"Oh dear, it seems Aoba Johsai's #16 player, Kyōtani Kentarō, isn't happy with the referee's decision. A disagreement has erupted, and Aoba Johsai was given a red card."

"Looks like the coach might sub him out now. Such a shame, considering how brilliant Kyōtani has been so far," commented the announcer.

In contrast, the spectators largely agreed with the referee's decision. Some even thought the punishment was too light—many felt the 'blonde brat' deserved to be ejected entirely.

"Nohebi has left quite a favourable impression on both the audience and the referees," Coach Irihata explained patiently to Kyōtani. "Referees aren't gods or machines; it's only natural that their decisions can subconsciously favour the team that appears more disciplined." He added, "Getting into conflicts with referees on the court doesn't help anyone."

Kyōtani remained silent, his anger giving way to guilt for costing his team a point. This was the national stage, after all.

"Mad Dog-chan, thanks." Oikawa Tōru patted him on the shoulder. "They've been targeting you all match, but you've held it together really well. That's impressive."

"It's not like I'm doing it for you," Kyōtani muttered, turning his head away.

"I'm even more surprised that the court hasn't thrown you off your game. That cross shot you spiked earlier was insanely precise!" Kaedehara Taichi chimed in.@@novelbin@@

"It's nothing. I'm used to it," Kyōtani replied nonchalantly.

The rest of the team was suddenly reminded that, before rejoining Aoba Johsai, Kyōtani had spent a long time playing in unfamiliar gyms.

Adapting to new environments was second nature to him.

"No big deal, but since you've already got a yellow card, take a break for now," Iwaizumi Hajime said, reassuringly. "Leave the rest to us."

Kyōtani, fully aware of the severity of his earlier outburst, was surprised that no one blamed him.

"Yes, Iwaizumi-senpai."

A collective gasp came from the team.

"Mad Dog-chan, why don't you call me that too?" Oikawa quipped.

Kyōtani: "..."

The timeout ended, and the match resumed.

Substitution for Aoba Johsai—Matsukawa Issei in, Kyōtani Kentarō out.

"Oikawa-senpai, judging by your last serve, I'd say you've fully adjusted now, haven't you?" Taichi asked as they returned to the court.

"Yeah, I'm ready. It's infuriating that my perfect serve got wasted like that," Oikawa replied, his usual grin replaced by a sharp, focused expression.

Nohebi took the serve, with Naoyasu Kuguri stepping up to the service line once again.

"He's clearly aiming for a spot that overlaps the setter's movement path with another player's position. It's a textbook way to disrupt the flow."

"Aoba Johsai manages to barely receive it, but their movements still seem a bit stiff."

"Especially #1, Oikawa. This might be his first national tournament, so it's no surprise he's feeling the pressure," the commentator speculated.

As Iwaizumi received the serve, he momentarily obstructed Oikawa's path. The delay cost Oikawa his optimal positioning for the set.

But in a flash, Oikawa darted forward, adjusting with incredible speed. Taking a single leap under the ball, he raised it effortlessly with both hands.

And there, mid-air, was Kaedehara Taichi.

Boom!

Kaedehara's spike landed cleanly, earning Aoba Johsai the point.

[Aoba Johsai 8 – 9 Nohebi]

"What exceptional control from his upper body! Such a stable set!"

"A brilliant spike for the point! Aoba Johsai's deadly weapon has emerged!"

The commentators conveniently ignored their earlier remarks about Oikawa's stiffness and nervousness.

"The ultra-quick attack between the first-year Kaedehara Taichi and third-year Oikawa Tōru—it's amazing to see it in action."

"I heard this move gave Shiratorizawa all sorts of trouble during the prefectural finals," the co-commentator added.

On Nohebi's side, the players' expressions darkened. Just when they'd managed to neutralize one major threat, another emerged.

"We studied the quick attack between #1 and #10 last night. Don't panic; block them!" Daisho Yuu clapped his hands, rallying his team.

"Yeah, yeah…" First-year Naoyasu Kuguri replied lazily.

-----

The match raged on, both teams fighting tooth and nail for dominance. Even without resorting to dirty tricks, Nohebi Academy was undeniably a formidable team. No team that makes it to nationals is ever truly weak.

"Even though Nohebi seems to be on high alert against Oikawa Tōru and Kaedehara Taichi's ultra-quick attack, stopping it is clearly no easy task."

"Nohebi's ace, Numai Kazuma, retaliates with a powerful spike to earn a point! A swift response to Aoba Johsai's quick attack!"

"What a sharp and cunning play from Nohebi's ace!"

Smash!

"A diagonal spike from Kaedehara Taichi again! You can see his precision improving, finding increasingly tricky angles to bypass the block."

"A first-year already holding the ace position—who knows what other surprises Kaedehara have in store for us?"

[Aoba Johsai 23 – 22 Nohebi]

Nohebi served, with Sakishima Isumi stepping up to the line.

His serve was cleanly received by Hanamaki Takahiro, while Taichi slowed his steps, blending into the crowd of attackers.

At the net, Iwaizumi Hajime and Taichi stood poised on either side, while Kunimi Akira and Matsukawa Issei eagerly prepared in the back.

"That #10 has already spiked five consecutive times," observed Suguru Daishō, scanning the faces of Aoba Johsai's players.

"#4 on the left is covered by just one defender. Which of those two in the back will launch an attack?!" His frustration grew. "Damn it! That setter's form is too flawless—you can't predict his target until the last second!"

Why had they never heard of such a skilled setter before?!

"I'll get this!" Taichi suddenly leapt out of the crowd, soaring into the air.

Suguru Daishō told himself to stay focused, but his body reacted instinctively, jumping to block Taichi.

"Damn it! What if—?"

The other Nohebi players locked their eyes on their attackers, ready for the block.

Smash!

Before anyone realized it, the ball had already hit the ground.

—Oikawa Tōru scores with a setter dump.

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 22 Nohebi]

"At this crucial moment, Oikawa pulls off a setter dump that seems to mock the blockers! Nohebi Academy was completely caught off guard by Aoba Johsai's unexpected move!"

"Not a single wasted motion…This is what they call a moment of brilliance!'" Even the commentator, watching from the elevated 'God's view', was astounded by Oikawa's decision-making.

"To think there's such a talented setter hidden in Miyagi Prefecture." The voice of commentator Aoi was filled with awe as his eyes followed Oikawa's every move.

"The whole court—no, the entire world—will take notice of him!" exclaimed commentator Otomo, standing up in excitement.

"Haha…That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

In the stands, a man in a suit watched intently. After seeing that play, he seemed to have made up his mind.

Scanning the roster, he found Oikawa's name and jotted 'U19' beside it.

"Here it comes! Nohebi Academy's strongest offensive combination—Daishō and Numai's parallel attack!"

"It's received by Iwaizumi Hajime! What a remarkable player, excelling in both offence and defence!"

"And right after that, Aoba Johsai's ace Kaedehara Taichi strikes back!"

"Aimed at the baseline—but Nohebi's libero, Akama Sō, read it perfectly!"

"These two players have such sharp court awareness—it's incredible to watch!"

-----

"One touch!"

"A beautiful block! Refusing to let any attacker score easily, Aoba Johsai's third-year, Matsukawa Issei, shines!"

"Hanamaki Takahiro's spike is blocked again by Nohebi. As expected, this Tokyo team is relentless!"

"Numai Kazuma prepares for another spike! The block is three-man strong! He avoids it!"

"They got it!!"

"The synergy between Aoba Johsai's blockers and libero Watari Shinji is outstanding. That receive was nothing short of perfect."

"This rally is neck and neck—both teams are evenly matched in this tug-of-war for the point!"

"And Aoba Johsai finally chooses to set the ball to—"

"The ace, Kaedehara Taichi, on the left wing!"

"Triple block!" Daishō Suguru, Seguro Akihiko, and Numai Kazuma leapt together.

After an entire set, Taichi had executed seven quick attacks and nine diagonal spikes. Though his diagonal shots were becoming sharper, Nohebi's triple block effectively sealed off the right-hand angles.

"This ball—we will block it!"

Taichi sprinted along the sideline and jumped with explosive force. In that fleeting moment, Oikawa, closest to him, swore he could hear the sound of the wind.

As Taichi hovered in mid-air, his arm rose higher than Daishō Suguru's block on the leftmost side.

For a split second, time seemed to slow down for Daishō.

He thought he saw a faint smile on Taichi's lips as the muscles in his arms tensed.....

Was it his left hand?!

Boom!

In Daishō's stunned gaze, Kaedehara Taichi's left-handed straight shot grazed his fingertips and smashed onto Nohebi's sideline.

_________

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