Kirito, Kindaichi and Kunimi arrived at the school's gym next day. They started to practice lightly and waited for seniors to come.
Then, a loud talking was heard.
"Like I said, nothing will happen!" Tōru Oikawa said playfully.
Thud.
One punch was given to Tōru Oikawa in his head by Hajime Iwaizumi.
"Shut up, Shittykawa!" Hajime Iwaizumi said.
They were arguing about how Oikawa arranged a practice match with Karasuno, but with a condition that Tobio Kageyama play full sets.
Hajime Iwaizumi thought this condition was disrespecting Karasuno. They had their own designated starting setter but letting an unproved First-year play full set was straight up disrespect, hence both Oikawa and Iwaizumi were bickering.
"He's my cute junior, you know! He's freakishly talented than me!" Oikawa protested.
"Yeah, yeah go on with that crap, and I'll hit you again!" Iwaizumi said while raising his fist.
Kirito, Kindaichi and Kunimi seeing them, were overjoyed. They were meeting legendary players of Aoba Johsai.
In the history of Aoba Johsai, Toru Oikawa is the best setter of all time leading them to consecutive finals of Miyagi Prefecture Tournament. But, always lost at the finals to Shiratorizawa.
Hajime Iwaizumi was the Vice-captain of the team externally, but internally he was the true captain of the team. Toru Oikawa always joked and flirted with multiple girls. Hajime Iwaizumi, on other hand was diligent, punctual and created the team chemistry.
But, just because Toru Oikawa was free bird didn't mean nobody respected him. Every one on the team respected Toru Oikawa to the highest level. They respected his dedication to Volleyball. On this team Toru Oikawa was extremely talented, but he was just a setter. He couldn't spike personally when his duty is to set the ball.
His talent to set the ball was the best throughout whole Miyagi Prefecture, heck, even the whole nation. But without a proper spiker to spike the ball, Toru Oikawa is just a normal setter in other's eyes.
Hajime Iwaizumi is the best spiker of the team. He is very consistent and dedicated. But, despite being the best spiker of the team, still lost to Shiratorizawa. It was due to responsibility in both offence and defense of the team. He alone shouldered the responsibility of attacking and defending in the court. He was not a machine who could do multi-court work. He could only focus one thing at a time.
Hence, they were not able to win in the finals despite being the overall better team than Shiratorizawa. Aoba Johsai was the best balanced team in all over Miyagi Prefecture, but lacked a star spiker to finish off opponents.
Shiratorizawa, meanwhile had Wakatoshi Ushijima, one of the top 3 aces of the country. Even if his team played badly, he alone could drag his team to win. He single handedly did this multiple times to Aoba Johsai. This was what a star spiker ace could do to a team or for a team. This what made the difference between Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa.
As both Toru Oikawa and Hajime Iwaizumi approached to the court, they noticed three new members.
Two of them were very tall. One of the two looked like a foreign student. Another one just looked like a block-head. While, the third one had lazy looks in his eye.
It was an interesting combo.
"Yoshaa! I'm Toru Oikawa and I am the Captain of the team." Toru Oikawa introduced himself.
"This dude having dark, spiked-up hair, and thin eyebrows is known as Hajime Iwaizumi!" Toru Oikawa said.
At that, all the third-years and second-years started to giggle with each other.
Thud!
Hajime Iwaizumi gave a powerful punch into Toru Oikawa's head.
"Ouch! Oi, I gave the best description fitting for the Vice-captain of the team! What is this unruly behavior!" Toru Oikawa protested.
"One more word from your mouth and you'll get my combos, Trashykawa." Hajime Iwaizumi said angrily while veins were popping from his hands.
At that instant, Toru Oikawa became silent trying not to provoke Hajime Iwaizumi.
"My name is Kirito Yagami, First-year, Outside-Hitter." Kirito introduced himself.
"My name is Yūtarō Kindaichi, First-year, Middle Blocker!" Kindaichi introduced himself loudly.
"My name is Akira Kunimi, First-year, Wing Spiker / Opposite Hitter." Kunimi introduced himself lazily.
"Nice to meet you, senpais!" three of them said in unison.
"Nice to meet you too." Hajime Iwaizumi said calmly.
Waiting for response from Toru Oikawa, everybody glanced at him. But, instead he had black lines all over his face.
"What happened?" Hajime Iwaizumi asked.
"Hey, you!" Oikawa pointed to Kindaichi.
"Yes, Oikawa-senpai!" Kindaichi replied like a soldier.
"Who is more handsome between that Kirito and me?" Oikawa asked.
"Of course, Oikawa senpai! Your beauty lies to no bound!" Kindaichi started to glaze Oikawa.
"Muhahaha, now that's my junior!" Oikawa responded.
Thud!
"We are waiting for your enclosure not some crappy comparison!" Iwaizumi said while hitting to Oikawa.
Kirito also pinched Kindaichi from his back and smiled at him evilly.
"Alright, now that everyone has introduced themselves, we'll conduct an intra-squad match between the regulars and newbies." A voice came from behind. He was the Head coach of Aoba Johsai, Nobuteru Irihata. Followed by coach Sadayuki Mizoguchi.
Regular's lineup:
Front row: Outside Hitter Hajime Iwaizumi, Middle Blocker Issei Matsukawa, Outside Hitter Takahiro Hanamaki
Back row: Wing Spiker Kaneo Yuda, Libero Shinji Watari, Setter Tōru Oikawa
Newbie's lineup:
Front row: Outside Hitter Kirito Yagami, Middle Blocker Yūtarō Kindaichi, Wing Spiker Akira Kunimi
Back row: Wing Spiker Heisuke Shido, Middle Blocker Motomu Sawauchi, Setter Shigeru Yahaba
Coach Sadayuki Mizoguchi will act as referee for this match.
Head Coach Nobuteru Irihata will observe the performance of the newbie's from sideline.
Coach Sadayuki Mizoguchi blew the whistle to start the match.
The newbie's served first.
The ball landed towards Shinji Watari, who quickly received it and passed to Oikawa. Oikawa looked at both opposition's and his own team's positioning and set the ball towards the center.
Iwaizumi ran from left side of court to the center in a second and prepared to spike.
Kirito and Kindaichi seeing the set immediately set up a double block. Both being the tallest in the team formed a formidable wall.
Iwaizumi seeing the block, brutally smashed the ball through the gap between Kirito and Kindaichi's arm.
BOOM!
The ball landed behind them and Iwaizumi got the point.
[Regular 1 - 0 Newbie]
Head Coach Nobuteru Irihata wrote some things in his note.
But-
*CLINK*
Kirito adapted to that spike.
The Regulars served.
Oikawa stepped up to serve. Oikawa as smiling and flashing his handsome face to everyone.
He took a deep breath and tossed the ball high into air.
The Newbie's looked sharply at the toss, ready to receive it.
Oikawa jumped with picturesque form and slammed the ball.
"Haha, watch out newbies!" Oikawa shouted.
But it didn't go his way, instead it hit hard at back of Iwaizumi's head and went out of bounds.
Pfftt- everybody started to laugh and smile.
"OI! Shittykawa! Are you looking for death?!" Iwaizumi shouted.
"Sorry~" Oikawa said while smiling.
Thud!
Oikawa got punched in his head again.
"Not again!" Oikawa protested.
"That's what you get, idiot. Play seriously." Iwaizumi said.
[Regular 1 - 1 Newbie]
Newbie's served.
The ball landed towards Takahiro Hanamaki at the back row. He received it cleanly and passed it to Oikawa. Oikawa quickly set the ball to Iwaizumi.
Seeing the set, Kirito and Kindaichi set up double block again.
Iwaizumi didn't get scared of the block. He had been playing against monsters like Ushijima and Tendō for two years. So, the block infront of him was nothing compared to them.
He angled his body for a cross-court spike and slammed the ball with force.
BOOM!
Smack!
Iwaizumi's spike got blocked by Kirito. The ball returned to the Regular's court, but their libero was ready to pick up. He passed the ball to Oikawa.
Oikawa set the ball towards left side. Iwaizumi ran and spiked, but the ball crossed over his arm.
Takahiro Hanamaki, from back row ran and spiked the ball with force.
BOOM!
Smack!
But again was blocked by Kirito, this time killing the ball dead into the Regular's court. No one was able to receive it.
[Regular 1 - 2 Newbie]
Head coach Nobuteru Irihata eye's shined with great delight. It seems they have been blessed with another monster. Defensively and blocking-wise, Kirito was exceptional. Now, Irihata wanted to see Kirito's performance in attack.
The Newbie's served.
The ball reached towards the back row of the Regular's court.
Their libero Watari picked the ball cleanly and passed it to Oikawa.
Oikawa was looking for options. He took a quick glance at the front row of Newbies. They were totally ready to block Iwaizumi.
He gestured Issei Matsukawa to act as decoy.
Both Issei Matsukawa and Iwaizumi ran from both ends of the court to spike the ball.
Oikawa jumped to set the ball, but he didn't set the ball.
Instead he dumped the ball towards Newbie's court.
"Setter Dump."
None of the Newbie's player could react. They quickly looked at Oikawa with surprised expressions. "This dude is a monster." they thought.
Even Kirito was dumbfounded by the move. He didn't expect to get dumped.
He smiled.
[Regular 2 - 2 Newbie]
*CLINK*
Kirito adapted to that setter dump.
The Regular's served.
The ball landed towards Kirito. He received the ball and passed it to Shigeru Yahaba.
Shigeru Yahaba set the ball to Kirito.
Kirito made a run from the back row. Each stride was merciless and powerful. Kirito approached and leapt high into the air.
Oikawa, Iwaizumi and Matsukawa formed a triple block.
Kirito jumped very high, coupled with his 196 cm frame, was towering over the block.
The triple block was nothing infront of the monstrous spike.
BOOOM!
The ball landed cleanly behind them.
"Spike over the block!"
[Regular 2 - 3 Newbie]
The Newbie's served.
The ball landed near between the front row and front row of the Regular's court.
Once again, Watari was there to pick it up and passed the ball to Oikawa.
Oikawa set the ball to Iwaizumi.
Kunimi and Yahaba set up a block.
Iwaizumi blasted the ball targeting Yahaba's fingers.
"One touch!" Yahaba shouted.
Kindaichi quickly ran to save the ball and passed it in the center.
Kunimi directly ran and set the ball towards right side of the court.
Kirito made a run towards the right side. He made a standard run approach and jumped to spike.
BOOM!
Smack!
Kirito got blocked by Matsukawa.
[Regular 3 - 3 Newbie]
Kirito looked at Matsukawa with a surprised face.
This was Kirito's first time getting blocked. From middle school, he had never been blocked. He looked at his hands and smiled back at Matsukawa.
"Kirito, this is High school! Everyone here, is brutal!" Oikawa said after looking at Kirito's stunned face.
"Kid, I have been playing against the likes of Ushijima! This is nothing!" Matsukawa said.
Unbeknownst to them-
*CLINK*
Kirito adapted to that block.
The Regulars served.
The ball went towards the back row of Newbie's court. Yahaba was once again forced to receive the ball and passed it to Kunimi.
Kunimi quickly delivered a good set to the left side of the court.
Kirito made a brutal run from the left side. His strides were powerful and destructive. He approached under the ball and jump high like a spring.
Iwaizumi and Hanamaki set up a double block.
In mid-air, Kirito twisted his back into a "C" shape. He twisted his hand and slammed the ball violently.
The double block of Iwaizumi and Hanamaki combined with their height, gave an average height of 180 cm. Kirito, meanwhile with his 196 cm frame towered over the block. Kirito with that large size jumped higher than an average player could.
Kirito slammed the ball violently, until the ball deformed slightly from the impact.
BOOOM!
A loud bang was heard throughout the gym. The ball landed in the Regular's court and bounced high up into the air.
The ball blatantly ignored the double block.
"Spike over the block!"
All the players looked helplessly towards the ball and Kirito.
Some had stunned expression, some had happy expression, while some had excited expression.
"Finally." Oikawa muttered excitedly.
Iwaizumi also looked at Kirito with happy expression.
The Head Coach had the wildest expression. He was very ecstatic. He finally has a power hitter/spiker. Although, Iwaizumi was the ideal ace, he had shortcomings. Against tall blocks/walls, he couldn't spike through them. Another problem was he had to look after the defense, shortly after the attack. It was not a feasible playstyle. He had to focus on a single task to play very exceptionally. He can't multi-task.
On that note, the Head Coach scribbled some notes in his diary.
[Regular 3 - 4 Newbie]