Chapter 82: The Will of the Third Years 2
The score became Upperclassmen 2:3 First Years.
In the lightning-fast offense and defense, possession changed hands once more.
Hyakuzawa Yudai, with his absolute height, executed a short, flat quick attack that ordinary people couldn't match, completing a spike kill before the set had even reached its highest point.
For the upperclassmen team, this was no small psychological blow. Facing such a massive giant, for players with an average height around 170 centimeters...
Breaking through their blocks wasn't too big a problem, because they all clearly understood that Hyakuzawa Yudai's movement speed wasn't fast. With tactical sets, they could effectively tear through the first years' iron wall.
But how to defend?
"Let's use soft blocking."
Takinoue Yusuke voiced his idea, and Shimada Makoto immediately expressed his agreement.
From just those few rallies, these two veterans already understood that with their physical limitations, they couldn't achieve a complete block-out against Hyakuzawa Yudai.
If they had players around 190cm tall, there would be a chance to score blocking points. But currently, their tallest player was Azumane Asahi at 186cm.
The height difference alone was around 15cm, not to mention that the taller someone is, the more obvious their wingspan advantage becomes.
Adding wingspan, even their highest blocking height might not be enough to stop Hyakuzawa Yudai's killing spikes.
But if they used soft blocking, relying on the upperclassmen's stable average receiving ability and having Karasuno's two strongest receivers handle first passes, they could create a powerful team defense capable of holding its own against Hyakuzawa Yudai's spikes.
"As expected of our senpais, finding a way to deal with Yudai so quickly."
Hoshino Masaru stood in the waiting area with an expressionless face, watching this scene from the upperclassmen team, understanding in his heart what they were probably thinking.
"But we've encountered this countless times since middle school."
Looking toward his own side, where Ichise Guren was saying something to Hyakuzawa Yudai with a smile, Hoshino Masaru's lips curved into a faint smile.
Speaking in unison with Hyakuzawa Yudai: "If they use team defense, we'll use team offense."
Possession switched, and now it was Hyakuzawa Yudai, who had just contributed that intercepting spike, standing in the serving area. His large hands tightly gripped the volleyball, beginning to feel its texture and elasticity.
"Be ready!"
Sawamura Daichi loudly reminded his teammates not to let their guard down and to prepare to receive serves from any angle.
His teammates all accordingly entered alert positions.
But after the serving whistle sounded, Hyakuzawa Yudai seemed not to hear it, continuing to caress the volleyball, completely ignoring the whistle that had just blown.
Time passed second by second.
These few brief seconds felt extremely long to the upperclassmen players, because their attention was extremely focused, heightening their corresponding neural reaction speeds, creating the illusion that seconds felt like years.
And just as all six players were quietly waiting for Hyakuzawa Yudai's serve, suddenly, that two-meter giant on the other side sent the ball high into the air, stepping with solid strides.
Hyakuzawa Yudai's long legs covered four steps to reach the front edge of the court boundary. His takeoff wasn't rushed—rather, to the spectators off court, it seemed somewhat clumsy as he jumped up.
But it was precisely this relatively slow rhythm that perfectly transmitted Hyakuzawa Yudai's ground force through his meter-plus long legs with minimal loss to his center of gravity.
With his unique sense of power, Hyakuzawa Yudai achieved the kind of soaring sensation that big players typically lack.
A fierce arm swing.
For the defending players, it was just a moment of daze—their eyes couldn't even clearly see the volleyball's flight path before the ball had already slammed into the ground.
Acting as observer, Kinoshita Hisashi indicated that the volleyball was out of bounds; the upperclassmen team scored.
"Lucky! Lucky!"
Shimada Makoto, positioned in the middle of the back row, began saying one of the most common phrases in volleyball matches to mask his panic.
'This is bad. What was that just now?'
'A two-meter guy's serve is this terrifying too?'
The senpai, appearing completely calm on the surface but panicking internally, didn't voice what he was thinking, afraid of discouraging his teammates.
But unfortunately, his teammates weren't cooperating.
Takinoue Yusuke said with a grave expression: "What a powerful serve. Good thing it went out, or we couldn't have received that ball."
The face that had just been forced into relaxation instantly stiffened due to his old teammate's words.
"You... can't you pick your timing when you speak!"
But none of the current Karasuno upperclassmen were frightened by this.
Whether Sawamura Daichi or Sugawara Koshi, both had expressions of being used to such things.
"Well, I was thinking about it earlier—if his cousin's serves are so strong, how could his cousin not know how to serve at all?"
"Right, so he was waiting for us here, that Hyakuzawa guy."
The always bold Nishinoya Yuu had flames burning in his eyes, his fighting spirit already ignited.
"Yeah!!"
"A howitzer?!"
"Bring it on! I'll show you I can receive it too!"
Even Azumane Asahi, who usually had an unstable mentality and easily fell into nervous emotions, now only wore a solemn expression.
No other expressions or thoughts.
Only one thought occupied his mind at this moment.
'I don't want to run away anymore. Even if we lose, even if my teammates in their graduating year can't step onto the court again.'
'This will be my last match with them.'
'I want to fight alongside them until the final moment.'
Thinking this, Azumane Asahi's nose even felt slightly sour.
Sawamura Daichi and Sugawara Koshi, who had spent two years with him, both keenly noticed Azumane Asahi's behavioral change.
Both glanced sideways at their former ace.
'This guy is definitely getting emotional over himself.'
'Yeah, probably thinking about some touching scenes and dialogue.'
'It's a bit moving, but I still want to make fun of him.'
'Let's not. He finally made it back to the court. Let's just let him finish this match first.'
'Mm.'
Sugawara Koshi's eyes conveyed his sarcasm, Sawamura Daichi responded with an affirmative look.
Sugawara Koshi prepared to voice his sarcasm, Sawamura Daichi timely stopped his behavior with his eyes.
Sawamura Daichi indicated to finish the match first, then talk. Sugawara Koshi indicated agreement.
The two third years completed an entire conversation about Azumane Asahi using only their eyes.
Truly befitting nearly three years of friendship—utterly merciless.
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