Karasuno has already scored the first set, while Inubushi Higashi on the opposite side only has 16 points!
Now, the game on the court has reached its most critical moment!
Just now, Inubushi Higashi's multi-person attack was picked up solidly in the back row by Nishinoya, and the pass was right on target!
Seeing the situation, Kageyama moved slightly, taking two quick steps to position himself perfectly beneath the ball!
When the timing was right, he jumped!
"Right wing!!"
Yōsuke Fumizuki shouted, and the three players in their front row immediately dashed to the right wing of the net!
And on this side—it was Akira who was running!
Boom!
Akira, having reached the net, leapt high, and Yōsuke Fumizuki and the others gritted their teeth and followed up to block!
But...
The ball didn't come this way at all!
Just as the ball reached Kageyama, he suddenly tipped it directly into Inubushi Higashi's court!
Tweet!
The referee's whistle blew!
Karasuno scores!
The set is over!
Karasuno wins the first set!
"Let's go!"
"Keep up the momentum for the next one!"
...
On the other side, the atmosphere around Inubushi Higashi was slightly tense.
"That number 7's spike..."
Kenta Yokoyama spoke hesitantly:
"Are we still going to try to block it?"
"I don't think we can stop it..."
"If we can't stop it, we still have to try!!"
Yōsuke Fumizuki suddenly said in a firm, low voice.
Startling Yokoyama beside him.
"Do you think we'll be able to catch No. 7's spike if we just give up blocking him?"
"That's just impossible!"
"It'll only make us even more passive!"
"Yeah."
Keiichi Daigo added, though hesitantly:
"No. 7's jump reach is insane!"
"Just now in the game, I tried my best to increase my block height a few times."
"But no matter how I adjusted, I always felt…"
"His spikes were always a step above mine!"
"I suspect that until now, he hasn't even revealed his full strength!"
"It's like he's been…"
"Holding back on purpose!"
"Just to bait us into giving up on blocking him!"
"Exactly!"
Yōsuke Fumizuki's eyes narrowed, his voice serious as he continued:
"And didn't you all notice?"
"In the previous matches, every team that gave up trying to block No. 7... lost!"
"So even if the decision is risky this time, we have to go for it!"
"Because if we give up on him now…"
"I honestly don't see any hope of winning!"
"Y-yeah...!"
Yokoyama hesitated, but still nodded in agreement.
Because he genuinely didn't know how to play this game if they abandoned the net defense altogether.
"But…"
"Even if we don't give up blocking him, we can change our strategy!"
Fumizuki's tone shifted, drawing everyone's attention.
"Back in the game, I noticed something…"
"When we focused all our attention on No. 7, Karasuno's setter kept pulling off unexpected plays!"
"Like a surprise quick to the middle blocker, or an unexpected back-row attack!"
"Or even a second touch like that one!"
"You mean…"
Daigo's eyes lit up, though he still looked uncertain:
"We shift our focus to him instead?"
"Yes!"
Yōsuke Fumizuki nodded firmly.
"No. 7 is incredibly strong, no doubt about it!"
"But I think Karasuno is using his presence too well!"
"It's like…"
"There's a lion sitting quietly, and you just have to watch him!"
"Because if you look away, he becomes a deadly threat!"
"But what's the reality?"
"When Karasuno's No. 7 was in the front row, less than half the points we lost were from his attacks!"
"The rest came from the others!"
"We were so focused on the lion we forgot about the wolves surrounding him, just as dangerous!"
That...
Everyone on Inubushi Higashi was momentarily stunned by his words.
"We may not be able to take down that terrifying lion just yet."
"But if we're only up against Karasuno's wolves—I believe in us!"
Yōsuke Fumizuki swept his gaze around his teammates.
"We can still hold our own!"
"Do you believe in yourselves?"
"Yes!"
"Haha!"
He chuckled, then continued:
"Good!"
"So... when Karasuno's No. 7 is in the front row, we'll assign just one blocker to him."
"Even if he scores, don't let it shake you!"
"And the other two should focus entirely on defending the rest of Karasuno's offense!"
"Yes!"
...
"The energy from Inubushi Higashi is impressive!"
"Looks like their captain gave one hell of a speech!"
From the stands, Tetsurō Kuroo watched Inubushi Higashi reenter the court and spoke with interest.
"Yeah, yeah!"
Taketora Yamamoto added with a grin:
"No matter how clever their tactics are, if they can't even block the spikes, they're done for!"
"True!"
Nobuyuki Kai nodded as well.
"There's no way they can suddenly improve their physical strength in such a short time."
"So the moment they faced Karasuno today, they'd already lost!"
"Does that mean…"
Lev Haiba asked tentatively:
"Karasuno is already in the top four in the country?"
"Are they going to Center Court?"
"Yeah."
A gleam of anticipation flashed across Kai's face.