Haikyu!!: Rise of Sengoku

[Drageos]

lol.

The power of mooching off the smart kid.

 

[Veltoria]

Host: Akashi Asuka

Height: 182.6 cm

Weight: 79 kg

Reach: 339 cm

Strength: 78.5 [Core Strength 78.1, Arm Strength 79]

Speed: 75.2 [Explosive Speed 75.3, Reaction Speed 75.1]

Stamina: 75.7 [Endurance 75.5, Cardiopulmonary 75.9]

Jump: 77 [Jump Height 78.9, Hang Time 75.1]

Basic Skills: 72.8 [Serve 72.3, Bump 72.1, Set 65.8, Spike 79.4, Block 75.4, Defense 72]

Advanced Skills: [Cross-court Spike 73], [Straight Spike 73.4], [Power Jump Serve 74.5]

······

One week after the new term began.

After finishing all the chaotic "school start tests." the volleyball team's coach, Shimokawa Mitsuto, gave the players another round of assessments.

The data in hand was Akashi Asuka's latest test results.

Of course, the latter part of this data mainly came from the system, while the paper Shimokawa Mitsuto held lacked that same level of precision and detail, except for the first three categories.

Still, the newest stats were enough to shock Shimokawa Mitsuto.

To him, these weren't just numbers, they were a clear, concrete display of talent.

In just one month, Akashi Asuka's data had evolved to a whole new level compared to when the training camp ended. Such seemingly limitless progress was hard to explain with anything other than the word talent.

What baffled Shimokawa Mitsuto the most was that he had been coaching Akashi for quite some time, yet during his first and second years, there had been no sign of such gifted ability.

Could this really be what they called a "late bloomer"?

Puzzled, Shimokawa Mitsuto turned to the next data sheet.

"Hm! This one looks more normal."

The second set belonged to Ryuhei Sanashita. Compared to Akashi's data, Sanashita's growth trajectory was much more typical.

Starting with height and weight: they weren't too far apart. Both had grown nearly 1.5 cm in the past month.

While that rate of growth was somewhat fast, it was completely normal for a third-year junior high student. Shimokawa had even seen cases where students grew so much during summer break that all their clothes and shoes became unusable.

As for weight, Sanashita hadn't gained nearly as much as Akashi.

Akashi's weight gain came from his increasing strength attribute, which forced a rise in muscle mass, and that slightly limited his jump attribute growth.

In other areas, Sanashita obviously couldn't compare to Akashi.

Compared to the day the training camp ended, Sanashita's physical and skill stats showed some improvements, but a few areas had dropped slightly.

This wasn't surprising to Shimokawa.

In fact, considering a whole summer had passed, maintaining this level was already quite encouraging.

It showed that Sanashita hadn't wasted his vacation. Even if he didn't follow a strict training plan like Akashi, he at least kept up some practice.

If he had just played around for a month, his skills would've plummeted.

This is the nature of competitive sports.

The other players' stats were mostly similar, proving that the team was pushing themselves hard to defeat Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High.

Holding the stack of sheets, Shimokawa Mitsuto's heart burned with excitement.

"If they keep this up, maybe this year Sengoku really can make it to the nationals."

Last year, Shimokawa had entertained the thought of leading Sengoku to the national tournament, but it was just an idea back then. As a coach, he knew how tough it was to reach that level.

Now, that thought had begun to feel like a real possibility.

Not just because the players worked hard, but mainly because of Akashi Asuka's remarkable progress, the real hope for breaking through to nationals.

Though his heart was aflame, Shimokawa kept a calm exterior.

He stood up slowly and said, "After this test, it's clear you've all worked hard over the summer. But... it's still not enough. Except for Akashi, all of you have been too lazy since the training camp ended."

"There are just over three weeks until the national tournament, and this is your last chance in junior high. If you want revenge on Kitagawa and want to make a real push at nationals, then seize this limited time and give it your all!"

The group responded loudly, "Yes!!!"

Shimokawa's speech was a powerful boost of motivation for the second-year boys.

They immediately threw themselves into training with fiery passion.

Akashi grabbed a basket of balls, ready to keep practicing his jump serve, aiming to push his serve skill above 75 before the national tournament started.

But before he could begin, two figures approached him from a short distance away.

Nishimori Tomohiko arrived first, already excitedly waving his arms, "Asuka-senpai, "

"Hey Akashi, can you spike a few more balls my way during practice?" Ryuhei Sanashita cut in before Nishimori finished, stepping right up to Akashi.

Hearing that, Nishimori's excitement froze instantly, his face draining of color as the disappointment was obvious.

How did this happen?

I was here first...

Since the last match, Sanashita had been reflecting on himself.

During the prefectural tournament, Sanashita's performance wasn't bad. Aside from some initial nerves causing mistakes early on, his subsequent games were solid.

Still, he felt he just couldn't mesh well with Akashi on the court.

At first, he thought the problem was his own play, but after the summer training camp, he realized it wasn't that.

It was Akashi who was playing at an exceptional level.

Akashi's progress was so fast it was almost visible to the naked eye, not only in regular training but even mid-tournament.

Because of this, Sanashita felt his "normal" performance just couldn't keep up with Akashi's pace.

The setter is the team's commander.

Also, the blacksmith who forged the weapons for the spikers.

But during the first half of the prefectural tournament, Sanashita was undeniably an unqualified setter.

 

[Veltoria]

Ryuhei Sanashita was determined to forge a stronger weapon for Akashi Asuka.

Nishimori Tomohiko wanted to steal a few more glances at the senior he admired from up close.

When these two collided, the result was, naturally, not a battlefield of rivalry.

Only children pick sides.

Adults want it all.

Besides, with Akashi Asuka's current stamina, one setter alone simply couldn't keep up with his monstrous energy.

Only together could the two barely hold their own against him.

Before the national tournament officially began, Akashi's training regimen differed from the rest of the volleyball club.

While everyone else focused on match play to sharpen their skills and peak their conditioning, Akashi didn't need that.

Having trained hard all summer and competed frequently, his main goal was to strengthen his existing advantages: power, spiking, and serving.

Especially strength training.

Now, Akashi's arm strength was inching close to 80. Once he broke through that barrier, his spiking power would leap to a whole new level.

…

Three weeks, it's not long, but not short either.

As the Sengoku Junior High volleyball team pushed themselves relentlessly, time seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye.

The day of the National Junior High Comprehensive Sports Tournament men's volleyball preliminaries had arrived.

Dressed sharply in their uniforms, the Sengoku team boarded the school bus with a fierce determination.

Compared to the county tournament, their excitement and curiosity had given way to calm confidence.

Meanwhile, inside the bustling arena…

A boy with bright orange curls and the stature of a grade schooler, yet bursting with energy, experienced the venue for the first time.

"Wow! So many people! Such a huge gym, and it even smells like Salonpas spray!" he exclaimed, eyes wide in awe.

But his excitement didn't last long.

A team marched in through the entrance with a military-like presence.

At the front was Tobio Kageyama.

Compared to months ago, his aura had grown even more intense, his expression darker, and an unmistakable "keep out" vibe surrounded him.

This was the team from Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High.

The county's absolute top school, Kitagawa's every appearance sparked a roar from the crowd.

Then, in a place powered by miracles, the restroom,

The orange-haired boy and Tobio Kageyama met for the first time.

…

At the same time,

The Sengoku bus pulled into the parking lot outside the arena.

One by one, the volleyball members stepped off, their changed demeanor and fierce aura drawing curious looks.

"Whoa, that vibe is scary."

"This team isn't messing around."

"Yeah, but do you even know who they are?"

"Nope. Not a clue."

Sengoku Junior High's reputation paled compared to Kitagawa's. Even though they'd tied the club's best record at the county tournament, that was only making the top sixteen.

Hearing these remarks annoyed Oomae Masato.

But before he could react, Jujirou Kazama, who knew his body better than he did, grabbed his collar and pulled him back.

"Don't act up, Oomae. Kitagawa's match is about to start. Let's watch and learn about their current strength, then warm up."

Upon hearing the name "Kitagawa." Oomae snapped to attention, no longer causing trouble.

Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High wasn't a seeded team at this national preliminaries.

Last year, during the national tournament, they were transitioning from old to new stars.

Their former ace setter had graduated, and the new ace hadn't yet matured.

So, last year at preliminaries, they'd only made the quarterfinals.

As a result,

Kitagawa had to play from the very first round this year.

Once inside the arena,

The Sengoku team noticed Kitagawa's match had already started.

Only five minutes in,

The score stood at a staggering 10-3.

"Wow, that's a brutal score!"

The Sengoku team who just arrived gasped in surprise.

"Is Kitagawa really this strong now?"

"No way! Dummy, even Kitagawa can't rack up a lead like that this fast. Their opponents must be trash."

"True, Kitagawa isn't seeded this year, but their strength is undeniable. The organizers wouldn't match them against such weak opponents."

Coach Shimokawa explained.

They watched intently but soon started feeling sleepy.

They'd come to gauge Kitagawa's strength, but the opponent was too weak to reveal much.

After just ten minutes,

The first set ended with an overwhelming 25-8 score.

"That Yukigaoka Junior High team, except for that tiny orange-haired kid, looks like they don't know volleyball at all." Oomae yawned lazily.

"Yeah! And even that kid's skills are rough. What are they doing in a real tournament?"

"Hey, Akashi, you seem pretty interested in that Yukigaoka kid, you're watching him closely."

Akashi smiled and replied, "Of course. Watching anime live is totally different from seeing it on TV."

Oomae: "???"

"What nonsense. Are you running a fever or something?"

Akashi rested his chin on the front row chair, shaking his head gently.

"Don't underestimate that little guy from Yukigaoka! He's got some real talent. If we only compare vertical jump, he might even be higher than me right now."

Part of Akashi's reach advantage came from his height. But purely on jump height, the current Shoyo Hinata might even surpass him.

Oomae snorted. "Pfft! Even if that brat's got some talent, I don't buy that he's stronger than you, the 'monster.'"

Akashi: "……"

That left me speechless.

 

[Veltoria]

"Let's go! It's our turn to take the court now."

The second match between Kitagawa and Yukigaoka Junior High also wrapped up quickly, about ten minutes in total.

As always, Akashi Asuka got to witness Shōyō Hinata's final attack: a lightning-fast, flat spike. But that single point barely registered with the crowd given the huge gap between the two teams' scores.

Of course, for Tobio Kageyama, who was right across the net, the experience might feel a little different.

······

"Our next opponent is Sengoku." a middle-aged coach spoke seriously to his team in the waiting area of Shirakawa Junior High. "They were the dark horse at this year's prefectural tournament. Honestly, after reviewing the footage last night, I realized that if they hadn't met Kitagawa in the round of sixteen, they might've gone even further."

"What? We're facing such a strong team again?"

"So unlucky!"

"Looks like we're out in the first round this year too…"

"Don't be so down." the coach interrupted firmly, seeing the team's morale already tanking before the match even started. "Listen carefully, Sengoku is strong, but not unbeatable. According to my analysis, they revolve entirely around one player: their ace outside hitter."

"That ace really is top-tier in the prefecture, but aside from him, the rest of the Sengoku players are pretty average."

"So your job in this game is simple, shut down their ace. If you can stop him from scoring, we have a real chance. Understood?"

"Yes, coach."

······

"Bullshit!"

Smack!

Another fierce spike from Shirakawa's setter's side zipped past and slammed onto the floor.

Watching number three from Sengoku score again, Shirakawa's setter couldn't help but recall the coach's pre-game talk.

Something's off here, coach.

This Sengoku team isn't as weak as you said.

But one thing's true, number one on the other side must never get the chance to attack.

The setter glanced toward the imposing figure wearing Sengoku's number one jersey on the opposite court. Since the start, that guy hadn't attacked once, but as a player, the setter's instincts screamed danger.

This guy is way too dangerous!

A bead of sweat slid down the setter's forehead. The score was 9–4 now, but he wasn't overly worried, until he stood near Sengoku's number one.

Then it felt like a beast was staring him down.

Smash!

Oomae Masato scored again with a powerful spike and clenched his fists, cheering excitedly.

But Akashi Asuka felt no thrill. Instead, he felt a bit sleepy.

He didn't know what Shirakawa's setter was thinking right now, but if he did, he'd probably tell him, "You're overthinking it, kid."

From the start, Akashi hadn't attacked, not because he was heavily guarded.

Even with three blockers, Shirakawa's team would struggle to shut him down.

No, Akashi hadn't attacked simply because of the coach's plan.

Leveling up.

That's the main strategy Sengoku had been using during the early rounds of the qualifiers.

At the prefectural tournament, they used the same tactic, but the others weren't strong enough, and Akashi's individual skill was so overpowering that Shimokawa Mitsuto's "veterans leveling up the rookies" plan failed miserably.

But this time, with the rest of Sengoku's players improving by one or two tiers, they could finally carry their own weight.

So the goal in the early matches was to give the rest of the team real tournament experience.

Nice plan, but reality always throws some curveballs.

Because everyone was so focused on Akashi, Shirakawa always had at least two players tightly guarding him whenever he was in the front court. Even when he dropped back, the opponents remained distracted.

This left big holes elsewhere on Shirakawa's defense. Oomae Masato and Jujiro Kazama attacked freely, feeling zero pressure.

Twelve minutes in, the referee blew the whistle to end the set.

Score: 25–16.

Sengoku took the first set with a huge lead.

During the break, the Shirakawa coach furrowed his brows, thinking aloud, "Looks like they're using their ace as bait in this first set. In the second, maybe we can ease up a bit…"

"No."

Before the coach could finish, Shirakawa's setter interrupted sharply.

"Coach! We absolutely cannot let number one attack. If we do, we'll lose even worse."

The setter's expression was serious, sweat dripping like rain onto the floor.

The coach's eyes narrowed.

······

Meanwhile, as Shirakawa debated how to handle Akashi in the second set, Shimokawa Mitsuto made a tactical call on Sengoku's side:

"Akashi, you don't have to play in the second set."

"What?"

Before Akashi could respond, the rest of the team was stunned.

"Why? Coach, did Akashi do something wrong?"

"No. Not at all."

Shimokawa shook his head. "Our goal for the early rounds of this qualifier is to let everyone except Akashi get used to the national-level intensity. But our opponent is so focused on Akashi that the others aren't really experiencing the true challenge of this tournament."

"So for the next matches leading up to the round of sixteen, Akashi won't play. That way, we keep a trump card up our sleeve."

"I understand." Akashi nodded, agreeing to the plan.

Honestly, Shimokawa's strategy was risky. In a tournament like this, you never know when an underdog might appear.

But it's not feasible to rely on Akashi alone.

If the rest of the team doesn't improve fast, Sengoku could easily fall into the same tight spot they faced at the prefectural tournament when the competition stiffened.

 

[Veltoria]

"They actually dared to underestimate us? Let's show them what we're made of!"

After Shimokawa Mitsuto laid out the tactical plan, Akashi Asuka, the player being benched, had no real reaction. Instead, it was players like Oomae Masato who were inexplicably fired up.

We know Akashi Asuka is strong. But Shirakawa, putting all their focus on defending against him while completely ignoring the rest of us? Isn't that taking things a bit too far?

If we don't completely destroy them, how are we supposed to survive in the volleyball world after this?

That, more or less, summed up the mood of the rest of the team.

This twist of events…

Was actually a reverse morale boost.

Even Shimokawa Mitsuto, the mastermind behind this strategy, hadn't expected it to play out this way. But overall, it was a huge win for him.

Taking Akashi Asuka's place was a second-year wing spiker.
This was a temporary tactical decision.

If the next part of the match went smoothly, Shimokawa planned to rotate in other promising young players like Nishimori Tomohiko, giving each of them a chance to experience the game firsthand.

After all, once Akashi Asuka's class graduates, they would become the core of the team.

It was about time to start developing them.

…
As the second set began, Shirakawa, who had just spent the entire break strategizing around Akashi Asuka, were completely stunned by the new lineup.
And after the shock came the anger.
"What the hell is this?"

They had swapped out their main players, was this a joke?

Did they think so little of us?

Before the first point of the second set had even been played, the atmosphere between the two teams was already tense and explosive.

…

Back on the bench, Akashi Asuka was lazily yawning, looking half-asleep.

Then, as if sensing something, he turned his head toward the stands, just in time to lock eyes with Tobio Kageyama.

Their gazes met, and for a brief moment, it felt like sparks lit up the air between them.

"Let's go. Nothing worth watching here anymore." Kageyama said suddenly, slinging his bag over his shoulder and standing up.

"We're leaving already? The match isn't over yet." one of Kitagawa's players said in surprise.

To be honest, many of Kitagawa 's players still had a strong impression of Akashi Asuka.

Even though they had crushed Sengoku easily during the prefectural tournament, most of that was thanks to overpowering Sengoku's other players, not Asuka.

"No need. He won't be playing the rest of the match." Kageyama replied bluntly.

And with that, he left the venue without looking back.

The rest of Kitagawa 's team had no choice but to follow.

…
Meanwhile, the match continued.
Without Akashi Asuka's oppressive presence, Shirakawa finally began showing their true strength.

The second-year substitute who had taken Asuka's place struggled at first, understandable for someone playing in a major tournament for the first time.

A series of early mistakes put Sengoku at a disadvantage.

But with the support of his teammates, the score was soon back to even.

At the 26-minute mark of the second set

The referee blew the final whistle.

25–22.

Thanks to continuous attacks from Oomae Masato and Jujiro Kazama, Sengoku edged out Shirakawa by three points and advanced to the next round.

…
After the match, Shimokawa Mitsuto once again drove the team home in the school van.
Back at his house, Akashi Asuka quietly resumed his training routine.

After more than three weeks of consistent practice, his [Arm Strength] stat had finally surpassed 80.

80.

On the system's data panel, that marked the upper limit of what a normal high school athlete could achieve in raw power.

Beyond 80 was the realm of naturally gifted high school power players.

For example:

Asahi Azumane from Karasuno, at his third-year peak, had an [Arm Strength] of around 82–83.

But that was just his arm strength.

Due to a lack of core strength, Asahi's spikes, while powerful, couldn't compare to the destructive force of national-level heavy hitters.

Akashi Asuka might still be a bit behind Asahi in terms of arm power, but once his [Core Strength] also crosses the 80 threshold, the combined effect should allow his spikes to rival even Asahi's peak form.

…
Preliminaries – Second Round
Sengoku vs. Midori-no Junior High.
Once again, Akashi Asuka did not play, as Midori-no was even weaker than Shirakawa.

This time, Shimokawa subbed in several first- and second-year players throughout the match.

In the end, Sengoku won 25–21 and 25–23, securing another round with narrow but clean victories.

With two rounds completed, the team now had a one-week break.

…

Preliminaries – Third Round

Sengoku faced Seiten Junior High, another team that had reached the top 16 in the prefectural tournament.

The first two sets ended in a split: 25–22, then 23–25. Tied 1–1.

With the match on the line, Shimokawa finally brought Akashi Asuka in for the third set.

But Asuka didn't need to do much.

He simply blocked the opposing ace's spike three times in a row, and just like that, Seiten's morale collapsed.

2–1 victory.

Sengoku advanced to the fourth round.

…
Sunday.
Sengoku's next opponent: Shinkuuji Junior High, a private school.
They were a seeded team in this year's prelims, and had made the top four in last year's tournament.

As the Sengoku players stepped onto the court, a familiar feeling hit them, not because Shinkuuji was too strong, but because the whole scene mirrored a moment from the past.

Same elimination round.

Another seeded top-four team.

But this time, they wouldn't let history repeat itself.

Tweet!

The referee's whistle blew.

First serve came from Sengoku's opposite hitter, Oda Miki.

The ball sailed cleanly into the opponent's court.

Shinkuuji quickly organized their offense, and just as expected, the final touch went to their ace attacker.

Much like Sengoku, Shinkuuji was built around a single core weapon, an extremely aggressive, spearhead-style offense.

Their spear?

A top-tier, 186cm tall outside hitter named Amakawa Tenka.

Amakawa leapt high, his max reach exceeding 330cm.

The moment he jumped, Sengoku's blockers, Oomae Masato and Jujiro Kazama, felt like they were staring at a past version of Akashi Asuka.

Boom!

The spike flew clean over the double block, no surprise there.

But strangely, no one heard the ball hit the floor.

Neko Kurata had dug the spike.

Thanks to the training camp, she'd received countless of Akashi Asuka's spikes, and her body instinctively reacted to Amakawa's eerily similar strike.

The ball shot back into the air.

Still midair, Amakawa's expression instantly shifted.

At the same time, Ryuhei Sanashita stepped in, gently flicking the ball toward the space above Akashi Asuka's head.

Then…

Everyone from Shinkuuji watched as a dark shadow, taller and mightier than their own ace, suddenly blocked out the lights above the court...

 

[Veltoria]

"So high!"

That was the first thought that flashed through the minds of the Shinkuuji Junior High players as they saw Akashi Asuka leap into the air.

"How are we supposed to block that?!"

The second thought followed almost immediately.

On the sidelines, the coach of Shinkuuji Junior High narrowed his eyes sharply the moment he saw Asuka take off. A shadow flickered in his memory, an unstoppable figure from two years ago.

Back then, it had felt like a time of despair not just for Shinkuuji, but for all of Miyagi Prefecture's Junior High volleyball teams.

Because during that era, there had been one true "national-level ace."

Unmatched height. Overwhelming power.

With just his presence alone, he had crushed every school in the prefecture, including powerhouse Kitagawa, and bulldozed his way to the nationals.

"The Monster, Wakatoshi Ushijima..." the Shinkuuji coach muttered with a long breath. "Is Miyagi about to produce another monster?"

…
BOOM!
The sound of the volleyball slamming into the floor echoed throughout the gym.

With an almost inhuman reach nearing 340 centimeters, Akashi Asuka had reached a level where, as long as Ryuhei Sanashita could deliver a clean toss, there wasn't a single blocker in the prefecture who could stuff him at the net.

The referee's whistle blew, but Shinkuuji's middle blockers stood frozen.

They stared at their own hands in stunned disbelief.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it possible, an attacker clearing their outstretched block and scoring directly over their heads.

…
"Whoa! What was that?!"
"Was that a super spike?!"

"No way, can a Junior Higher really jump that high?!"

"Who is that guy? How come I've never heard of him before?!"

..
Akashi Asuka's first spike didn't just shock the opposing team, it sent tremors through the audience.
There weren't many spectators in the second-floor stands, but the few who were present clearly knew volleyball. That made the impact of Asuka's leap all the more astounding.

Score: 1–0.

Shinkuuji's ace, Amakawa Tenka, shot Asuka a deep, focused stare after the point.

The match resumed.

Sengoku retained serve, with Oda Miki stepping up once again.

The ball landed inside the Shinkuuji court and was smoothly received by their libero. As expected, it was quickly set to Amakawa for the attack.

…
Boom!
Slap!
This time, the ball didn't make it past the block cleanly, Jujiro Kazama managed to get a fingertip on it, deflecting it into the air over Sengoku's backcourt.

"One touch!" Kazama shouted.

"I got it!"

Neko Kurata spread his arms and received the ball cleanly, passing it up to the setter. Ryuhei Sanashita tossed it again to Asuka, but this time, the toss was slightly off.

The timing and height weren't ideal, and Asuka leaped just as the ball dipped into the optimal blocking zone.

"Don't think you can break through every time!"

That was the message burning in the eyes of Shinkuuji's two blockers.

But then...

THWACK!

With a sudden flash, the ball zipped past them before they could react and smashed into the floor behind them.

A perfect cross-court spike.

Power. Speed. Placement. All of it flawless, threading the needle between the block and the defenders.

Score: 2–0.

…
"OOOOHH!! What a hit!"
"Beautifully done, Asuka!"

The Sengoku players rushed him, shouting with joy and piling on in a celebratory dogpile.

By contrast, the Shinkuuji players were drenched in sweat. It was only two points into the set, yet they already felt like a mountain was pressing down on them, crushing their breath and spirit.

And towering above them all… was Akashi Asuka, a shadow threatening to swallow them whole.

…
Five minutes into the match.
Score: 7–3.
Shinkuuji's players were gasping for air. Their shirts clung to them with sweat, hands on knees or hips, faces pale and weary. They looked less like they were just starting a match, and more like they'd just finished a grueling three-set battle.

..

"Hey, isn't Shinkuuji in trouble?"

"What the heck is going on? Weren't they a seeded team?"

"Who is that No. 1 from Sengoku? He's way too strong, it's ridiculous!"

..
Without anyone noticing, a crowd had begun to gather near the court, drawn in by the explosive energy. The chatter and speculation in the stands grew louder and more chaotic.
Shinkuuji's coach furrowed his brow, mind racing for a countermeasure.

But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't come up with a plan.

The truth was, they knew far too little about Sengoku.

As a seeded team, Shinkuuji had prepared for a number of strong opponents in the preliminaries, but Sengoku, a mere Top 16 finisher from the last prefectural tournament, hadn't been seen as a threat.

They had done some basic research, but based on the available data, this kind of one-sided result should have been impossible.

Just as he considered calling a timeout to let his players regroup...

A sudden uproar from the crowd snapped him out of his thoughts.
He instinctively looked up at the court, only for his expression to instantly darken.

…
Rewind thirty seconds.
At 7–3, Sengoku's rotation brought Akashi Asuka to the service line.

As he stepped to the backline, Ryuhei Sanashita, Oda Miki, and a second-year substitute blocker (filling in for Kurata) all subtly covered the backs of their heads, then quietly shifted to leave the center of the net wide open.

The Shinkuuji players noticed the odd movements but were unsure what to make of them. Were they setting up some kind of trap?

And then,

BOOM!

The sheer force of Asuka's serve exploded through the gym.

Already distracted and off-balance, the Shinkuuji players barely had time to react.

They only saw a blur of motion as the ball screamed past...

...and struck their libero square in the face.

 

[Veltoria]

BEEP!!!

The referee's whistle pierced through the air, halting the game in an instant.

The sudden incident, the libero from Shinkuuji Junior High had just been KO'd, no, more accurately, knocked down, by Akashi Asuka's serve.

The sheer force of the impact sent the ball flying high into the air, eventually landing up in the second-floor spectator stands.

At first, the Shinkuuji players were stunned. Then panic set in as they rushed over to their fallen teammate, only to find the lower half of his face stained bright red with blood streaming from his nose.

They were, after all, just Junior Highers. Scenes like this weren't something they were used to. Several players were visibly shaken.

Fortunately, Shinkuuji's coach arrived with a medical staff member shortly afterward.

Initial examination:

The assessment pointed to a ruptured nasal capillary. Though the bleeding looked serious, it wasn't life-threatening.

Still, to be safe, and to rule out a nasal fracture or concussion, the medical team recommended the libero be taken off the court for further examination.

The coach agreed without hesitation.

As a seasoned coach, he understood that the violence in volleyball, in its own way, could be just as intense as basketball or soccer.

Even if he had initially doubted that a Junior Higher like Akashi Asuka could serve with such explosive power, that booming sound from earlier was undeniably frightening.

Though the libero himself resisted, under the dual insistence of the coach and medical staff, he had no choice but to be stretchered off the court.

And just like that, five minutes and thirty seconds into the match, Akashi Asuka earned the dubious achievement of scoring the game's "first blood."

Once the injured libero was escorted out, the referee blew the whistle to resume play.

However, Shinkuuji's coach immediately called a timeout.

..

"Don't let it bother you. It was just an accident. Things like this happen in sports. Just keep playing your game." Shimokawa Mitsuto said, worried the incident might rattle Akashi Asuka's focus.

After all, while such incidents do happen... this one wasn't exactly common.

But none of that mattered now.

To Shimokawa, Akashi was still just a Junior Higher. Kids at that age were sensitive. If this left a mental scar, it could be a real problem.

But as it turned out, Shimokawa had been overthinking it.

Akashi Asuka was completely unfazed.

To him, drawing blood, or even causing a more serious injury, was just part of the intense nature of competitive sports. His mind remained calm and focused.

In contrast, his teammates were visibly spooked.

"Yikes… that was scary."

"I mean, I knew his serves were powerful from practice… but that was terrifying."

"Yeah! And I was once hit on the back of the head during training by a serve like that… maybe I should go get checked at the hospital after the match too!"

Oda Miki rubbed the spot where she'd once been hit. It hadn't really hurt at the time, but now, she swore it started aching all over again.

Shimokawa Mitsuto: "……"

Great.

He couldn't tell if they'd scared the opposing team, but his own players were clearly terrified.

That said…

Even Shimokawa himself had to admit that Akashi's serve was on another level.

He'd seen powerful jump serves before, but never from a Junior Higher. In all his years of coaching, this was a first.

As Shimokawa worked to keep Akashi's head in the game…

…
Across the court, Shinkuuji's coach was trying to stabilize his players' nerves too.
But while Shimokawa was telling his player not to be afraid of himself, Shinkuuji's coach was pleading with his players not to be afraid of the other team.

His mood was grim.

Not because they'd lost their libero, though that was certainly a blow to their lineup.

What truly crushed him was the reason they lost the libero.

That single serve hadn't just knocked out a player, it had shattered the team's morale.

Even before this, Shinkuuji had already been feeling the pressure from Sengoku. But after that serve from their "ace", it was as if another massive weight had been dropped on their already collapsing spirits.

If they couldn't turn the tide soon, the match might not even make it to the final whistle. The first set alone could seal their fate.

"All we can hope for now." the coach thought, "is that the opposing team's mentality slips after that unexpected incident and they start making unforced errors."

He racked his brain for a strategy.

But even as the whistle sounded for the match to resume, he came up with nothing.

After all, any tactic is only effective when both teams are on roughly equal footing.

But the offensive threat they faced now was far too sharp.

Even if they pooled their entire defense together, they might still fail to stop Akashi Asuka. And now, they were down a key defensive player, their libero.

…
BEEP!
The whistle blew again, signaling the restart.

Akashi Asuka stepped up to the baseline, gently bouncing the ball a few times to find his rhythm. And then, just as expected, he unleashed another powerful jump serve.

BOOM!

The sound echoed like an explosion.

The ball rocketed over the net at nearly the same speed and force as before, carving a deadly arc through the air before slamming into the back line for a clean point.

BEEP!
The whistle confirmed it, Sengoku scored again. The scoreboard now read 9:3.

Oomae Masato and the rest of the team erupted in cheers. Meanwhile, the Shinkuuji coach slowly closed his eyes.

From the moment Akashi launched that serve, he knew the match was over.

Not because it was just another point on the board.

But because it proved that not even injuring an opponent would shake Akashi's composure or dull his firepower in the slightest.

Shinkuuji's morale was in shambles.

In competitive sports, there's a saying: "It's not over until the final whistle."

That's true.

But there's another truth just as important: "Some matches are decided before they even begin."

Not everyone has the willpower to fight through adversity to the end. In reality, comebacks in tough matches are rare.

And it's because they're so rare… that when they do happen, they become unforgettable.

Most matches, however, are shaped by what happens before the game: in practice, in preparation, in discipline, in time invested.

Whether or not Shinkuuji could pull off a comeback…

Even their coach didn't know.

He believed in miracles. He really did.

But in all their past matches, Shinkuuji had never once seized the moment when a miracle came knocking.

 

[Veltoria]

BEEP!

With the final whistle, the match between Sengoku and Shinkuuji concluded with a decisive 2-0 victory for Sengoku, advancing them to the quarterfinals.

After their morale was crushed in the first set, Shinkuuji never managed to stage a comeback. It turned out their coach's judgment was spot-on.

Sengoku's advancement to the top eight marked a historic achievement for their volleyball club. Yet, unlike last time, the team didn't erupt in excitement, because now, they had their sights set even higher.

While Sengoku remained composed, the rest of Miyagi Prefecture was in an uproar.

A seeded team like Shinkuuji being swept 2-0 by a dark horse was enough to make Sengoku's name echo throughout the region.

Footage of the match was quickly edited into a highlight reel and spread like wildfire...

…
At Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High, they were the first to get their hands on the recording.
After all, they were the only team among the quarter finalists who had previously played against Sengoku. From coach to core players, everyone remembered Akashi Asuka vividly.

Inside the video room, after watching the recording of Sengoku vs. Shinkuuji, the players and coach sat in heavy silence.

"He's a monster. Seriously, is that guy even human?"

"Back at the Prefectural Sports Meet, he was already tough to deal with. And now, after just one summer break, he's grown this much?"

Several of Kitagawa 's key players couldn't help but voice their shock after witnessing Akashi Asuka's performance.

Their coach remained expressionless, but his intense gaze made it clear, he was far from calm.

"We've seen the footage. Now, I want to hear everyone's thoughts. Kageyama, you first."

"Yes, sir."

Tobio Kageyama stood up and spoke confidently:

"When we played Sengoku earlier this year, they were already a solid team, but everything revolved around their ace, No. 1. But this match shows that the entire team has improved significantly. While the others still can't match their ace's level, they're no longer weak links."

"More importantly, the ace is now terrifying. Back in the spring, his offense was impressive, but his defense was like a beginner's.

Now, in just a few months, his defensive skills are nearly flawless. Honestly, if I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe it. If we face them again, there's no doubt they'll be our greatest threat."

Though Kageyama still had some personality flaws, his ability to assess others was top-tier.

There are many things in sports that you can't capture on tape. If you're not on the court, you'll never truly feel how powerful an opponent is.

Yet Kageyama accurately analyzed nearly 70% of Sengoku's current strength, just from a single viewing.

…
Since both schools were in the same bracket, Kitagawa quickly began strategizing.
But even more anxious than them was Yamarashi Technical Junior High, Sengoku's next opponent.

According to the tournament schedule, the quarterfinals would begin the following Saturday, meaning Yamarashi only had five days to prepare.

That might sound like a decent amount of time, but in reality, formulating a solid game plan isn't something you can settle with a quick conversation.

Once a strategy is decided, it needs time to be drilled and practiced before it can be used effectively in a match.

Those "spur-of-the-moment" plays you see sometimes might work once or twice, but they lack consistency and can't carry a match.

So Yamarashi's coaches and players burned the midnight oil, scrambling to come up with tactics.

…
Meanwhile, Sengoku was also studying Yamarashi's style.
After all, in the upcoming match, they were the ones challenging a powerhouse.

But unlike Yamarashi's struggle to study them, Sengoku had it easier.

Yamarashi, as a well-established team, had years of footage and data available.

Sengoku, on the other hand, had played plenty of matches too, but the only truly "research-worthy" footage was their most recent game, the one against Shinkuuji.

…
Time flew by.
Saturday arrived.
The match between Sengoku and Yamarashi Technical was about to begin.

"Let's have a great match!"

"Let's have a great match!"

After bowing to each other, both teams walked to their pre-arranged positions.

But the moment Yamarashi saw Sengoku's lineup, their expressions drastically changed.

"Whoa, whoa, are they serious right now?"

Sengoku's formation was as follows:

• Front row, left to right: Jujiro Kazama (#4), Ryuhei Sanashita (#3), Oomae Masato (#2)
  
  
• Back row, left to right: Oda Miki (#5), Neko Kurata (#6), Akashi Asuka (#1)
  

---

BEEP!

The referee blew the whistle to start the game.

Standing at the baseline, Akashi Asuka bounced the ball a few times, recalling Sanashita's tactical briefing before the match:

"Yamarashi is a balanced, defense-oriented team with no glaring weaknesses. Their formation is solid.

If we drag this match out, it'll work against us. So from the first serve, we go all-out and crush them!"

WHAM!

As Sanashita's voice faded from memory, Akashi unleashed a devastating serve.

A thunderous crack echoed through the gym as the ball blasted off his palm and rocketed toward the other side of the court like a meteor, heading straight for Yamarashi's libero.

This was one of the flaws of the power jump serve:

Because all energy is focused on speed and force, there's little control over precision.
As long as the ball lands in bounds, it's considered successful, but targeting specific zones is nearly impossible.

If the serve happens to go straight to the opposing libero, the chance of a successful reception increases significantly.

Like right now.

Despite the ball flying at near-impossible speed, Yamarashi's veteran libero, relying on sheer instinct, reacted before his brain could even catch up, his body moved on its own and caught the ball.

The moment his wrist registered contact, his brain sent out a jubilant signal:

"I got it!"

But in the very next second, his expression changed.

The power behind the ball wasn't just fast, it was devastatingly strong.

BOOM!

The impact surged through his arm, and before he could attempt any cushioning technique, the ball bounced sky-high, crashing into the railing of the second-floor bleachers with a loud

DUANG.

Off balance from the force, the libero landed flat on his backside...

 

[Veltoria]

Beep!

1:0.

The referee blew the whistle without hesitation.

The players from Yamarashi Technical Junior High stared blankly, while the spectators on the second floor erupted in thunderous cheers.

"Woooooooh!"

"What a powerful serve! It even knocked someone over!"

"Nice one, Number One from Sengoku!"

...

Whether they understood volleyball or not, everyone was excited at that moment.

Violence is a primal instinct buried deep in our genes.

Even if they didn't understand the sport, just seeing Akashi Asuka knock an opponent down with what seemed like a harmless volleyball was more than enough to trigger a visceral thrill.

"Whew~~"

"Well done! One more, Number One from Sengoku!"

A few people in the stands began cheering for Akashi Asuka, though it was more of a rowdy commotion than organized support. Akashi ignored it. His true opponents weren't in the audience.

As soon as the whistle blew again, Akashi Asuka served his second ball.

This serve wasn't as clean as the first. His toss was slightly off, which reduced the ball's speed a bit.

"I got it!"

The libero from Yamarashi Technical shouted and received the serve.

But Akashi's raw power was formidable. Even a less-than-perfect serve, when received, rebounded upward with a tremendous force, launching the ball over ten meters into the air.

That sky-high first pass gave Yamarashi Technical's setter ample time to react.

But it also gave Sengoku's defense just as much time to prepare.

Smack!

Thud!

Yamarashi Technical's first offensive attempt was cleanly blocked by Oomae Masato. The spike was sent right back into Yamarashi Technical's court. The score rose to 2:0.

"Tch."

Yamarashi Technical's ace attacker clicked his tongue, reluctantly glancing at the ball on the ground before turning back to regroup with his teammates.

In the bench area, Shimokawa Mitsuto furrowed his brow slightly.

"Strange. With a start like that from Akashi, the other side's morale should've taken a big hit. So why does Yamarashi Technical look completely unaffected?"

Something about Yamarashi Technical's reaction unsettled Shimokawa, but for now, he couldn't quite figure out their game plan.

Just then,

Akashi Asuka served for the third time.

Unfortunately, he made a mistake. The ball cleared the net but flew out of bounds.

Score: 2:1.

"No worries, it's fine!"

His teammates came over to reassure him out of habit before quickly resuming the match.

Service rotated.

A middle blocker from Sengoku stepped into the service position. As he took his stance, his gaze locked onto a certain player on his own team.

"It's not just powerful serves that score points, after all…"

Recalling their pre-game strategy, he took a deep breath and relaxed before lightly tapping the ball,

Smack!

This serve was the polar opposite of Akashi Asuka's power jump serve.

It lacked power, lacked spin, and wasn't technically impressive. Its only strength was the unusual placement.

The ball floated slowly over the net, completely devoid of momentum, dropping straight toward the floor.

Right in front of it stood Ryuhei Sanashita, who hurried to receive it,

Instantly.

On the bench, Shimokawa Mitsuto's face changed.

"So that's it. From the very beginning… their target was never Akashi."

The moment he saw the serve aimed directly at Ryuhei Sanashita, Shimokawa immediately understood Yamarashi Technical's plan for this match.

And he realized why they didn't panic even after conceding two points to Akashi Asuka early on.

It was simple.

Yamarashi Technical Junior High had completely given up on countering Akashi Asuka from the start.

...

Not far away, in Yamarashi Technical's bench area,

The coach smiled faintly after seeing Takahira receive that serve.

After thoroughly studying the footage of Sengoku vs Shinkuuji, he had concluded that with his team's skill level, it was nearly impossible to shut down Sengoku's "ace."

Yamarashi Technical didn't have any genius players.

Their team was made up of ordinary players, no standouts, but with remarkably even skill levels across the board.

A team like that had no strengths, but also no glaring weaknesses.

In short, they were extremely average.

And the defining trait of an average team is this: they can't beat the strong, but the weak can't beat them either.

So if such a team went head-to-head against a "monster" like Akashi Asuka, they'd almost certainly get steamrolled.

But what if they simply didn't fight that monster head-on?

Any ace attacker's performance depends not only on their own skill but also heavily on the quality of the setter's passes.

The stronger the attacker, the higher their expectations for the setter's performance.

After days of analyzing the footage, the Yamarashi Technical coach had determined that even Sengoku's starting setter couldn't fully unlock Akashi's potential.

If that was the case for their main setter, then it was even worse for the backups.

So for this match...

Before it even started, Yamarashi Technical's strategy had been set: ignore Akashi Asuka entirely, and focus all their efforts on shutting down Ryuhei Sanashita, Sengoku's main setter.

If the setter couldn't receive and deliver quality passes, then the "ace" couldn't shine, no matter how powerful he was.

...

Smack!

Thud!

Back on the court,

With Takahira forced into a receiving role, Jujiro Kazama had to fill in as setter. But Kazama lacked the skills to coordinate a back-row attack. The ball ended up going to Oomae Masato, who slammed a spike, but the opponents anticipated it perfectly and blocked him cold.

2:2.

The early advantage evaporated in an instant.

Yamarashi Technical, sensing the momentum shift, pressed the attack. Their next serve also targeted Ryuhei Sanashita. Forced to receive once again, the follow-up attack from Sengoku was overly simple and failed to score.

Instead, Yamarashi Technical launched a counterattack and successfully spiked for a point.

2:3. The lead flipped.

Yamarashi Technical kept up the pressure. This time, thanks to a warning from Takahira, Kazama was able to get in position and receive the serve, completing the pass.

Takahira quickly organized a back-row assault.

Akashi Asuka leapt high from the backline and smashed a spike through the opponent's double block, tying the score.

3:3.

But the Sengoku players didn't celebrate much.

They all knew, this was just a temporary fix.

Unless they found a way to stop the other team from targeting Ryuhei Sanashita, the rest of this match was going to be just as tough...

 

[Veltoria]

"What a sly old fox. You really know how to make my life difficult, huh?"

Shimokawa Mitsuwata clicked his tongue softly as he looked at the grinning head coach of Yamarashi Technical across the court. "But... if you think you can take me down that easily, then you've underestimated me."

The volleyball match was heating up.

Although Yamarashi Technical lacked top-tier players, every member was highly competent. While they couldn't serve with the same raw power as Akashi Asuka or Tobio Kageyama, each one could consistently deliver medium-speed, pinpoint serves.

They had locked onto Ryuhei Sanashita as their target. But Sengoku couldn't always step in to take the serve for him, if they abandoned their designated defensive zones too recklessly, it could disrupt their entire formation.

And that might be exactly what the opponent was hoping for.

The two teams exchanged blow after blow.

Before long, the score had pushed past 20.

20–21.

Yamarashi Technical was in the lead.

Still targeting Ryuhei Sanashita, Yamarashi served again. Perhaps nerves were starting to set in as they neared set point, Neko Kurata, seemingly flustered, rushed out at the last second and intercepted the serve that had clearly been meant for Sanashita.

The result was disastrous.

Not only was the first touch poorly executed, but the ball also veered completely out of Sanashita's range to make the second pass.

"Damn!"

The Sengoku players' faces fell instantly.

This kind of first touch was the hardest to handle, it was too low, and way off-target for the primary setter. In that kind of situation, the rest of the team had no choice but to make an awkward emergency save.

But those kinds of saves rarely lead to effective attacks, there's no control over height, angle, or timing.

Oda Miki, forced into a temporary setter role, wore a troubled expression as her mind raced for a solution… but she couldn't come up with anything solid.

Just then,

A calm voice rose from the front row.

"Give me a high ball."

"I'm counting on you, Asuka."

Recognizing that it was Akashi Asuka who had spoken, Oda Miki didn't hesitate. She set the ball high in the air toward him.

It was far from perfect.

The height was passable, but the position, angle, and timing were all flawed.

"Block him!"

Akashi hadn't even reached his hitting spot yet, but Yamarashi's triple block had already gone up in front of him. All three blockers leapt in unison, cutting off both the straight and cross-court paths. It was a textbook-perfect block formation.

A direct spike would almost certainly be shut down.

The threat was obvious, anyone with a bit of volleyball knowledge could see that.

In midair, Akashi Asuka's eyes took in the six outstretched arms that blocked the lights above. But oddly, his mind slowed down. His thoughts were crystal clear. His emotions stilled like a pool of still water.

Even though he was airborne for only a moment, in that brief instant, he could clearly see the height of the blockers' hands, the look on their faces, and the positioning and movement of the defenders behind them.

Then he found it.

A sliver of space. Not quite a flaw, but a thread of opportunity.

Bam!

In the next instant,

Akashi's arm swung with explosive force. Backed by over 80 points of arm strength and a core nearing that same threshold, the impact of his palm on the ball seemed to squeeze and deform the very shape of the sphere.

The moment his hand met the ball, it seemed to freeze midair for a fraction of a second, then whoosh! it rocketed forward at a speed almost too fast for the naked eye to track.

The ball sliced past the blockers at an impossible angle, brushing the sideline as it hit the floor.

When the ball landed, the three Yamarashi blockers in front of Akashi were still frozen in place. It was as if they hadn't even realized he had spiked.

Tweet!

The referee's whistle blew.

Both teams held their breath and looked to the line judge. Only when the flag was thrust sharply toward the floor did the Sengoku players erupt in cheers.

"No way, how did he even land that?!"

While Sengoku was celebrating, the players from Yamarashi Technical looked completely shaken.

Especially the blockers, who now looked at Akashi Asuka like he wasn't even human.

"A monster?"

"Hey, did that ball just curve in the air?"

"He scored with that kind of set?"

Yamarashi's morale was starting to crack.

Even their coach on the sidelines remained silent this time, clearly still stunned by what had just happened.

After a long pause, the Yamarashi coach finally gave a wry chuckle. "He really is a monster."

From his angle at the back of the court, he'd seen the whole thing more clearly than anyone else. Their triple block had been virtually perfect.

Under normal circumstances, that spike would have had no angle, both the cross and straight paths had been sealed off.

But Akashi Asuka had somehow twisted his body midair and found a way to hit the ball at a sharp, curved angle around the block. It was a shot no conventional playbook could explain.

21–21.

The score was tied once again.

With that point, Sengoku regained serve, and as the rotation shifted, Akashi Asuka moved back to the No. 1 position.

"One serve and he's out of the attack." the Yamarashi players told themselves, regaining their focus.

Because although Akashi's serve was devastating, it also meant he'd be rotating to the back row, where, without Ryuhei Sanashita to feed him the ball, he'd have almost no role in the offense.

If Yamarashi could survive this service turn, their chance would come again.

There was nothing wrong with their logic.

Unfortunately for them, anything they could predict, Shimokawa Mitsuwata could too. Just as Akashi prepared to serve, the coach made a surprise substitution,

Nishimori Tomohiko came in for Oda Miki.

The switch clearly confused the Yamarashi players, after all, they didn't know much about Nishimori.

But among the Sengoku squad, a few players began to guess what the coach was planning.

Nishimori jogged onto the court, greeting each teammate with a smile before bouncing excitedly up to Akashi Asuka.

"Akashi-senpai, I promise I'll give you the best set possible!"

Akashi didn't respond, his eyes half-closed, not out of arrogance, but because he was still lost in the mental state he'd just experienced. His focus was locked entirely on the court, on the ball, on himself.

From the side, Ryuhei Sanashita shot Nishimori a sideways glance.

"The best set, huh? You're fired up, rookie."

 

[Veltoria]

Beep!

The referee's whistle signaled the serve.

Both Sengoku and Yamarashi Technical Industrial instantly shifted into game mode.

The substitution of Nishimori Tomohiko had boosted Sengoku's offensive potential, but at the cost of losing Oda Miki, one of their key defenders in the back row.

While Nishimori had performed decently during practice matches, he was still a junior with less training time and weaker fundamentals compared to the seniors.

With both teams at peak alertness, the atmosphere was tense and heavy.

And in that moment, Akashi Asuka, now standing at the back line, finally made his move.

Toss.
Approach.
Jump.
Swing.
Impact.
Score.

Every motion flowed in perfect rhythm, seamless and precise.

By the time Akashi landed, neither side had moved an inch.

"…Huh??"

The referee's whistle broke the silence to announce the point, snapping everyone out of their daze, not just Yamarashi Technical, even Sengoku's players were momentarily confused.

Did I space out just now?

One of Yamarashi Technical's players doubted whether he had mentally blanked for a moment.

But Akashi was already preparing his second serve.

As soon as the whistle blew again, Yamarashi Technical's players snapped back to full focus, their eyes locked on the calm figure across the court.

They watched as he repeated the same motions; toss, approach, jump, swing, impact…
And once again, a clean point.

21:23.

"…Huh?? What even was that served?"

Yamarashi Technical's players stood frozen again. This time, they had seen the ball, but their bodies simply couldn't respond in time. They could only watch it fly past them.

What kind of serve is that?

Shock and disbelief rippled through the team.

All eyes turned toward Akashi Asuka, who was already walking back to the baseline, cradling the ball in hand to serve again.

His gaze looked steady and focused,, if one looked closely, there was an emptiness in his eyes.

And yet, somewhere deep in his mind, he saw everything on the court with razor clarity.

Third serve.

Akashi gently tossed the ball, then followed through with his approach and jump.

Each movement was natural and instinctive, there was no need to consciously adjust for the ball's height, spin, or trajectory.

All he had to do was swing with everything he had.

Boom!

This time, Yamarashi Technical finally heard the impact.

And it scared them.

The sound echoed like thunder, unlike anything they had heard in a volleyball match.
As the ball sliced through the air with a whistling roar, it seemed less like a volleyball and more like a cannonball. It arced over the net and slammed into the floor with terrifying force.

21:24.

Three consecutive serves. In a flash, Sengoku had reached a set point.

No one had predicted this turn of events.

The crowd exploded into gasps and stunned silence. A wave of awe rippled through the stands.

Even Yamarashi Technical's coach was wide-eyed and jittery, his leg bouncing uncontrollably.
He could tell, Akashi had entered some kind of zone, a heightened state.
But with no timeouts left, there was nothing he could do.

Meanwhile, Akashi remained unaffected by the noise, or perhaps, he couldn't hear any of it.

After scoring, he didn't even pause, he immediately stepped up for the fourth serve.

Akashi Asuka's powerful jump serves were already a level above what was expected in junior high.

But now, in this hyper-focused state, calm as still water, every serve he delivered unleashed his full strength without restraint.

Boom!

The fourth serve exploded off his hand.

The ball shot across the court with incredible power and speed, heading directly toward Yamarashi Technical's libero.

Normally, one weakness of a power serve was its lack of precise targeting.

But this ball moved so fast that it didn't matter.

The libero's eyes followed it, but his feet felt frozen, like they were nailed to the floor.

Move. Move, damn it… MOVE!

He screamed internally, watching the ball race closer. But it was no use.

His body wasn't really frozen.

It was just that the speed of the serve had far surpassed his ability to physically react in time.

In the blink of an eye, the ball was already overhead.

Just as it looked like it would soar past him untouched,

Thud!

Yamarashi Technical's libero suddenly straightened and blocked the ball, with his forehead.

The move stunned everyone, teammates and opponents alike.

Even the players from Sengoku froze for a moment.

But when they saw the ball bounce back into their court, they quickly snapped back to life.

"It's fine! Free ball! I got the first touch, "

Before Neko Kurata could even finish his sentence, a towering shadow loomed over him.

Right before everyone's eyes, Akashi Asuka soared up from the back row, met the returning ball, and spiked it with a powerful overhead swing.

Boom!

A back-row kill.

The ball, which had just bounced into their court, stayed in play for barely two seconds before slamming down again on Yamarashi Technical's side.

Beep, beep beep beep beep,

The whistle echoed across the court.
The scoreboard flipped one final time:

21:25.

First set, Sengoku wins!

…
The players from Yamarashi Technical stood motionless, eyes dazed, ears ringing with the final whistle.
They still couldn't believe it.

After fighting neck and neck the entire set… it had ended in less than a minute.

On the other side, Sengoku's players quietly left the court, no cheers, no celebration.

They were just as stunned as their opponents.
Akashi's eruption had been so sudden, so overwhelming, it didn't even feel real.

Even as teammates, they couldn't help but feel… overpowered.

"A monster."

That was likely what both teams were thinking about Akashi Asuka at that moment.

Everyone was left deep in thought, except for one.

Nishimori Tomohiko, standing at the back, looked completely bewildered.

"…Wait, what exactly did I sub in for?"

 

[Blasterbot]

"…Wait, what exactly did I sub in for?"

Click to shrink...

Moral support. the need to impress his kouhai drove him to a new level. probably.