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Chapter 395: Caught Head-On (Double-Length)
🕑 Added 2025-04-23 18:30:54 +0000 UTC"So, does that mean our match ended the earliest?" Yahaba Shigeru asked while packing up his things. "Has the next opponent not been decided yet?"
"They were the last to start," Yamabuki Yūjin replied. "A senpai just messaged me—Date Tech took the first set."
"Oh? That's pretty impressive!" Kaedehara Taichi chimed in, leaning over. "Heh, those foxes must be having a hard time against that giant wall."
"What're you looking at, Kunimi?" Kindaichi Yūtarō's voice came from across the bench.
Kunimi Akira flashed a mischievous smile. "I was just wondering…What if all three of the Tokyo representatives ended up stuck in the same bracket and not a single one makes it through?"
"Ugh…Kunimi, that smile is creepy as hell right now."
Mizoguchi Sadayuki walked over and urged the team, "Alright, everyone—wrap it up. Once you've changed out of your sweaty shirts, we're going to go watch the match on Court B."
"Yes, sir!"
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"Huh? That strong team is just Miyagi's second representative?"
Among Inarizaki High's cheering squad, restlessness had begun to spread after they lost the first set.
"Idiots. Their first representative is Aoba Johsai. No matter how strong Date Tech is, they're nothing compared to those guys."
"Maybe so…but if we can't even beat Date Tech, then how the hell are we supposed to—"
"Tch. How many sets have we dropped this year against weaker teams, huh? Those third-years are seriously slacking. Without Kita on the court, you just mess around until it's a crisis."
-----
A similar scolding was happening back in Inarizaki's bench area, courtesy of Coach Kurosu Norimune.
"Back then, you'd win the first set and get careless in the second. Now what? You're losing the first one outright!" Coach Kurosu's tone was sharp, his face dark. "You think you're ready to face Aoba Johsai playing like this?!"
"As long as we win the next two sets, it's fine, right?" Miya Atsumu muttered.
"Atsumu! This whole mess the team's in? You're not off the hook either—you're the captain!" Coach Ōmi Tarō reprimanded him sternly.
In hindsight, they probably should've picked someone else as captain. Ōmi Tarō swept his gaze across Atsumu, Osamu, and Suna Rintarō.
"…Not a single one of them is easy to manage."
Ginjima Hitoshi was a serious kid, sure, but neither his skill nor his temperament was enough to rein in this pack of eccentrics.
"Haah…" Ōmi sighed. Another day of missing Kita Shinsuke.
"Anyway, you should all understand the situation now," Coach Kurosu said with a hard expression. "We don't have any room left to retreat."
"In the next set, I expect you to play seriously and win decisively."
"Yes, sir!!!"
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"Outta bounds!"
"Ooooouuut!"
Aoba Johsai's players had just stepped into Court B when they were greeted by an overwhelming barrage of jeers from Inarizaki's cheering squad.
"Man, their cheering section is still scary as hell," Kaedehara Taichi said with a casual grin as he scratched his ear. Maybe that's why it always felt so satisfying to silence them.
"The first time I heard it, I was honestly shocked," Kunimi Akira added.
Back then, the only threatening server on Seijoh's side had been Oikawa Tōru—who, ironically, was the one person least fazed by loud crowds.
"Tweet!—"
Even the referee's whistle was almost drowned out by the roar.
Koganegawa Kanji launched a powerful jump serve.
BOOM!!
"Out!"
Koganegawa's serve missed. Point to Inarizaki.
[Inarizaki 24 – 20 Date Tech]
"OOOOOHHHHH—!"
"SO—LUCKY!!"
Riding the wave of their cheer squad's hellish hype, Inarizaki had reached 24 first, holding four set points.
"Damn it! I wanna beat the crap outta those jerks!" Kamasaki Yasushi's arm bulged with veins. He looked less like he was waving a flag and more like he was ready to punch someone.
"Calm down, Kamasaki," Moniwa Kaname tried to soothe him. "I believe in Aone and the others. They've already started adjusting!"
"It's just inexperience," Sasaya Takehito growled, slamming a hand on the railing. "Next time we're back here, we're bringing proper gear!"
Date Tech's usual cheering, made up of rhythmic chants and clinks from Pocari bottles, was simply no match for Inarizaki's brass band and pounding drums. Now, their voices were completely drowned out.
Just then, Miya Atsumu stepped up to the service line. The surging music washed over the stadium like a wave, pushing the atmosphere to its peak.
"Tweet!—"
The whistle blew. Atsumu raised his left hand and clenched his fist.
Suddenly, silence fell.
He no longer needed the cheers to perform—but the illusion of total control over the match in that one fleeting instant? It was intoxicating.
Bang!—
"He didn't target the libero."
The serve—a float—rocketed toward Koganegawa Kanji in a flash.
Smack!
The ball hit his hand and veered out past the baseline.
Service ace.
[Inarizaki 25 – 20 Date Tech]
—"First, a service error by Koganegawa, then an ace from Miya Atsumu. At this point in the game, there's no role the blockers can play."
Inarizaki took the second set.
The match was now tied, one set apiece.
"Alright! Let's reset and crush them in the last set!" Futakuchi Kenji said boldly.
"Man, this really is Nationals…Inarizaki really is the toughest challenger. Their attacks come from so many angles it makes your head spin." Kimura Ryōta was fired up. It was on this very court that Taichi-senpai had transformed—and he wanted to do the same.
"Hm?"
Aone Takanobu placed a single hand atop Koganegawa's head.
Probably meant to be comforting, Futakuchi guessed, though he wasn't sure.
Koganegawa Kanji had never been great at setting. And now, facing Miya Atsumu—one of the top setters in the country since Oikawa Tōru graduated—the gap in skill between the two couldn't be clearer.
In the first set, Atsumu had focused more on breaking through Date Tech's blockers and libero, while Koganegawa had been more like a spiker than a setter. The audience barely saw the two as occupying the same position.
But in the second set, Atsumu had clearly shifted his attention toward targeting Koganegawa. Under his calculated play, the difference in technique and experience between the two was now plain for all to see.
"Keep your head up, Koganegawa." Futakuchi patted him lightly. It was rare to see him this quiet.
"Huh?" Koganegawa looked up, dazed.
"What the—? You can make that kind of face?" Futakuchi muttered. "Didn't you already go up against Oikawa-senpai and Kageyama?"
"But this is Nationals…If we lose because of me…"
That bitter look returned to Koganegawa's face. These past few days at the Tokyo Gymnasium, he'd truly begun to feel the weight of this stage.
Smack!
Futakuchi slapped him across the forehead. "Idiot. That's something we third-years should be worried about. You just need to enjoy the match—like that guy over there."
He pointed toward Kimura Ryōta, whose eyes sparkled with excitement as the match continued.
"Let's go! One more time! Back on the court!"
"Koganegawa—!! YOU GOT THIS—!!" Moniwa's voice rang out from the stands.
"Moniwa-senpai!" A warm feeling bubbled in Koganegawa's chest.
Even though Date Tech's third-years had retired, they hadn't missed a single important match. They were always there, cheering from the front row of the support section.
"Aoba Johsai's here too…"
Next to the Date Tech cheering squad stood the recently arrived Aoba Johsai team.
"So they've already won their match? That was fast!"
Koganegawa, seeing so many familiar faces, suddenly calmed down. "It really doesn't feel any different from the matches back in the prefecture…That match against Karasuno looked exactly the same."
"Futakuchi-senpai! Let's win our match quickly so we can play against Aoba Johsai again!" Koganegawa fired himself up almost instantly.
"Of course. This time, it's our turn to show off on the national stage."
"Let's go! Get out there, boys!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
———
The teams switched courts. The decisive third set was officially underway.
Inarizaki's lineup:
Front row—Outside Hitter Riseki Heisuke, Middle Blocker Nojima Nobu, Setter Miya Atsumu.
Back row—Outside Hitter Miya Osamu, Middle Blocker Suna Rintarō (Libero: Sakurai Shōta) and Outside Hitter Ginjima Hitoshi.
Date Tech's lineup:
Front row—Middle Blocker Aone Takanobu, Setter Koganegawa Kanji, Outside Hitter Kimura Ryōta.
Back row—Outside Hitter Futakuchi Kenji, Outside Hitter Obara Yutaka and Middle Blocker Fukiage Jingo (Libero: Sakunami Kōsuke).
—"Which team will advance one step closer to the summit?"
—"Will it be the Iron Wall Date Tech, with the highest average height in the tournament? Or the strongest challengers Inarizaki, who boast an endless variety of offensive tactics?!"
—"The deciding set begins with Date Tech's serve!"
Boom!—
Fukiage Jingo launched a powerful jump serve!
Smack!
Sakurai Shōta received it cleanly—perfect pass.
Miya Atsumu jumped to set the ball at the net, and all four spikers from Inarizaki initiated an attack!
—"Facing Date Tech's Iron Wall, Inarizaki abandons defense from the very first rally and goes all in on offense!"
"Damn it, his posture is perfect too!"
Date Tech's front row couldn't predict where the ball would go and could only spread out across the net, bracing for the instant the ball left Atsumu's hands.
Boom!
"You won't stop me just by watching."
The ball grazed the sideline and bounced up.
Second attack!
Miya Atsumu rotated his body midair and spiked a straight shot—direct point!
[Inarizaki 1 - 0 Date Tech]
—"As expected of Miya Atsumu! Date Tech's blocking holds no threat against him—they're frozen stiff!"
Serve changed hands—Inarizaki to serve.
"Heisuke, serve us a good one."
"Got it!"
Riseki Heisuke tossed the ball, ran up, jumped, and struck it.
BOOM!
"I got it!" Obara Yutaka shouted. Just as Futakuchi had predicted, Inarizaki continued to target Koganegawa in the third set.
Smack!
But the receive wasn't ideal—the ball veered left.
Futakuchi Kenji quickly moved to cover but wasn't confident in the set.
"Right side! High ball!"
Kimura Ryōta raised his hand on the right.
Whoosh—!
A steady, slightly high toss flew toward the right side. Kimura ran along the sideline.
Thud!
Kimura jumped and spiked the ball.
"Triple block!" Nojima Nobu, Miya Atsumu, and Ginjima Hitoshi all leapt to block.
Boom!—
Smack!
The ball struck Ginjima Hitoshi's arm and flew out of bounds.
Point for Kimura Ryōta!
[Inarizaki 1 - 1 Date Tech]
"This brat…He could've gone for a clean spike but deliberately aimed for the block-out," Miya Atsumu muttered, the unpleasant memories welling up inside him.
Date Tech reclaimed the serve with ease.
Kimura Ryōta fired a jump serve.
Boom!
"Don't underestimate us just 'cause we lost to him!"
Miya Osamu was seething inside.
Smack!
Osamu received the serve and bumped it toward the net. Atsumu leapt in sync to spike.
"Double block!" Aone Takanobu and Futakuchi Kenji jumped together.
"So fast! So scary!" Atsumu grinned.
Whoosh!—
Boom!
The ball was sent to center court—Miya Osamu attacked from the back row and scored!
[Inarizaki 2 - 1 Date Tech]
—"Twin Quick Attack: Soul Switch version!" shouted Atsumu and Osamu in unison.
"Wasn't that name for a completely different play last time?" Suna Rintarō doused them with cold water the moment he stepped on court.
"Ehh—that's so mean!" Atsumu complained.
"Atsumu, if you think about it, doesn't that mean Rintarō's paying close attention to us?" Osamu offered a different perspective.
"Rintarō——!"
"No, I'm not," Suna instantly regretted speaking up. "You two are just too noisy."
"Osamu, he's embarrassed! He's totally embarrassed!"
"Then let's keep using that play in front of him since he likes it so much!"
"You guys are the worst!"
Suna Rintarō was glad he was only a middle blocker—he only had to share court time with them half the match.
Serve change—Inarizaki to serve.
Nojima Nobu launched a powerful jump serve.
Kimura Ryōta received it smoothly. Koganegawa Kanji jumped—and spiked!
"What the hell is this recklessness?!" Atsumu was practically twitching with exasperation. "A second touch attack from the setter is supposed to be elegant!"
BOOM!!!
An overhand spike.
The ball soared past Atsumu's block and slammed down in front of Nojima Nobu.
Point for Koganegawa Kanji!
[Inarizaki 2 - 2 Date Tech]
Serve change—Date Tech to serve.
Futakuchi Kenji stepped up to the line.
"Rather than a serve that feels good to me, I prefer one that feels awful for the other guy."
Bang!
The ball floated shakily, heading straight for Inarizaki's front row—toward Suna Rintarō.
"As a middle blocker, you probably hate receiving, right?"
Smack!
"Tch." The ball skimmed Suna's fingers and dropped toward the back row.
Smack!
Miya Osamu dove and saved the ball.
It soared toward the net. Ginjima Hitoshi adjusted midair and barely got it over.
"Chance ball!"
Sakunami Kōsuke received it perfectly.
Koganegawa Kanji jumped to set.
"This guy—no choice but to block him!" Atsumu leapt to block Kanjiro directly.
Whoosh!—
A perfectly placed high set—Aone Takanobu leapt and struck at the peak.
"No way!"
Suna Rintarō followed Date Tech's quick attack perfectly and wasn't outmatched in height either.
Smack!
"Touch!"
The ball smacked the upper part of Suna's palm and soared upward.
Smack!
Osamu backpedaled and sent the ball back into play.
Whoosh—!
Atsumu sent the ball left—Suna leapt again.
"Triple block!" Obara Yutaka, Koganegawa Kanji, and Aone Takanobu all jumped.
The cross angle was sealed off.
Suna twisted his torso, swinging his arm with power and precision.
Boom!!—
The ball squeezed through the left side of Aone—
—Smack!
"There it is again—that nasty feeling." Suna already knew the guy in front of him was terrifying.
The ball he had spiked felt like it slammed itself into Aone Takanobu's arm.
Smack!
The ball bounced straight back into Inarizaki's court.
Date Tech scores off a block!
[Inarizaki 2 - 3 Date Tech]
In the first two sets, Suna Rintarō had consistently scored—this time, Aone Takanobu shut him down completely!
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