"Don't panic, that strategy earlier wasn't wrong, Amo!" Coach Onikubi emphasized as he called out to Nakajima Takeshi.
Nakajima Takeshi lifted his head and met his coach's eyes. The coach said seriously, "Your battle is in the air!"
"Yes, sir!" Nakajima Takeshi regained his resolve and returned to the court with his teammates.
Coach Onikubi watched Takeshi's back intently. He knew that right now, Wakunan could only rely on Nakajima Takeshi. As long as Takeshi was still on the court, there was still a chance of victory.
"Next ball!" Nakajima Takeshi looked around at his teammates. "We'll definitely receive it!"
"Yeah!" Wakunan was full of determination.
Oikawa Tooru wasn't shaken by Wakunan's momentum and opted for another powerful jump serve.
"Serve out of bounds!"
The Wakunan team collectively sighed in relief, though Takeshi showed a hint of frustration.
Sure enough, coming back from a timeout had affected his rhythm. Oikawa glanced at Takeshi, feeling a bit unsatisfied.
[Aobajousai 5 – 3 Wakunan]
Wakunan served. Kunimi Eiji received the ball, and Kaedehara Taichi, Matsukawa Issei, and Iwaizumi Hajime all moved forward.
Oikawa looked toward Taichi on the right. Although Taichi had indeed been distracted by Takeshi earlier, Takeshi himself had also been closely watching Taichi.
Takeshi noticed Oikawa's gaze and stepped in front of Taichi to block.
Just then, Oikawa set the ball to Iwaizumi on the left, who spiked and scored.
[Aobajousai 6 – 3 Wakunan]
That eye contact was a feint?
Takeshi gritted his teeth. That setter across the court really had a dirty mind.
Oikawa, as if hearing someone compliment him, turned and smiled at Takeshi. "Next ball, I really will set it to Taichi. Better be ready."
"Of course I will," Takeshi replied with a bright smile.
"Tch, not easy to deal with at all," Oikawa muttered. He hated players who weren't easily rattled.
Aobajousai served again, and Taichi hit the ball over.
"Free ball!" Libero Akiho Hikaru shouted, stably passing the ball to Hanayama Ichimasa.
Damn, that serve was too easy to hit. Taichi quickly rushed to defend.
Hanayama passed the ball to the left, and Naruko Teppei spiked.
Taichi barely managed to receive it, but the ball didn't reach Oikawa's position.
Ugh, the pressure of first touch is insane. His weakness at receiving just got totally exposed.
"I got it!" Iwaizumi ran in to help.
Oikawa moved quickly and set the ball to Iwaizumi, who barely got it over the net.
Wakunan launched another attack. Hanayama passed the ball to Takeshi.
"Amo!""Double block!"
Takeshi finished his run-up and leapt. Seeing the line open on the right side of the block, he forcefully spiked it.
Taichi had guessed Takeshi would aim for the line and moved quickly to intercept.
The ball hit Kageyama's arm and spun out of bounds.
Damn it! Even though I guessed right, I still couldn't catch it.
[Aobajousai 6 – 4 Wakunan]
"Yeahhh!"
"Nice one, Amo!"
"That line shot was beautiful. Even with such a small window, he nailed it. Taichi's prediction was great, but his receiving fundamentals are just too weak," commented Gouguchi Sadayuki from the sidelines.
Coach Iribata thought for a moment, then called over Watari Shinji. "When Taichi rotates to the back row, switch in for him. He's under too much pressure on defense right now."
"Yes, Coach!" Watari responded.
Wakunan served, with Takeshi stepping up to the line.
Taichi's heart sank. When he used to rotate to the bench, he never felt this pressure. He only had to think about blocking and spiking.
But now, standing in the back row, he could clearly feel that he was the team's weak point. His hands and feet even felt stiff.
"You're too nervous," said Kunimi Eiji quietly beside him, gently tugging on his arm. "They're definitely serving to you next. With your reflexes, you can receive it—maybe not well, but you can keep it alive."
Kunimi took a few steps toward the baseline. "Just get the ball up. Leave the rest to us."
"Okay!"
Taichi was surprised to see a fire in Kunimi's eyes—albeit a lazy kind of fire.
Takeshi served. The ball arced toward Taichi.
Taichi quickly adjusted his position. The ball hit his arms and flew backward.
"Get it!"
At Taichi's shout, Kunimi had already judged the ball's trajectory. He dashed over and made a diving save just before it hit the floor, sending it back toward the net.
Hanamaki Takahiro was already in position and jumped to spike it.
Takeshi received it in the back row, and Hanayama set the ball to the left—this time to Kawawata Shunki!
"Touched once!"Iwaizumi solo-blocked and popped the ball up. Kunimi passed it to Oikawa.
Oikawa set it to the right. Matsukawa spiked.
"Bang!"
Takeshi again! From the back row, he dug the ball.
Shiraishi Yuuki spiked straight from the middle.
A quick attack on a first-touch set!
Shiraishi scored.
[Aobajousai 6 – 5 Wakunan]
"Yeahhh! Nice receive, Amo!"
"Nice spike, Yuuki!"Wakunan was fully energized again.
Tweet!Aobajousai called a timeout.
Coach Iribata gathered the team. "When Taichi rotates to the back row, our front-row attack and blocking weakens, and our back-row defense gets holes. So when he goes back row, Shinji, you switch in. The other team has stronger defense than offense right now—stay calm when you attack."
"Yes, Coach!"
"Sorry to trouble you, senpai..." Taichi hung his head. His first time starting, and he had already been subbed out due to poor performance. He couldn't hide the discouragement in his heart.
Watari smiled at him and patted his shoulder. Though he wasn't good with words, Taichi still felt the warmth in the gesture.
"Taichi," Oikawa suddenly called out. "Since you'll have plenty of rest in the back row, I'm counting on you to handle our front-row attacks."
Taichi lifted his head, seeing nothing but trust in his teammates' eyes. "Got it!"
Seeing Taichi fired up again, Oikawa couldn't help but tease, "Our ace's receiving still needs work, huh. Pfft."
Taichi's face turned bright red. Yep, he definitely shouldn't have thought Oikawa had any captain-like qualities.
"Idiot. Stop saying unnecessary crap," Iwaizumi kicked Oikawa right on target.
Timeout ended. Wakunan served again.
Taichi stood on the bench, watching both sides trade blows. He suddenly noticed that Takeshi had also been in the back row earlier.
Because Takeshi wasn't in the front row to challenge blocks directly, his spiking skills hadn't been fully utilized, and Wakunan's offense lacked its usual threat.
But Takeshi's presence in the back row had strengthened the team's defense. During that rally just now, he easily dug two of Aobajousai's spikes, allowing Wakunan to mount a counterattack.
So envious... an ace who's great at both offense and defense.
Bang!
With another spike from Iwaizumi scoring, Aobajousai rotated positions, and Taichi returned to the front row.