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Chapter 151: Three Serves
🕑 Added 2025-01-13 16:00:12 +0000 UTCPractice matches weren't something Taichi could decide on his own, but when he shared the idea with his teammates, they were immediately intrigued.
After reaching out, Coach Irihata arranged a friendly match with Karasuno.
Unsurprisingly, Karasuno's faculty advisor, Mr. Takeda, accepted the offer enthusiastically.
———
A week passed quickly.
For the first time, Aoba Johsai's team set foot on Karasuno's campus.
"This place is…small."
Compared to Aoba Johsai, Karasuno High School was much more remote, and its campus was visibly smaller. While school size didn't directly correlate with a team's strength, the contrast left a surprising impression.
Upon entering Karasuno's gymnasium, the difference became even more evident—the gym was only about one-third the size of Aoba Johsai's facility.
Taichi recalled a metaphor from the original story that compared the three schools:
Shiratorizawa Academy—fertile soil;
Aoba Johsai—barren ground;
Karasuno High—reinforced concrete.
Now that he was here in person, the description felt perfectly apt.
"Taichi!" Hinata Shōyō greeted him energetically.
"Shōyō! And Tenma-senpai!" Taichi returned the wave, smiling as he approached.
Once, Taichi had felt that Hinata bore some resemblance to his former mentor, Udai Tenma.
But seeing them side-by-side now, that impression faded.
"Wow, so this is one of the top eight teams in the country? The sheer presence they exude is overwhelming. Was my old team like this too?" Udai Tenma's eyes widened as he observed Taichi's teammates for the first time.
The sense of intimidation wasn't exclusive to him. Even Karasuno's players, who had already faced Aoba Johsai twice, felt an almost palpable pressure when the Seijoh team entered their gym.
This aura—it's even stronger than before. What kind of training have they gone through?
The Karasuno players exchanged incredulous glances. Not even during joint practice with Fukurodani, another top-eight team, had they felt such intense pressure.
Aoba Johsai's players moved with a quiet, focused confidence. Each step seemed heavy with purpose, their expressions reflecting both calm assurance and an unquenchable thirst for victory.
"Senpai, I heard from Shōyō that your protégé plans to defeat me today?" Taichi teased Udai with a mischievous grin.
"Ahem, Shōyō!" Udai cleared his throat and turned aside.
"That's right!" Hinata declared, squeezing himself between them. "Taichi, I'm not the same as before!"
Taichi studied him intently.
A player who once relied entirely on his team's quick attack system had evolved into one driven by personal growth.
The difference between the two was like night and day.
From his first steps into volleyball to his rapid transformation after facing setbacks, Hinata's journey has been extraordinary.
[Hinata Shōyō—Middle Blocker. Overall rating: 86.5; Height: 163 cm, Strength: 68, Jump: 96, Stamina: 99, Speed: 96. Technique: Block: 70, Receive; 70, Spike: 85.]
His strength had increased marginally by three points, but the fact that his jump and speed, already in the upper echelons, had improved by even a single point was astonishing.
Truly, Hinata's physique was that of a monster.
His other skills were also making steady progress. His spiking technique likely improved after training with Bokuto Kōtarō and Udai Tenma.
Taichi could confidently say that this Hinata Shōyō was far stronger than the one he remembered from this point in the story.
Yet, his heart remained steady.
Since Aoba Johsai had won the prefectural championship, Taichi and his teammates had worked harder than ever.
After tasting bitter defeat at Nationals, Taichi had resolved: He would not lose to anyone again.
[Kaedehara Taichi]
Height: 185 cm, Strength: 92, Jump: 80, Stamina: 90, Speed: 92.
Technique: Receive; 80, Serve: 88, Spike: 90
———
Both teams were already well-acquainted with each other. After brief nods and minimal greetings, the players quickly transitioned into their respective warm-up routines, keeping pre-match interactions to an absolute minimum.
What was expected to be a lighthearted atmosphere shifted subtly the moment Aoba Johsai stepped onto the court.
The aura they carried—their transformation and determination radiating from within—redefined the nature of this practice match without a single word spoken.
Even when facing an opponent they had defeated twice before, Aoba Johsai showed no trace of underestimation.
As the warm-up continued, a palpable tension and anticipation filled the air. Both teams silently reached a mutual understanding: save the words for after the match.
"Let's have a good game!"
The warm-up concluded, and the match began.
Team Irihata lineup:
Front row—Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Middle Blocker Hanamaki Takahiro, Setter Oikawa Tōru
Back row—Wing Spiker Kunimi Akira, Wing Spiker Iwaizumi Hajime, and Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi (Libero Watari Shinji).
Team Irihata lineup:
Front row—Middle Blocker Tanaka Ryūnosuke, Middle Blocker Hinata Shōyō, Wing Spiker Sawamura Daichi
Back row—Setter Kageyama Tobio, Middle Blocker Tsukishima Kei (Libero Nishinoya Yū), and Wing Spiker Azumane Asahi.
The Karasuno players noticed Kaedehara Taichi positioned in the back-row 1st position, puzzled by the choice.
Was he not going to match up directly against Hinata?
Coach Ukai Keishin also furrowed his brows. Seeing Coach Irihata smiling knowingly only confirmed that Aoba Johsai had a specific plan.
Ukai knew Kaedehara had developed a dangerous jump float serve. Still, it seemed wasteful to place their most offensively potent player in the back row just for that.
Aoba Johsai stepped up to serve, with Kaedehara Taichi taking position on the service line.
Since the Shiratorizawa training camp, most of Taichi's practice time had been dedicated to serving and spiking. And now, Karasuno's Nishinoya Yū, the perfect test of his progress, stood on the receiving end.
Nishinoya felt a piercing gaze and turned to see Taichi standing behind the baseline. Was this first-year targeting him?
Taichi tossed the ball single-handedly and began his approach.
The movement, identical to Oikawa Tōru's run-up, confirmed Karasuno's suspicion—it was a jump float serve.
"We won't fall for it this time." Karasuno's players instinctively stepped forward.
Oikawa couldn't help but chuckle at their reaction. "They're really underestimating their opponents' growth," he thought.
Then, with a sly smile, he added silently to himself, "But...I doubt anyone could have predicted Taichi's progress."
Taichi leapt high, his left arm whipping behind him like a coiled spring before striking the ball with tremendous force.
—Boom!
Nishinoya barely caught a glimpse of the ball's trajectory before his body failed to react in time. What was worse—this was a power serve!
[Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Karasuno]
Karasuno's players straightened up slowly, their expressions grim as they glanced at Taichi.
So now, like Oikawa Tōru, he had become a "dual-wielder" server—both float and power serves.
Ukai's frown deepened. With Oikawa positioned at the 2nd spot, was Aoba Johsai planning to use consecutive strong serves to pull ahead right at the start?
Sensing his teammates' unease after just one serve, Nishinoya patted his chest and declared confidently:
"Don't worry, I'll definitely get the next one!"
Taichi stepped back to the service line again. Seeing Nishinoya's determined expression, he couldn't help but smirk and pointed at him with the ball in one hand:
"Nishinoya-senpai, three serves—stop me if you can!"
———
