"Sigh… Was I being too cruel?"
Watching the defeated and hollow figure of Kenji Futakuchi walk away, Akashi Asuka let out a quiet sigh.
Oikawa Tooru shook his head. "Nah, you're overthinking it. 'Cruel' is a word you use to describe people. I don't think that really applies to you."
Akashi Asuka: Has this guy been getting cockier lately?
"Hey! You two, stop spacing out!" came Hajime Iwaizumi's voice. "Hurry up and pack your things, we should go check out who our next opponent is."
Hearing that, Akashi and Oikawa quickly fell in line and followed the team.
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Ten minutes later.
Having finished packing, Aoba Johsai made their way to the stands on the west court.
"Oh? Looks like this one's turning into a real slugfest," someone from the team commented.
Karasuno vs. Shiratorizawa was already deep into the second set. Shiratorizawa had narrowly taken the first set 25–23, and now the score was tied 15–15 in the second.
"Looks like Karasuno's made some serious strides over the summer too," Iwaizumi remarked, surprise flashing in his eyes. "To think they'd be able to fight Shiratorizawa this evenly…"
Having spent their entire summer training and sparring with the likes of Shiratorizawa, Mujikasaka, and Inarizaki, Aoba Johsai was well aware of Shiratorizawa's true power.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Iwaizumi would've found it hard to believe that Karasuno, who got trounced by them just last year, could now hold their own against such a powerhouse.
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The arrival of Aoba Johsai stirred up a buzz in the audience.
If this tournament were a fantasy adventure, then Aoba Johsai would undoubtedly be the final boss for every other team in Miyagi Prefecture.
"Huh? Aoba Johsai done already?"
"Yeah, they're here in the stands!"
Even the players on the court, Karasuno and Shiratorizawa, couldn't help but glance toward the commotion in the stands. Sure enough, Aoba Johsai had already packed up and were now standing on the second-floor balcony, casually spectating like they owned the place.
"If I remember right, their opponent was Date Tech," Karasuno's bench player Sugawara Kōshi murmured while stroking his chin.
"That's correct," said Taketora Miki from beside him.
"It hasn't even been an hour since their match started, and they've already wrapped up against Date Tech, the team known for their 'Iron Wall.' Aoba Johsai getting scarier by the day," Sugawara sighed.
For this year's Karasuno, the path to Nationals was a steeper climb than ever. In just their prefecture alone, there were two teams ranked among the top eight in the nation.
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The appearance of Aoba Johsai put a subtle pressure on both Karasuno and Shiratorizawa.
After all, their rival had already taken care of their opponent and moved on, while they were still stuck neck-and-neck in the middle of a grueling match. Just from the timing alone, they were already a step behind.
Boom!
A massive spike thundered across the court.
Ushijima Wakatoshi's left-handed cannon shot had grown even more vicious after a month of non-stop sparring with Aoba Johsai, Mujikasaka, and Inarizaki. His hits now cut through the air like they could blow a hole in it.
But even that kind of serve was received.
Smack!
The ball shot upward, flying so high it nearly touched the gym's ceiling lights, but despite its altitude, it remained perfectly within bounds on Karasuno's side.
"No way?! He actually dug that out?" exclaimed Yahaba Shigeru in disbelief.
"That libero from Karasuno is no joke," added Watari Shinji. "If I remember correctly, he's Nishinoya Yuu from Chidoriyama Junior High. He was awarded Best Libero at Nationals back in Junior High."
"Now that you mention it, I think he was called a 'genius' back then too."
After the incredible dig by Nishinoya, Kageyama Tobio stepped swiftly into place. Just that single movement drew a sharp glint from Oikawa's eyes.
Perfect footwork.
Not a single wasted step.
At the same moment, Hinata Shoyo burst toward the right side of the net. His short stature might've been a disadvantage in height, but when it came to explosive speed over short distances, he had elite-level talent.
He moved like a streak of light. Maybe not always noticeable, but in a moment of darkness, even the faintest glimmer could seize everyone's attention.
Even the audience couldn't look away.
"Watch Number 10!" someone on Shiratorizawa shouted.
Their defenders panicked, eyes narrowing as they tried to chase after Hinata. Kawanishi Taichi managed to just barely keep up with Hinata's speed, but then came a sudden smack from the other side of the court.
Boom!
Azumane Asahi took advantage of the opening and hammered the ball down into Shiratorizawa's exposed defense.
16–15.
That single play left both Shiratorizawa and Aoba Johsai silent.
A long pause followed.
Then, Oikawa finally muttered, his tone sharp, "That little guy from Karasuno… he purposely lured away Shiratorizawa's blockers, didn't he?"
It sounded like a question, but it wasn't. It was a statement.
"Yeah. No doubt about it," Akashi confirmed calmly.
To a casual viewer, that might've seemed like a simple decoy play, but to a team like Aoba Johsai, who had faced Karasuno before, it was obvious just how much potential Hinata Shoyo held.
He used to be all potential, but now, he is starting to turn that potential into actual strength.
That last play, while it looked basic, had layers. Hinata had carefully drawn Kawanishi's attention, then darted away to open up the court. His sheer presence was so strong that even when Shiratorizawa suspected it was a feint, they still took the bait.
"Damn it… we just got here and we're already facing bad news," Oikawa muttered, his expression dark.
A Hinata who had learned to use his brain on the court? Just the thought gave Oikawa a headache.
Akashi, on the other hand, remained calm and even smiled faintly. "I don't think it's bad news at all. After all, we're not the ones playing Karasuno right now. If they want to face us, they'll have to get past Ushiwaka-senpai first."
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria