This was the same tactic Hank had used back when he faced Kitagawa Daiichi: using his serving technique to tear apart the opponent's defense in a short amount of time. Seeing it again now on the court, Hank did not feel much at all.
After all, in Japan's strict seniority culture, it was normal enough for seniors to look down on juniors.
"Bang!"
With a crisp sound, Watari, standing in the middle of the back row, barely managed to receive the ball with a strained lunge. But because the team's coordination was off, Yahaba was forced to take the second touch from a very high position, which let the college players waiting at the net set up their block early.
Seeing the mocking looks coming from the front, almost everyone thought this ball was definitely going to become a free ball from Hank's side.
At that very moment, however, Hank, who had been stationed at the net the whole time, seized the chance and charged straight toward the ball flying to him in midair. Kindaichi, who had originally been preparing to receive it, immediately retreated backward on instinct the moment he saw Hank rushing in.
And in that instant of distraction, he suddenly felt a dark shadow appear in front of his eyes.
Hank's entire body had practically risen over his head. Only after seeing it up close did Kindaichi truly realize just how monstrous Hank's talent was.
The gap between him and Hank in this lifetime was like the difference in their jumping heights—a chasm too wide to cross.
And Hank, jumping with all his strength, unleashed a violent spike at the college team in front of him. In an instant, the volleyball crashed down like a cannonball right beside the opposing libero's feet.
"Boom!"
Along with the heavy sound of that spike echoing across the court, the entire Aoba Johsai club fell into dead silence for several seconds. Everyone instinctively looked toward Hank, all of them wanting to know what exactly had just happened.
"What just happened? Hank practically flew over the net..."
Watching Hank's full-power jump just now, Yui was so shocked she could not even close her mouth. In that instant, it felt as though a faint electric current had run through her entire body.
At that moment, she suddenly remembered what Hank had mentioned before—that he seemed to have defeated Kitagawa Daiichi. In that match, North River Middle School's wing spiker had been injured and substituted out, and Hank had been sent in.
And it was that very match where North River defeated Kitagawa Daiichi.
Could Hank have been the one who caused that complete turnaround!?
But unlike a few days ago, when he was still playing in the junior high tournament, he had now successfully joined the club. That meant he had officially obtained a mission from the system.
In other words, he could now claim the mission reward.
"Heh, just as expected from Hank. That absurd jump of his is so insane it doesn't even feel real."
"A gift he was born with."
Oikawa stared at Hank on the court and said it with a crooked grin.
"This... he's basically about to jump over the net entirely. That talent is ridiculous."
Irihata and the rest of the staff instantly got excited when they saw the talent Hank had just displayed. There was no doubt about it: the talent he had shown was terrifying. That jumping ability alone was already enough to lock him in as a regular.
Talent like that spoke for itself.
"Consider this my return gift, senpai."
After landing, Hank straightened up and calmly spoke to the college players in front of him. The reason he had chosen to spike it right at the opposing libero's feet was entirely to repay them for that serve just now.
And the moment Hank said those words, everyone on his side felt as if they had been electrocuted. A terrible feeling instantly rose in their hearts.
"Don't get so full of yourself, brat!"
It was obvious that the college players had been angered by what Hank had just said. All of them turned serious at once. They had to teach this kid a proper lesson, otherwise he might really start thinking that a mere middle schooler could defeat them.
After Kunimi rotated to the back row and served, the straight shot landed in the opponent's backcourt. Once their setter had already organized the offense and sent the ball to the wing spiker for the attack...
Something no one expected happened again.
Hank, who had originally been guarding the net, jumped straight up from where he stood. With a blocking height of 346 centimeters, he gave the other side no chance to react at all, and the ball was stuffed straight back down.
At this point, from the opening of the match until now, every bit of the rhythm had been completely controlled by Hank. He was so strong that it no longer felt like the kind of power a middle schooler should be able to wield.
"What is up with that kid? How can he jump that high!? That's already beyond human."
"It really is ridiculous. Did you see that just now? Half his body was practically above the net."
"This is insane."
After seeing the talent Hank had displayed, the college players were thoroughly shocked. For someone with that kind of height to also have such a terrifying jumping ability was simply outrageous.
It had already gone beyond the limits of their understanding. Reaching that level truly counted as top-tier talent.
"But that was probably his only chance to show off. He's obviously the ace, but he was arranged in position four for this match. He'll rotate to the back row soon enough."
"When that happens, he won't get another chance to make use of that top-tier vertical jump."
"As long as we avoid his jump float serve, that's enough."
One of the college players who had watched Hank play before pointed out the flaw in Hank's current situation. As the ace, the amount of time he could stay in the front row was limited. As long as their side scored a few more points, Hank would rotate into the back row.
And when that happened, all they had to do was receive his jump float serve.
In the end, he would still lose to them.
(End of Chapter)
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