The Second Time-Out
BEEP!!!
"Hey, hey~~ Is Karasuno really okay with using both time-outs so quickly?"
"For the current Karasuno, that [Minus Tempo Quick] should be their strongest attack! The blow delivered by having such an attack blocked might be..."
"Ah! It's really unsettling!"
...
Coach Ukai Keishin urgently used the second time-out.
Seeing this, a few spectators supporting Karasuno in the stands couldn't help but start to worry.
"Why? Why was he there? When did he get there?" Hinata Shōyō's mind was still replaying the image he saw when he opened his eyes moments ago.
This scene was not unfamiliar to him, as it was the third time it had happened.
Their [Minus Tempo Quick] had previously been blocked in the practice match against Nekoma and in the match against Date Tech high school.
Hinata Shōyō suddenly hated this feeling.
Not because his spike was blocked.
But because he had absolutely no idea what happened before his spike was blocked.
"Hey~~ Hinata, Hinata... are you okay!"
Suddenly, a shout startled Hinata Shōyō awake. Hinata Shōyō groggily came to himself, seeing a large group of people suddenly gathered in front of him:
Including the coach, teacher, and teammates... The person speaking was Sugawara Kōshi.
"Ah? Ah! I'm fine. I'm sorry!" Hinata Shōyō scratched his hair, then apologized hurriedly.
"Seriously, the coach is discussing strategy, what are you spacing out for?" Kageyama Tobio said: "That last point was just an accident. Next time, I will definitely set a ball that no one can block. Pull yourself together!"
"Don't worry! I'm fine."
Ukai Keishin looked at Hinata Shōyō. Although he was somewhat worried about Hinata's mental state right now, he didn't have a better solution at the moment, so he could only continue: "There is no doubt that Seijoh, with Oikawa Tōru and Akashi Asuka, is a super-offensive team. But currently, their blocking ability is in no way inferior to their attacking power."
"Furthermore, because the height of all of Seijoh's starters is astonishing, even when the team rotates, the front row block will not expose any weakness."
"It might sound a bit scary, but the fact is that the current Seijoh might be a better fit for the title 'Iron Wall' than Date Tech high school."
"In other words, the opponent we are about to face is likely a Date Tech high school that simultaneously possesses super-strong offensive power."
"Ewww~~~"
The moment Ukai Keishin finished speaking, Azumane Asahi, clasping his shoulders, suddenly shivered.
It must be admitted.
The two words "Iron Wall" had left a considerable shadow on Azumane Asahi, so much so that just thinking of facing an "Iron Wall" with super-strong offensive power made his body feel cold.
In fact, it wasn't just Azumane Asahi.
In the past, whenever Azumane Asahi showed his "maidenly" side, someone would usually come over to comfort him because they "couldn't stand" his weak demeanor, but this time, no one spoke.
Ukai Keishin's brows were furrowed into a deep frown.
Analyzing the situation is one thing, but solving the problem is another.
After all, an opponent that possesses an offensive power stronger than its defense, like a super-attacking Date Tech high school, is enough to make one despair just thinking about it.
"In any case... Kageyama, be extremely cautious when using the [Minus Tempo Quick] next. Currently, we can't determine whether their Number 8 blocked the quick attack because he saw through our code signal or if he used some other method."
"I understand."
Kageyama Tobio nodded.
Just then, the referee blew the whistle for the match to resume.
...
"A-la! We meet again so quickly, haven't we? By the way, Little Tobio, have you figured out how to deal with us? Are you going to continue using the [Minus Tempo Quick]? If attacks like that keep getting blocked, that little guy might not be able to handle the blow, you know!"
Even without hearing the voice, the Seijoh players could guess who said those words, which were full of a "begging to be punched" feeling.
Kageyama Tobio's eyelid twitched a few times, and his blood pressure felt like it had risen by several degrees.
Akashi Asuka, standing next to Oikawa Tōru, also subtly moved a little distance away from him.
He felt that if this person were to accidentally pass away and donate his body, the doctors performing the autopsy probably wouldn't find a heart, because his heart would surely be covered in eyes, with not a single piece of good flesh to be found.
Seijoh continued to serve.
The volleyball floated lightly over the net, was received by a Karasuno player, and passed to Kageyama Tobio. Hinata Shōyō and Tanaka Ryūnosuke in the Karasuno front court started their approach run and jump simultaneously.
The remaining player, Sawamura Daichi, made no move. Throughout the match, he hadn't launched an attack from the front court, but precisely because of this, Seijoh's blockers were even more wary of him.
Setting is an extremely brain-intensive position. Sometimes, after training, when Akashi and Oikawa Tōru shower together, Akashi often sees Oikawa Tōru washing a few strands of hair down the drain.
Kageyama Tobio must be feeling something similar.
For this point, Kageyama Tobio was attacking, and Oikawa Tōru was defending, and in the end, both would suffer hair loss.
Ah, no... both made a move simultaneously.
Whoosh!
The volleyball flew out of Kageyama Tobio's hands. Oikawa Tōru instantly moved, rushing to the center of the block. No front-court player was attacking there at the moment, but Azumane Asahi in the back court suddenly jumped...
BAM!
The contact sound rang out, and the volleyball landed.
Oikawa Tōru ultimately failed to defend this point, because Kageyama Tobio still chose to set the ball to Hinata Shōyō in the end.
"That was... quite a bold attack!"
Oikawa Tōru's temple throbbed, clearly unwilling to accept that he hadn't blocked that ball.
The other Seijoh players, seeing this, didn't even bother to look again.
That childish fool, let him be happy!
14:8.
Karasuno successfully won a point back.
However, before they could enjoy this point, it was quickly taken back by Seijoh.
15:8.
15:9.
16:9.
...
In the blink of an eye, Karasuno and Seijoh were once again locked in a fierce battle of offense and defense.
Both sides, relying on the flexible distribution of their Setters, continuously bypassed the opposing defense and scored points.
However, comparatively speaking, every point Karasuno scored seemed extremely difficult, while Seijoh's seemed much easier. Even as the set drew to a close, the breathing rhythm of the Seijoh players was still steady.
And as this continuous battle of offense and defense went on, unknowingly, the attacking and defensive tempo of both sides became faster and faster...