was swept up by the heated atmosphere too, blending into the crowd as he cheered for Nekoma. From where they were, no one should be able to tell it was him, right?
Once he convinced himself of that, Ryosuke drew in a breath, gripped the Nekoma cheering sticks in his hands, waved them up and down, and shouted at the top of his lungs,
"Kuroo-senpai, go!
Nekoma, go!"
As if sensing something, Kuroo turned his gaze toward the stands. It was almost as though, through the crowd, he had spotted Ryosuke at a glance.
Ryosuke shrank under that look and immediately tucked his neck in as he sat back down.
"Beep---------"
The whistle to serve sounded. Kuroo did not pay it too much attention. He tossed the volleyball upward, the lights on the ceiling slightly dazzling to the eyes.
Kuroo narrowed his eyes a little. Then, like a cat stretching out its body, his six-foot frame sprang sharply into the air. The muscles in his legs and arms looked explosively powerful.
Kai nodded from the stands. For Kuroo to use his full strength right from the serve, it seemed he really did take this school seriously.
"Bang!"
The speed of the ball was almost on par with Fukunaga's serve yesterday.
There was a hint of testing in Kuroo's serve. Everyone said Sarukawa Tech was a copy of Nekoma. If they could not even receive one serve from him, then there would be no need for him to take them so seriously.
When Sarukawa Tech's Libero, Akagi, saw that ball, he panicked.
Wait, no. When I watched yesterday's match, this guy's serve wasn't like this. I'm dead. I'm so dead.
Akagi wailed inwardly.
But his feet were very honest as he sprinted forward in long strides. Judging by the speed of the ball, it would drop in the front court. Although the serve carried a lot of power, that power seemed to have been stacked onto its speed. The arc was low, and it looked like it might even skim the net.
Akagi ran inside the three-meter line in the front court, dove across the floor, and stretched his arm forward. The falling ball happened to strike the back of his hand.
Akagi's dive was different from the dives of Nekoma's players. Everyone on Nekoma was very flexible, as if they had no bones, landing on the floor silently.
Akagi was different. He was more like a machine. His movements were almost textbook perfect, and even his angles were meticulous.
Seeing the ball get picked up, Kuroo did not panic. He began organizing everyone for the attack.
The group moved with Kenma at the center. Kenma was the soul of Nekoma's team, but also their weak point. If he was exposed, it would be easy for the opponent to seize an opening and kill the play in one strike.
"Cover it!"
Akagi quickly scrambled up from the floor.
Setter Ryo Takeuchi heard Akagi's shout and moved parallel to the net from his position at the front. Fukunaga and Yamamoto marked him closely.
Ryo Takeuchi did not panic at all, nor did he bother hiding his intention. He linked up with the Middle Blocker on the left, Mizuya Kitamura, for a short quick.
"Bang!"
"Jump!"
Kuroo directed Lev to jump.
Kitamura frowned. Why was this first-year so tall? Trying to hit over his hands or use the block would be too troublesome. He had to draw him away, or there would be no way to start their plan.
Kuroo blocked off the cross-court route. He did not expect Lev to block the ball. As long as Lev created an obstacle for the other side, that was enough. Lev was too tall, so shots like hitting over the block would not work. Kitamura could only spike from Kuroo's side.
Now the cross-court route was blocked. Only the straight line remained, though there was also the possibility of a net-hugging spike or an extreme cross.
Kitamura swung his arm, and at that moment, Kuroo clearly saw the muscles bulge along his arm.
The volleyball was spiked toward the side of Kuroo's arm.
Yaku had appeared there early, waiting, as if he had already predicted this exact situation.
"Kuroo opens the match! A beautiful power jump serve! Unfortunately, Sarukawa Tech's Libero, Akagi, manages to receive it. Setter Ryo Takeuchi covers the ball and sets up the attack, linking with Mizuya Kitamura in position three for a short quick! The combination is extremely fast, but Nekoma's marking is tight. Lev and Kuroo go up for the block!
He breaks through the block! Kitamura's straight-line shot is incredibly sharp, but Nekoma's Libero, Yaku, flashes into the backcourt and receives it as if helped by the gods!"
The commentator's voice was louder than usual. Just listening to him, one could tell he was getting excited.
Yaku received the ball, but it was not perfect.
Kuroo and Lev's block had been near position one, which meant Yaku's receive was around position six. But Kenma was in position three at that moment.
Seeing that the ball did not fly toward him, Kenma let out a small sigh and ran toward position five.
Yamamoto had originally intended to adjust the ball, but after running a few steps, he stopped.
If he touched the ball now, they would only have one final touch left. He could not guarantee that he would set it properly. If he failed, the ball would be wasted.
Kenma jogged over and reached the pass, then observed the situation on the court. He saw Fukunaga running at the front and Yamamoto beside him.
Tora's back-row attack was not bad, but Fukunaga's attack routes were a little more flexible.
After thinking it over, he still gave the ball to Fukunaga.
From the back row, he sent over a long flat quick.
Fukunaga heard the familiar sound of the ball cutting through the air and jumped without hesitation.
The two opposing middle blockers reacted quickly as well. The moment Fukunaga prepared to jump, the two middle blockers rushed over like animals that had caught the scent of meat.
"Kenma moves into position to reach the ball and sends a long flat quick to Fukunaga in the front row. Sarukawa Tech goes up for a two-man block! He breaks through the block! Fukunaga takes the first point of the match!"
Facing the two-man block, Fukunaga did not hesitate at all. Judging by the level of those two middle blockers, this ball really should have been stopped.
One watched the cross, and the other watched the line. But the unexpected part was that Fukunaga could hit a net-hugging spike. It could be said that this was a required skill for everyone on Nekoma except the Libero and the Setter. Even Lev could pull it off decently.
There was no helping it. During team practice, Kuroo would usually block their spikes every time, so everyone had somehow learned this move on their own. They had tricked Kuroo's block with it plenty of times, and it worked every time.
Fukunaga snapped his wrist downward and spiked right along the net.
"Bang!"
"Beep-------"
By the time the two middle blockers reacted, it was already too late to save the ball.
Akagi dove over, but Kitamura blocked his route. He lay on the floor and watched the ball, inwardly frustrated beyond words, though his face showed no expression at all.
"Nice one, Fukunaga!"
"Nice ball!"
Surrounded by everyone, Fukunaga let them pat his head, his eyes narrowing happily.
Only Yamamoto was dissatisfied.
"Aaaaaah! Let me do it! Let them see my super invincible line shot!"
Kenma rubbed his ear, feeling that Yamamoto was a little noisy. But seeing how badly he wanted to spike, Kenma could not bring himself to say anything stern.
"Stop yelling. The next one goes to you."
After receiving Kenma's promise, Yamamoto quieted down. He knew Kenma always kept his word.
Leaning against the railing, Suguru Daishō clutched his stomach and muttered to himself,
"That's disgusting..."
...
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