"Great spike, Hinata!!!"
"Yeah!!!"
Hoshino Katsuri was the first to respond to Hinata Shoyo's spike, running forward to high-five him, celebrating Hinata's first point in the finals.
One by one, the teammates followed, slapping hands in a rhythm of celebration. By the end, Hinata felt something he had never experienced before, high-fiving felt even more exhilarating than spiking.
Meanwhile, the Kousen team, who had pinned high hopes on the first round of offense and defense, fell silent.
Especially their coaching staff. After a night of preparation, this first round was meant to test the coaches' tactical skill.
In that crucial first round, Yukigaoka had layered their strategy like a four-layer fog. Kousen's coaches managed to decode only one layer; their players managed two. Still, they fell for one layer, and the resulting lost point was entirely justified.
Kousen's head coach pushed up his glasses, glancing at Yukigaoka's bench where Ayasaki Hayato sat. He looked puzzled.
Previously, there hadn't even seemed to be a coach. Yukigaoka looked like a nameless team just making memories at the sports meet.
Now, this suddenly appearing coach had caught them off guard, forcing them to respond defensively.
They had no idea who this coach was or what his style might be. All they could do was predict based on the players' previous recorded matches.
"He must give his players a lot of freedom. Otherwise, why would he only appear in the finals?"
"Right. Let's stick to our pre-planned strategy. Suppress their captain and tallest players, and focus on targeted attacks against the shorter blockers."
Yet all the while, they quietly watched Hinata Shoyo, the tiny player who had just scored over three 185+ cm giants.
"Sorry! I shouldn't have rushed my block. If I'd waited a little longer, I could've stopped that spike."
Nagamatsu Yumeto said apologetically to his upperclassmen.
"SLAP."
Kousen's number one captain patted Nagamatsu firmly on the back.
"What are you saying?! The game has only just started! Apologizing already?"
"The finals are best-of-five! Are you planning to apologize all day?"
Nagamatsu staggered a bit, scratching his head in embarrassment, saying nothing in response.
Instead, the number one captain seemed energized by Nagamatsu's apology. He clapped his hands and addressed his team.
"Let's go! Don't let the underclassmen underestimate us! This is only the first point of the first set, no big deal!"
"Next, it's our turn to spike!"
"Target the short players on the other side and spike hard for the point!"
In a herd of sheep, the lead sheep determines the direction. Right now, Kousen's number one was that lead sheep.
His momentum naturally carried the entire team, like a group of demonic sheep charging Yukigaoka, horns aimed to crush their opponents right here, right now.
Just like they had done before, defeating team after team to stand atop Miyagi Prefecture.
"Pierce them!"
Yet the Yukigaoka players had similarly fought through countless matches to reach the finals. No point could be taken for granted.
Every point in volleyball required a toss, a hit, an opponent failing to receive, and the ball touching the ground.
These two top teams were not about to let the other score easily.
Yukigaoka's players immediately sensed the Kousen team's prideful, competitive spirit.
In response, an equally strong fighting spirit rose within Yukigaoka.
"Let's go!"
The two invisible waves of determination collided fiercely in the air, twisting and twisting as if smoke and fire. The silent battlefield was already ablaze.
Kousen's serve was broken, and now it was Yukigaoka's turn. Possession had shifted; teams rotated clockwise.
Hinata moved to position one to serve. Ichinose Guren rotated from back row to front. At this moment, Yukigaoka's attack and block formation was one of their strongest.
"Shoyo-senpai! Serve a good one!"
"Hinata, if you give them an easy receive, I won't buy you that ice cream!"
"Go, Shoyo!"
Swallowing nervously, Hinata felt the tension, almost gone, return in full force. His body moved mechanically.
His serve, slightly hesitant, went out, but oddly, the hesitation left no choice for the opponent. It was essentially a float serve from a standing position.
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