Chapter 19: Aoba Johsai vs. Wakutani Minami 4
[Aoba Johsai 9 vs. Wakutani Minami 7]
Aoba Johsai's serve.
Matsukawa Issei sent the ball between Hanayama Kazuya and Naruko Teppei, catching them off guard and missing the optimal receiving moment.
"I've got it!" Naruko Teppei snapped back, rushing to receive.
Hanayama Kazuya barely set the ball to Nakashima Taku.
"Triple block!" Kaedehara Taiichi, Iwaizumi Hajime, and Oikawa Tooru lined up as one.
Nakashima Taku aimed for Taiichi's palm on the far left and spiked.
In that instant, Taiichi retracted his hands, and the ball sailed through the space above him, crashing into the wall at the back of the court.
Nakashima Taku's spike went out! Aoba Johsai scored.
[Aoba Johsai 10 vs. Wakutani Minami 7]
"Wooo, Taiichi!" Kindaichi Yuutarou cheered from the sidelines.
How's that possible? Nakashima Taku was stunned. He'd observed Taiichi, noting his unremarkable jump. Such a brief hang time shouldn't support that move, unless…
Nakashima met Taiichi's piercing gaze, and gave a wry smile.
Taiichi had predicted Nakashima's spike. With a poor first touch, the setter could only rely on the ace. Taiichi was certain Nakashima would use his signature weapon—hitting out off the block.
So, when Taiichi jumped to block, he was ready to pull his hands back, perfectly dodging Nakashima's spike aimed at his palm.
Their eyes met mid-air, and Nakashima finally pinpointed the familiar feeling. Despite Taiichi's height, his playstyle echoed the Little Giant's techniques!
Aoba Johsai continued serving. Matsukawa Issei again targeted the gap between Hanayama Kazuya and Naruko Teppei.
Learning from the last play, Hanayama Kazuya quickly stepped aside, and Naruko Teppei received. Hanayama adjusted and set to Nakashima Taku again.
"Nice set!" Nakashima Taku approached, leaped, and extended his body mid-air.
A power spike! Taiichi and Iwaizumi Hajime held their breath, tensing their arms and jumping.
But at the moment of spiking, Nakashima slowed his motion, lightly tipping the ball with his fingers, dropping it behind Taiichi.
"Damn, such a seamless switch."
Nakashima completely fooled Aoba Johsai's defense, and the ball landed in their court.
[Aoba Johsai 10 vs. Wakutani Minami 8]
"That was slick, Taku!" Pineapple-headed Kawato Shunya praised.
"Haha, you can do it too," Nakashima Taku said, returning to his position.
"No worries, stay sharp, defend the next one," Hanamaki Takahiro called out, snapping Taiichi back to focus.
Wakutani Minami's serve. First-year Matsushima Go stepped to the service line, his near-1.8-meter height the tallest on Wakutani Minami. Aoba Johsai's players braced themselves.
Bang! The ball rocketed to Aoba Johsai's side.
"Out!" Watari Shinji judged swiftly, not receiving.
Serve out, Aoba Johsai scored.
[Aoba Johsai 11 vs. Wakutani Minami 8]
"You gotta practice your serves!" Shiraishi Yuki shouted at Matsushima Go.
"Yes, sorry, senpai!" His timid personality belied his height.
"Defend the next one!" Nakashima Taku steadied the team.
The situation turned against Wakutani Minami, as Oikawa Tooru's service rotation was next.
Just seeing Oikawa Tooru walk slowly to the service line with the ball weighed heavily on Wakutani Minami's players.
Oikawa pointed at Matsushima Go. "First-year, practice your receiving too."
With that, Oikawa's serve shot straight at Matsushima Go.
Bang! The ball didn't land!
Nakashima Taku, anticipating Oikawa's taunt wasn't a bluff, had moved toward his first-year teammate, receiving the ball in time.
But the ball's force was too great, rebounding back into Aoba Johsai's airspace.
"Chance ball!"
Matsukawa Issei received steadily, passing to Oikawa Tooru. Taiichi and Iwaizumi Hajime jumped from the left and right.
Oikawa set to Iwaizumi Hajime on the right, who spiked powerfully.
Wakutani Minami's libero, Akiho Kazumitsu, dove to save the ball. Hanayama Kazuya, in a scramble, set to Kawato Shunya on the right.
"Double block!" Taiichi and Iwaizumi Hajime blocked Kawato Shunya's spike.
"Touch!" Taiichi shouted, sprinting left the moment he landed.
As Oikawa prepared to organize the attack, he saw Taiichi already jumping on the left, poised to spike.
"Transmit it, transmit it here, I want to spike!" Taiichi's movements seemed to shout at Oikawa.
"This guy!" Oikawa gritted his teeth, straining to set to Taiichi.
"Too short!" Oikawa felt it the moment he set. The ball was slightly off!
Taiichi noticed the imperfect set, his body already descending. He stretched his right hand, barely tipping the ball.
The ball grazed the net's top, perilously dropping into Wakutani Minami's court.
[Aoba Johsai 12 vs. Wakutani Minami 8]
"What was that?"
"Can you call that a quick attack?"
"It felt faster than a quick…" Nakashima Taku mused.
"Was that Karasuno's 'Freak Quick'? Though it didn't quite work," Iwaizumi Hajime said, eyeing Oikawa and Taiichi in surprise.
Taiichi looked shaken. He'd had a sudden idea: if his speed could track Hinata Shouyou's defense, why not use it for offense like him?
Once the thought sparked, his body acted on its own.
Oikawa, the other half of the play, knew better. They'd indeed mimicked Karasuno's Freak Quick. But Taiichi lacked Hinata's jump height and speed, and Oikawa lacked Kageyama Tobio's setting precision.
Yet, it nearly worked! That meant it was trainable. The Freak Quick could be replicated!
Also, Taiichi's mid-air demand for the ball startled Oikawa. This guy wasn't joking about becoming the ace.
"Taiichi, discuss those plays beforehand! So reckless," Oikawa said helplessly.
"Oh!" Taiichi, still buzzing with excitement, grinned. "But I knew Oikawa-senpai would set it."
"Huh? Why so sure?"
"Because Kageyama can set that ball. Aoba Johsai's setter, Miyagi's top setter, can't possibly fail," Taiichi replied with a bright laugh.
Oikawa froze at Taiichi's matter-of-fact tone.
He never doubted his teammates' trust in him.
But Aoba Johsai's players expected Oikawa to do what he'd already proven. As the team's ace, he bore the heaviest load, so no one pushed him further.
Oikawa always operated within his capabilities.
But Taiichi was different. He believed Oikawa could grow stronger, that if Kageyama could do it, the setter Kageyama admired should naturally follow.
"Really, no consideration for your senpai…"
For the first time in a while, Oikawa felt pushed to move forward.