Karasuno's serve—Asahi Azumane delivered a powerful jump serve, but Kentarō Kyōtani received it effortlessly.

Despite his powerful spikes, Asahi's serve lacked aggression. Aoba Johsai's Kaedehara Taichi thought that Asahi Azumane, Karasuno's ace, had awakened a little too late.

"Mad Dog-chan!"

Tōru Oikawa set the ball to the right side, where Kentarō Kyōtani spiked straight into three blockers.

"One touch!" Koushi Sugawara shouted.

"Mad Dog, I told you to avoid the block!" Oikawa yelled at Kyōtani. If Karasuno's block had been even slightly stronger, that ball would have been completely shut down.

Daichi Sawamura dove and saved the ball. Sugawara signalled discreetly, and Karasuno's players quickly transitioned into attack.

At the front row, only Kei Tsukishima and Ryūnosuke Tanaka were available options for the set. Given Sugawara's skill as a setter, it was unlikely that he would try anything unconventional.

"Asahi!"

As expected, Sugawara set a high ball—Asahi Azumane's back-row attack.

"Double block!" Oikawa and Hajime Iwaizumi leaped to stop him.

Smack!

The ball deflected off Oikawa's arm but merely changed direction, still landing inside Aoba Johsai's court.

Asahi scored.

[Aoba Johsai 12 – 6 Karasuno]

Huh? That set to the ace had been just slightly slower.

Only Oikawa noticed the subtle difference. The slightly delayed set allowed Asahi to adjust his strength and angle mid-air, winning the direct confrontation.

Oikawa and Iwaizumi had jumped a moment too early, which enabled Asahi's spike to angle off the block and into Aoba Johsai's court.

Oikawa glanced toward Sugawara. Is it because he's a third-year, too, and knows his teammates' traits so well?

Compared to prodigies like Tobio Kageyama, Oikawa found himself appreciating players like Sugawara more.

But this wouldn't win them the game.

As if to prove Oikawa's thoughts, Karasuno failed to close the point gap further after those first two early scores.

Sugawara sprinted across the court, setting, jumping, and scrambling, as if making up for all the time he had spent on the bench.

"Whether it's to step in when Kageyama runs out of stamina or to fill in during unforeseen circumstances—call me a backup or whatever. Even if people think it's 'sad' for a third-year to still be a substitute, I don't care.

As long as I get to play, I'll do whatever it takes.

Compared to Kageyama, I don't have the same technical skills or physical abilities. But I've observed my teammates the longest. In every match, I've imagined myself standing here on this court.

I'm Karasuno's other setter!!"

This conviction was what kept Sugawara standing strong.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him. He looked up—Kaedehara Taichi was already mid-air, poised to spike.

Boom!

The volleyball slammed near Sugawara's feet, ricocheting upward. His brain registered the moment only after it had happened, the lingering image of Taichi's spike still vivid in his mind.

Taichi scored.

[Aoba Johsai 13 – 6 Karasuno]

"Nice spike, Taichi!"

"One more!"

Aoba Johsai served again—Yū Nishinoya received the ball, and Sugawara set it to Ryūnosuke Tanaka for the attack.

Takahiro Hanamaki barely saved the ball, and Oikawa set it high for Taichi once again.

Their first touch was off. No quick attack.

Tsukishima and Sugawara jumped to block Taichi. To them, Aoba Johsai's No. 10 seemed like a super-sized Hinata.

Though Taichi's quick attacks were terrifying, they didn't feel particularly unstoppable in this situation.

"Double block!"

Mid-air, Taichi scanned Karasuno's block—their form was solid, arms extended straight. He targeted the side of Sugawara's hand and smashed the ball hard.

The volleyball grazed Sugawara's fingertips and soared out of bounds.

"???"

"Did he spike it out?" Karasuno's back row looked confused.

The referee hesitated for a brief moment before ruling the point as a block-out.

Sugawara nodded, confirming the call.

Taichi scored.

[Aoba Johsai 14 – 6 Karasuno]

"Whew—close one." Kaedehara Taichi let out a breath of relief. Even he hadn't expected Koushi Sugawara to drop down so quickly.

Aoba Johsai continued their serve. Daichi Sawamura received the ball cleanly, and Sugawara once again set for Asahi Azumane's back-row attack—but this time, it failed to succeed.@@novelbin@@

"One touch!"

Taichi blocked the spike, and as soon as he landed, he sprinted toward the opposite side of the net. Shōyō Hinata wasn't in the front row—there was no one left on Karasuno's side who could match his speed!

Whoosh!

The ball arrived perfectly on cue, and Taichi hammered it down.

Smack!

But Yū Nishinoya had already anticipated the location. He dove into a rolling save, his hands connecting with the ball.

"Cover!"

Nishinoya shouted, but Daichi was already running. Despite his effort, the ball ricocheted off toward the floor.

Kaedehara Taichi scored.

[Aoba Johsai 15 – 6 Karasuno]

Taichi blinked, surprised. Nishinoya had tracked his spike—what a terrifying libero.

After all, chasing a player in the front row and chasing a ball in the back row were two entirely different challenges.

Oikawa glanced back at Taichi, hoping the play wouldn't affect his focus.

But Taichi wasn't even looking at Oikawa. His eyes remained locked on Nishinoya, a flicker of excitement gleaming in them.

"That little monster…"

Nishinoya noticed Taichi staring him down. Missing that save only fueled his resolve—he felt challenged, as if the gauntlet had been thrown.

"Bring it on!" Nishinoya shot back, declaring his intent to meet the next spike head-on.

Aoba Johsai served again. The ball grazed the net and dropped sharply toward Karasuno's court.

Sugawara dove forward, saving the ball as he hit the floor.

"Cover!"

Daichi bumped it upward, and Tsukishima sent it over the net.

"Chance ball!" Akira Kunimi called, lifting the ball for Oikawa.

Whoosh!

A blur shot past Sugawara.

Sugawara and Tsukishima both scrambled to follow, but Kaedehara Taichi beat them to the leftmost position, leaping into the air.

This time, it was different—Nishinoya was already waiting in Karasuno's back row, perfectly positioned to receive Taichi's spike.

Oikawa noticed three Karasuno players being pulled toward Taichi. He smirked faintly, preparing to set for Hajime Iwaizumi on the right.

"Give me the ball!"

Taichi's sudden shout froze Oikawa's hands mid-motion. Logic told him that setting to Iwaizumi would almost certainly secure the point.

But Taichi hadn't even glanced at Oikawa. His focus remained entirely on the other side of the net.

The intense, poised stance he held was enough to tell Oikawa that the shout hadn't been a mistake.

Fine then…

Whoosh!

Oikawa set a fastball—not the 'stopped' variety Kageyama used, but one of his classic quick sets.

For Taichi, this kind of speed left little room for strategy—he could only make slight adjustments to his spiking angle. That was the difference between him and Hinata Shōyō, who could still pinpoint defensive gaps mid-air.

When Oikawa needed Taichi to aim for a 'block-out' play, he typically set a higher ball.

This time, the ball was in front of Taichi in an instant. He swung rapidly but paused for the briefest of moments as his fingers met the ball. Instead of slamming it, he tapped it delicately over the net.

"A tip?!?"

What happened to their head-on showdown?!

Nishinoya dove forward in desperation.

Thud!

The ball hit the floor.

Taichi scored again.

[Aoba Johsai 16 – 6 Karasuno]

The score gap stretched to ten points.

Taichi landed and looked down at Nishinoya, who was still sprawled on the ground.

"Too bad," he said coolly, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "I'm not some hot-blooded idiot."

_________

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