The next day, Head coach Irihata called Iwaizumi personally to his office.
"How's the practice going on?" Head coach Irihata asked.
"It's going smoothly, coach." Iwaizumi replied.
"We'll be having a practice match today with Miyagi University." Head coach said.
"Yes, I'll tell the boys to prepare, coach." Iwaizumi said.
Head coach sat silently for few seconds. He wanted to talk about Iwaizumi's future positioning.
"I actually called you for another reason, Iwaizumi." Head coach started softly.
Iwaizumi looked at Head coach Irihata with full attention.
"I wanted to sit down with you personally and talk about our team's lineup." he continued.
Iwaizumi nodded, but asked, "Shouldn't this matter be discussed with Coach Mizoguchi and Oikawa?"
"Coach Mizoguchi already knows. As for Oikawa, I am pretty sure you'll be able to rely this message on to him. He won't listen to me." he added.
Iwaizumi smiled and nodded.
"So, I have been evaluating everyone from the intra squad match and was looking on how to use the best possible formation/lineup that maximizes everyone's strength." Head coach Irihata said.
Iwaizumi nodded.
"And, so during this process of building the team, I came across you and your performance/responsibility."
"I know, what I am going to say maybe harsh for a player of your caliber, but I'd like to propose a shift in your role."
"I'm planning to shift you into a dedicated defensive position and relieving you of the offensive duties for now."
"I believe this change will let you truly shine and give the team a stronger foundation."
"I'd love to hear your thoughts on it, and I want us to work through this transition together."
"Don't feel compelled to say immediately and impulsively. You can take your time and give me your buy-ins, Iwaizumi."
"I want you to feel good about where you fit in this team, Iwaizumi." Head coach Irihata finished.
Iwaizumi was silent for few seconds before he smiled and said, "I am a team player, coach."
"I was never born with the genius and intellect of Oikawa, monstrosity of Ushijima or even Kirito nor had the pure dedication close to any of them."
"They lived, thrived and resided in another world/dimension."
"Whereas, I am just an average bloke who stumbled upon a genius setter."
"I'm the ace of the team just because of Oikawa."
"If I was paired with a normal setter, maybe I wouldn't be here with you, coach."
"Although, I dedicated myself fully to Volleyball, it seems that, the Volleyball never embraced itself to me."
"And, about the new role, I'm fully willing to commit and contribute for the greater achievements of the team." Iwaizumi finished.
"Thankyou, Iwaizumi." Head coach Irihata said honestly.
Head coach Irihata stood up from his chair and gave a handshake. A sign of respect.
Iwaizumi also stood up to return the favor.
After talking and finalizing about the lineup, Iwaizumi left the room.
Coach Mizoguchi entered the room.
"How did it go?" he asked.
"He's willing to take the new role." Head coach Irihata said.
He looked down at his notes on the table and sat silently. Then, he spoke up.
"You know, players who play like Iwaizumi are abundant. You can find players of his caliber in any school."
"But, players having Iwaizumi's mentality, discipline and maturity are so scarce."
"If there was ever another after life, I would choose Iwaizumi over and over without hesitation to be mine/our team's true Captain." He concluded.
Coach Mizoguchi smiled and nodded.
Both of them left the room and went straight to gym, where the boys were preparing for their practice match.
"Alright boys, listen up." Coach Mizoguchi said.
"The final lineup has been decided."
Aoba Johsai starting lineup:
Front row: Outside Hitter Kirito Yagami, Middle blocker Issei Matsukawa, Opposite hitter Akira Kunimi
Back row: Opposite hitter Takahiro Hanamaki, (Libero: Shinji Watari), Setter Toru Oikawa, Outside hitter Hajime Iwaizumi.
Just then, the players from Miyagi University entered the gym.
"Hello, Everyone!" the captain of Miyagi University introduced.
Head coach and Oikawa went to return the pleasantry.
"Alright, this will be our first trial run for the new lineup." Coach Mizoguchi said.
"Kirito, I want you to perform and coordinate properly with Oikawa."
"Kunimi, don't get nervous. Show them what you've got."
"As for others, as I have always been saying, put your 100%." he concluded.
"Yes, coach!" all of them said in unison.
Everybody went to their position.
At the front row, Kirito was shaking hands with the seniors of the University team.
"Wow, you are quite tall." one of them said.
"Are you a foreign student?" another one asked.
"Thankyou, I am not a foreign student. I am mix." Kirito said smilingly.
"Ah, sorry we didn't mean offense." they said.
"Haha, it's alright. I get that a lot." Kirito replied.
The referee whistled to start the match.
Aoba Johsai served first.
Iwaizumi stepped up to serve. He tossed the ball high into air and jumped to serve.
BOOM!
The ball headed towards back row the University's team.
Their libero picked up the ball easily and passed it to their setter.
Their setter immediately set the ball to their ace.
He took an approach and sprung into air.
Players from Aoba Johsai were not very surprised by the leap. They were already used to such high leap from Kirito.
Matsukawa and Kirito immediately set up a double block.
The University's ace seeing the block, smirked and targeted Kirito's fingers and slammed the ball.
BOOM!
"One touch!"
But the ball went of bounds. No one from Aoba Johsai could save the ball.
[Aoba Johsai 0 - 1 Miyagi University]
"Don't mind. Next point!" Oikawa said.
*CLINK*
Kirito adapted to that spike.
The University's team served.
The ball flew towards Hanamaki. He received the ball, but not cleanly and passed the ball to Oikawa.
Oikawa despite receiving the bad pass, created a beautiful set to Kirito.
"Fly high, Kirito." Oikawa muttered.
Kirito ran from the left side of the court. He planted his feet firm on the ground and leapt into the air like a spring.
The blockers immediately set up a double block. But, they were astonished by how high the ball had been set. They thought it was a mistake or error.
But as they were contemplating, a figure rose infront of them.
The looked up and were frightened by the monstrous spike they were witnessing.
Kirito's whole arm was above the block. Concentrating and generating all power into his arm and hand, slammed the ball with full force.
BOOOM!
The ball landed into the university's court, blasting above the block unbothered.
[Aoba Johsai 1 - 1 Miyagi University]
Aoba Johsai served.
Oikawa stepped up to serve.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, there was a sharp predatory looks in them.
Kirito immediately covered back of his head.
"Oi! Don't you trust your senpai?" Oikawa said to Kirito.
"No, I don't want to get headshot." Kirito replied deadpanned.
"Just stand still and I will remove your head from your body." Oikawa said grumbly.
Kirito just shrugged off.
Oikawa tossed the ball close to his body. He didn't toss the ball very high. He immediately sprinted and took an approach similar to spiking the ball.
At the apex height, he generated all power from his core and body into his arm and hands.
It was a beautiful approach. It was honed to perfection through thousands of hours of practice.
Oikawa hammered the ball with full force. The ball deformed violently. The sides of the ball were wiggling to it's extreme.
BOOOOM!
The ball descended between the front row and back row of the University's court within a blink of an eye.
The ball landed and compressed flat on the ground, then violently snapped back into it's original shape releasing all that stored energy and bounced back high into the air.
"Direct ace point!"
[Aoba Johsai 2 - 1 Miyagi University]
"Is he really a high schooler?" They thought.
"Wohoo! I am the supreme ace! Muahaha" Oikawa started to praise himself.
"Yeah, yeah so much so for just a lucky shot." Kirito said.
"This brat! Respect your seniors!" Oikawa backed up.
Aoba Johsai served.
Oikawa turned around and prepared for another serve.
Oikawa tossed the ball very high this time. He tossed it little further away from his body and forward.
He took his approach and with his back arched like a bow, channeled all his strength into his arms and hands.
BOOOM!
Another artillery ball was launched from Oikawa.
The ball headed towards the back row of University's court. The speed was disgustingly fast.
The ball landed at the edge of the back row.
No one from University's team were able to pickup.
"Direct ace point!"
[Aoba Johsai 3 - 1 Miyagi University]
Aoba Johsai started the match very exceptionally. Head coach Irihata was very pleased with the current result. Oikawa was as always perfoming in an elite level.
Aoba Johsai served.
Oikawa served with his signature jump float serve. The ball headed towards the libero of the University team.
BOOOM!
The libero immediately ran to save the ball. His hands went under the ball to dig. He was half successful, but as he came in contact with that ball, it bounced off his hands and went of bounds.
Oikawa had added a nasty topspin into the ball.
[Aoba Johsai 4 - 1 Miyagi University]
Oikawa alone was murdering Miyagi University team.
"What a strong setter and server." Their libero said.
"I'll get the next one!" he added.
Oikawa grinned wildly at that.
Aoba Johsai served.
Oikawa playfully looked at every member of University's team. Like a predator toying it's prey.
Oikawa kept spinning the ball at his hands. Suddenly, he stopped spinning the ball. He held the ball in his palm and raised that same hand and pointed to the ace of the University's team.
"You're next." Oikawa said in his mind.
The ace of University's team got provoked and shouted, "Bring it on!"
Oikawa tossed the ball into the air, close to his body and jumped to serve.
Oikawa inhaled air into his mouth. Generated maximum strength and channeled into his arms and hands. He slammed the ball vehemently.
Upon contact with the ball, it deformed and compressed.
BOOOM!
The University's ace seeing the ball coming his way immediately positioned himself to receive.
He crouched to the ground and extended both of his arms. The ball came in contact with his forearms. He tried to absorb the energy of the ball, but the ball was violently strong and had a nasty topspin. It bounced of his forearms and bounced out of bounds.
[Aoba Johsai 5 - 1 Miyagi University]
Things were getting ugly for the University team.
"I'm getting used to his serves." Their libero said.
"Has a nasty topspin on every serve." he added.
"Alright, we'll leave his serves to you." The ace said.
The libero nodded.
Aoba Johsai served.
Oikawa served with jump serve.
The ball headed towards the back row.
The University team's libero immediately darted to dig the ball up. This time he was successful.
He immediately passed the ball to the setter.
The setter initiated a quick set to the ace of the team.
Seeing the set, Kirito and Matsukawa immediately formed a double block.
The ace smiled evilly and targeted Kirito's fingers once again. The ace performed a tool-shot spike.
BOOM!
Smack!
The ball's momentum immediately got killed in an instant and landed right behind the ace's back.
"Block point!"
[Aoba Johsai 6 - 1 Miyagi University]
Aoba Johsai served.
Oikawa once again stepped up to serve. He was smiling endlessly and flashing his smug smile to the opponents. He wanted to provoke them to force into an error. He was starting to notice they were able to receive his serves.
Oikawa performed another jump float serve.
Their libero picked up the ball and passed it to the setter.
The setter immediately set the ball to the wing spiker at the right.
Kirito immediately launched into air. Solo block.
The wing spiker thinking he could score over a solo block, positioned himself into a favorable posture to spike.
Kirito raised both of his arms and close all the gaps to prevent line shot or power shot.
The wing spiker seeing his options for line shot and power shot being closed, opted for a cross-court shot.
BOOM!
Kirito immediately moved his arm towards the left side to block the cross-court spike, but the spiker beat him to it.
But-
Smack!
Iwaizumi from back row received it and passed the ball to Oikawa.
Kirito seeing the ball being passed to Oikawa, immediately sprinted to the left side of the court.
Oikawa quickly performed a quick high set to Kirito.
The ball was set in precision.
Kirito leapt high into the air. Kirito didn't look at the ball, but just jumped.
Upon seeing the set, the University's team immediately set up a triple block.
Kirito was an imposing and lethal spiker. They had to stop him. So, they set up a triple block.
Meanwhile, Kirito was very surprised with the quality of the set. The ball was placed exactly at his sweet spot. It was tailored perfectly.
Kirito grinned.
Seeing the block and this beautiful set, it would be shame to spike the ball over the block. So, Kirito made up his mind to blast the ball through the block.
Then, in mid-air, he arched his back into a "C" shape. He generated all his powers from his core and channeled them into his arms and hands. Every muscle was loaded with power to the point of breaking. His arms cocked back. It looked like a dislocated arm. His elbows were kissing the sky and hands drawn like a hammer about to fall.
BOOOOM!
The sound from the impact sounded like a gunshot.
The ball deformed grotesquely on the impact. The ball didn't arc nor float.
It dropped-a vicious, almost angry topspin dragging it downward, like the gravity had a personal grudge. The trajectory was less of a curve and more of a threat.
The ball slammed violently into the blocker's arms and due to the vicious force behind the spike, pushed the blocker into the ground. The blocker couldn't keep his center of gravity steady and pulled the other blockers down with him onto the ground, butt first.
The ball slammed into the floor and ricocheted high up into the air. No dig. No attempt. The libero had taken one step and then simply stopped — because some balls you don't chase. Some balls you just respect.
The net was still trembling.
The silence was so loud, it was noisy.
Kirito's teammates from the bench all stood up and screamed at the top of their lungs.
Kindaichi took his towel and waived with madness. He was practically howling and shouting.
The players in the court rushed to celebrate with Kirito.
Kirito high-fived all of them.
"Thanks for the beautiful set, Oikawa-senpai." Kirito said honestly.
"Hmph, obviously for such a beautiful set, that vicious spike was necessary." Oikawa said proudly.
"Nice kill, Kirito." Iwaizumi said.
"Hehe, then on to the next point!" Kirito said to all of them.