Damn it! I want to see it!!!

Kaedehara Taichi stood at the front row, unable to see how Sakusa Kiyoomi's serve moved after crossing the net. The frustration gnawed at him.

Every player on the court had a reception ability of at least 80, and yet, of the three currently in Team A's back row, the weakest was—shockingly—the libero, Hirao Jin.

Even so, Sakusa had already scored two consecutive service aces.

It was absurd.

Urgent! Urgent!! Urgent!!!

Sakusa stepped up to serve again.

Kaedehara Taichi took two steps back, nearly standing in the back row himself.

"Taichi, don't block my view! And Sakusa's going to target the front row!" Miya Atsumu's voice was uncharacteristically sharp—even this was him trying to control his emotions.

Boom!

Sure enough, Sakusa's third serve dropped into the front row!

The ball dove after clearing the net at an alarming speed.

Taichi had been waiting for this.

His body lowered into a deep lunge.

If the spin is too strong, I'll use an overhead pass to stabilize it!

However—

As the ball fell, it suddenly veered left again.

"Shit!"

The ball grazed his palm and continued plummeting toward the ground.

Smack!

Hoshiumi Kōrai dove and barely managed to save it!

But—

The counterattack was weak.

Kondō Masato had no choice but to send the ball over the net without a proper attack.

Komori Motoya received it with ease.

The first pass floated directly to the setter's position—

And before Mochida Riei even realized it, Kageyama Tobio had already set the ball.

He was momentarily surprised.

But then again, Mochida was a naturally gifted outside hitter—he quickly recovered from the surprise, using the final moment to leap into an awkward spike.

Smack!

That slight delay gave Team A just enough time to react.

Hirao Jin dug the ball out.

Miya Atsumu jumped for the set.

Hoshiumi Kōrai sprinted from the baseline, preparing for another back-row attack.

And then—

From the right side—

A presence impossible to ignore surged forward.

Kaedehara Taichi's eyes locked onto the airborne ball like an eagle hunting its prey.

His entire demeanor radiated an undeniable claim over the play.

That still figure, filled with silent intensity—

It was a declaration:

This ball is mine.

"Give it to me."

Kaedehara Taichi's voice was steady and calm, carrying a weight of authority that brooked no argument.

Time had changed him.

He was no longer the brash, loudmouthed rookie who constantly demanded sets.

Currently, he was the ace Aoba Johsai placed their absolute trust in.

Now—

He was the New King of Miyagi.

Miya Atsumu glanced at Hoshiumi, who had momentarily hesitated—then smirked.

Without a second thought, he sent the ball to the right wing.

Kaedehara Taichi sprinted from the back row.

His first airborne moment was still etched in everyone's minds.

Team B's blockers reacted immediately.

Sakusa Kiyoomi and Komori Motoya readied themselves for the reception.

"Let's see it."

"The spike that defeated Ushijima Wakatoshi—"

Boom!

"Triple block!"

Mochida Riei, Nakamoto Shigeru, and Kageyama Tobio all jumped together!

Smack!

The ball slammed off Mochida's hands and flew out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scores.

[Team A 5 – 4 Team B]

A beautiful tool-out spike.

But—

Sakusa Kiyoomi's eyes were filled with doubt.

"That's it?"

As someone who specialized in tool-out shots, Sakusa found nothing particularly impressive about that spike.

Honestly?

Even Hoshiumi Kōrai's attack had been sharper.

Disappointing.

His expression laid his thoughts bare.

Hoshiumi clenched his jaw, ashamed of his moment of hesitation earlier—

That spike had been far less stunning than Taichi's first one.

But—

Two people didn't share Sakusa's disdain.

Miya Atsumu and Kageyama Tobio.

Because they knew.

No one could predict how much Kaedehara Taichi was still

 hiding beneath this tiny glimpse of power.

No one knew—

When his next evolution would come crashing down on them all.

-----

Team A's serve.

Katayama Akira's powerful jump serve was effortlessly received by Sakusa Kiyoomi.

Komori Motoya leapt, skillfully setting the ball to the right wing—

Kageyama Tobio spiked for the kill.

[Team A 5 – 5 Team B]

"Beautiful set!"

With such strong teammates around him, Kageyama's form only sharpened as the match progressed.

Team B's Mochida Riei stepped up for a high-speed serve—@@novelbin@@

Miya Atsumu received the ball cleanly.

It soared toward the net—

Hoshiumi Kōrai took flight from the left flank.

"Double block!"

But—

—Whoosh!

Hoshiumi redirected the ball to the far right!

Boom!

Breaking free from the blockers, Kaedehara Taichi slammed it down with ease.

[Team A 6 – 5 Team B]

Sakusa Kiyoomi's frown deepened.

That was the second time.

And yet—

Still unimpressive.

The power was slightly greater, the speed marginally faster—

But nothing extraordinary.

It wasn't even as exciting as Hoshiumi's quick set.

"Nice set, Hoshiumi-senpai." Kaedehara Taichi praised.

After facing numerous opponents with explosive athleticism, he found himself unexpectedly refreshed by these two players—

Physically average, yet standing at the absolute peak of high school-level skill.

"Hmph. Make sure you put on a good show." Hoshiumi huffed.

He wasn't particularly close to Kaedehara Taichi—

But damn, did he hate the condescending look on Sakusa's face.

The serve rotated.

Kaedehara Taichi stepped up to the service line.

He caught sight of Sakusa's expression—

That air of unshakable confidence bordering on arrogance.

Like no one but Ushijima Wakatoshi was worth his attention.

"So, anyone but Ushijima-senpai just doesn't matter to you, huh?"

Kaedehara Taichi loosened his shoulders, joints popping slightly as he stretched.

Only now—after all this time—did his body feel like it had reached peak condition.

His gaze shifted back to Sakusa.

A familiar smirk

 crept onto his face.

"Let me show you Ushijima-senpai's serve first."

Taichi tossed the ball high into the air.

His approach was steady and powerful, footsteps driving into the floor.

And then—

He launched himself upward, muscles coiling as his left arm swung through in a devastating arc.

BOOM!—

A thunderous crack echoed through the gym.

Sakusa reacted instantly.

He had already calculated the ball's trajectory—

A slight sidestep, positioning himself directly in front of it.

Of course.

Kaedehara Taichi's serve had been targeting him from the start.

The moment Sakusa's hands came together for the reception—

Smack!

The sheer force of the serve blasted through his unformed platform, slamming against his wrist—

And then—

The ball hit the ground right in front of him.

It's just a serve.

Nothing special…right?

Kaedehara Taichi had scored a service ace.

[Team A 7 – 5 Team B]

A slight hush settled over the court.

The space that had once been filled with technical discussions now felt like it had been invaded by something wild.

Something monstrous.

A raw, overwhelming force.

95 power.

Among these first and second-years, it was a number that stood alone.

The next closest?

Kageyama Tobio—who hadn't even stepped up to serve yet.

The brutality of Miyagi's power volleyball—

Today, the so-called City Boys were getting a first-hand demonstration.

Sakusa flexed his wrist, shaking off the slight sting.

He hadn't expected that kind of power to be packed into a first-year's body.

And more than that—

It was a left-handed serve.

For someone hyper-aware of Ushijima Wakatoshi, that fact stood out immediately.

Kaedehara Taichi picked up the next ball, tapping it lightly against his palm.

Then—

Holding it up in one hand, he pointed toward the opposite baseline.

His gaze locked onto Sakusa.

"Ready, Sakusa-senpai?"

_________

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