Masata Yori displayed his extremely solid fundamental skills and elite-level observation.
After scoring on the previous second attack, every set he made now drew the focus of a defender. At the front row, among Mori, Yudai Hyakuzawa, and Ichinose Guren, it was naturally Ichinose who had to defend him.
Mori's height and average jump, combined with Yori's high-quality set, meant he could just spike directly.
Hyakuzawa, as Yukigaoka's defensive core, had to cover the other attacker.
So, Yori had successfully set a stage with that sudden attack from the setter earlier, splitting Yukigaoka's three-man front-row block.
He knew exactly how to maximize this setup.
Yori cleverly adjusted the distance between himself and the ace, Goshiki, to the farthest possible.
Standing slightly forward near the net, he retained the option to spike diagonally or straight while also drawing Ichinose, the spring-loaded monster, away from the rest of the team.
To organize the team's attack perfectly, I must believe in one thing: the ball moves faster than the players.
I don't believe you can block this spike if I send the ball from here!
Gritting his teeth, Yori felt the immense pressure of being single-defended by Ichinose.
He had to hold his attacking posture until the last possible moment, meaning he had to maintain the illusion of attacking until the very second he released the set. He knew Ichinose could see this clearly. This was an open strategy, not trickery.
Ichinose had already prepared to sprint across the court; the moment Yori's posture indicated he wouldn't attack, he would immediately move to cover Hyakuzawa's side.
The ball dropped ever closer, and Yori kept counting the milliseconds in his head.
Glancing at Ichinose across the net, he saw a face without the slightest hesitation, a clear determination to act.
Incredible!
Admiring the ace's composure, Yori seized the final instant.
"Goshiki-senpai!"
He jumped, maintaining a posture that suggested an attack, and only at the moment of contact with both hands did it fully convert into a set.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ichinose immediately abandon this side of defense and sprint toward the other.
Decisive! No wonder he's Yukigaoka's ace!
But… too late. The ball is faster than him!
The ball shot straight from Yori's hands to Goshiki, a straight-line set, no arc, maximizing speed for the attack.
He trusted that the ball was faster than any player. Ichinose couldn't possibly reach in time, and Goshiki faced a two-player block, one of whom was only 1.7 meters.
It had to be unstoppable, surely a point!
Goshiki leapt, smiling.
I knew this…
But…
Your set is insanely strong, Yori!
"Boom!"
Avoiding Hyakuzawa's defensive zone, he spiked over Mori, scoring the point.
Before the spike, Goshiki even checked Mori and Hyakuzawa's positions. If they switched suddenly again, he would go for a straight-line spike instead.
But they didn't move.
Cautious… but my diagonal spike? Not even you can stop this!
Roaring in his mind at Yukigaoka's setter, he still put every ounce of energy into the diagonal spike.
As expected, the ball evaded Hyakuzawa's block. Mori alone, even with his soft-style block, couldn't stop it. Not even close.
Goshiki's attack range in midair was beyond what an ordinary Junior High ace could match.
Mori jumped with all his might, he didn't even touch the ball.
Just as the ball was about to break through Yukigaoka's block…
"What?" What?
Yori and Goshiki both shouted in their heads. How…?
A beast with eyes gleaming bloodthirstily lunged across the court, roaring, tearing down their heads!
…That was Hinata's mental image.
In reality, Ichinose, radiating overwhelming pressure, used incredible explosiveness to cross the entire court in an instant.
A mental badge flashed wildly, "Net Front Quick-Rise Specialist"
With unmatched jump speed, he shattered Yori's estimate of the ball's speed.
If Yori had ignored the block like Kageyama, he could have set a ball even if Ichinose couldn't follow.
But Yukigaoka's setter lacked this edge.
Clap!
Ichinose's hand joined Hyakuzawa behind Mori, completing Yukigaoka's double-tower block.
Total shutdown.
The ball hit the ground.
Yori's face twisted with bitterness. He had anticipated Ichinose's sprint speed, but hadn't imagined his jump speed would be this fast.
It's like… a helicopter.
Goshiki's gaze remained fierce, determination intact, but a hint of frustration was visible.
After the block, Ichinose's confident eyes declared to the Yukigaoka duo:
"Don't even think about pulling cheap tricks."
A mind game, hehe.
He then turned to the audience, raised a finger, and began wagging it.
From the stands:
"Wow! That kid's arrogant!"
"Now he's wagging his finger too!"
"Does he think this is the NBA?"
On the opposing bench, Shiratorizawa's assistant jumped up, furious, yelling at the referee.
"Ref! Isn't this unsportsmanlike behavior?"
"Shouldn't he be penalized?"
The referee glanced at him, then at Ichinose, who was celebrating with the audience.
"He's not pointing at your players. This is just a celebration, it's not unsportsmanlike."
The assistant slumped back into his seat, muttering,
This kid… even planned this?
After celebrating, Yukigaoka returned to position. Ichinose leaned at the net, tilted his head, and said to Yori and Goshiki:
"Sorry. Wherever I'm standing is a no-fly zone."
Thunk.
Like a sound stabbing straight into their hearts.
Both Shiratorizawa players had a literal hash mark appear on their foreheads.
This guy is so annoying!This guy is so annoying!
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