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Chapter 339: Contrast (D-L)
🕑 Added 2025-03-31 16:06:59 +0000 UTC"I—"
For the first time in this match, Araki Kōsei felt an overwhelming surge of emotion, so much so that he almost let a curse slip.
That was a desperation save. To be honest, even getting the ball over the net without an attack seemed impossible...
"Is this guy a monster?" Matsuo Satoshi clutched his chest. "He's a monster, right?!"
A full-powered attack from beyond the baseline, soaring across the entire court, landing perfectly on Itachiyama's baseline—
That was nothing short of divine!
"How did he even think of that? And how did he dare attempt it?!"
The cheers from the sidelines died down completely. They realised that what was meant to be support for Itachiyama had instead fueled Kaedehara Taichi.
Taichi raised his index finger and slowly pointed at Sakusa Kiyoomi before bending his arm and holding up a single finger.
With just one play, he had broken Sakusa's service round. Aoba Johsai was now just one point behind Itachiyama!
"Yahaba-senpai, that was a great receive." Taichi extended his hand to pull him up.
Yahaba Shigeru let out a wry chuckle. "Great? I barely managed to keep the ball from touching the floor..."
"But that's enough," Taichi replied with a bright grin. "I ran all the way over because I trusted you'd save it."
Yahaba blinked. Taichi didn't seem to be lying. But seriously—who would sprint from the front row all the way past the baseline in a normal situation?
Had he already planned how to send the ball back the moment he started running?
"Taichi, you…?"
Taichi simply blinked. "I mean, we have to give our all for every point, right?"
The serve rotated. Aoba Johsai was now serving.
Kindaichi Yūtarō unleashed a powerful jump serve. Sakusa Kiyoomi received it flawlessly.
Shirakawa Kaito stepped in, and Itachiyama launched a three-point attack from the front row.
Boom!
Takeuchi Eiji spiked from the left wing.
"Double block!"
Smack!
Taichi had already moved into position for coverage, forming a double block with Kunimi Akira.
Komori Motoya dove and saved the ball, while Shirakawa repositioned and sent the ball to the right wing.
Shibata Yōsuke leapt for a spike.
Boom!
"Double block!"
Smack!
Taichi once again appeared on the right side, blocking alongside Yūki Yōji.
Sakusa chased it down, preventing the ball from hitting the ground, but Itachiyama's formation had fallen into chaos.
Shirakawa stepped in again, but for a moment, he hesitated—where should he set the ball?
"Right wing!"
Nishimura Hiroyuki called for it. He wasn't entirely sure he could score, but this was a moment for the seniors to step up!
The ball soared toward the right wing. Nishimura leapt for a spike—
"Double block!"
Just as he was about to hit a cross-court shot, a sense of danger suddenly flashed through his mind.
Smack!
A tip!
Taichi's eyes flickered with slight disappointment. He had left Nishimura with such a clean hitting lane.
Yahaba rushed forward, picking up the tip, only to realise—
There was no one to set the ball.
Kunimi was still in the front row on the left side, and Nakamori Daiki wasn't on the court.
"I got it!" Kyōtani Kentarō stepped in, sending the ball to the left wing.
Kunimi leapt for the spike.
"Damn!"
"Double block!"
Kyōtani's set was not only too low, but it was also completely under the blockers' reach.
Kunimi had no space to manoeuvre.
Smack!
His right hand made contact with the ball at the same time as Takeuchi's block. Kunimi instinctively swiped the ball toward the left.
The ball fell on Aoba Johsai's side—
But just outside the left sideline.
"???"
The block was out of bounds—Aoba Johsai scored!
[Aoba Johsai 19 - 19 Itachiyama]
"No way—"
"What a brilliant play!"
Mizushima Yū watched Kunimi from across the net, and suddenly, the memories of Spring Nationals resurfaced vividly in his mind.
He remembered Kunimi. That lazy-looking guy always managed to come up with unexpected, clever plays.
"Sorry." Kyōtani's voice was low. They had scored, but his mistake was still a mistake.
"Ah, it's fine," Kunimi replied, almost uncomfortably.
"Kunimi, that was amazing!" Kindaichi called from the back row.
At the same time, Aoba Johsai's first-years all stared at Kunimi in surprise.
"So annoying," Kunimi muttered, his voice still lifeless. "Can you stop staring at me…?"
Meanwhile, Itachiyama had failed to score despite multiple offensive attempts.
With Taichi in the front row, Aoba Johsai's blocking had strengthened significantly, resembling their iron wall from last year.
Itachiyama was just one point away from reaching 20—
Yet that one point felt impossibly distant.
Aoba Johsai continued their serve. Kindaichi sent out his second jump serve.
Boom!
"I got it!" Shirakawa received the ball. Their setter could still rely on Komori, but for scoring, only Sakusa could finish the play!
Komori repositioned. Sakusa leapt from the back row, joining the front row in a four-point attack.
Whoosh—!
Boom!
The ball soared toward the left wing.
Takeuchi faced Kunimi's single block and sent a straight-line spike directly for the point!
[Aoba Johsai 19 - 20 Itachiyama]
Finally, Itachiyama reached 20 points first.
"Komori-senpai! That was an amazing set!" Shirakawa praised him sincerely. Komori was the best libero he had ever seen.
"Shirakawa," Komori said slowly, "don't tell me you think Sakusa is the only one who can score for Itachiyama."
Shirakawa had never heard Komori speak in such a serious tone before.
"A setter who doesn't trust his own attackers—how can he set a ball that helps them break through the defence?"
"I—" Shirakawa froze.
He stared at Komori, completely at a loss for words.
Komori's words hit him like a hammer, echoing relentlessly in his mind.
He started to reflect. He had placed all the pressure on their ace, doubting his teammates when it mattered most.
As a setter, nothing was more unacceptable.
"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!" Shirakawa shouted, bowing deeply to his teammates.
"Come on now, Komori-senpai said that because he has high expectations for you," Takeuchi said. "We may not be as reliable as Sakusa-senpai, but we're still Itachiyama players."
"When it counts, no one will back down. You should try believing in us a little more. Haven't we won countless matches together?"
"Yes!" Shirakawa bowed deeply to him. "Thank you, Takeuchi-senpai!"
"I—I believe in all of you! I know you'll lead us to victory!"
His gaze gradually sharpened.
"Then let's take this second set!"
"Yes!!"
-----
The serve rotated. Itachiyama was up.
Shibata Yōsuke launched a powerful jump serve. Kyōtani received it.
Yahaba stepped in, setting the ball to the middle. Taichi spiked through a triple block for the score.
[Aoba Johsai 20 - 20 Itachiyama]
The serve rotated again. Kunimi sent a jump float.
Shirakawa was forced to receive, and Komori set the ball to the right. Nishimura soared past Yahaba's block, scoring with an overhand spike.
[Aoba Johsai 20 - 21 Itachiyama]
Nishimura served. Nakamori received. Yahaba set to the left wing.
Taichi spiked down the sideline—point!
[Aoba Johsai 21 - 21 Itachiyama]
Taichi stepped up to serve.
And with a single powerful jump serve—
He scored directly.
On his next serve, a powerful jump serve, Sakusa Kiyoomi received it cleanly, setting up Shirakawa Kaito for an attack.
As Yūki Yōji rose for a block, Shirakawa faked a spike and set the ball to the right wing.
Mizushima Yū baited Yahaba's block once again, allowing Shibata Yōsuke to execute a back-row attack for the point.
[Aoba Johsai 22 - 22 Itachiyama]
Sakusa Kiyoomi rotated to the front row.
Takeuchi Eiji served a float serve, and Nakamori Daiki barely managed to receive it.
Kunimi Akira stepped in to set the ball to the right wing, where Kyōtani Kentarō hammered a cross-court spike for the point.
[Aoba Johsai 23 - 22 Itachiyama]
Yūki Yōji's powerful jump serve went out, giving Itachiyama a point.
[Aoba Johsai 23 - 23 Itachiyama]
Mizushima Yū sent a powerful jump serve, but Nakamori Daiki received it effortlessly. Yahaba Shigeru quickly moved in for the set.
Aoba Johsai initiated a four-man attack.
Kindaichi Yūtarō's quick spike down the line was predicted by Sakusa Kiyoomi, who got a touch on the ball.
Mizushima Yū set the ball perfectly, and Shirakawa Kaito sent it toward the middle.
Sakusa Kiyoomi spiked the ball for the point.
[Aoba Johsai 23 - 24 Itachiyama]
Itachiyama took the lead and reached set point first.
-----
Five minutes later.
Shirakawa Kaito served a float serve, and Nakamori Daiki's first touch barely pushed the ball to the net.
Kunimi Akira went for a second-touch attack and scored directly.
[Aoba Johsai 31 - 31 Itachiyama]
"These guys are insane..."
"How are they still this focused at the end of the set?"
"How long is this going to go on...?"
The score remained tied as the match reached a deadlock. However, in terms of stamina, Itachiyama's exhaustion was becoming more apparent.
Their players' faces were flushed, their breathing grew laboured, and sweat drenched their jerseys. Every sprint, every jump, every swing required them to grit their teeth and push past the fatigue.
Aoba Johsai, though also fatigued, was in a better state. Their footwork remained steady, and their eyes still burned with determination.
Sakusa Kiyoomi's expression turned serious. More than his own exhaustion, he was troubled by Aoba Johsai's performance at the end of the set.
Just now, that second-touch attack had come from Kunimi Akira.
And Sakusa was still in the front row. If that attack had been blocked or failed to score, Itachiyama would have won the set.
In the past, regardless of whether Kaedehara Taichi was in the front row or not, Aoba Johsai would always set the ball to him in crucial moments. His overwhelming strength gave his teammates the confidence that he could turn the tide.
But now, Aoba Johsai was no longer relying solely on Kaedehara Taichi. The entire team had grown.
This change made Aoba Johsai even more terrifying.
With the other players becoming real offensive threats, Kaedehara's movements became even harder to predict.
This evolution puzzled Sakusa. He had assumed that after Oikawa Tōru left, Kaedehara Taichi would gradually lose support and end up like Wakatoshi—a lone powerhouse carrying his team.
"What exactly happened to Aoba Johsai...?"
"Mad Dog-senpai, send in a good serve!"
Kaedehara Taichi had rotated to the front row and spoke lightly.
Unlike the tension weighing on both teams, Taichi remained calm, as if he were detached from the situation.
His relaxed demeanour stood out on the court like an anomaly.
Kyōtani Kentarō ignored him and launched into a powerful jump serve.
Boom!
Kyōtani's stamina had taken a hit as well, making his serve appear more controlled.
Komori Motoya received it, and Shirakawa Kaito quickly set the ball to the right wing.
Sakusa Kiyoomi jumped for the spike.
"Triple block!"
Kaedehara Taichi was right in front of him, and Kunimi Akira committed fully to the block as well.
Bang!—
Smack!
"Touch!" Taichi shouted.
The ball deflected at an angle, flying out of bounds. Nakamori Daiki scrambled to save it.
Yahaba Shigeru stepped in and set the ball—Kaedehara Taichi leapt for the spike.
"Triple block!"
Itachiyama threw everything they had at him.
Smack!—
The ball barely grazed Sakusa Kiyoomi's fingertips—
A soft drop shot!
Shirakawa Kaito rushed forward, but his reaction was visibly slower than at the start of the match.
The ball landed.
Aoba Johsai scored.
[Aoba Johsai 32 - 31 Itachiyama]
Aoba Johsai had taken the lead.
Kaedehara Taichi was playing with ease!
Other matches had already ended, with Aoba Johsai and Itachiyama finishing the first set the fastest. Now, they were locked in the longest battle.
The sidelines were packed with players from other teams, but no one spoke.
Only the laboured breathing of the athletes on the court filled the air.
Kyōtani Kentarō served again.
Boom!!—
Smack!
Furumori Motoya received it, and Shirakawa Kaito swiftly adjusted, calculating the best attack option in his mind.
"Give me the ball!"
Sakusa Kiyoomi called for it from the right wing.
This was the first time Shirakawa had seen Sakusa so desperate for a set.
Whoosh—!
Shirakawa didn't hesitate—because this was Sakusa Kiyoomi.
Bang!—
"Triple block!"
It was like a scene played on rewind—Kaedehara Taichi's arm deflecting the ball.
But this time, the ball shot downward even faster.
Nakamori Daiki couldn't reach it in time.
The ball hit the floor.
Sakusa Kiyoomi had scored.
[Aoba Johsai 32 - 32 Itachiyama]
It still wasn't over!
Sakusa had defended against Aoba Johsai's attack—
And now, it was his turn to serve.
"Hah—"
Sakusa took a deep breath.
It had been a long time since he felt nervous on the service line.
"Stay focused! Let's end this!" Taichi shouted.
Even though both teams needed to win by two points, they knew—
The match would be decided in this service round.
Sakusa tossed the ball, approached, jumped, and struck.
Bang!—
The ball spun viciously toward Kyōtani Kentarō in the back corner.
"I got it!"
Smack!
The ball deflected off Nakamori Daiki's arms and flew out of bounds. Kyōtani chased it down, sending it back into play.
Yahaba Shigeru had no choice but to send a free ball over.
"Chance ball!" Shirakawa Kaito shouted in excitement.
Komori Motoya's pass was perfect—Itachiyama launched a four-man attack.
Kaedehara Taichi and Kunimi Akira defended the right side, with Kindaichi Yūtarō in the centre.
Sakusa Kiyoomi sprinted in from the back row.
Shirakawa Kaito set a back-row attack to the left wing—Takeuchi Eiji went up for the spike!
"No way!"
Kindaichi Yūtarō had already moved, cutting off the shot.
Takeuchi Eiji twisted his wrist mid-air, changing the ball's trajectory.
Bang!
The ball landed outside the court.
"OUT!"
Takeuchi Eiji had hit out.
Aoba Johsai scored.
[Aoba Johsai 33 - 32 Itachiyama]
"Kindaichi, nice block!"
"Damn it—!"
"I'm sorry!" Eiji Takeuchi fell into self-blame.
"The match isn't over yet. Next ball!" Sakusa Kiyoomi's gaze was unwavering—he still had no intention of giving up.
Serve change—Aoba Johsai to serve.
Yūtarō Kindaichi jumped up and smashed a powerful serve!
Smack!
Sakusa Kiyoomi was forced to receive the ball.
This is bad.
The players on the sidelines could see it clearly—without Sakusa leading the offence, it was hard for Itachiyama to score.
"It’s not over!"
Sakusa steadied himself and sprinted forward.
"Set it to me!!!"
Shirakawa Kaito hesitated for a split second, but still gave the ball to the left wing.
Now—it’s the ace’s moment to shine!
Sakusa Kiyoomi leapt from the back row.
"Triple block!" Kunimi Akira, Kaedehara Taichi, and Yūki Yōji all rose up in front of him.
That little libero isn't on the court—now’s the chance to score!
Sakusa aimed for Yūji’s hand and swung his right arm down hard.
WHIFF—
"...???"
He missed?!
The ball dropped outside Itachiyama's court.
[Aoba Johsai 34 - 32 Itachiyama]
As Sakusa landed, his calf suddenly gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
Tweet—!
Set 2 is over.
The referee blew the whistle.
Winner: Aoba Johsai.
-----
Comments
Igor Ryan
Obrigada pelo capítulo
Seiyu
Guess we won't battle itachiyama when nationals come out
