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Chapter 67: Floating Ball
🕑 Added 2024-12-20 14:27:06 +0000 UTC[One Week Until the IH Qualifiers]
"Hey, Taichi!"
Before training began, Oikawa Tōru called out to Kaedehara Taichi.
"What's up, Oikawa-senpai?"
"In the third set of the practice match against Nekoma last time, you intentionally used a 'solo delay attack,' didn't you? I remember you tried that move when you first started playing."
Kaedehara Taichi thought back and nodded. "During that match against the college team, I tried to offset the timing of my jump to avoid their blockers. It worked, but only because you adjusted your set to match my jump. I didn't realize it back then."
"In the match against Nekoma, I noticed Kuroo-senpai using that move effectively, so I decided to give it a shot myself—taking control of the tempo on purpose this time."
Oikawa nodded in approval. "It's great that you understand this kind of attack requires the setter's cooperation."
"Your current strength is your speed, which is why we rely on 'Taichi Quick' and A-style quick attacks. Both require you to break free from the blockers while I quickly match your pace with my sets. The delay attack works the opposite way—you trick the blockers first, and I time my set so you can spike right after."
"In a match, relying on eye contact alone is risky and can lead to mistakes. Let's create a signal for it."
"When the opponent's blockers start catching up to you, I'll point my pinky downward. That's the cue for a delay attack."
Oikawa began discussing the finer points of offence with Taichi, his tone serious and focused—completely different from his usual carefree attitude.
"Let's spend the rest of the week perfecting our coordination," Oikawa said with a stretch. Communicating with Taichi was easy, but the real headache would be dealing with their hot-headed little wild dog later.
"Wait a second, Oikawa-senpai. I have one more thing," Taichi said suddenly.
"Hm?"
"I've been working on my ball control. Can you teach me the next step for the jump float serve?"
"???"
It had only been two weeks! Oikawa stared at Taichi in disbelief. This guy was improving at such an insane speed—it was almost frightening.
Even as his teammate, Oikawa couldn't help but feel a little stunned by his rapid progress.
Still, there was no reason to doubt him. Oikawa decided to check Taichi's results for himself.
"Serve ten balls. Let's see how far you've come."
Oikawa grabbed some empty water bottles and lined them up on the opposite side of the net. "Use a regular jump serve and knock these bottles down in order."
"Got it."
Taichi stepped onto the service line, taking a deep breath. He held it in for a moment, stretched his arms lazily to loosen up and then exhaled, expelling the stale air in his lungs. He inhaled deeply again, and his focus sharpened.
Oikawa raised an eyebrow. "..."
It was just a basic service. Why did it look like Taichi was preparing to unleash some kind of superpower? This guy was way too dramatic.
Taichi tossed the ball lightly into the air, took two steps forward, and struck it cleanly as it dropped.
Bang!
Clatter!
The volleyball hit the farthest water bottle dead-on.
Without missing a beat, Taichi returned to the service line and picked up another ball.
Bang, clatter...Bang, clatter...Bang, clatter...
The rhythmic sound of the volleyball hitting the floor and knocking over water bottles echoed across the court. Every single ball hit its target with pinpoint accuracy.
Oikawa Tōru stared in shock. Taichi hadn't just met his expectations—he had blown them out of the water, performing even more flawlessly than Oikawa had anticipated.
Kaedehara Taichi, still immersed in the exercise, instinctively reached for another ball in the basket, only to realize that he'd already used up all ten.
"So, Oikawa-senpai, how was it? Can we move on to the next step?"
Oikawa grinned and nodded. This was the first time since Kageyama Tobio that he had felt such a sense of urgency about someone else's talent. But unlike middle school, his perspective had changed entirely.
"If Taichi had joined Aoba Johsai a year earlier…" A fleeting thought crossed Oikawa's mind, but he quickly shook it off. No use dwelling on what-ifs. Life was about appreciating the here and now, and right now…
Right now is the best time.
"The key to the jump float serve lies in the fluidity of your motion and the explosive power you generate at the right moment," Oikawa began, his tone switching to that of a seasoned coach. "You need to nail the exact contact point and timing with your hand to ensure the ball doesn't spin but still creates an unpredictable floating trajectory."
Oikawa started with the fundamentals, emphasizing their importance to Taichi.
He demonstrated the preparatory stance: feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and his centre of gravity low. "Your stance needs to be stable, like this. Focus all your energy and prepare to explode into action."
Next, Oikawa showcased his approach. His movements were smooth and powerful—each step precise. "The approach should be fast, with the last step being big. That's where you generate the most momentum for your jump."
Once in the air, Oikawa swung his arm fluidly, his upper arm leading the motion, followed by his forearm, before striking the volleyball with the firm part of his palm.
He hit the ball cleanly on the lower back portion. "Make sure you use the base of your palm to strike the ball. Don't let it spin. At the moment of contact, your arm and wrist should briefly pause. That split-second stillness is what makes the ball faster and its trajectory harder to predict."
The ball soared over the net. Just as Taichi thought it might go out of bounds, it abruptly veered left and dropped sharply to the floor.
Oikawa-senpai's jump float serve is even sharper than before, Taichi thought, feeling a renewed respect. It was clear that everyone on the team was striving for even the smallest improvements.
Oikawa turned around and asked, "Did you get all that, Taichi?"
"Yeah, I got it."
Oikawa raised an eyebrow. "I knew you wouldn't understand it completely. I should probably—wait, what did you say?"
"I said I understood," Taichi replied earnestly. "Let me try a few serves, and you can tell me what needs adjusting."
"…Fine, show me what you've got!" Oikawa stepped aside, folding his arms as he prepared to observe Taichi's attempt.
Taichi didn't waste any time. He took two quick steps forward, mimicking the image of Oikawa's motion in his mind, and struck the ball with precision.
The ball's speed wasn't as fast as Oikawa's—likely due to the difference in raw power—but that worked to Taichi's advantage. The loss of velocity mid-flight created a noticeable drop, making the ball plummet sharply near the end of its trajectory.
Oikawa froze, momentarily stunned. It wasn't perfect, but the serve bore a striking resemblance to his own—about 70 or 80% accurate. If this guy has such an innate feel for the game, what on earth was he doing in middle school?
Taichi repeated the serve several more times, each attempt smoother than the last. Oikawa carefully observed his movements, looking for areas to refine.
"Taichi, watch your hand position. Keep your fingers together and leave a slight gap in your palm to better control the ball's direction and power. Try again. Remember, the power comes from the rotation of your torso and the straight swing of your arm."
Thankfully, Taichi was still a beginner at the jump float serve, which gave Oikawa plenty of opportunities to coach him. Puffing out his chest slightly, Oikawa thought to himself that he still had some authority as a setter after all.
"The jump float serve works by exploiting air resistance. The irregular airflow over the ball's surface causes slight, unpredictable deviations in its flight path. That's why controlling the contact point and force is critical. No two players' jump float serves are exactly the same."
With Oikawa's patient guidance, Taichi practised relentlessly, tweaking his technique and experimenting to find what worked best for him.
Over time, the movements began to feel natural, as if his body were committing the skill to muscle memory.
Oikawa watched with satisfaction. This unexpected breakthrough was a pleasant surprise.
The team would soon have another powerful weapon in their arsenal for Aoba Johsai's future matches.
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Igor Ryan
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