JSWGAS Chapter 88

Chapter 88.

Aoba Johsai’s starting players were the same as in the morning, except this time they didn’t use the three-point attack from the start. Now in the back row were Miyano, Furuie, and Arao, who were better at receiving, while in the front row were Iwaizumi, Saijo, and Oikawa. Shiratorizawa, on the other hand, started with their third-year captain serving from position one, a setter and libero in the back row, and a three-point strong attack formation in the front row.

The coin landed, and Shiratorizawa chose to serve.

“Ah, I didn’t expect Shiratorizawa to have four first-years on the court,” Arao said, staring at Captain Sonomura, who had the ball and was saying something briefly. “I heard they scouted several good players this year, but to put them directly on the court… their coach is quite bold.”

“Hasn’t Shiratorizawa’s coaching philosophy always been that whoever is stronger gets to stay on the court?” Furuie replied from beside him, similarly watching the opposing captain’s serving motion with serious anticipation.

Shiratorizawa’s current captain, Sonomura, understood the coach’s philosophy as well.

‘The strong should be like this,’ right?

His gaze fell on Ushijima Wakatoshi’s back. The first-year newcomers had suddenly taken four positions, and of course, some people on the team were unhappy. But even if they were unhappy, they could only admit that their level was not as good as these monsters. Those who were not strong enough would be eliminated, and even if they made it onto the regular roster, they couldn’t let their guard down.

Sigh. Competition is like this.

Sonomura held the volleyball and took a few steps back, his gaze leaving Ushijima and landing on Arao, who was also observing him. Aoba Johsai has three first-years… that certainly surprised him a little. But, Arao, you weakling, don’t you understand this principle as well? That’s why you accepted it so quickly…

The referee’s whistle blew, and in the next moment, all regrets vanished. Sonomura tossed the volleyball high into the air, his peripheral vision fixed on Arao, who was preparing. Running, jumping, his arm suddenly swinging forward, “Bang!”

The ball was fast, and the landing point was somewhat dangerous. Arao didn’t dare to gamble on whether the ball would go out of bounds. He bent his knees and lowered his center of gravity, his arms throbbing after receiving the force of the violent impact. But compared to a perfect first touch, the pain was nothing. “Oikawa!”

“Nice receive, Arao-senpai!” Oikawa Tōru had been preparing at the net for a long time. His eyes quickly scanned his own team’s positioning and the enemy’s positioning. Who should he set this ball to?

Saijo faked a jump, but didn’t fool the three players at the net. Their attention was focused on Iwaizumi, who was jumping a step later on purpose, and Arao, who was preparing for a back-row attack.

Truly flawless, Oikawa Tōru thought. On the other side of the net, Semi Eita, who was further away, keenly noticed something, “Middle Blocker!”

–Too late.

In an instant, a light flick of the wrist, a light second attack seemed to represent Oikawa Tōru himself, looking gentle, but actually carrying sharp aggressiveness. He landed, his gaze meeting Semi’s, who had discovered his little trick. He cocked his lips before they could break eye contact. “Sorry.” Oikawa Tōru mouthed, successfully earning a pair of fiery eyes from the other side.

“Niceball!”

“You little rascal!”

The right to serve changed hands, and Arao stepped up to position one.

Shiratorizawa and Aoba Johsai were said to have a long-standing feud, from the principals of the two schools secretly competing to the deeply fated Ushiwaka and Oikawa. In this situation, Arao naturally wouldn’t shake hands and make peace with the opposing third-year captain. Just think about that last ball, it was obviously aimed at him!

So, it’s not incomprehensible that I’m targeting you, right, Sonomura?

Saijo turned his head again, sighed. When Oikawa Tōru looked over as if he was aware of something, he whispered a complaint, “Single-celled idiots are really impossible to deal with.”

Oikawa Tōru blinked, a knowing smile on his face: “But not bad as teammates?”

“Yeah, not bad.”

In those few words, Arao, standing in the service area, had already begun tossing the ball and running. This time, the opposing Sonomura grinned, gritting his teeth: Bring it on! Making eye contact, all the strength in his body was staked on the volleyball he was about to strike!

A sound even louder than Sonomura’s serve just now accompanied the ball’s shadow, which to Shiratorizawa’s players, almost matched Ushiwaka’s imposing serve. Arao left no strength in reserve. His arm even felt a little cramped from swinging forward with so much force. His efforts were not in vain. Sonomura’s perfect receiving posture was impacted so much that he was forced to move backwards uncontrollably. Finally, he lost his balance and fell backwards, the first touch not in place.

“Sorry!”

“Cover!”

This imperfect first touch did not make Shiratorizawa panic. Semi Eita arrived in time, but in haste could only choose to bump the ball with his forearms. The ball rose high, but the angle and height were perfect. And that position…

“Ushijima!”

No doubt about it.

That was Ushijima Wakatoshi’s territory.

That figure leaping up was reflected in Saijo’s eyes, who was at the block. Reflected in Iwaizumi’s eyes, who was gritting his teeth and looking fiercer than usual. Reflected in Oikawa Tōru’s eyes, who slowed his breathing. And also reflected in Kokonoe Taka’s eyes, who was silently observing the battle from the sidelines.

Ushijima Wakatoshi hovered in the air. His action of accumulating power was so obvious, so eye-catching, that people couldn’t help but wonder what kind of world he was facing at this moment?

The breathing suddenly became heavy as the opponent swung his arm, and a tight stone pressed on the heart, reaching its peak when Ushijima hit the ball.

“Bang!”

A mountain-collapsing ball, crushing the dust that poured into the lungs between breaths. The arms of the block flew backwards uncontrollably, and the ball landed in front of the three-meter line. Miyano dove, but failed to save it.

“Still as strong as ever, Wakatoshi-kun–”

“Niceball!”

The faint praise and celebration fell into the ears of everyone on the other side through the gaps in the net. Oikawa Tōru rubbed his hair. “Don’t mind it — although I want to say that, but that guy’s sense of oppression is just that strong. That’s just how it is, the annoying left-handed spiker.”

Iwaizumi Hajime added: “His strength has increased again, and even if he unloads his strength, it is difficult to adapt to the rotation in a short time.”

Saijo pressed his palm, and first turned his head to apologize to Arao with rare frankness: “Sorry, I couldn’t block this ball. Even though the serve had already disrupted the first touch…”

Arao waved his hand: “We were prepared for it, don’t worry about it.”

Oikawa Tōru turned his attention back from Shiratorizawa and turned to Arao: “Arao-senpai, don’t try so hard the next time you rotate to serve, okay?” He raised his chin slightly towards the stunned Arao, his tone calm. “Although the power is great, it will be difficult if it causes you to have insufficient power when you spike.”

Arao: “…You noticed.”

He indeed used too much force, and his wrist was still a little painfully twisted at this time.

Oikawa Tōru smiled: “It’s not like this is the only way to restrain them.”

–Moreover, isn’t there someone on the sidelines who can’t sit still anymore?

When the score came to 7:5, with Shiratorizawa in the lead, Furuie and Kokonoe rotated.

“Oh, long time no see.” Tendō Satori was about to cling to the net and come over. “I was quite sad that I didn’t find you among Shiratorizawa’s freshmen–”

His voice wasn’t small, at least Kokonoe Taka felt a very penetrating resentful gaze stabbing him in the back, and he felt a chill down his spine for a moment. The red-haired head in front of him swayed twice triumphantly, his expression full of intention.

Before he could answer, Tendō Satori continued in a special tone: “I’m quite looking forward to it. How far has Kokonoe-kun, who provoked Wakatoshi-kun, grown now? I hope it won’t bore me…?”

This time, the presence behind him wasn’t just one gaze, but a mixture of several different emotions.

Watching Tendō hum away, Kokonoe Taka turned his head and quickly pinched Oikawa Tōru, who wanted to say something loudly. The latter was caught off guard, “Ugh ugh ugh!!”

He didn’t change his face: “In short, let’s get a point first.”

“Yeah!”

Those who high-fived, those who nodded, tacitly ignored the struggling Oikawa.

Oikawa Tōru was still resentful when he served — most of it was directed at Shiratorizawa, and a small part was aimed directly at his teammates who were raising their arms and covering the backs of their heads. This made his serve even more terrifying than usual. Run up, jump, pause deliberately for a moment, the arm swinging forward in the air was full of power.

Shiratorizawa already had a tendency to make Ushijima the center of their attack, and in the previous few balls, he would only receive the ball in rare cases. Ha, don’t think I’ll let you hit the ball so comfortably.

Concentrate your attention, like a needle, on Ushijima Wakatoshi.

Shiratorizawa’s libero stared at the opponent’s movements. This ball was unreservedly aimed at Ushijima. If he went to receive it, he might block Ushijima’s next attack route… Deliberate, absolutely deliberate!

In the few seconds he hesitated, Ushijima Wakatoshi had already accurately judged the ball’s landing point, stepped forward and bumped the ball up, the first touch in place. Just as Oikawa Tōru breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had succeeded in restraining, he saw the other party start preparing to attack almost in the next second after the first touch was in place. The posture was perfect, the run-up was perfect. Under the staggered cover of the back row hitters, they jumped in front of the attack line in an instant!

The momentum was magnificent, going forward without hesitation, attracting everyone’s attention like a magnet! Kokonoe Taka had been staring at Ushijima Wakatoshi when he received the ball, and at this time he seized the opportunity and jumped with him. His arm was raised high, his eyes met, and they would ignite with just a spark.

But unexpectedly, he swung at empty air. Semi Eita glanced at Ushijima Wakatoshi who was jumping and the block that was attracted away by him, but set the ball to the left side hitter, scoring with a straight shot.

“Tsk.” Saijo had half of his attention on Ushijima, and only blocked the diagonal ball route with a hasty cover, “I thought Ushijima would hit this ball.”

Oikawa Tōru walked over: “I’m afraid Ushiwaka thought so too.” He was serious for only a few seconds, then unhappily stepped on Kokonoe Taka’s foot, who was tilting his head. “What are you looking at?! I told you to pay attention to the setter’s direction when blocking! Why did you immediately follow when you saw Little Ushiwaka jumping!”

Iwaizumi Hajime looked at Oikawa Tōru, who was trying to put a few more footprints on Kokonoe Taka’s shoes, with disgust: “Are you an elementary school student…”

Kokonoe Taka then retracted his gaze: “Sorry, I was just focused on Ushiwaka.” He threatened with a fake smile, “Also, are you trying to shine my shoes?”

Oikawa Tōru pretended not to hear, coughed twice, and said thoughtfully: “Although the other side scored… it’s not a complete loss.”

“What did you discover?”

“Temporarily confidential—”

Compared with his deliberately frivolous tone, his warm-colored eyes quietly fell on the opponent’s setter who was communicating with his teammates.

Semi Eita suddenly shivered, and turned his head vigilantly.

“What’s wrong, Semi-mimi?”

“Don’t call me that.” He corrected subconsciously before turning his head in confusion, “No, it’s nothing.”

Tendō Satori put his arm around Ushijima Wakatoshi’s shoulder, his eyes sweeping over Coach Washijo’s stern face on the sidelines.

–Although he scored, Kaji doesn’t seem very happy?!