BEEP!
With the final whistle, the match between Sengoku and Shinkuuji concluded with a decisive 2-0 victory for Sengoku, advancing them to the quarterfinals.
After their morale was crushed in the first set, Shinkuuji never managed to stage a comeback. It turned out their coach's judgment was spot-on.
Sengoku's advancement to the top eight marked a historic achievement for their volleyball club. Yet, unlike last time, the team didn't erupt in excitement, because now, they had their sights set even higher.
While Sengoku remained composed, the rest of Miyagi Prefecture was in an uproar.
A seeded team like Shinkuuji being swept 2-0 by a dark horse was enough to make Sengoku's name echo throughout the region.
Footage of the match was quickly edited into a highlight reel and spread like wildfire...
…
At Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High, they were the first to get their hands on the recording.
After all, they were the only team among the quarter finalists who had previously played against Sengoku. From coach to core players, everyone remembered Akashi Asuka vividly.
Inside the video room, after watching the recording of Sengoku vs. Shinkuuji, the players and coach sat in heavy silence.
"He's a monster. Seriously, is that guy even human?"
"Back at the Prefectural Sports Meet, he was already tough to deal with. And now, after just one summer break, he's grown this much?"
Several of Kitagawa 's key players couldn't help but voice their shock after witnessing Akashi Asuka's performance.
Their coach remained expressionless, but his intense gaze made it clear, he was far from calm.
"We've seen the footage. Now, I want to hear everyone's thoughts. Kageyama, you first."
"Yes, sir."
Tobio Kageyama stood up and spoke confidently:
"When we played Sengoku earlier this year, they were already a solid team, but everything revolved around their ace, No. 1. But this match shows that the entire team has improved significantly. While the others still can't match their ace's level, they're no longer weak links."
"More importantly, the ace is now terrifying. Back in the spring, his offense was impressive, but his defense was like a beginner's.
Now, in just a few months, his defensive skills are nearly flawless. Honestly, if I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe it. If we face them again, there's no doubt they'll be our greatest threat."
Though Kageyama still had some personality flaws, his ability to assess others was top-tier.
There are many things in sports that you can't capture on tape. If you're not on the court, you'll never truly feel how powerful an opponent is.
Yet Kageyama accurately analyzed nearly 70% of Sengoku's current strength, just from a single viewing.
…
Since both schools were in the same bracket, Kitagawa quickly began strategizing.
But even more anxious than them was Yamarashi Technical Junior High, Sengoku's next opponent.
According to the tournament schedule, the quarterfinals would begin the following Saturday, meaning Yamarashi only had five days to prepare.
That might sound like a decent amount of time, but in reality, formulating a solid game plan isn't something you can settle with a quick conversation.
Once a strategy is decided, it needs time to be drilled and practiced before it can be used effectively in a match.
Those "spur-of-the-moment" plays you see sometimes might work once or twice, but they lack consistency and can't carry a match.
So Yamarashi's coaches and players burned the midnight oil, scrambling to come up with tactics.
…
Meanwhile, Sengoku was also studying Yamarashi's style.
After all, in the upcoming match, they were the ones challenging a powerhouse.
But unlike Yamarashi's struggle to study them, Sengoku had it easier.
Yamarashi, as a well-established team, had years of footage and data available.
Sengoku, on the other hand, had played plenty of matches too, but the only truly "research-worthy" footage was their most recent game, the one against Shinkuuji.
…
Time flew by.
Saturday arrived.
The match between Sengoku and Yamarashi Technical was about to begin.
"Let's have a great match!"
"Let's have a great match!"
After bowing to each other, both teams walked to their pre-arranged positions.
But the moment Yamarashi saw Sengoku's lineup, their expressions drastically changed.
"Whoa, whoa, are they serious right now?"
Sengoku's formation was as follows:
Front row, left to right: Jujiro Kazama (#4), Ryuhei Sanashita (#3), Oomae Masato (#2)
Back row, left to right: Oda Miki (#5), Neko Kurata (#6), Akashi Asuka (#1)
BEEP!
The referee blew the whistle to start the game.
Standing at the baseline, Akashi Asuka bounced the ball a few times, recalling Sanashita's tactical briefing before the match:
"Yamarashi is a balanced, defense-oriented team with no glaring weaknesses. Their formation is solid.
If we drag this match out, it'll work against us. So from the first serve, we go all-out and crush them!"
WHAM!
As Sanashita's voice faded from memory, Akashi unleashed a devastating serve.
A thunderous crack echoed through the gym as the ball blasted off his palm and rocketed toward the other side of the court like a meteor, heading straight for Yamarashi's libero.
This was one of the flaws of the power jump serve:
Because all energy is focused on speed and force, there's little control over precision.
As long as the ball lands in bounds, it's considered successful, but targeting specific zones is nearly impossible.
If the serve happens to go straight to the opposing libero, the chance of a successful reception increases significantly.
Like right now.
Despite the ball flying at near-impossible speed, Yamarashi's veteran libero, relying on sheer instinct, reacted before his brain could even catch up, his body moved on its own and caught the ball.
The moment his wrist registered contact, his brain sent out a jubilant signal:
"I got it!"
But in the very next second, his expression changed.
The power behind the ball wasn't just fast, it was devastatingly strong.
BOOM!
The impact surged through his arm, and before he could attempt any cushioning technique, the ball bounced sky-high, crashing into the railing of the second-floor bleachers with a loud
DUANG.
Off balance from the force, the libero landed flat on his backside...
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