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Chapter 144: Bait
🕑 Added 2025-01-10 16:00:15 +0000 UTCSmack!
Kunimi Akira received Futakuchi Kenji's spike, and Terushima Yūji rotated into position, setting the ball toward the right side.
"I got it." Ushijima Wakatoshi called out calmly.
Terushima's set lacked precision, placing the ball too close to the net. If Kindaichi had been the spiker, Tendō Satori would likely have blocked it.
Kindaichi stepped aside as Ushijima sprinted, leapt, and drove the ball downward.
"Wakatoshi!"
Tendō jumped with a wild yell, positioning himself directly in front of Ushijima.
Smack!
"Contact!"
Ushijima's sheer power forced the ball against Tendō's arms, sending it rebounding upward.
Iwaizumi Hajime's eyes locked on the rising volleyball.
"Got it!"
He tracked its arc and moved swiftly to the backline's edge.
Pop!
Iwaizumi's perfect pass soared high. Shirabu Kenjirō, with unshakable focus, sent the ball leftward with a quick set toward a familiar position, just far enough from the net to give his spiker momentum.
"Taichi!"
Kaedehara Taichi flashed a confident grin as he began his approach from the back row.
His first step past the three-meter line launched him into a powerful takeoff.
The court was now arranged as follows:
Team Irihata—Kaedehara, Futakuchi, and Tendō at the front, with Goshiki, Shirabu, and Iwaizumi in the back.
Team Washijō—Oikawa, Ushijima, and Kindaichi in the front, with Yamagata, Terushima, and Kunimi covering the back.
"Double block!" Oikawa and Ushijima rose together.
It was a rare but immensely reassuring sight.
Oikawa subtly angled his arms to the left, minimizing Taichi's margin for a down-the-line spike.
Taichi tightened his left arm and unleashed a powerful strike.
Boom!
The ball collided with Oikawa's hands and rebounded high.
"Contact!" Oikawa's eyes sparkled as he met Taichi gaze.
Yamagata had already moved into position, expertly bumping the ball forward.
"Ushijima!"
Oikawa delivered a precise set to the left wing.
Ushijima's pupils contracted as he tracked the ball.
Being Oikawa's teammate often came with high demands—like now, when he needed to jump with full force immediately after landing from a block.
But Ushijima thrived under these conditions.
He stormed forward, accelerating with every step.
"Double block!" Taichi and Futakuchi rose to meet him.
Smash!
Ushijima's spike ripped through Futakuchi's block and crashed into the floor.
Compared to the formidable duo of Koganegawa and Aone from Date Tech, Taichi and Futakuchi lacked both height and blocking power.
But the real challenge lay in handling Ushijima's overwhelming strength and perfect setup.
Aoba Johsai's strategy relied on disrupting Ushijima's reception and limiting his setter.
Oikawa's sets negated that advantage.
[Team Irihata 22 - 25 Team Washijō ]
Whistle!
The match ended with Team Washijō's victory.
-----
"Ugh, this is so frustrating!" Futakuchi slammed the ball into the ground in exasperation.
Despite Date Tech's famed "Iron Wall," they had no solution for Ushijima's brute force.
Memories of last year's defeat at the hands of Shiratorizawa still burned vividly.
This time, despite knowing the odds, he couldn't stomach the idea of going winless in a ten-match series by the end of day six.
"Come on, Futakuchi-senpai. We're closing the gap!" Goshiki chattered brightly, oblivious to the tension.
The matches had opened his eyes to Oikawa's sheer mastery of setting, making him realize just how influential a setter could be.
Futakuchi sighed heavily.
Aoba Johsai's narrow losses to Shiratorizawa every year were only a few points apart. It had taken two years of grinding effort to even get that close.
"Don't worry, Futakuchi-senpai," Taichi added with a reassuring grin. "I can feel our teamwork getting better. We'll take a set soon."
Aone silently patted Futakuchi's shoulder in quiet support.
Futakuchi exhaled again, feeling both worn out and amused at needing the comfort of his first-year teammates.
Taichi wasn't simply offering empty reassurances though. While his team admittedly struggled to contain Ushijima Wakatoshi, as their blocking strengthened, Team Washijō's attacks also became increasingly challenging.
Hyakuzawa Yūdai and Kindaichi's offence grew more fluid with time, but their inexperience meant they were still far from breaking through Irihata's formidable wall.
The rising number of sets directed to Ushijima revealed that despite Oikawa Tōru's exceptional setting, it was getting harder for other players to score.
When defence alone isn't enough, offence must compensate.
-----
Set 5: [Team Irihata 20 vs. 25 Team Washijō]
Set 6: [Team Irihata 23 vs. 25 Team Washijō]
Set 7: [Team Irihata 22 vs. 25 Team Washijō]
-----
It was now the evening of the fifth day of the training camp.
The eighth match began.
Team Irihata lineup:
Front row—Middle Blocker Aone Takanobu, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Wing Spiker Futakuchi Kenji
Back row—Middle Blocker Tendō Satori (Libero Iwaizumi Hajime), Outside Hitter Goshiki Tsutomu and Setter Shirabu Kenjirō.
Team Washijō lineup:
Front row—Wing Spiker Kunimi Akira, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Outside Hitter Ushijima Wakatoshi
Back row—Outside Hitter Terushima Yūji, Middle Blocker Hyakuzawa Yūdai (Libero Yamagata Hayato) and Setter Oikawa Tōru.
Both teams continuously adjusted their lineups, but Team Washijō's two-ace serving strategy remained constant.
Oikawa stepped up to serve.
Knowing that Iwaizumi had improved at receiving powerful serves, Oikawa switched to a jump float.
Losing to Miya Atsumu at Nationals remained Oikawa's greatest frustration.
Although media commentary described their rivalry as neck and neck, Oikawa felt that Aoba Johsai's defeat to Inarizaki meant he had personally lost to Miya.
And Miya was only a second-year.
Determined to outdo his rival, Oikawa had been tirelessly refining his jump float serve.
Bang!
The ball shot toward Iwaizumi's face.
Iwaizumi, anticipating Oikawa's intent, had been preparing just as relentlessly. If Oikawa wanted to master his serve, Iwaizumi was just as determined never to falter against it again.
He raised his arms as the ball sharply veered left.
He couldn't—wouldn't—let the point slip away!
Iwaizumi lunged, managing to deflect the ball with the top of his foot.
"Save!"
Before he could shout, Goshiki was already racing backwards. He dove, extending a single hand to push the ball back into play.
Tendō's attack tipped the ball lightly over the net.
"Chance ball!" Terushima called.
He cleanly bumped it upward, sending it straight to Oikawa.
Team Washijō's front row charged forward. Multiple hitters lined up for the assault, with Ushijima stationed on the far right.
Team Irihata's blockers held steady. A single block would never suffice against Ushijima; they had to wait for Oikawa's decision.
"Ushijima!"
Oikawa saw that Irihata hadn't spread their blockers and set the ball to Ushijima on the right.
"Triple block!" Aone, Kaedehara, and Futakuchi leapt together.
Thwack!
"One touch!"
The ball deflected toward Irihata's backcourt.
Taichi immediately sprinted to the left wing after landing.
Iwaizumi delivered a perfect dig, and Shirabu jumped to set.
Taichi soared to the far left.
"Give it to me!"
His fierce cry startled both teams.
Kunimi and Kindaichi instinctively rushed left, blocking his approach.
"!"
Smash!
Aone's quick attack down the middle scored cleanly.
[Team Irihata 1 vs. 0 Team Washijō]
Even though Shirabu wasn't Oikawa, Kunimi and Kindaichi reacted as if Taichi would unleash a lightning-fast attack.
Kunimi suddenly understood the psychological burden Taichi's opponents carried when facing his aggressive playstyle.
Even Shirabu was taken aback. The tactic had been discussed beforehand, but Shirabu had doubted anyone would fall for it. Taichi had insisted on trying anyway.
The moment Taichi called for the ball, even Shirabu had nearly lost his grip on it.
Was this what it meant to crave the spike like an ace?
Kaedehara Taichi's single-minded hunger for the kill had left him momentarily shaken.
Taichi smirked mischievously at Kunimi and Kindaichi.
"Surprised? Even I can be a bait."
-----
