The score is 3:1.
Karasuno used the [Minus Tempo Quick] to win back a point and regain the serving right.
After the rotation, Kageyama Tobio moved to position 1. Kageyama Tobio is currently Karasuno's only strong server... oh, wait, to be precise, there is half a key server.
However, the serving technique of that half a key server is still far from mature.
"He's only allowed to score on this one serve!"
Oikawa Tōru called out from behind the net.
Kageyama Tobio held the ball outside the baseline, exhaled deeply, and slowly tossed the volleyball...
BAM!
In the next moment, the volleyball traced a beautiful arc in the air and then violently crashed into the net.
"Uh..." The air seemed to fall silent for a few seconds.
However, Sawamura Daichi was the first to snap out of it and loudly offered comfort: "Don't worry about it, Kageyama!"
Kageyama Tobio rarely blushed.
Serving errors are quite common in volleyball, but because the opponent was unique this time, Kageyama Tobio felt an unusual sense of disappointment.
"Pfft~~ How lame!" Oikawa Tōru covered his mouth and chuckled.
Iwaizumi Hajime shot him a glance, his fists tightened, but he ultimately decided to ignore the childish fool for now.
4:1.
The serving right returned to Seijoh.
"Good serve, Kindaichi!"
The Seijoh players cheered Kindaichi Yūtarō on. Kindaichi stood behind the baseline and sent a regular overhand serve that floated gently.
And then... they scored.
This point was both unexpected and not so unexpected for the Seijoh players.
The reason they scored was not because Kindaichi's serve was particularly good, but because Karasuno made a coordination error.
Because Kageyama Tobio had rotated to the back row, to ensure he could set from the best position, he had to move immediately after Seijoh served.
However, this movement caused a momentary visual crossover between him and Azumane Asahi, who was preparing to receive in the back court. Azumane Asahi, distracted, missed the ball.
If such an error occurred on the Seijoh side, it would be considered elementary.
But for Karasuno, this kind of error felt natural and almost expected...
After all, the Seijoh players had deeply experienced Karasuno's lack of fundamental technique during the previous practice match.
5:1.
Although the point was sudden, the Seijoh players cheered anyway.
"Great serve, Kindaichi!"
"Nice ball!"
"You lucky dog!"
...
A group of people surrounded Kindaichi, enthusiastically rubbing Kindaichi Yūtarō's head as they celebrated loudly.
In contrast, the atmosphere on the Karasuno side was not as relaxed.
The opening score was 5:1.
This score disparity was much greater than in the original story.
Coach Ukai Keishin, on the sidelines, bit his finger, his face full of worry.
The start of this match was too uneven. Ukai Keishin didn't know much about the previous practice match, but from the current game, the difference in fundamental skills between the two teams was too great.
"Beep!"
The referee blew the whistle, and Kindaichi quickly sent the second serve from the baseline.
With prior defense, an accident was unlikely to happen again. Azumane Asahi received the volleyball, and Kageyama Tobio quickly moved to the optimal setting position.
"Alright! Who will he set to this time? Is he going for the [Minus Tempo Quick] again?"
Oikawa Tōru and Iwaizumi Hajime, who had just rotated to the front court, intensely focused on the volleyball, their minds racing to calculate Kageyama Tobio's next possible set.
But before they could figure it out, the volleyball suddenly shot out from Kageyama Tobio's hands as if it had an accelerator, whoosh, and arrived at the net instantly.
In that direction, a figure had already leaped high into the air.
"Hee-yah! Fly over for me!"
A loud shout, accompanied by a fierce arm swing, sent the volleyball suddenly flying over the block and slamming into Seijoh's court.
"┗|｀O′|┛ Roar, roar, roar, roar~~!"
After securing the point, Tanaka Ryūnosuke roared passionately. His intense emotions almost single-handedly revived the 'lethargic' Karasuno team.
"Nice, well done, Tanaka!"
"Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh~~ Tanaka-senpai!"
...
"Oh? That bald head is really fired up!"
"I feel like his spike instantly re-energized Karasuno."
"Tsk, he looks like a quite troublesome opponent!"
Oikawa Tōru stared at Tanaka Ryūnosuke across the net, a slight glimmer flashing in his eyes.
5:2.
Karasuno won a point back.
For the next point, Tanaka Ryūnosuke rotated to position 1 to serve. The volleyball flew over the net and was steadily received by Kindaichi in the back court.
This is the key difference between Karasuno and Seijoh.
Both are first-years. Perhaps Karasuno's Kageyama Tobio, Hinata Shōyō, and Tsukishima Kei are all more naturally talented than Kindaichi Yūtarō, but unfortunately, Hinata Shōyō and Tsukishima Kei only started playing volleyball seriously in high school.
They may become stronger than players like Kindaichi in the future, but currently, Kindaichi, who has been playing since junior high, is clearly more skilled.
The volleyball was passed above Oikawa Tōru's head, and the Karasuno players opposite the net immediately became vigilant.
Hinata Shōyō and Azumane Asahi intentionally or unintentionally kept their focus on Akashi Asuka, while Sawamura Daichi remained calm, seemingly unaffected.
In the next moment, the volleyball flew out of Oikawa Tōru's hands and suddenly landed in front of Iwaizumi Hajime, who was already jumping.
Facing this "first-tempo" quick attack, Hinata Shōyō and Azumane Asahi, whose attention had been drawn by Akashi, were a step too late and couldn't block it.
But Sawamura Daichi instantly appeared directly in front of Iwaizumi Hajime.
"Hmm?"
Iwaizumi Hajime was slightly surprised by the sudden wall of people in front of him, but he still decisively swung his arm.
BAM!
The volleyball traced a sharp diagonal line across the court, perfectly evading Sawamura Daichi's block, and scored the point.
"Little one, and that tall 'repeat student,' if you focus too much on our rookie over here, you'll be at a huge disadvantage!"
After scoring, Oikawa Tōru, as usual, gave a smiling, "friendly" warning.
Azumane Asahi: "(\text{;Д}｀) ... Repeat student?"
Azumane Asahi visibly slumped, feeling like his heart had been stabbed.
The score reached 6:2.
The inability to significantly close the score since the start of the match created considerable pressure on the Karasuno players.
And this pressure skyrocketed in the very next moment.
Because it was Seijoh's turn for Oikawa Tōru to serve.
...