"BEEP!!!"
The referee's whistle sounded particularly sharp in the gym.
As the final point flipped on the scoreboard, the White Team members stared wide-eyed at Akashi Asuka across the net, their faces filled with disbelief.
The momentum that Iwaizumi Hajime had so painstakingly rekindled instantly froze back to an absolute zero.
Oikawa Toru took several deep breaths, his expression growing increasingly annoyed at Akashi Asuka. It was as if he saw the shadow of someone he extremely, significantly, and super did not want to see reflected in him.
"That... that detestable little brat."
...
Halftime Discussion
The overall atmosphere on the White Team was notably heavy.
"Damn it, that miserable first-year can block too?"
"His blocking seemed quite average when he was in the front row earlier. Why was he suddenly able to stop Iwaizumi's attack at the very end? Was it another fluke? That guy's luck is too good!"
"No, that wasn't a fluke..." Oikawa Toru shook his head and said: "That detestable, arrogant little brat did that on purpose. He concealed his powerful blocking throughout the earlier part of the match, just to deliver a decisive blow at the crucial moment."
At this point, Oikawa Toru paused, looking at Iwaizumi Hajime, who had been silent since the break began, and continued: "And, for now, that strike was quite effective."
"He not only won the crucial set point but also utterly defeated Iwaizumi-chan, leaving him beaten and terrified..."
"Huh?"
Iwaizumi Hajime's expression twitched, especially when his ears perked up at the last few phrases: "You bastard Oikawa, what did you say?"
Oikawa Toru covered his mouth in surprise: "Oh, so Iwaizumi-chan can hear me! My apologies, I shouldn't speak ill of you so loudly..."
BANG!
A massive fist slammed into Oikawa Toru's irritatingly smug face, instantly cutting off his words.
"You trash Oikawa, don't lump me in with you! I won't lose my cool just because of some rookie!" Iwaizumi Hajime's veins bulged on his forehead as he shouted angrily.
After venting his fury, Iwaizumi Hajime's mindset gradually calmed. He let out a slight exhale of frustration and said: "Thanks, you bastard Oikawa. "
Oikawa Toru: " You're welcome. But speaking of which, Iwaizumi-chan, when you thank me in the future, could you maybe not insult me at the same time?"
Iwaizumi Hajime: "Huh? What did you say?"
Oikawa Toru: "Nothing. I was just saying that in the next set, we need to pay attention to their defense."
...
The Rookie's Strategy
Akashi Asuka: "In the next set, we need to increase our blocking defense."
In the Red Team's resting area, Akashi Asuka took a drink of water and stated: "Although we took the first set by catching them off guard, they are still third-year senpai. They've had at least two more years of practice than us, and their basic attributes far exceed ours. Therefore, for us, this match has no third set. We must decide it in the second set."
Skills like spiking and blocking can be developed quickly based on physical attributes, but receiving cannot.
Receiving requires the relentless refinement of time to become proficient. The Red Team's backcourt defense in the first two sets could rely on Watari Shinji-senpai to fill the gaps, but once we enter the third set, when everyone's stamina begins to drop, the Red Team's weak points will be far more pronounced than the White Team's.
This is the disparity in fundamental attributes.
It applies not only to skill but also to stamina, tactical strategy, and team cohesion...
In short:
If the match enters the third set, the White Team has enough strength to sweep the Red Team twice over.
Therefore, to prevent their weaknesses from being exposed, the Red Team must unleash their strengths fully in the second set—while their stamina is still sufficient—to conquer the Upperclassmen Team in one go.
"In the second set, I will also participate in the front-row blocking defense. At that time, the backcourt defense... Watari-senpai, I will have to trouble you to cover the gaps." Akashi Asuka looked at Watari Shinji.
Watari Shinji patted his chest, confidently saying: "Don't worry, leave it to me! You just focus on beating the opposing team senseless."
...
Second Set Opens
BEEP!
The whistle sounded again.
As the teams took the court for the second set, both sides, as if by prior agreement, shifted their formations to a lineup of three players in the front row and two in the back.
The Red Team served the first point of the second set.
Mishita Ryuhei served the ball over the net. White Team's Yahaba Shigeru received it in the backcourt, and the offense was quickly organized.
Oikawa Toru set a slightly high arc to Hanamaki Takahiro's head. Kindaichi Yutaro across the net quickly jumped, but the next moment, he found that Hanamaki Takahiro was not yet in front of the net.
And after Kindaichi Yutaro began his descent, Hanamaki Takahiro finally jumped to spike...
This was a Temporal Disruption (One-Person Tempo Difference).
This was one of the most effective coordinated attacks Seijoh excelled at.
As Kindaichi descended, the area in front of Hanamaki Takahiro was completely open. He decisively swung his arm to strike the ball, but in the next second, another pair of arms suddenly appeared.
BAM!
DONG!
Two dull thuds.
The volleyball was blocked dead by those arms, bouncing back into the White Team's court.
1:0.
The Red Team scored the first point of the second set.
"Hanamaki-senpai, the Temporal Disruption attack was already boring to watch in the first set. Don't you have any new tricks?"
Akashi Asuka used [Taunt].
Akashi Asuka never liked unnecessary provocation in a match, but if it was required strategically, he didn't mind moving his mouth a little.
"Huh?" As expected, Hanamaki Takahiro's mouth twisted in anger.
"First-year, don't get too arrogant!"
"We won the first set."
"It was only one set! Watch us take this one back in minutes!"
"We won the first set."
"The match is decided by the final result..."
"We won the first set."
...
Akashi Asuka's tone was flat, yet every sentence stabbed directly at Hanamaki Takahiro's core, causing his entire face to twist in frustration.
Ultimately, this match was an Initiation Match. Therefore, practically speaking, once the rookies won the first set, they had already achieved victory, regardless of the final outcome.
For a 'frugal' player like Kunimi Akira, this result would have been entirely sufficient.
But Akashi Asuka was greedy. He wanted both the mental victory and the practical victory.
"You detestable little first-year brat! Just wait, I'm absolutely going to smash the next ball past you!"
Akashi Asuka nodded calmly: "Oh, I'll be waiting. After all... we already won the first set."
Hanamaki Takahiro: " "