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Chapter 267: The Final Opponent
🕑 Added 2025-03-01 16:01:33 +0000 UTC[Itachiyama 25 - 23 Inubushi Higashi]
[Itachiyama 28 - 26 Inubushi Higashi]
"Incredible! Itachiyama has secured a clean 2-0 victory in the semifinals!"
"Both of today's semifinals ended in straight sets, which is absolutely shocking!!!"
The crowd buzzed with conversation. Itachiyama and Inubushi Higashi displayed an exceptionally high level of play, with both teams delivering stunning performances that left spectators in awe.
The second set's close score was proof of how intense the match had been.
Yet, the result was a harsh and unforgiving 2-0.
"So that means tomorrow's final will be Aoba Johsai vs. Itachiyama!"
"I expected Itachiyama to win, but I didn't think it would be like this..."
Regardless of how hard-fought the matches had been, securing a decisive victory in such a critical stage of the tournament was a testament to both Aoba Johsai and Itachiyama's strength and consistency. With the finals set for tomorrow, anticipation ran high.
It would be an unmissable showdown—one that would test not only technical skill and strategy but also mental fortitude.
"Alright, let's go! That was a hell of a match." Coach Irihata called out to the Aoba Johsai players with a grin.
Spring High's schedule was relentless—one match after another, one day after the next.
For a formidable yet unfamiliar opponent like Itachiyama, even an extra day of preparation wouldn't feel like enough. Of course, the same could be said for Itachiyama in regard to Aoba Johsai.
Tomorrow's final would be a high-level clash where both teams would give everything they had in their pursuit of the national title.
-----
"Come on, don't be so down. We played well—we gave it everything we had, didn't we?" Mukai Taiyō tried to lift his spirits as he turned to reassure his teammates.
"We did our best," Sanada Shunpei said calmly. And maybe that's why the gap feels even more frustrating…
"I'm sorry! It's all my fault! I—I couldn't block Sakusa's spike even once! What kind of middle blocker am I?!" Akiha Kazuma hung his head. His 195cm frame, which usually carried such presence, now looked weighed down with disappointment.
Before the match, he had boasted. He had declared that he would shut Sakusa Kiyoomi down.
Yet, on the court, his strength and height had been completely neutralized.
Sakusa never even tried to engage in a direct power battle against him.
For a blocker like Akiha, his lack of agility had been a fatal flaw.
Mukai Taiyō stepped up to him. He had to stand on his toes just to reach the head of his much taller underclassman.
"You did great," Mukai said with a smile. "Sakusa had to actively avoid you—that's proof enough of how much of a threat you were."
"And besides," he continued, patting Akiha's arm, "we wouldn't have made it to this court without you."
Slowly, Mukai Taiyō lifted his gaze.
Above them, the high ceiling of the stadium stretched into the distance, its lights shining brilliantly.
He blinked hard, trying to burn this image into his memory.
It had taken three years for him to reach this stage—the centre court of Spring High.
All those gruelling training sessions. All those exhausting days spent pushing himself for this very dream.
And now, with today's loss, it was all over.
He had thought he was ready for this.
But when it actually happened, it still felt so sudden—so abrupt—so hard to accept.
"Mukai-senpai..."
A soft voice called out to him. It was Moriyama Makoto, Inubushi Higashi's youngest player.
"It's time to line up."
"...Yeah."
Mukai Taiyō rubbed his face hard, took a deep breath, and turned back to his teammates.
Then, with a smile, he spoke.
"Let's go!"
Inubushi Higashi's journey wasn't over yet.
Next year, they would come back stronger.
And next time, they would go even further.
-----
"Sakusa was unusually aggressive today." Sakano Sawaji found it strange—normally, Sakusa Kiyoomi came across as a more reserved player.
"Yeah, I noticed it too!" Nishimura Hiroyuki ruffled his already curly hair before mimicking Sakusa's signature motion—pulling up a mask over his face.
"Ahem. My shoulder feels a little off today, so I need to be extra cautious when spiking..."
"Pfft! Nishimura, that's spot on!" Komori Motoya doubled over in laughter.
"What's wrong with what I said?" Sakusa's voice, eerily calm, came from behind them. His face was as dark as a brewing storm. "Being meticulous about health management is a perfectly reasonable precaution."
"Forget about them, Sakusa." Captain Iizuna Kasumu stepped in with a grin. "It's just that you were putting in an unusual amount of effort on both offence and defence today. It caught everyone off guard."
That said, it was precisely because of Sakusa's intensity that Itachiyama had taken down Inubushi Higashi in just two sets.
"It's nothing," Sakusa replied flatly. "I just wanted to get this over with and rest early."
"Heh, I know why!" Komori suddenly raised a hand, his expression full of mystery.
"Spit it out!" The others leaned in, intrigued.
"Hmph. Ridiculous," Sakusa scoffed before striding off. It wasn't unusual for him to be the first to retreat to the locker room—"before anyone else could contaminate the air with their germs."
Komori didn't keep them in suspense. He got straight to the point.
"Because Aoba Johsai won their match against Kamomedai this morning with a clean 2-0. Sakusa might act all indifferent, but his competitive drive is insane!"
Normally, he only showed that side of himself when anything related to Ushijima Wakatoshi came up.
But now, it was obvious—Kaedehara Taichi had been added to that list.
"Aoba Johsai's players were watching the match just now," Komori added, pointing toward a section of the stands. "And I saw Sakusa glance over there a few times during the game—whether consciously or not."
"So that's what influenced him..."
"To be precise," Iizuna corrected, "it was Kaedehara Taichi who influenced him."
Just like how Oikawa Tōru had influenced him during the match.
For both Sakusa Kiyoomi and Komori Motoya, Kaedehara Taichi and Oikawa Tōru were undoubtedly the biggest threats they would face.
Feeling their presence from the stands during the match—that pressure, that awareness—it wasn't just a burden.
It was also a source of motivation.
It was a subtle yet undeniable force—one that had quietly shaped the flow of this intense semifinal.
"I see…" Sakano Sawaji murmured in realization.
Itachiyama's players had long been accustomed to playing under the weight of the spectators' expectations.
The roaring atmosphere of the stadium didn't faze them—it only pushed them to display even greater strength, to execute every move with more conviction, to enhance their teamwork to an almost seamless level.
There was no other reason.
They were Itachiyama—the undisputed kings.
For them, the semifinal victory was merely one more step on their path to the championship.
And now, only one step remained.
-----
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