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Chapter 163: The New King
🕑 Added 2025-01-17 16:05:08 +0000 UTC"Go, Niiyama! Go, Niiyama!"
"Wait, what? Why is everyone cheering for Niiyama Tech? Are they that strong?" Kindaichi Yūtarō asked naively, tilting his head in confusion at the uproar in the stands.
"That's for the Queen," Yahaba Shigeru replied, his gaze already fixed on the opposite side of the gym.
"The Queen?"
"You don't know? Niiyama Girls' High School has been representing Miyagi in the nationals for years," Yahaba explained enthusiastically. "In girls' volleyball, they're scarier than Shiratorizawa. They're practically unstoppable."
Hearing this, Taichi couldn't help but glance toward the Niiyama Girls' High section.
The players stood tall and confident, their well-toned physiques exuding both strength and elegance.
Their aura as a perennial champion was palpable, commanding attention even from afar.
"They do look strong," Taichi murmured, scanning the group when a familiar figure caught his eye.
Kanoka Amanai?
Wasn't she Ryūnosuke Tanaka's childhood friend?
No wonder the name Niiyama High sounded familiar. Taichi smirked, thinking about Tanaka's extraordinary luck—not only having a stunning childhood friend but also eventually marrying the equally dazzling Kiyoko Shimizu.
Taichi chuckled darkly to himself. If we face Karasuno in the finals, I'll target that buzz-cut bastard specifically.
A sharp whistle snapped him out of his thoughts—it was time for Aoba Johsai to begin their warmup.
"Aoba Johsai! Aoba Johsai! We are invincible!"
"Aoba Johsai! The strongest and the best!"
"Let's go, let's go, let's go, Seijoh! Victory, victory, victory, Seijoh!"
The spectators in the stands roared, a sea of teal and white cheering fervently. With Coach Irihata's guarantee of championship contention, the school administration had sent students en masse to cheer for the volleyball team at every match.
A massive banner reading "Rule the Court" fluttered proudly from the railings, capturing the spirit of the crowd.
Taichi felt a familiar surge of adrenaline course through him.
"Nothing beats the thrill of a match where losing means game over," he muttered with a grin.
The crowd was almost double the size of their Interhigh preliminaries, with cheers pouring in like an unrelenting wave, filling the gym and driving the players' energy to its peak.
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After a thirty-minute warmup, Coach Irihata gathered the team for final instructions.
"Today marks the debut of our blocking strategy in an official match. Don't let your guard down."
"Yes, Coach!"
"Don't underestimate any opponent. Secure the win!"
"Yes!!"
"Get out there, Miyagi's new kings."
"Yes!!!"
Aoba Johsai's starting lineup:
Front row—Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, and Wing Spiker Hanamaki Takahiro
Back row—Setter Oikawa Tōru, Middle Blocker Matsukawa Issei (Libero Watari Shinji) and Opposite Hitter Iwaizumi Hajime.
Niiyama Tech's starting lineup:
Front row—Middle blocker Hotta Ryōji, Wing Spiker Izumi Takeo, and Wing Spiker Saijō Naoya
Back row—Middle blocker Naruse Keie (Libero Kanazawa Tomoyuki), Setter Koike Fumi and Wing Spiker Terazawa Kiyo.
The match began with Aoba Johsai serving.
Iwaizumi Hajime stepped up to the service line.
The first serve was more than just a start—it was a statement.
Although the focus had shifted from Iwaizumi's offensive prowess due to their new blocking tactics, his teammates willingly entrusted him with this pivotal moment.
For Iwaizumi, it was an emotional gesture. He initially saw his reduced offensive role as a sacrifice, but over time, he found fulfilment in shutting down the opponents' ace attacks and contributing to the team's victories in a different way.
We are Seijoh. We are the strongest.
He tossed the ball high into the air.
Bang!
The ball rocketed over the net, a powerful, unrestrained serve.
It carved a sharp arc through the air and slammed into Niiyama's backcourt. Their libero, Kanazawa, barely had time to react as the ball hit the floor.
[Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Niiyama Tech.]
It wasn't right—something was definitely wrong!
Kanazawa Tomoyuki's mind was racing.
The scouting report clearly stated that Aoba Johsai only had one and a half strong servers to watch out for.
One was, of course, Oikawa Tōru, whose serves were arguably the best in the prefecture.
The "two half" players referred to Kaedehara Taichi's jump float serve and Kyōtani Kentarō's powerful jump serve.
So what was going on with Aoba Johsai's #4, Iwaizumi Hajime?!
The report from Niyama Tech clearly described him as a strong defender with limited offensive capabilities.
But what was happening now?!
Iwaizumi, of course, remained oblivious to the libero's internal panic. Aoba Johsai's entire team had come to understand one undeniable truth after competing at Nationals: there were no weak servers on strong teams.
Even if they couldn't match Oikawa or Taichi's level, none of Aoba Johsai's serves would ever be an easy opportunity for the opposing team.
Iwaizumi stepped up to serve for the second time.
Thwack!
Even though Niyama Tech was a top-16 team in the prefecture, Kanazawa Tomoyuki only managed to follow the ball's trajectory without successfully receiving it.
[Aoba Johsai 2 - 0 Niyama Tech]
"Iwaizumi! Iwaizumi's serves are fierce!"
"Iwa-chan! Iwa-chan is the best!"
The Aoba Johsai cheering section erupted with enthusiasm.
Iwaizumi clenched his fist triumphantly, his gaze briefly sweeping over Oikawa and Taichi. Whose idea was it to come up with that cheer? He barely suppressed a sigh before calling out, "One more!"
"Great serve, Iwaizumi-senpai!"
The referee blew the whistle, and Iwaizumi prepared for his third serve.
Niyama Tech's players had already adjusted their formation. They stepped back as a unit, spreading the coverage of their two front-row spikers to alleviate pressure on the back-row receivers.
Smack!
This time, Kanazawa finally managed to receive the serve. The ball rebounded high into the air—fortunately, it didn't cross the net.
"Mine!" Fumi Koike, the setter, darted into position beneath the ball.
Niyama Tech's wing spiker Takeo Izumi and outside hitter Saijō Naoya readied themselves to attack.
Whoosh!
The ball sailed to the left wing. Koike misjudged the pass slightly, and the ball ended up too close to the net.
"That's enough," muttered Izumi.
As his team's ace, he had no trouble dealing with imperfect sets. Despite the two first-years standing tall in Aoba Johsai's front row, he trusted his own 188cm height.
With a well-timed approach, Izumi leapt into the air and hammered the ball down with all his might.
"Double block!" Kaedehara Taichi and Kindaichi Yūtarō rose together.
In an instant, Izumi sensed danger.
So high. So fast.
The two sets of arms extended above the net, casting a formidable shadow that covered nearly all his attacking angles.
There was no way through…
A split-second of hesitation seized Izumi as he swung. His spike collided with Kindaichi's arm and ricocheted straight back into Niyama Tech's court.
Aoba Johsai scored with a block.
[Aoba Johsai 3 - 0 Niyama Tech]
Kindaichi's blocking had improved significantly over the summer, but even he couldn't ignore the immense pressure that Taichi's block exerted.
Taichi's hands had stretched over the net, parallel to one another, his arms taut with unrelenting force. He hadn't even tried to stuff the ball—he simply positioned his block as an impenetrable wall.
Kindaichi felt a chill. If the spike had gone in Taichi's direction, there would have been no escape.
"Nice block, Kindaichi!" Taichi grinned, his eyes gleaming.
Kindaichi scratched his head sheepishly. There was still so much to learn.
The serving rotation wasn't over. Iwaizumi returned to the service line.
A collective tension gripped Niyama Tech's players as he prepared for his fourth serve—an inexplicable sense of suffocating pressure.
Thud!
The ball landed just outside the backline.
[Aoba Johsai 3 - 1 Niyama Tech]
The missed serve was a clear sign that Iwaizumi had been rattled by Kanazawa's earlier reception.
The more he tried to control the ball, the harder it was to find the right touch.
"Don't worry about it! Next one!" his teammates called out calmly.
Iwaizumi took a deep breath and returned to his position. The real battle was only beginning.
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