As Kaedehara Taichi returned to the front row, the offensive strategies led by Oikawa Tōru became even more unpredictable. The match quickly lost its suspense.

A sudden scoring spree from Aoba Johsai felt like a statement: the neck-and-neck struggle from earlier was nothing but an illusion.

Just like in the first set, Aoba Johsai secured victory with ease.

[Aoba Johsai 25 - 20 Karasuno]

The match was over. The winner: Aoba Johsai.

Hinata Shōyō seemed unable to shake himself free from the aftermath of the game. He stood rooted to the spot, watching the Aoba Johsai players already huddled together in celebration.

'I want to play again—'

Even for Hinata Shōyō, these words failed to leave his mouth. Unlike practice matches, losing in an official elimination round meant the end of the line.

"Let's go." Kageyama Tobio walked past Hinata without a hint of emotion in his voice.

Hinata pressed his lips tightly together as his vision began to blur.

"Hinata, Kageyama, time to line up." The steady voice of Sawamura Daichi came from behind.

Hinata turned around, his voice trembling. "Captain….I'm sorry..."

"We didn't make any mistakes." Sawamura Daichi looked firmly at Hinata. "If it wasn't a mistake, then there's no need to apologize."

"We simply weren't good enough. We'll work harder, get stronger, and win next time!"

Sawamura Daichi had experienced enough losses to know what mattered most at this moment.

"Line up!"

"Thank you for the match!"

"That was an excellent game," Ukai Keishin said, addressing the team. "Seeing you trying out new things to boost your offensive power in those crucial moments—it was encouraging."

As a coach, Ukai Keishin knew that hearing 'excellent game' after a loss could sting, but Karasuno couldn't falter here. There was still Spring Nationals. And there would always be a next year...

"I...I just..." Karasuno's players still had so much left unsaid.

"Hurry up and pack your things. The next teams need to warm up." Ukai cut them off, his tone firm. "You can do your cooldown stretches outside. Don't hold up the schedule for the others."

There wasn't even time to dwell on their regrets. Silently, Karasuno's players began packing up their bags.

The only ones who get to stay on the court are the winners.

[Ding! The side mission 'Make a Name for Yourself' has been completed]

[Mission 1: 'Defeat Karasuno' completed. Reward: Stamina +3.]

[Mission 2: 'Become the top scorer of the match' completed. The host scored a total of 18 points in the game. Reward: Jump +3.]

"You're not going to say anything to chibi-chan?" Oikawa Tōru asked, glancing at Kaedehara Taichi.

"Now's not the right time. Besides, I already made my point before the match," Taichi replied, his eyes briefly lingering on the dejected figure of Hinata Shōyō before looking away. "All I want is to win the next match as quickly as possible."

Standing behind Oikawa, Iwaizumi Hajime chimed in, "I'm more surprised you didn't go out of your way to mess with Kageyama."

Oikawa clasped his hands behind his head and replied casually, "There's no need. Tobio-chan knows just how badly he lost. I look forward to him coming back with stronger weapons to challenge us again."

"Oh?" Iwaizumi raised an eyebrow, surprised. For once, this guy actually sounded a little like a senior.

"Not that it'll matter—we'll still win!" Oikawa's trademark mischievous grin returned to his face.

--------

Senseki High School, a top-eight team from last year's preliminaries, was seeded in Group B for this year's IH (Interhigh) qualifiers.

From their roster, apart from a 192cm ace hitter, there wasn't anyone particularly noteworthy.

The scouting report highlighted their straightforward playstyle and limited adaptability. While not weak, their tactical ceiling was glaringly obvious.

The Aoba Johsai players had initially planned to watch Senseki's match. However, by the time they finished packing their things, the Group B matches had already concluded.

Senseki High had secured their spot in the quarterfinals with a clean two-set sweep.

Though it felt somewhat impolite to think so, Kaedehara Taichi couldn't help but consider Senseki High School as a 'lucky draw.'

If Karasuno or Date Tech had been placed in Group B, their chances of reaching the quarterfinals would've been significantly slimmer.

With no need to head to the Group B venue, Coach Irihata Nobuteru decided to take his team out to eat and recharge. They had roughly two hours to rest before their next match, which would begin at 1:30 PM.

"Kindaichi will replace Kunimi in the starting lineup for the afternoon match to bolster our blocking height," Coach Irihata announced.@@novelbin@@

Kindaichi eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected to get his chance to play this soon—let alone as a starter!

Still, he'd been preparing for this moment. He glanced at Kunimi Akira, who didn't look the least bit dejected about moving to the bench. Instead, Kunimi's expression was one of quiet encouragement.

"Yes, sir!" Kindaichi responded loudly.

"Not so loud, we're in a public space."

"Yes, sir," he repeated, quieter this time.

"…"

-------

After a brief opening, the match began in earnest. There was little room for pleasantries as both teams immediately entered competitive mode.

Kaedehara Taichi showcased his versatility during the game. His already extensive arsenal of skills, combined with Oikawa Tooru's precise setting, made for an unstoppable duo.

With two 'tricksters' working in perfect harmony, Aoba Johsai's offence overwhelmed Senseki High School, leaving their defence in complete disarray.

The match progressed smoothly, with no surprises regarding Senseki's capabilities.

Taichi took advantage of the situation to hone his jump float serves and back-row attacks. Although Senseki High School began to catch on to his intentions, they were powerless to counter them.

Since the practice match against Shiratorizawa, Kindaichi had focused heavily on improving his blocking.

Observing Date Tech's blocking strategies had given him fresh ideas to incorporate. Height, timing, and jump power—Kindaichi poured all his concentration into the net, effectively shutting down Senseki High's ace hitter on multiple occasions.

Coach Irihata nodded approvingly. Aoba Johsai treated every match with respect, but their ultimate opponent was always Shiratorizawa.

To defeat Shiratorizawa, Aoba Johsai would need to bring out every weapon, every strategy, and every ounce of strength they possessed.

[Aoba Johsai 25 - 18 Senseki]

[Aoba Johsai 25 - 16 Senseki]

Once again, Aoba Johsai dispatched their opponents with a quick 2-0 victory. With the second day of the IH preliminaries concluded, the four semifinalists from Miyagi Prefecture were determined:

From the East:Aoba Johsai and Johzenji.

From the West:Wakuntani Minami and Shiratorizawa.

For the post-match interview, Kaedehara Taichi stayed behind.

As the top scorer of the day across Groups A and B—and only a first-year—Taichi had already left a strong impression. The image of the dark-haired player was now firmly etched in everyone's minds.

After a few routine questions, a female reporter asked Taichi for his thoughts on tomorrow's first-round opponent.

"I'm already thinking about who we'll face in the finals," he replied confidently.

So arrogant? The female reporter raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Was it today's performance that fueled his self-assurance, or was it the audacity of youth? Either way, this interview was becoming interesting.

"Do you mean Shiratorizawa? Are you confident you can beat them? From what I know, Aoba Johsai has lost to Shiratorizawa for two consecutive years."

"Of course, we're confident. One team has to win—why not us?"

_________

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