Maybe by then, they would finally realize just how wide the gap was between them.
After all, they were several years older than him. Whether it was training time or overall maturity, they should have the clear advantage.
How could they possibly lose here?
If word got out that a group of college players couldn't even handle a middle schooler, it would be completely humiliating.
"Boom!"
Standing at the service line, Hank paid no attention to the people in front of him. He tossed the ball high from about three meters behind the line, then burst forward into a rapid approach and jump, choosing the opponent's libero as his target.
A heavy sound rang out, and the ball Hank had served was received cleanly.
That said, the other side really was a team made up of college players.
It was only natural that they could handle his serve.
But Hank was no longer the same person he had been a few days ago.
Even though only a few days had passed, his strength had improved tremendously, because the system task he had previously received was to join a high school club.
And through that, he would earn a system reward.
Now, he had indeed joined Aoba Johsai, which meant he had completed that system task.
"Ding! Detected that the host has successfully joined the Aoba Johsai volleyball club. Reward granted: Back-Row Spike!"
As expected, Hank quickly received the reward from the system.
A back-row spike was a technique that relied on explosive jumping ability and precise control over the setter's toss, allowing the ace to overcome positional limitations.
It was an attacking technique launched from the back row.
Most of the time, this kind of play was coordinated with the middle blocker and rarely used on its own...
But in the current situation, that did not matter.
As long as the setter could send the ball to him, he could score.
That absolute confidence filled Hank with momentum in any match he played.
"They're up against a college team that's been tempered over the course of three years. Their fundamentals are definitely much stronger than the teams he faced in the junior high tournament."
"In a situation like this, he should be out of options."
Coach Irihata looked in Hank's direction.
By now, Hank's style had basically been figured out.
That meant the choices left open to him were becoming fewer and fewer.
If nothing unexpected happened, he probably would not get many chances to attack at the net this round.
It seemed this match had already foreshadowed its final outcome.
"I've got it!"
The libero on Hank's side shoved him aside and stepped forward to receive the opponent's spike.
And then, just one second before the setter got under the ball, something happened that stunned everyone present.
Hank, who was in the back row, actually started his approach and jumped forward toward the front.
"Has this guy lost his mind!? He's actually jumping from the back row!?"
"Is he not thinking straight!?"
Kindaichi and Kunimi both blurted out their disbelief.
No matter how high he could jump, choosing a back-row attack placed enormous demands on the ace.
Not only did he need to control his attack angle, but even his timing on the jump had to be precise down to the smallest fraction.
And Hank had only just joined a high school club, yet he already wanted to pull off a move like that!?
Calling him crazy was not an exaggeration at all.
"Set it to him."
Just as Yahaba on the court caught sight of Hank from the corner of his eye and was still hesitating over whether he should send him the ball, Oikawa, standing off the court, suddenly spoke up.
The moment he heard that, Yahaba instinctively sent the ball high into the air.
As soon as the ball left the setter's hands, Hank exploded upward from the spot, his body arching into a fully drawn bow.
At that sight, countless people were left dumbfounded.
What was going on here?
Hank had jumped from the back row and directly reached the front row.
That jumping ability—
Before anyone could even react, Hank swung his arm and smashed the ball forward.
In the end, the ball crashed precisely into the opponent's court.
Seeing that, everyone was stunned.
They had never witnessed anyone leap from the back row straight into the front row to launch an attack.
It was something they had never even heard of.
(End of Chapter)
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