JSWGAS Chapter 116

“—— Shiratorizawa doesn’t need conservative strategies.”

Coach Washijo said calmly. After Qingcheng took the second game, this usually strict and grumpy coach surprisingly didn’t immediately explode. But his gloomy face and the unfriendly tone of his voice still silenced the players. He pointed out their mistakes one by one, scolding them harshly for what they had just done, until they were about to go on the court before letting them off.

“This kind of Kajiba is even scarier,” Tendō Satori said, feeling the piercing gaze from the sidelines after entering the court. “It’s better to be scolded directly as usual.”

“Maybe because there’s nothing to say,” Ōhira said. “After all, we all know that number 12 caught up with his own strength, and Ushijima’s spike didn’t have any mistakes. That was indeed the best offensive method at the time.”

Tendō Satori dragged out his voice, “Eh——” He turned his head and asked Ushijima Wakatoshi, who had been silent all along, “What do you think, Wakatoshi-kun?”

At the end of the second game, the Shiratorizawa players had exploded. Each of them stared at Qingcheng’s number 12, especially the hands hanging by his sides. In comparison, only the person whose spike was blocked remained calm… Tendō wouldn’t think so.

He saw Ushijima staring at Kokonoe with deadly focus when he landed.

“I will break through him.” Ushijima Wakatoshi remained unmoved, his tone no different from usual… maybe the pitch was slightly higher than usual.

“You’re so reliable, Wakatoshi-kun.” Tendō patted his shoulder to encourage him, then moved his wrists and turned his attention to the Qingcheng players, “… I can’t be too relaxed either.”

The third game began in the exceptionally stifling air.

As if to wipe out their previous shame, Shiratorizawa showed a chilling aggressiveness at the beginning of this game. No one chatted except for brief tactical exchanges. Like a cold and ruthless war fortress, they expanded their territory on the battlefield, and the spearhead was first aimed at Qingcheng’s setter in such a tense atmosphere. The two sides fought fiercely for several rounds, each with its own wins and losses, but the scoreboard on the side still favored the soaring Shiratorizawa.

In such a situation, finding a chance to counterattack from the continuous heavy spikes became the primary issue that the setter needed to consider. Unfortunately, most of Oikawa Tōru’s cards had already been revealed in the first two games. After Saijō and Miyano left the court, the opportunities that could have been chosen immediately decreased significantly, and the defense also began to be overwhelmed. The pieces on the chessboard continued to decrease, which tested the setter’s on-the-spot adaptability and organizational ability even more.

While thinking, Koga’s first pass was in place. After Oikawa took his position, he stared intently at the volleyball that was rapidly falling after a brief rise. The three attackers in the front row had already taken their positions. Kokonoe had spiked quite a few quick attacks in this game, Arase’s heavy spikes were rare but powerful each time, and Iwaizumi’s scoring rate was not low. However, because he needed to make up for ground defense, he actively gave up the strong attack and focused on cover. Oikawa Tōru was surprised that he could remain calm in this situation, and the name he called out was completely different from what he actually did——

“Koiwa!”

This ball quickly flew in front of Kokonoe Taka. Although Oikawa Tōru had a record of calling out names randomly and actually passing the ball to someone else before, this time, when his hands lifted the ball, they were clearly leaning towards Iwaizumi——

Ah, he forcefully changed the direction of the pass at the moment he noticed the block following up.

Tendō’s timing for jumping diagonally from the side was rushed, and it was difficult for him to make up from the center court to the left. And when the ball came speeding with the wind, the expression of surprise on the chosen attacker’s face didn’t seem fake either. In Tendō’s sight, Kokonoe quickly retracted his exposed emotions. Although he jumped as a cover this time, his powerful hang time was enough for him to adjust before Tendō completely blocked all the paths. The volleyball brushed the red-haired middle blocker’s fingertips and slammed into Shiratorizawa’s boundary.

But the two middle blockers looked at the Qingcheng setter, who was supporting his side abdomen and panting slightly, after landing at the same time. Shiratorizawa’s one touched his chin and muttered softly, “Interesting.” But Qingcheng’s one frowned uncertainly, and ultimately chose to stand still for the time being.

And Shiratorizawa wouldn’t stop because of this small episode.

“Bang!”

Arase’s powerful jump serve was received by the libero, the setter lightly jumped up and raised his hand. His eyes deliberately paused on Ushijima for a moment, but his fingertips quickly pushed the ball to Munakata, who had already jumped up. In the tactical distribution he had always taken, most of the points were relied on Ushijima’s strong attacks, and A-style quick attacks rarely appeared. Therefore, only a very small number of people still remembered that before Ushijima joined the team, this third-year Shiratorizawa setter was also best at disrupting the opponent’s rhythm through strong attacks interspersed with quick attacks.

But at the moment the ball left his fingertips, he discovered in horror that he was shrouded in more than one shadow. This creepy feeling of being seen through had only appeared during the team’s practice matches when he was practicing against Tendō. A glance at the red-haired middle blocker revealed that the latter had a terrifying smile on his face, his eyes bright and focused on the monster on the opposite side of the net.

And Munakata decisively gave up his previous thoughts in a brief moment of astonishment. He twisted his wrist to the side, aiming at the edge of the net to hit a diagonal line that barely squeezed through. The referee blew his whistle, Shiratorizawa scored, and before Munakata, who had been frightened, could recover his breath, he heard his first-year middle blocker sigh in disappointment.

“… What’s wrong?”

“It’s a bit of a pity.”

Tendō spread his hands innocently.

Munakata: “…” Why do you look disappointed that I scored? Are you a spy sent by Qingcheng?

It just so happened that he had rotated to the number one position to serve, and at this time, he was trying his best to chase Koga. Although the libero had a rotation mechanism, judging from the current pace of the game, it was the position that consumed the most stamina on the court. This ball was difficult for Koga to get into place, and Oikawa inserted himself into the front row and cooperated with Arase to play a back-three attack. But Shiratorizawa’s reaction was also very timely, and the back row main attacker dove to save the ball, “Chance ball!”

Kokonoe Taka stood in front of the net, his eyes deep, and his muscles kept in a state where he could brake at any time. Tendō runs up on the right side, Munakata and the side main attacker cross and cover… no, that’s not right! He knew who the ball would go to! Before the ball came to the setter’s hands, he tugged at the hem of Oikawa’s clothes, who was closest to him, and the latter immediately understood and moved to the side following the force.

The field of vision is wide, and others have left Ushijima Wakatoshi room to brake. Therefore, he immediately realized that the opposite block had not been deceived. The ball will be given to himself, and he also knows that Kokonoe knows that this ball will be given to himself. It is said that excellent attackers can see the beautiful scenery in the best position in mid-air, which is enough to make anyone who was born to fly indulge in it, and Ushijima Wakatoshi is no exception – but for him, it is only meaningful if he breaks that high wall with his own hands.

——A head-on confrontation.

A storm swept up from under his feet, messing up his brown hair, revealing sharp eyebrows and eyes beneath the messy strands. He seemed to be looking at the block in front of him and also thinking about how to spike, covering the ball with his left palm, turning his body and swinging his arm. Many people knew that although that kind of speed looked slow, it could almost collapse the floor of the court when it exploded. In contrast, the two people blocking seemed too thin, almost only leaving thin and long outlines.

Kokonoe Taka stared intently at Ushijima Wakatoshi’s movements, accurately adjusting the angle with both hands. He was prepared, tensed his body, and prepared to endure the coming pain and bruises——”Bang!!!”

Oikawa Tōru, who was also blocking in front of Ushijima Wakatoshi, was almost instantly hit by this heavy spike, and physiological tears burst out from the corners of his eyes, but his eyes were ice-cold behind the mist of tears. Ushijima’s spike was aimed at the gap between the two, first hitting Kokonoe Taka’s palm and then bouncing towards Oikawa, roaring to tear apart the bones supported by flesh and blood!

“Once again, Ushijima’s spike has been blocked! This time, it’s Kokonoe and Oikawa’s double block!” The commentator shouted, excited, “Qingcheng gets a chance to serve!”

“Go, go, go, Qingcheng! One more point——!”

“It hurts!” After landing, Oikawa Tōru covered his palm and hissed, his fingers even trembling. It took a while to barely stop, “Damn! It’s heavier than before.”

… And this was even the aftermath after Kokonoe blocked the power in front.

Thinking of this, he raised his eyes to look at the other person again. Kokonoe Taka looked much better than him on the surface, but Oikawa found that his face was stiff and his face was taut, obviously not feeling well either.

“The power is even greater.” Kokonoe Taka bit his tongue, and only then did he slowly relax, confirming Oikawa’s words.

“…Too scary.” Koga trembled with fear and touched his arm with empathy.

“No matter how scary, we didn’t break through.”

The teammates who surrounded them were all stunned, Kokonoe Taka’s tone was fierce, but if you identify carefully, you can find that the intense emotions in it were not directed at them. But at this time, his undisguised aggressiveness made everyone feel inexplicably at ease.

“Who knows, Shiratorizawa might also think we’re scary,” Oikawa said, shaking his hand, “Being able to block Little Ushiwaka’s heavy spike is also a big blow to them. After that, their counterattacks will be even more fierce, let’s try our best to score points in the advantage rotation.”

While Arase was giving the Shiratorizawa players free eye daggers, he asked worriedly, “Do you need to deal with it?”

“No need.”

Kokonoe Taka could know that the Shiratorizawa people were looking at him without raising his head. His throat rolled, and the root of his tongue mixed with a faint taste of rust suppressed the exciting desire to vomit.

Yamamoto, the teacher accompanying Shiratorizawa on the sidelines, clicked his tongue, “It seems that the ball in the last game wasn’t a fluke… Also, you guys, don’t stare at people so blatantly!”

Coach Washijo stared intently at the court and snorted coldly, “Far from enough.”

The right to serve was exchanged, Qingcheng served first, and the volleyball fell into Shiratorizawa’s front court.

“Ōhira!”

“I’m coming!”

Ōhira’s first pass was half in place, and the setter raised his arm and decisively sent the ball to Tendō with a back pass. The latter played a one-person time difference, but was rescued by Arase’s experienced forward pounce. But although this ball was saved, it flew uncontrollably towards the boundary. Oikawa had to run up, lowering his center of gravity sharply before landing at the last moment, and passed the ball back to the front of the net.

“Sorry! Rescue!”

“Ah!”

Coach Guchi slapped his thigh in annoyance. This ball was too rushed, and Shiratorizawa would not let go of this flaw.

As he expected, only Kokonoe could make it in time to this ball’s position. Two-step jump, a dump? Rebound ball? The former is difficult to score in a tightly defended situation, and the latter has a higher success rate.

But just as he adjusted, the pair of hands pressing down in front of him suddenly adjusted their position almost imperceptibly with his movements, blocking the possibility of choice—— it’s Tendō, Kokonoe Taka saw his cold expression in the opponent’s pupils, and decisively aimed at Tendō’s fingertips.

But at the moment he touched the ball, the hand in front of him suddenly retracted sharply!

Kokonoe Taka’s eyebrows twitched.

The volleyball rushed out of bounds.

“Amazing predictive block!” The commentator exclaimed in surprise, “We can see that Kokonoe player originally wanted to hit the ball on the blocking player’s hand to form a touch out. But Tendō player reacted very quickly and judged accurately. Shiratorizawa also gets a chance to serve!”

…Deliberately, this guy.

Kokonoe Taka realized this fact with just one look. Rather, Tendō Satori didn’t even hide the pleasure of his trick succeeding, shaking his head and humming Shiratorizawa’s out-of-tune school song, trying to anger him.

“Show a little more unwillingness?” He stopped his nonsensical ditty dissatisfied, “You were very energetic when you were confronting Wakatoshi-kun before.”

Kokonoe Taka did not reply, but calmly sized up Tendō. Tendō also generously let him see to his heart’s content. When Kokonoe Taka retracted his gaze and turned to leave, Tendō’s next words made him stop abruptly.

“Kokonoe-kun, don’t be complacent just because you successfully blocked Wakatoshi-kun.” He said softly, vaguely pointing at the net in front of him, “Don’t underestimate us.”

“Then let me see it.”

Kokonoe replied without turning his head.