Chapter 80: Regular Position Battle Jump
"Nice ball!"
"Ryu! Beautiful spike!"
After the upperclassmen regained serving rights, the formation rotated once more. Takinoue Yusuke was moved to the back row, while Sawamura Daichi was rotated to the front row.
At this moment, Karasuno still had an extremely powerful blocking formation, but the upperclassmen team was no longer in their most suitable lineup. Seeing his junior who was skilled at receiving moved to the front row, Takinoue Yusuke rubbed his stubble. Though he wasn't good at thinking, his mind had become much more flexible compared to his high school self.
But this was only relatively smarter—essentially, he was still that simple kid who chased after balls, not fundamentally different from his high school self.
Unable to think of any countermeasures, he could only grab the volleyball and walk toward the serving area.
"Hey."
"If I can't think of anything, then I won't think. I was always the type to take things one step at a time anyway, and I never planned to become a strategist."
Showing his teeth in a reserved smile.
Takinoue Yusuke tossed the ball up with his left hand, and his right arm came around at an angle to smash the volleyball across.
'Even though I don't have that kid's powerful jump serve, my jump serve is still deadly if you can't receive it well!'
Without deliberately targeting anyone, the blonde guy had no idea who among the first years was good or bad at receiving. He just hit the most comfortable serve he could toward the opposing court.
This ball could be said to have no control whatsoever, but by some stroke of luck, this ball mysteriously flew toward Yamaguchi Tadashi, who had the weakest technique among the first years.
Looking at this fierce incoming serve, Yamaguchi Tadashi stood frozen in place, somewhat at a loss. He really wanted to move and receive this volleyball like the others.
He wanted to make some contribution to his team, but his physical abilities and his usually less-than-diligent training left him unable to move at this moment.
Even though he clearly knew the volleyball was right in front of his face, in that instant, he couldn't control his body.
Bang.
The volleyball, with a slight curved trajectory, avoided Yamaguchi Tadashi's body and slammed straight into the court floor. Service ace.
2:2, tied.
"Eh? Not every one of you first-year brats is amazing, huh."
After his serve unexpectedly scored an untouchable ace, Takinoue Yusuke looked at Yamaguchi Tadashi with some surprise. First he high-fived Shimada Makoto, then quickly formed a circle with his temporary teammates and shouted encouragement together.
During this process, he also quickly shared his discovery. But seeing the somewhat embarrassed expressions of the second and third years around him, he quickly understood what his teammates meant.
"Looks like you all knew this guy's technique wasn't great from the start."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Takinoue Yusuke frowned as he looked around at the group of current Karasuno underclassmen in front of him.
"During the pre-game strategy meeting, you told us who was good at what. But regarding that green-haired, freckled little guy, none of you mentioned him."
"What's wrong? Feel too embarrassed to target the weak points in the underclassmen's team?"
"Don't be ridiculous. This behavior of ignoring him is the greatest humiliation to him."
Despite wearing his game uniform, Takinoue Yusuke's calm words sounded to everyone else like being lectured by a world-weary middle-aged man with a cigarette.
Seeing his underclassmen with conflicted expressions, clearly caught in internal struggles, Shimada Makoto quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Alright, alright, don't overthink it. Treating every opponent seriously and trying everything possible to win every point—that's the greatest respect we can show the underclassmen."
Seeing his teammates relax slightly, Shimada Makoto adjusted his glasses and added another comment.
"Don't underestimate guys who look like background characters in their first year."
"Maybe someday they'll grow into your secret weapons."
"Oh! Speaking of which, you were just like little freckles in your first year—bad at receiving, bad at spiking—"
"Shut up!"
Before Takinoue Yusuke could finish his words, he was forced to swallow his tongue by Shimada Makoto's cold glare flashing behind his glasses.
Making a gesture of zipping his mouth shut, Shimada Makoto finally withdrew his nearly murderous gaze.
After this exchange, the current Karasuno upperclassmen finally managed to adjust their mental state.
After Sugawara Koshi and Sawamura Daichi exchanged glances, they both understood each other's thoughts.
'Now isn't the time to show caring attitudes toward underclassmen.'
'If we really care about him, then we'll crush him in this match.'
'Either he'll be completely discouraged, quit the team, and peacefully enjoy his high school life.'
'Or he'll develop ambition, train himself ruthlessly, and regain the dignity he lost on this court through his own strength.'
"Senpai!"
"Yamaguchi's volleyball skills are very average—neither receiving, blocking, nor spiking. We can use him as our breakthrough point!"
The usually gentlest Sugawara Koshi spoke the least gentle words during the match.
Without deliberately lowering his voice, using his normal tone as always, he told his senpai about the weaknesses of the weakest kid on his team.
Hearing these words, Yamaguchi Tadashi looked up numbly, his pupils trembling slightly as he stared at the cheerful senpai across the net. Sugawara Koshi also saw the look Yamaguchi Tadashi gave him.
Without avoiding or mocking, he met that gaze firmly.
"Yamaguchi! If you think what I said is wrong, then use your actions to tell me I was mistaken!"
After saying these words, Sugawara Koshi looked at Yamaguchi Tadashi with incredibly serious eyes.
Come on, use your actions to slap my face!
But despite being the one criticized, Yamaguchi Tadashi was the one who lost in this staring contest with Sugawara Koshi, the first to look away.
Somewhat dejectedly turning his head aside, he said nothing more. He just slowly lowered his head, unwilling to meet Sugawara-senpai's gaze again.
"Uh..."
Seeing this, Sugawara Koshi felt somewhat reluctant and wanted to say something, but was stopped by Sawamura Daichi, who shook his head at him.
Being criticized by one's own people was better than being crushed by outsiders. When that time came, the blow under the spotlight would be far heavier than this behind-closed-doors criticism now.
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