[January 7th—The Third Day of the Spring High National Tour]
Aoba Johsai was finally beginning to uand the advantage of getting a bye in the first round of the so-called "Demonic Third Day".
Having pyed only och so far, the team was still brimming with energy—both mentally and physically. Even though they had two gruelling battles lined up today, none of the pyers found it daunting.
Of course, the prerequisite was that they had to win against Inarizaki in the m.
And for that, Aoba Johsai was more than ready.
Hyōgo Prefecture Representative—Inarizaki High School: Three secutive years in the Spring High nationals, with a total of 31 appearances.Miyagi Prefecture Representative—Aoba Johsai High School: Returning to the Spring High nationals after five years, with a total of eight appearances.
On Court D of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, the third-round match of the Spring High National Tour—Aoba Johsai vs. Inarizaki—was about to begin.
Their enter yesterday, thanks to the amicable exge between Kaedehara Taichi and Miya Osamu, had left the teams with little to say to each other today.
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With the referee's whistle, both teams moved into their warm-ups.
Suddenly, arifying tune bred through the arena. Inarizaki's cheer squad had unched into their performance.
The bd-red tide surged, and their impassioned battle anthem echoed throughout the stadium.
"Here it es...Inarizaki's over-the-top cheering."
But this time, standing across from them iands, fully prepared, was the ey of Aoba Johsai!
A wave of blue and white swept through the arena, catg everyone's attention. The bold, resonant notes of trumpets and trombones rang out, their brassy tones harmonizing with the steady rhythm of the drums, f an exhirating ce.
Then, flutes and ets wove through the melody like a gentle spring breeze—light, fluid, and elegant.
Just as the audience was getting lost in the long, flowing notes of Aoba Johsai's symphony, a sudden burst of percussion igheir passion.
"Otomo-sensei, it looks like Aoba Johsai came prepared this time!"
"Indeed. Last time, they were pletely drowned out by Inarizaki's cheers. I'm sure the students have been holding in their frustration ever since."
"Even during warm-ups, the cheering squads are already locked in a battle of their own—it's quite the spectacle!"
"Aoba Johsai and Inarizaki—two of the tour's top tenders. Who would've thought they'd csh so early, ohird day?"
"Their st enter was in the quarterfinals, where Inarizaki cimed victory. This time, who will e out on top?"
"Will Aoba Johsai get their revenge, or will Inarizaki tiheir relentless march forward?Ladies alemen, turn your eyes to the court—the match is about to begin!"
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With warm-ups cluded, the pyers stepped onto the court oer another as the announcers introduced them.
Starting Lineups:
Aoba Johsai:
Front row—Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Setter Oikawa Tōru.Back row—Outside Hitter Iwaizumi Hajime, Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira and Middle Blocker Matsukawa Issei (Libero: Watari Shinji).
Inarizaki:
Front row—Outside Hitter Ginjima Hitoshi, Middle Blocker Suna Rintarō, Outside Hitter Miya Osamu.Back row—Outside Hitter Ojiro Aran, Middle Blocker ōmimi Ren (Libero: Akagi Miari) aer Miya Atsumu.
The match was about to begin. Inarizaki had first serve.
"Be careful," Kaedehara Taichi reminded his teammates once again. "You 't rely on his approach steps to determine his serve type anymore. Also, there's a high ce that he won't be affected by the crowd all."
Miya Atsumu stood at the service line, relishing this moment.
Among all the setters he had entered in high school, Oikawa Tōru was the toughest oppo he had ever faced.
Ever siheir match against Aoba Johsai ended, Atsumu had never quite found that same exhirating feeling.
Then, at the Youth National Team Training Camp, for the sed time, he experiehe same suffog pressure—this time, from a first-year named Kageyama Tobio.
And just like before, it all traced back to that man.
In their match against the Youth National Team, Atsumu found himself direg an unfamiliar group of teammates. A, once again, when it came to anding the court, he had been outcssed by Oikawa Tōru.
But now—finally!
As a setter, with his most trusted ons (his teammates) by his side—he had another ce.
Their final battle.
Atsumu slowly raised his left hand and ched it into a fist.
The cheers from Inarizaki's supporters immediately fell silent.
However, just as Kaedehara Taichi predicted—Atsumu no longer cared about the noise.
This was merely a habitual gesture of his.
Whether the court was silent or deafening, his only focus was on the serve.
Stepping forward, he moved with effortless fluidity, his footfalls light against the polished court.
He tossed the ball, his approach building in rhythm and power, before his legs exploded into motion—a powerful leap, arms coiling with tension.
Then—BOOM!
A thunderous jump serve.
The deafening roar of the stadium fell silent for a brief moment, eclipsed by the resounding thud of the ball striking the court. It was as if even the pyers' heartbeats had paused.
The serve was too fast to track.
One sed, it was within their sights—then, in the blink of a had vanished, smming into the floor behind Kunimi Akira.
No mistakes this time. Miya Atsumu had scored an a his very first serve!
[Aoba Johsai 0 – 1 Inarizak
The st time he pyed against Aoba Johsai, his first serve had go of bounds. Even afterwards, he had opted for float serves to score points.
But this time—this was the first time Atsumu had successfully nded a power jump serve against Aoba Johsai!
One serve was all it took for Aoba Johsai's pyers to realize—Inarizaki hadn't remaiagnant after their st victory. They had tio grow stronger.
"That was a beauty, 'Tsumu!""Keep it going!"
Atsumu spread his arms wide, basking in the cheers from his teammates. This match was Inarizaki's to win—again!
"Fet it! Focus on the ball!" Iwaizumi Hajime turoward Kunimi, but his expression remained calm—he didn't seem particurly fazed.
Atsumu tossed up his sed serve.
Boom!
Another power jump serve!
His fidence was undeniable.
The ball streaked toward Kunimi's right side, its trajectory sharp and swift. Kunimi shuffled slightly, eyes locked onto its path.
"I got it!"
Watari Shinji reacted first, already positioning himself.
Smack!
The ball struck his arms and bounced high into the air.
"What?!"
Atsumu's eyes widened in disbelief. His sed serve—returned already?!
Oikawa darted into position and delivered a precise set to the middle.
Boom!
Kaedehara Taichi soared into the air.
"Triple block!"
Ginjima Hitoshi, Suna Rintarō, and Miya Osamu all leapt together. Atsumu had warhem—Aoba Johsai's first-year ace had grown terrifyingly strong.
But seeing it in person was a pletely different experience.
Kaedehara Taichi's spike point was above their triple block!
Boom!
A shot over the blockers—an off-the-hand spike!
The ball crashed into Inarizaki's side of the court, boung high off the floor.
Kaedehara Taichi had scored!
[Aoba Johsai 1 – 1 Inarizak
There was no doubt about it. Kaedehara Taichi was different now.
He was no longer just relying on teical fio evade blockers—he had chosen to faarizaki's defence head-on.
His spike carried a level of fidend domihat hadn't been there before.
The most shog part? Even against a triple block, his attack looked effortless.
Every motion was trolled, every movement precise, exuding an overwhelming sense of posure.
This is what Atsumu meant when he said Taichi had gotten stronger?
No, this isn't just progress—he's a pletely different pyer!
"The senpais look pretty surprised," Taiarrowed his eyes with a smirk. "o rush—we've got plenty more ing."
"Hah, the way yrinning tells me you haven't ged o," Osamu shot back.
"Of course, I haven't," Taichi's gaze locked onto the banner hanging behind Inarizaki. "The only thing ging today…is the oute."
"This time, Aoba Johsai is the one who will win!"
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