Just a normal high ball, sent to Tsukishima on the other side!
On the opposite side of the net, two Nohebi players jumped at the same time—
Block!
But someone as sharp as Tsukishima… how could he be stopped so easily?
On Karasuno's team, even though he doesn't have as many spikes, his scoring percentage is second only to Akira's.
Smack!
It was different from a normal spike!
This time, Tsukishima struck lightly at the bottom of the ball!
A high-angle spike soared directly above Nohebi's blockers!
This ball was different from an ordinary spike or a tip!
Because a tip usually lands right behind the blocker!
But this time, the Nohebi players were clearly on guard against that kind of drop shot!
So this time, Tsukishima's ball headed toward Nohebi's rear sideline—an unguarded zone!
It looked like a long-range tip!
"This kid Tsukishima is pretty cunning too."
Kuroo chuckled twice from the stands.
"I'm starting to think he should be wearing a Nohebi jersey and standing on the other side of the net."
…
"Crap!"
"Too late!"
That was the shared thought of everyone on Nohebi's side!
They could only watch as the ball flew toward the back line—helpless!
"If it's too late to get the ball…"
"Well, in that case…"
"The best way to increase your chance of scoring…"
"Is just…"
Takachiho, from the back row, and Akama rushed to where the ball would land!
"Out of bounds!!"
"Out of bounds!!"
Just as the ball hit the ground, they blocked both sides of the landing spot and shouted in unison!
Tweet!
The whistle blew!
The linesman raised his flag—
Out of bounds!
"That ball just now…"
"It was clearly in…"
It might not have been obvious from the audience's angle, but from Kageyama and the others' side, they saw it clearly!
That ball had clearly landed right on the boundary line!
But just now, the two Nohebi players in the back row had jumped in front of the landing spot, seemingly blocking the linesman's view!
So, to others, the call wasn't so clear-cut!
Which meant—
In that moment, the linesman had actually been deceived by their shout!
And ruled the ball out!
Seeing this, Kageyama turned toward the main referee.
But he wasn't hopeful.
Because from the referee's position, it was probably hard to see the details of the play.
Sure enough—
After glancing at the linesman's flag, the referee awarded the point to Nohebi!
"Just now…"
Hinata tried to protest, but Kageyama stopped him.
Besides Nohebi's players, no one else had a clear view of the ball.
And without any solid evidence, it was nearly impossible to get the referee to overturn the call based on just one side's word!
Otherwise, in the future, every team would make a scene—one claiming the ball was in, the other saying it was out…
How would the match even go on?
That situation just now… it could only be said that those two from Nohebi had timed it perfectly!
They shouted just as the ball landed!
Not even a second off!
Seeing this, Daishō and the others turned and looked across the net with smug smiles.
Their eyes seemed to say again—
In the so-called battlefield of competition, nothing is truly decided!
Everything is just to… ride that elusive tailwind!
Tweet!!
The match continued!
…
"Man…"
Seeing this unfold, Kuroo sighed from the sidelines.
"If I'm not mistaken, that was a line-touch ball."
"What?!"
Everyone nearby was stunned.
"A ball that landed on the line??"
Lev exclaimed in shock:
"Then why… why did the referees still make that call?"
"Because those two from Nohebi blocked the linesman's view, right?"
Kai recalled the situation and said uncertainly.
"Exactly."
Kuroo nodded.
"That's their usual trick."
"In the absence of a video review system, it almost always works—and even Fukurōdani once lost a point this way."
"This…"
The other Nekoma members were stunned by Kuroo's words.
"This… is so shameless!"
Lev looked at the court in disbelief, unable to help himself.
He hadn't played volleyball for long, and this incident just now completely shattered his worldview.
At that moment, Kuroo suddenly spoke again:
"Daishō once said to me—
'Since everyone wants to win so badly, why not use every method available?'
'If I'm no longer your equal, how could I beat you using only conventional tactics?'
'Then should I just obediently accept defeat?'"
"This… this is just…"
Kenma stammered, unable to find the right words to respond to Daishō's philosophy.
"Even if you want to win, that's no excuse for tactics like that."
"What meaning does a win like that even have?"
"That's probably the difference between those guys from Nohebi and us."
Kuroo sighed again.
Even though he and Daishō had been friends for years, that didn't mean he agreed with Daishō's approach.
"Still, even if they want to win so badly, they're about to meet their end."
Hearing this, everyone from Nekoma turned to look at the large screen outside the court.
Right now, Nohebi was being cornered by Karasuno.