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Chapter 241: The Way of the Ace
🕑 Added 2025-02-19 16:09:28 +0000 UTC[Aoba Johsai 24 – 24 Fukurōdani]
Aoba Johsai had been just one point away from taking the first set. Every player on the team carried an unmistakable urgency in their expressions—a hunger for victory and the tension of a decisive moment.
This single point was more than just about winning the first set; it could dictate the flow of the entire match.
However, now that the scoreboard read 24–24, their expressions slowly steadied. In a deadlock like this, impatience would only lead to mistakes. A cool head and a steady hand were the true keys to victory.
For both teams, winning this match meant securing two consecutive points…
Kaedehara Taichi took a deep breath—so what if the match had been reset to the starting line?
Washio Tatsuki launched a powerful jump serve, once again targeting Kaedehara Taichi in an attempt to disrupt his offensive rhythm.
Boom!
Smack!
Taichi's reception was spot-on, and Oikawa Tōru leapt into the air to set.
"I got it!"
Without stopping after the reception, Kaedehara Taichi immediately began his approach from the back row.
The Fukurōdani blockers glanced at Aoba Johsai's formation—Yūtarō Kindaichi and Kaedehara Taichi were overlapping on the right side.
The front-row blockers shifted their focus to the right wing.
Whoosh—!
The volleyball traced a graceful arc in midair, precisely set to the right wing's high point.
Kindaichi's eyes locked onto the ball, and his body instinctively adjusted as he prepared to launch into his approach.
But at that moment—
An inexplicable chill crept up Kindaichi's spine. It was like cold water trickling down his back, sending an eerie shiver through his entire body.
This wasn't from any external change in temperature—this was something primal. A hunter's instinct, warning him of imminent danger.
Kindaichi's gaze snapped away from the ball.
A figure had already sprinted past him.
Just one step away from the three-meter line, Kaedehara Taichi bent his knees, his leg muscles coiled like a loaded spring, ready to explode.
In that instant, he was utterly still, like a silent volcano—calm on the surface, yet brimming with devastating power.
Kindaichi locked eyes with him, but Taichi didn't react. He didn't even glance away from the ball.
No words were spoken. But Kindaichi, and everyone else, could feel it—
The unspoken declaration flooded the court, suffocating the air around them.
Don't move. This is my ball.
BAM!
Kaedehara Taichi shot into the air.
Fukurōdani's front-row blockers were ready.
"Triple block!"
Konoha Akinori, Sarukui Yamato, and Onaga Wataru rose in unison to form a wall in front of him.
"Damn it, he's jumping even higher than before!"
Kaedehara Taichi's elevation was clearly above Konoha's and Sarukui's.
In the back row, Washio Tatsuki and Bokuto Kōtarō locked their eyes on his figure, ready to receive.
A smirk curled at the corner of Kaedehara Taichi's lips as he set his sights on Onaga Wataru.
"How about you, first-year?"
BANG!—
The volleyball slammed against Onaga's arms, tore through the block, and rocketed straight into the backcourt—smashing into the floor right in front of Akaashi Keiji.
SMASH
The impact was sharp, echoing across the court.
Kaedehara Taichi had scored.
[Aoba Johsai 25 – 24 Fukurōdani]
"You're supposed to be one of Fukurōdani's twin towers?" Kaedehara Taichi glanced at the stunned Onaga. "You clearly need to work on your blocking."
"Incredible! Aoba Johsai's ace, Taichi, steps up at the crucial moment to halt Fukurōdani's momentum!" The commentator, Otomo, exclaimed.
"Otomo-sensei, it looked like there was an opportunity for an off-the-hand spike just now, but Taichi still chose to challenge Fukurōdani's 193 cm wall directly," commentator Aoi observed.
"Taichi probably wanted to assert dominance. Fukurōdani had just caught up, and Aoba Johsai's expressions had tensed. He needed to shift the momentum back."
"Taichi!" Bokuto Kōtarō's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Do you also follow the Ace's Creed?"
Kaedehara Taichi: "Huh?"
"The Way of the Ace, Rule Number Three: Every ball shall be spiked!" Bokuto recited fluently.
Taichi: "….."
The serve rotated. Aoba Johsai's serve.
Hanamaki Takahiro stepped up to serve, launching a powerful jump serve.
Komi Haruki received it cleanly.
Fukurōdani immediately set up a four-point attack.
Boom!
Sarukui Yamato struck from the middle.
Point, Fukurōdani.
[Aoba Johsai 25 – 25 Fukurōdani]
"I really underestimated him," Oikawa murmured, eyes locked on Akaashi Keiji. "I thought he'd waver after that mistake, but he's still calm. His sets are just as precise."
The serve rotated again.
Fukurōdani's serve.
Konoha Akinori targeted Kindaichi in the back row. If they couldn't disrupt Kaedehara Taichi's rhythm, reducing the number of attacking options was still an effective strategy.
Boom!
Smack!
Kyōtani Kentarō received the ball cleanly, and Oikawa Tōru quickly stepped in to set it toward the left wing.
From the back row, Kaedehara Taichi launched into his approach and took flight.
"Triple block!"
Sarukui Yamato, Onaga Wataru, and Akaashi Keiji jumped together, forming a solid wall in front of him.
"Huh?"
BOOM!
Kaedehara Taichi aimed past their hands, executing a clean wipe-off spike that sent the ball crashing into Fukurōdani's court.
Kaedehara Taichi had scored.
[Aoba Johsai 26 – 25 Fukurōdani]
"Sorry!" Onaga Wataru shouted, frustration evident in his voice.
At the last moment before blocking, he had hesitated. His jump had been lower than Sarukui's beside him.
Even though he had the height advantage, why did Kaedehara Taichi still feel so overwhelmingly dominant?
"Onaga, hold firm next time!" Konoha Akinori called out from the back.
"Yes!"
The serve rotated back to Aoba Johsai.
Kyōtani Kentarō stepped up to the service line.
In his previous service turn, Fukurōdani had conceded three consecutive points. Now, if they lost another, the set would be over.
Kyōtani tossed the ball high, took his approach, and leapt.
BOOM!!
The serve came hurtling down, just as powerful as before.
"I got it!" Komi Haruki rushed forward to receive.
Pop!
The ball ricocheted off his arms at an awkward angle, veering toward the net.
Akaashi Keiji scrambled to adjust, positioning his hands beneath the ball.
Whoosh!—
The ball arched high above the net.
From the back row, Bokuto Kōtarō charged in.
He leapt—
"Triple block!"
Kindaichi Yūtarō, Iwaizumi Hajime, and Oikawa Tōru all jumped together, forming a towering wall.
There was no doubt now—Aoba Johsai's blocking had reached its peak intensity.
Boom!—
—Smack!
The set had been too low. Bokuto had no choice but to hammer the ball straight into Iwaizumi's arms.
"One touch!"
Iwaizumi's arms trembled slightly, but he maintained his form.
"Chance ball!"
Hanamaki Takahiro lifted the ball high, giving Oikawa time to adjust.
Whoosh—!
The ball soared toward the left wing.
Once again, from the back row, Kaedehara Taichi sprinted into his approach.
On the other side, Bokuto Kōtarō did the same.
A mirror image—two powerhouse aces in motion.
BAM!
Kaedehara Taichi rocketed into the air.
Fukurōdani's front row jumped to block.
"Triple block!!"
Kaedehara Taichi's gaze landed on Onaga Wataru.
"You've improved," he noted, seeing the determination in Onaga's eyes.
"But it's not enough!"
BANG!
Deliberately, Kaedehara Taichi spiked straight into Onaga's arms.
SMASH!
But the result was the same—
The ball blasted past the block and crashed onto Fukurōdani's court.
Smack!
"Nice block, Onaga!" Komi Haruki dove forward to keep the ball in play.
Onaga's block had managed to slow the ball down for a split second, but that instant had not escaped the sharp eyes of Fukurōdani's libero.
"Cover!"
Akaashi Keiji had barely landed from his block when another figure rushed past him.
"Go, Ace!"
The ball was perfectly set into the right-wing space.
"Nice one, Konoha!"
From the back row, Bokuto Kōtarō charged in again.
"Triple block!"
The same three who had stopped him last time rose in front of him once more.
The Way of the Ace, Rule Number Two: Smash every wall in your way!
BOOM!
The ball forced its way through the narrow gap between Kindaichi and Iwaizumi, smashing through Aoba Johsai's defence.
Smack!
Among everyone on the court, the one person who never doubted that Bokuto's spike would get through—was Kaedehara Taichi.
Because he believed—
If a block couldn't stop him, it wouldn't stop Bokuto either.
He had already positioned himself at the perfect diagonal angle, waiting for the rebound.
And now, it was time to claim his reward.
"Set me up!"
The ball bounced high into Aoba Johsai's court.
Kaedehara Taichi shot up his right hand, calling for it.
Oikawa, having been part of the block, was still recovering and couldn't step in to set.
"Can I do it?" Hanamaki hesitated for only a moment—
But when he saw Kaedehara Taichi's unwavering figure, there was no room for doubt.
The ace was calling for him.
"Here—!"
Just like the previous rally, Hanamaki sent a flawless high ball to the left wing.
Kaedehara Taichi sprinted in from the baseline, launched himself into the air, and swung his arm back.
"Triple block!"
This time, Fukurōdani's blockers were even more resolute. Their arms tensed, fingers spread wide, fully prepared for the impact.
BANG!—
Kaedehara Taichi's spike slipped through the minute gap between the blockers and the net, slamming straight down inside Fukurōdani's three-meter line.
A razor-sharp cross-court spike!
"You guys really dared not to guard against my diagonal shot?" Kaedehara Taichi landed, eyeing the Fukurōdani players with genuine curiosity. "Don't tell me you thought a mere triple block was enough to cut off all my angles?"
Kaedehara Taichi had scored.
[Aoba Johsai 27 – 25 Fukurōdani]
The players of Aoba Johsai looked toward the figure standing at the front of the court.
The Way of the Ace, Rule Number One: Your back should be an inspiration to your teammates.
"Tweet—!"
The referee's whistle echoed through the arena.
First set—over.
Winner: Aoba Johsai.
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