Crunch!
Opposite the net, the sound of sneakers scraping echoed!
Just as Itaru Shiramine leapt up and launched a jump set, he caught a glimpse of Karasuno's No. 7 moving to the back.
He took the bait!!
Itaru's heart surged with excitement!
As long as that No. 7 wasn't there to block, he was confident he could score!
Just as the ball neared his hands, Itaru switched his hand position—
Second attack!
He was going for a direct point!!
But more than scoring, what he really wanted was to disrupt Karasuno's rhythm.
Smack!
He struck the ball with one palm!
And added a subtle adjustment—
He hit it away from where No. 7 had been!
Even if he reacted late, there'd be no time to return and block!
But just as the second attack was released—
A shadow flashed in his peripheral vision!
No way!
Could it be—?
Itaru felt a jolt of dread!
Too late now—the ball was already hit!
Smack!
Right as the ball crossed the net—
A pair of strong hands rose up to stop it cold!
It was Karasuno's No. 7!!
Impossible!
He'd gone the other way!
How was he here??
No matter how stunned Itaru was, the ball slammed into those solid arms.
Smack!
Once Akira locks eyes on a weak second attack, there's no way it's breaking through his block!
Tweet!
Karasuno scores!!
"Tch!"
"That second attack from Sarukawa Tech's setter was way too obvious!"
"You think you can trick him with something like that?"
From the sidelines, Tetsurō Kuroo shook his head with a sigh.
Itaru Shiramine, caught in the heat of the match, hadn't realized it.
But the spectators—and even his own teammates—had seen it all clearly.
Akira's movement earlier? A total feint.
He'd only taken a single step to the side, not actually committing to a shift.
And the moment Itaru went up for the set, Akira launched diagonally into the air!
It was as if he knew a second attack was coming!
"Right?"
Even Kenma Kozume, usually quiet, nodded beside Kuroo.
As a fellow setter known for trickery, Kenma could respect it.
In their previous practice matches against Karasuno, Akira's blocks had been a nightmare to get past.
Nekoma's strength doesn't lie in raw power, so their attacks depend heavily on Kenma's craftiness.
Which rarely fails.
His sharp instincts and strategic mind usually make blockers dance.
But against Akira?
None of it worked.
After just a few tries, Akira would start reading Kenma like a book.
Later in those matches, no matter how Kenma switched up his tactics, Akira would always be there, anticipating and stopping the ball.
In Kenma's eyes, the second attack Itaru just attempted was something he'd pulled off countless times before.
Even many of the national-level setters at this tournament had tried their hand at tricking Karasuno with similar moves.
But against Akira—
Success rate? Nearly zero.
If you want to get past his block, raw spiking power might be your only shot.
...
"S-sorry..."
"I..."
Itaru Shiramine looked flustered.
Looking back now, that play had clearly been rushed.
He could've just set to a hitter and let the attack build naturally.
"Don't sweat it."
His teammates from Sarukawa Tech gathered around, clapping his back in support.
"Let's keep our heads in the game!"
"Even if the enemy's still calm, we can't lose our own focus!"
"Yeah!"
Their words slowly helped Itaru regain his composure.
Looking back on his own thoughts, he silently cursed himself for being so hasty.
To outsiders, Sarukawa Tech's strength lies in its stellar defense.
But to those on the team, their pride has always been their perseverance and patience.
In every match—no matter how outmatched they seemed on paper—they never gave up.
Recalling his earlier desperation, Itaru couldn't help but blush.
He'd momentarily lost sight of what made them strong.