Chapter 78: Serve After Serve
Tsukishima Kei suddenly realized that even short volleyball players could perform operations that would make you break out in a cold sweat.
'If even that kind of ball can be received, I might start doubting whether my spikes can still score next time.'
'I've really been taught by senpai - receiving is also a powerful weapon.'
Though his prideful nature prevented Tsukishima Kei from voicing his thoughts.
But whether he said it or not didn't matter.
Because all the attackers on the first-year team showed grave expressions.
'Can't let our guard down. Nishinoya-senpai's receiving is really scary.'
Hyakuzawa Yudai also wore a serious expression, looking through the veteran team's front row players toward Nishinoya Yu, who had returned to the back row in receiving mode.
'Karasuno's Guardian Deity - that nickname really wasn't given for nothing.' x6
Hoshino Masaru, also a libero, let out a quiet sigh.
"Nishinoya-senpai is ridiculously strong. With such a capable libero senpai..."
"To think I can actually start as a regular before his graduation, playing in practice matches against other teams - I really owe it to his hot-blooded nature that the disciplinary teacher dislikes."
His listless self-deprecating voice caught Ichise Guren's attention. Being stared at by his former boss, Hoshino Masaru quickly sucked back the breath he'd just exhaled.
He put on an expression of ''We can definitely win!" to handle Ichise Guren's scrutiny.
Only after Ichise Guren turned his warning gaze away did Hoshino Masaru change his expression to one of "So what?".
Though Nishinoya Yu's receiving ability had certainly brought considerable amazement to the first-year team, this point was still taken by Hyakuzawa Yudai's super attack.
Score: First-years 1:0 Veteran team.
Serving rights switched, and before Karasuno's first-year iron wall had a chance to show its power, Ichise Guren was rotated to the back row.
Taking his place was the first-year genius setter, Kageyama Tobio.
But this wasn't good news for the veteran team.
Because Ichise Guren had stepped into the serving area after a long absence.
Not only did Sawamura Daichi, Sugawara Koshi, and Tanaka Ryunosuke on the bench show extremely vigilant expressions.
Even the front row teammates on this side of the net covered their heads in unison.
Both Hyakuzawa Yudai and Kageyama Tobio had witnessed Ichise Guren's powerful jump serves firsthand - covering their heads was perfectly natural.
Tsukishima Kei was just following his volleyball habit, but predictably, after seeing Ichise Guren's serve, he would definitely be grateful for having such a good habit.
Ichise Guren, with his slicked-back hair, stood in the serving area, bounced the volleyball in his hands, and stretched the muscles on both sides of his neck.
This was also sending a signal to the other side: I'm going to use force.
Whether it was real or fake, the other side would stay alert, because with serves, it's better to be safe than sorry.
"Nishinoya!"
Nishinoya Yu looked at Sawamura Daichi, who was staring ahead with intense focus, somewhat stunned.
"What's up?"
Sawamura Daichi didn't turn his head, speaking while looking straight ahead: "Ichise's serve is strong, very strong!"
"Oh! Got it!"
No unnecessary words. Their mutual understanding meant Sawamura Daichi only needed a simple warning.
Nishinoya Yu would prepare for a difficult ball to receive.
Though he took every ball seriously, being prepared versus unprepared were two different things.
The long-unseen Heavy Hitter badge glowed in his mind, reminding Ichise Guren it was almost time to level up.
But Ichise Guren paid no attention to the badge in his mind. He was already immersed in his serving state.
'Good. Arm, shoulder, chest, core, and back muscles are in excellent condition. Leg muscles are ready too - I can deliver the serve I want anytime.'
Not intending to compete directly with Nishinoya Yu, Ichise Guren just wanted to cleanly take this point, so he aimed the ball toward Shimada Makoto-senpai on the same side.
'I want an untouched ace.'
The volleyball in his raised left hand blocked the left half of Ichise Guren's face, but even seeing just his right half, you could clearly tell where he was going to serve.
'Come on, let me see what the kohai are made of.'
Shimada Makoto didn't get nervous because of his kohai's posture. He maintained his own rhythm.
'Losing points is inevitable. Being too tense can easily lead to poor performance.'
After exhaling, he began to let his body tense slightly, starting to watch the volleyball in Ichise Guren's hands and his movements.
A gentle toss with his left hand, and the volleyball left his hand following the momentum's inertia, spinning as it flew three steps forward.
Ichise Guren didn't rush his steps, waiting for the volleyball to reach its highest point before beginning his approach.
'Now.'
The first step reached a speed many wing spikers could never achieve in their lifetime.
The neural clusters in his left foot instantly pushing off the floor subjected Ichise Guren's ankle to over three times his body weight.
Left, right, left.
Within three steps, the acceleration brought by Ichise Guren's powerful explosive force had already reached nearly 20 kilometers per hour.
Perfect takeoff form allowed him to convert all available kinetic energy into jumping wings.
This force let him once again jump to a contact point exceeding all high school players, and the high contact point brought truly terrifying power.
No need to aim forward - just striking downward at an angle saved tremendous forward thrust.
His arm created afterimages in the air, striking hard at the center of the volleyball.
'Feels great!'
Another attack that dropped the jaws of the watching spectators. This ball had already surpassed the most powerful serve among those Oikawa Toru had used to pressure Hyakuzawa Yudai in their practice match.
Just as Shimada Makoto realized the volleyball was coming, it had already hit the ground and rocketed toward the back area of the court.
'What?'
From seeing the volleyball to making a reaction, humans need 0.1-0.4 seconds reaction time. Shimada Makoto, with decent athletic experience and training habits, had a reaction speed of about 0.23 seconds - slower than professional athletes but faster than most ordinary humans. But this ball's flight speed had completely exceeded his reaction capability.
"Are you kidding me? This ball is already beyond what you can receive by reacting after seeing it!"
"Without predicting this ball, I couldn't possibly touch it!"
Shimada Makoto, who had only known Karasuno might be strong but never imagined they'd be this strong, joined the sideline spectators in soul-searching questions.
The uncle who had been pushing up his glasses and acting knowledgeable couldn't contain his emotions anymore, roaring at Ukai Keishin.
"Keishin! What kind of monsters do you have on this team!"
"A two-meter giant, an iron wall with average height over 190, a super-quick libero, and now this serving monster!"
"What's coming next?"
"A tiny attacker faster than the ball?"
"Huh?!"
The Karasuno neighborhood association guys felt like they were going crazy. The volleyball spectacles they'd encountered in this one game might exceed all the spectacles they'd seen in a year of amateur league play.
Meanwhile, Takeda-sensei showed an expression of "That's it? My kids have more than just these skills! They haven't even brought out their signature moves yet!"
'Though he's not actually faster than the ball.'
'But this guy's striking motion is faster than the ball.'
'Get mentally prepared.'
'Hinata Shoyo's attacks are the ball chasing the person, not the person chasing the ball.'
Ichise Guren glanced at these mentally shocked uncles, shook his head, and silently prayed for them.
'Hope you can sleep peacefully tonight - you still have work tomorrow.'
***
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