An Unstoppable Force
"CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG..."
The high-flying volleyball smashed into the second-floor railing with a loud crash, startling a couple who were affectionately entwined... or rather, a pair of lovers.
"Ouch! That hurt!"
Kindaichi shook his arm. The spot hit by the volleyball was already bright red.
"What kind of 'monster' is this guy?"
BEEP!
The referee's whistle blew, and the number on the scoreboard successfully changed to 1:1.
"Tch~" Kageyama Tobio scowled, looking increasingly impatient, and said unceremoniously, "Hey! Kindaichi, what are you doing? Get your block motion right! Don't let the opponent's spike through so easily, understand?"
"Huh?"
Hearing Kageyama Tobio's tone, an angry symbol immediately popped up on Kindaichi's forehead. He was about to step forward to argue with Kageyama, but Kunimi Akira stepped in to stop him.
"Calm down. The match is still going on. Whatever the issue is, save it until after the game."
Kindaichi suppressed his anger, sullenly returning to his position.
The match continued.
Senkoku served. Kitagawa Daiichi received steadily, and then Kageyama Tobio quickly set a flat, quick spike for Kindaichi, coordinating perfectly and successfully reclaiming the lead.
1:2.
Immediately on the next ball,
After Kitagawa Daiichi served, the Senkoku Libero received it, and Mishita Ryuhei sent a truly perfect set.
Akashi approached and jumped. This time, his hitting height was near his peak. Kindaichi, the blocker directly facing him in the front row, watched almost in disbelief as Akashi's head rose above his eye level, and the hitting point was almost a full hand's height above the top of the block.
BAM!
A powerful, heavy spike flew over the top of the block and crashed onto the floor with a loud boom.
"Wha-ohhh~~"
"What a high spike!"
"Wait, the Kitagawa Daiichi blockers are all over 185 \text{ cm} tall, right? To still manage an over-the-top spike, just how high is that Senkoku Ace jumping?"
...
This spike immediately triggered a burst of astonishment from the spectators on the second floor.
A few reporters mixed into the crowd also lit up.
This was the first time they had witnessed Akashi play. Although they had heard through some rumors that a dark horse had emerged in the Miyagi Prefectural middle school division this year, they hadn't paid much attention at the time.
After all, reporters are not looking for 'dark horses,' but for genuinely 'star-level' players and teams that capture the eye.
And it now seemed they might have actually found one.
"Damn it. Even though I felt he jumped high when watching the video, only seeing it in person makes me realize he's not just high; he's ridiculously high," Kindaichi said, wiping sweat from his chin.
"Indeed. I feel his maximum touch has increased by about five centimeters compared to the Prefectural tournament earlier this year," Kunimi Akira said as he walked over.
The score was tied again.
2:2.
Senkoku and Kitagawa Daiichi were both fundamentally offensive teams.
There was no need to elaborate on the Senkoku side. Senkoku, built around Akashi as the core, was like an irresistible spear. Since the start of the qualifiers, they hadn't encountered a defense they couldn't break when Akashi was on the court.
While Kitagawa Daiichi centered on Kageyama Tobio, the setter, Kageyama Tobio was himself a hyper-offensive setter.
If Senkoku was a spear, Kitagawa Daiichi was like an extremely dangerous trap.
Both were capable of hunting down opponents, just with different methods.
The fifth ball.
Senkoku's Kazama Juujirou served.
After the volleyball crossed the net, Kitagawa Daiichi, centered on Kageyama Tobio's setting, executed a smooth coordinated attack, changing the score to 2:3.
When the score reached this point, the atmosphere of both teams suddenly shifted.
This was because the next ball was Kageyama Tobio's serve.
The players on both sides had realized by now that an ordinary serve against an opponent like this would likely only serve to give the opposing team an attack opportunity.
Therefore, the key to pulling ahead in the score would fall to the two players whose serving ability completely surpassed the middle school level: Kageyama Tobio and Akashi.
Kageyama Tobio walked to the end line, holding the ball with both hands, and slowly exhaled.
In the next second, all the previous expressions of impatience, gloom, or heaviness disappeared from his face. The only thing left in his sharp eyes was intense focus on the ball.
"Be alert, everyone! The really strong player is coming."
There was no need for Mishita Ryuhei's reminder. The moment Kageyama Tobio walked to the end line with the ball, the three players in the Senkoku backcourt already felt a heavy, oppressive presence of a formidable enemy.
The volleyball was lightly tossed into the air. Kageyama Tobio began his approach, jump, and arm swing...
BAM!
A muffled thud.
The volleyball suddenly shot through the block, like a sharp arrow, precisely striking the dead-zone corner of the Senkoku defense on the back line.
During this process, Kurata Cat and the others in the backcourt were essentially unable to make an effective reaction.
"Nice serve!"
"Well done!"
The Kitagawa Daiichi players cheered in celebration, while the atmosphere on the Senkoku side, for once, became heavy.
Since the start of the qualifiers, Senkoku had generally advanced without much trouble. The fact that they were now so close to the finals, fighting for the sole spot in the National Tournament for Miyagi Prefecture, had inevitably caused a slight swelling of overconfidence.
However, Kageyama Tobio's serve just now was like a hard slap across their faces, snapping them back from fantasy to reality.
Just like Yamarashi Industrial was shattered by Akashi's four consecutive serves at the end of the previous set.
In that rally, the four consecutive points were not the key; the key was the method of scoring.
Kageyama Tobio's serve showed the Senkoku players a glimpse of Akashi's shadow.
Perhaps the speed and power of that ball were not equal to Akashi's, but the landing spot of that serve showed them the terrifying precision of Kageyama Tobio's ball control and his ability to read the flaws in the Senkoku defense.
Undoubtedly, this was definitely not the level expected of a middle schooler.
Even high schoolers would struggle to execute that serve.
Although the presence of Akashi had gradually accustomed the Senkoku players to the existence of a "monster," having such a 'genius' become their opponent still made them feel a chill deep in their hearts.
"Don't panic. Receive this ball steadily. As long as we regain the serving right, it will be our turn to serve next," Mishita Ryuhei said calmly, seeing Kageyama Tobio walk back to the end line.
Hearing this, the players were instantly galvanized.
He was right.
If they could regain the serving right, it would be their turn to serve next.
The opponents had a genius, but they also had a "monster"!