"In this critical final set, Mujinazaka holds a firm grip on the game!"

"Their dominance is largely due to the timely return of their core member—Usuri Mitsuru. He had a rough time being targeted by Aoba Johsai in the last set," the commentator Aoi chuckled lightly.

"Yet, he quickly adjusted his mindset and reentered the game. Usuri's exceptional court vision has revitalized Mujinazaka's offensive system, making Kiryū's attacks even more menacing."@@novelbin@@

Bang!

"Keisuke Unnan scores with a high-handed spike from the middle! Mujinazaka's twin towers aren't just effective blockers; they're breaking through on offence as well."

The scoreboard reads: [Aoba Johsai 6 – 8 Mujinazaka]

"It's Kiryū Wakatsu's turn to serve now—this couldn't be worse news for Aoba Johsai..."

Boom!

"A service ace! Mujinazaka extends their lead to three points!"

[Aoba Johsai 6 – 9 Mujinazaka]

"Time-out!" The referee's whistle blew.

------

"Offense is the best defence!" Coach Irihata declared sternly during the break. "We must keep them in check. As long as we stop them from widening the gap with consecutive points, we'll find our chance to turn the tide."

"Yes, Coach!"

"Shinji, trust Oikawa. Just get that first pass up; leave the rest to him."

"Yes!" Watari Shinji replied with an unwavering expression. "That's always been my job."

Oikawa grinned, ruffling Watari's short hair. "Thanks for the hard work, Shinji."

The timeout ended, and the match resumed.

Kiryū's second serve was a fastball, spinning with incredible force as it zipped across the court.

Boom!

Watari braced himself and absorbed the impact head-on, falling to the ground as the ball shot upward.

"That's enough," Oikawa muttered, quickly positioning himself. Aoba Johsai launched a synchronized attack.

Whoosh!

The ball was set to the centre. Kaedehara Taichi leaped high.

"I saw that coming!" Keisuke Unnan jumped in tandem, forming a towering wall in front of him.

Taichi tipped the ball over Keisuke Unnan, sending it behind him. Ezota dove to save it, and Hondo Subaru reached out with one arm, managing to send the ball over the net.

Oikawa received the free ball perfectly and set up Taichi for another strike in the middle.

"This won't work!" Keisuke Unnan followed him closely, once again erecting a barrier.

Smack!

Taichi lightly touched the ball, which bounced off Keisuke Unnan's hands and back toward Aoba Johsai's side.

"A Rebound?"

Taichi's expression finally shifted as he quickly sprinted toward the right side of the court.

"Damn it, you cheeky brat!" Keisuke Unnan gritted his teeth and gave chase. At the edge of the court, he managed to catch up to Taichi.

As Taichi bent his knees to jump, Keisuke Unnan pushed off hard, his hands already reaching over the net to block.

"Got you!"

But there was no ball.

Keisuke Unnan began descending, and only then did Kaedehara Taichi leap. Oikawa's set floated precisely into his striking range, timed perfectly.

Bang!

"A one-man tempo delay!"

Kaedehara Taichi spiked the ball over Keisuke Unnan's head, scoring a clean point.

[Aoba Johsai 7 – 9 Mujinazaka]

"Were the first two plays just bait? His real target was this?" Keisuke Unnan recalled the sequence of moves.

With that speed, the opposing #10 barely outran him. If Keisuke Unnan didn't jump immediately, he wouldn't be able to block the quick attack.

"So, he avoided my blocks during the first two plays, lured me in with wide movements, and then exploited my overcommitment in the third attempt?"

Keisuke Unnan clenched his teeth. No way, could this first-year really think that far ahead?

"Twin-Tower-senpai, your blocks are so predictable~." Kaedehara's lips curled into a faint, sly smile.

No! This wasn't just a coincidence! Keisuke Unnan realized. This kid…

"Don't overthink it, Keisuke Unnan-senpai!" Usuri Mitsuru called out. "This guy got me with the same trick earlier."

"Just stick to your usual blocking style. The reason he's using these elaborate setups is that your blocks are working!"

Keisuke Unnan blinked in surprise, then glanced at Usuri with gratitude. Good thing I wasn't the first victim.

The match continued, with Iwaizumi's serve crossing the net with a heavy spin.

Bishin Haruma barely managed to keep the ball up, and Usuri quickly set it to the left wing.

Taking two steps to gather momentum, Kiryū leapt into the air.

Even with the set coming from a sharp angle, he hammered the ball down with unrelenting power.

Bang!

"One touch!" Kyōtani Kentarō shouted, gritting his teeth. As long as it's high enough, this ball isn't getting through!

Kindaichi Yūtarō dove to save the ball with one arm, sending it back toward the net.

"Spike it!"

Usuri jumped, ready to finish the overpass. Just as his palm reached the ball, a large hand appeared between him and the ball.

Smack!

Oikawa sent the ball toward the right side with a single-handed pass.

"No way, I can't match him one-on-one…" Usuri's eyes flickered with admiration before quickly refocusing.

"Right side! Keisuke Unnan-senpai!"

Kaedehara Taichi surged forward as Keisuke Unnan leapt to meet him at the net. However, wary of a tip, Keisuke Unnan pressed his hands forward more aggressively than usual.

"Got you~."

Taichi targeted the edge of Keisuke Unnan's hand, spiking the ball into his fingertips. The ball ricocheted out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi had scored off-the-block.

[Aoba Johsai 8 – 9 Mujinazaka]

The deeper one advances in the national tournament, the stronger the blockers they face—taller, faster, with flawless technique.

Taichi knew his ability to spike off hands wasn't on the level of players like Udai Tenma or Sakusa Kiyoomi.

He would struggle to find the right angle for some shots they could easily score with.

But as the match progressed, Taichi's vision sharpened. He started noticing subtle changes—fatigue in his opponents' movements, hesitation in their blocks, and minor flaws in their form.

These nuances became vivid in his mind.

------

Kindaichi's jump serve created another opportunity for Mujinazaka. Bishin Haruma received the ball flawlessly, setting up Usuri for an ideal position just off the net.

Step, step, jump—Kiryū executed a textbook approach, his perfect form rising into the air.

For Mujinazaka, with Kindaichi still in the back row, this ball seemed destined to score.

Bang!

"One touch!" Taichi shouted, his arms stinging from the impact.

Starting his approach from the back row, he pushed himself off the floor to barely reach the ball.

It hurt—a lot.

But Taichi's mind felt empty of everything else—no fear, no panic.

Only volleyball remained.

The commentary, the crowd and even his teammates' voices faded away. All he could see was the ball.

Even the sudden, unfamiliar voice echoing in his head went unnoticed:

[Ding! The host has entered Burst Mode]

[Kaedehara Taichi (Burst Mode):

Height: 185 cm | Power: 95 | Jump: 85 | Stamina: 90 | Speed: 95

Technique: Serve: 85 | Receive: 85 | Set: 80 | Spike: 90]

Hanamaki Takahiro saved the ball with a one-handed dig, sending it back to Oikawa, who immediately set it high to the left.

Taichi locked his eyes on the ball, sprinting to time his approach. After a single step inside the three-meter line, he launched himself into the air.

"Double block!"

On the other side of the net stood Mujinazaka's ace, Kiryū Wakatsu, and one of their Twin Towers, Ezota Nobuharu, creating an impenetrable wall.

"Taichi!" Oikawa Tōru shouted anxiously. It was clear that after the last few rallies, Mujinazaka had begun targeting Kaedehara Taichi, intent on shutting him down.

This error was on Oikawa himself.

Yet, Kaedehara Taichi remained completely composed, as if he hadn't heard Oikawa's panicked cry.

The moment he jumped, time seemed to slow.

The sounds around him faded, leaving only his heartbeat and the rhythm of his breathing.

The blocking stance was flawless, but…

Taichi aimed for Kiryū Wakatsu's fingertips and swung lightly. The ball landed exactly as he envisioned, hitting the upper portion of Kiryū's palm and rebounding high into Aoba Johsai's side of the court.

Still calm, Taichi landed and quickly stepped back, creating space for another run-up.

"Once more."

Iwaizumi Hajime had barely managed to dig the ball, and Oikawa glanced at Mujinazaka's positioning, preparing to set it to the right wing.

"Once more! Give it to me."

Taichi's voice, though calm, carried a commanding tone.

Oikawa instinctively sent the ball high toward the left wing.

"Damn, it's a bit too high," Oikawa thought with a sinking feeling. To his dismay, he'd allowed nervousness to seep into his play.

"Perfect!"

For some reason, Taichi's mind conjured the image of Ushijima Wakatoshi's approach. His body angled slightly, his steps accelerating steadily, culminating in an explosive final push-off that launched him upward.

"Three-man block!"

Mujinazaka's players weren't giving up! Ezota Nobuharu, Kiryū Wakatsu, and Nozomu Mami rose together, determined to shut down Aoba Johsai's No. 10.

In mid-air, Taichi adjusted his body slightly, bending his legs to absorb impact and maintaining a perfect balance. His upper body leaned back slightly, primed for a powerful swing.

Eyes locked onto the ball, he identified the optimal point of contact.

Confronted by Mujinazaka's ferocious triple block, Taichi felt a profound sense of control over his body.

It was as if nothing was beyond his reach! A surge of exhilaration filled him, and his composure deepened further.

Harnessing the full strength of his body, he rotated his torso, his left shoulder driving his arm into a fluid and powerful motion. At the moment of contact, his wrist snapped downward, adding speed and force to the ball.

B O O M ! ! !

For the first time, Taichi heard such a sharp sound from one of his own spikes.

The ball blasted past Ezota's block, slamming into Mujinazaka's boundary line and bouncing high.

"This…this is…"

"A devastating straight shot! Kaedehara Taichi shatters Mujinazaka's triple block!"

"He's Aoba Johsai's absolute ace—Kaedehara Taichi!"

With Taichi's spike, Aoba Johsai evened the score for the first time in the third set.

[Aoba Johsai 18 - 18 Mujinazaka]

Oikawa stared at Taichi's back in silence.

There was no doubt about it—this little monster had evolved again.

"Following that piercing straight shot, Kaedehara Taichi delivers a superb cross-court kill!"

"The ball landed just inside Mujinazaka's three-meter line! What an angle! Their back row didn't stand a chance!"

"Aoba Johsai takes the lead!"

[Aoba Johsai 19 - 18 Mujinazaka]

"He's really strong," Kiryū Wakatsu murmured as he watched the figure on the other side of the net.

"Waka-chan, what are you talking about? Obviously, you're the strongest!" Nozomu Mami declared confidently, adjusting his hair.

"That's not it…" Kiryū muttered quietly. "They're really strong, too."

Lowering his head, Kiryū's lips curled into a wry smile. Weak as hell, but still trying to act tough, huh?

Watching Taichi's figure, Kiryū couldn't help the thoughts racing through his mind.

Facing opponents like him left no room to hide his own fears and insecurities.

There were too many things he was afraid of—his teammates' encouragement, their expectations, the cheers of the crowd—all of it weighed on him.

"Wakatsu-senpai, you're the best today too!"

Kiryū exhaled deeply, grounding himself.

"I'm someone with zero confidence in myself, but I wholeheartedly believe in my amazing teammates. Since they've said as much, there's no point in running with my tail between my legs. Better to be overconfident instead!"

"Kiryū Wakatsu will be the strongest today!"

[Ding! Kiryū Wakatsu has entered Burst Mode]

[Kiryū Wakatsu (Burst Mode): Overall Ability Rating: 94.5

Height: 188.3 cm | Power: 100 | Jump: 92 | Stamina: 92 | Speed: 90

Technique: Serve: 100 | Receive: 98 | Set: 95 | Spike: 100]

Taichi's gaze snapped to Kiryū. Though he had anticipated this moment, seeing those perfect 100s still shocked him.

Taichi had also noticed his own transformation. Beyond the improvement in his state, he felt a newfound ease in controlling his body.

His eyes burned with fierce determination. Bring it on, Kiryū Wakatsu!

Boom!

"Mujinazaka's ace, Kiryū Wakatsu, stabilizes the game with a heavy spike to tie the score!"

[Aoba Johsai 19 - 19 Mujinazaka]

"Kaedehara Taichi catches Mujinazaka off guard with a soft tip after the rebound! What an incredible play!"

"#10, Taichi's performance in the final set is extraordinary. He's both patient and adaptable!"

[Aoba Johsai 20 - 19 Mujinazaka]

Boom!

The ball flew past Aoba Johsai's block, crashing onto the court before bouncing high into the air.

"Unbelievable! This is the power of a top-three national-level ace! At this critical point in the third set, Kiryū Wakatsu delivers a devastating spike!"

[Aoba Johsai 20 - 20 Mujinazaka]

Boom!

"Kiryū Wakatsu lands another cross-court shot! While focusing on power, he showcases his incredible technique!"

"Kaedehara Taichi anticipated the ball's trajectory, but he couldn't handle it—it flew out of bounds!"

"Honestly, that felt beyond high school-level strength! Even attempting to receive it was commendable…"

[Aoba Johsai 20 - 21 Mujinazaka]

"Afraid? I don't have time for that anymore. Just keeping up with this man in front of me has already drained me completely," Taichi thought, his nerves taut as he analyzed the players' positions and possible attacks.

"Taichi!" Oikawa called out to him.

Oikawa could tell that Taichi was in his best condition, but the match had now devolved into a duel between Taichi and Kiryū.

Still, in a one-on-one matchup, Taichi wasn't enough.

"I know!" Taichi shouted back. He was fully aware of the gap between them. In this state, his understanding of the situation was sharper than ever.

He needed to find a way to score, but Kiryū? He ignored defences entirely to score.

"So, don't fall behind us, Oikawa!" Taichi yelled at him.

Winning this game alone was impossible.

Oikawa froze for a moment.

This kid had been getting way too cheeky lately. Not that Oikawa particularly cared about seniority anyway.

Still, he's not very cute, is he?

Bending down, Oikawa lowered his centre of gravity, his gaze sharpening.

At least he knows he can't win alone. He hasn't let the situation get to his head.

Well then, it was time for the senpai to step up.

Sometimes, the incredible states of both teammates and opponents could pull others into their rhythm.

[Ding! Oikawa Tōru has entered Burst Mode]

[Oikawa Tōru (Burst Mode): Overall Ability Rating: 95

Height: 184 cm | Power: 99 | Jump: 90 | Stamina: 95 | Speed: 90

Technique: Serve: 99 | Set: 99]