JSWGAS Chapter 110

110.

Recalling it now, the word ‘pursuit’ runs through all the athletic careers that Kokonoe Taka has attempted.

Tennis, basketball, volleyball.

In the beginning, he didn’t think about whether he could catch up, because the pursuit itself was full of fun; then came the pride of competing with each other and the persistent desire to win or lose; and now he instinctively acts only based on the sound of the ball hitting his knuckles, and he is extremely certain that he can catch up with the ball in the flash of lightning steps – this has become an established fact.

The feeling of being pulled apart by his limbs running was like falling into a vortex, but to his surprise, his brain was very clear. His excited and rapid breathing covered up all external noise, and his fingertips were burning. Until he touched the bottom of the volleyball amidst a chorus of exclamations.

In fact, since Ushijima Wakatoshi started his self-commentary, the shouts of the commentators haven’t stopped, especially since Saijo, who had never managed to get a perfect touch, actually formed Aoba Johsai’s first line of defense at this moment under pressure. But even if he tried his best to adjust the angle, the speed of the volleyball flying to the backcourt did not decrease at all.

And just when everyone thought this ball was a regrettable hitter out, and the commentator’s sigh just echoed in the air, another middle blocker, who had rushed out from the side of the number one position, swooped across the white baseline, like a falcon quietly descending from the clouds, catching the prey with its claws before it could even see it, and throwing it towards the position it had already thought of.

“Toru!”

“Wait – Aoba Johsai’s combined defense is successful! Kokonoe manages to cover in time, which means that Aoba Johsai has finally found a way to deal with Ushijima’s powerful spikes!”

It’s hard to tell which of the two overlapping voices is stronger. Compared to the shouts echoing in the audience, the former should have been drowned out by the noise. But Oikawa Toru clearly heard the voice calling his name, full of a strong sense of coercion, which would definitely make him rebellious at other times. But at this moment, the volleyball that perfectly entered his control was accompanied by a trust that was completely opposite to the former, soft and heavy.

And that moment was also quickly revealed to others. The Kitagawa Daiichi gym was not cool in the summer, and occasional lazy members who sat by the court chatting couldn’t help but fan themselves. In the past, if they were lazy, it would definitely cause dissatisfaction from the setter in the team, but at this moment, the other party had not arrived for a long time.

“Where’s Kageyama?”

“Don’t know.”

Outside the window, separated by a wall, the setter who was missed by his teammates was wearing headphones, blocking all the rustling voices and the summer heat outside the shadows. He stared intently at a small screen in his hand, his eyes brighter than ever, wishing he could immediately enter the world in the screen – unreserved trust and unreserved response, no setter would not be touched by this.

The trust was handed over by Saijo to Kokonoe, and then followed the beautiful arc to Oikawa’s fingertips. He held up the volleyball, and also held up that soft mist, passed through the intersecting jump cover of Miyano and Arao, and sent it to Iwaizumi’s palm, who had already jumped up and rushed to the sky.

“A clean and crisp C-style quick attack! From Iwaizumi Hajime!”

“Go, go, Aoba Johsai! One more point –”

“Kokonoe must have superpowers! Like teleportation or something!” Hanamaki’s voice was drowned out by the cheering squad’s carnival above his head, so he simply leaned close to Matsukawa’s ear and shouted at a volume that would deafen him, “It was like he suddenly appeared next to the baseline! Whoosh!”

“I think Saijo-senpai is more amazing!” Matsukawa responded in the same volume, retaliatingly grabbing Hanamaki, who was trying to slip away when he saw the situation was not good, and shouted in his ear, “The angle of that ball was adjusted by him to a relatively easy place to receive! You have to know that the previous few balls were directly side-spinning out of the field!” Hanamaki wailed, “I’m going deaf, I’m going deaf!”

“Saijo!” On the court, Arao rushed towards Saijo, staggering and almost tripping. But he finally managed to give Saijo a sweaty hug, “We succeeded ahhhhh!”

Saijo’s fists hardened, he was forced to carry a heavy burden of muscle, his fingers were still aching, and he tried angrily to throw Arao down, “Let go!”

“I won’t!”

Saijo had to look for foreign aid, and Miyano avoided his gaze as if nothing had happened. Tch, a smooth guy. Right, throw this guy to Ku…

But when he turned his head, he saw Kokonoe, who had just climbed up from the ground, almost fall back again.

Kokonoe was also yelling, “Let go!”

He was much more miserable than Saijo. Oikawa, like an octopus, was hanging on his left side, and Iwaizumi was excitedly slapping his shoulders on his right side. It was also difficult for him to remain unmoved under the pressure of the two. Compared to that, an Arao could even be accepted by Saijo – hell no!

He still had to do it himself.

The commentator was impassioned, and his praise for Aoba Johsai’s excellent combined defense stalled for a moment, “Uh, the referee gave Aoba Johsai a warning…”

Coach Irihata and teacher Mizoguchi on the sidelines watched Saijo throw Arao to the ground, and Kokonoe, with a murderous look, dragged Oikawa and placed him where he should be, almost nailing him in place as a decoration.

Coach Irihata, “Well, they’re still kids.”

Teacher Mizoguchi, “…” Coach, your expression is on par with the black faces of those two middle blockers.

After Kokonoe Taka returned to the white line, he calmed down again. Using card time to exert pressure on Shiratorizawa now has no effect, so it’s better to focus on how to serve the next ball well… Speaking of which, the skills he used when playing ball before might be useful.

Ushijima Wakatoshi tensed his muscles slightly under the substantial gaze from the opposite side. His intuition told him that the other party’s next ball would be aimed at him!

Toss, brake, jump, stretch.

A series of smooth movements, the difference being that they were more precise than before.

His palm wrapped around the spherical surface, his wrist skillfully swiveled and pressed down, aiming at the center of his retina and smashing down!

It’s the side.

Ushijima easily saw through the path of the ball, but an unusual feeling that had not dissipated was still floating in his heart. The ball speed was high, and the power was heavy, but it didn’t have the same aggressiveness as when Kokonoe served before, as if he was being pricked by needles… He steadily lowered his center of gravity, intending to start braking his attack after receiving the ball, but he stiffened imperceptibly for a moment when he reached out his arm.

“The first pass is only half-way there, Kokonoe’s serve has successfully restrained Ushijima…”

“Sorry, cover!”

“Ohira!”

Ushijima couldn’t get forward, so the setter chose to launch a quick attack from the left side with Ohira. But at this time, Aoba Johsai’s block was in place, blocking the straight line, and the cover in the back row was also in place. The spike was received by Miyano in the back row, and Oikawa passed it to Arao. This time, Shiratorizawa’s double block got a touch.

The libero made a flying save, the first pass was half-way there, the setter jumped lightly, pretending to pass the ball to the front row to Munakata, but he had already made his decision.

Munakata fell, along with Saijo, but at this moment, a fierce gale suddenly rolled up behind him.

“Don’t underestimate my juniors!”

He knew that Saijo heard these words, after all, the anger that suddenly appeared in those eyes didn’t seem fake; he also saw clearly the objects that those angry swords pointed to. Besides Ushijima Wakatoshi, who was stepping on his own shadow and taking off, who else could it be?

Smash him.

Smash them!

“Bang! –”

A swift and violent blow shattered the spreading noise.

Coming for me.

Kokonoe Taka didn’t realize it too late, and responded before the volleyball wrapped in a gale attacked. But in the millisecond that the volleyball touched the surface of his skin, he gritted his teeth and realized that he hadn’t done enough. A spicy pain exploded between his arms, and his body leaned back subconsciously. Before he could adjust, the volleyball followed the huge reaction force and bounced to the audience seats on the second floor without nostalgia, arousing layers of exclamations.

“The setter chose to adjust… wait! We see Ushijima start his approach! Beautiful! Back row attack! Cooperating with Munakata’s cover, he tricked Aoba Johsai’s block around!”

Hanamaki glared at the commentator who stood up excitedly, “Can’t this person say something nice!”

Matsukawa gritted his teeth, “Shiratorizawa is indeed a little stronger now…”

Kokonoe Taka glanced at the landing point of the volleyball and stood up in silence.

His teammates asked with concern, “Are you okay?”

He nodded, “I’m okay.”

When rotating with Furuage, he realized that Ushijima Wakatoshi was also staring at him quietly.

Shiratorizawa served back, and Oikawa secretly made a signal behind him. Munakata jumped and served with great force, Furuage’s first pass was in place, and Iwaizumi and Miyano, who received Oikawa’s instructions, crossed to attack on the left and right. Miyano deliberately paused when jumping, trying to use the one-man time difference to score, but was seen through by Tendō.

Arao dove forward, and the commentator was surprised, “He saved it!” But Arao also fell head over heels because of this, and the ball flew directly into Shiratorizawa’s half.

“Chance ball!”

The first pass was in place, and it was another high ball that was passed to Ushijima without hesitation.

Oikawa jumped at the net with Saijo and Iwaizumi, and a tight net was woven again. They blocked the diagonal ball, and on the only straight line, Furuage waited intently; Arao was on the flank, and Miyano was responsible for covering the touch that flew out of bounds…

But for Ushijima Wakatoshi, even a tiny gap was particularly conspicuous.

——Switching from a spike to a dink.

“No one in Aoba Johsai’s front row! Ushijima scores another point! Oh dear, it seems that they are too guarded against Ushijima’s strong attack and have not guarded against other attack possibilities.” The commentator said regretfully, “Shiratorizawa’s continuous score, fifteen to nine, Aoba Johsai is in danger!”