"This is simply bullying!"
Saeko Tanaka shot up from her seat with a loud thud and stormed toward the opposing section of the audience.
Looks like she's about to cause a scene!
"Oi! Hey! Hold it right there!"
Udai Tenma, sitting beside her, quickly stood up and grabbed her arm.
"Calm down!"
"Look at what's happening on the court!"
"The situation?"
Saeko yanked her arm free and said, clearly agitated:
"The current situation is that they're interfering with our match using such underhanded tactics!!"
"How can we just stand by and let this happen?!"
"Well..."
Udai Tenma gave a helpless smile and glanced at Akiteru Tsukishima beside him, then turned back to Saeko and said:
"Relax."
"Coach Ukai must've predicted something like this."
"Plus, in the current rotation, it's Akira—number 7—who's up to serve for Karasuno."
"I think he might be able to break through their rhythm..."
"Oh?"
At that, Saeko blinked in surprise.
"He's got a strong serve?"
"I don't know."
Udai stared intently at the court and shook his head slightly.
"I haven't seen him serve before."
"But I get the feeling..."
"Someone that brilliant on offense—his serve can't be weak!"
"So, Saeko, let's hold it together for now."
"Hmph!"
Saeko scoffed and crossed her arms.
"Fine. But this better work."
...
"Focus!"
"Don't let them rattle you, Kageyama!"
From the sidelines, Sugawara shouted anxiously.
Kageyama turned his head and gave him a small, confident nod. Then he locked his eyes on the net across from him and took a deep breath.
Toss!
Jump!
Smash!
Just like before!
Pop!
The serve was successfully received by Osamu Miya in the back row of Inarizaki.
"That jump serve was pretty tame."
A relaxed smile tugged at the corners of Osamu's mouth.
Kageyama, on the other hand, frowned.
He had definitely been thrown off by the relentless rhythm of Inarizaki's cheerleading squad.
The fact that the ball even stayed inbounds was already a small miracle.
'If it were him...'
Kageyama glanced toward Akira, who stood poised ahead.
'He wouldn't be fazed this easily.'
...
As that thought passed, Inarizaki launched their next offensive.
Atsumu Miya sent a swift back set.
At the same time, Ren Ōmimi leapt behind him, as if preparing for a quick in the middle.
It looked like a classic pipe attack!
But as Asahi jumped to block, he realized—it was just a feint!
Ōmimi hadn't actually gone for the kill.
From the left wing, Osamu Miya came flying in for the real attack!
"Left!"
Akira and Sawamura jumped in unison!
Boom!
They stuffed it! A clean block!
Screech!
Another point for Karasuno!
"Karasuno may be gaining points," someone in the Kamomedai section muttered, "but they must be pretty annoyed by now."
The Kamomedai team sat in the stands, watching intently.
"Inarizaki's cheerleaders are beyond irritating," Korai Hoshiumi muttered with a scowl, glaring toward the Inarizaki fans.
"If it were me, I'd shut them up fast!"
"Hah! Still as hot-headed as ever," Sachirō Hirugami chuckled.
"If you react to it, you're playing right into their hands."
"Shut it!"
"You're the childish one!"
...
Meanwhile, Kageyama was walking off the court, having rotated to the bench. As he took his place, the pounding of Inarizaki's drums rose again.
"And Inarizaki's cheerleaders strike once more!" the commentators narrated.
"Their signature rhythm-based interference is notorious for throwing off opposing servers."
"We can see that Kageyama isn't quite himself at the moment."
"Can he overcome the distraction and deliver a solid serve?"
The commentary made even the casual viewers at home aware of what was going on in the arena.
Some had wondered what that rhythmic drumming in the background was. Now, they knew.
"Inarizaki..."
Back in Miyagi, Coach Nekomata's eyes narrowed at the TV.
"So they've evolved this far?"
"It's... remarkable."
"You never know what'll happen in this sport."
...
"What the hell?!"
"There's a team this shameless playing at Nationals?!"
"And they made it to the Final Four?"
At Aoba Johsai, Kindaichi stared at the TV in disbelief.
"Hah," Issei Matsukawa smirked.
"I guess this is also a form of strength."
"Some teams aren't just skilled—they're cunning too."
"This kind of thing is becoming more and more common."
...
"Man..."
"Inarizaki is really pushing it this time."
In Shiratorizawa's dorms, Tendō Satori was watching the match with a gleam of amusement in his eye.
"They always pull these stunts."
"But hey, I like it!"
He let out a couple of eerie chuckles.
"Spicing things up off the court? Keeps things interesting!"
Around him, the rest of the Shiratorizawa team sat watching quietly.
"What about you, Ushijima?"
Wakatoshi Ushijima didn't answer.
His gaze was fixed on Akira's figure on the screen.
'If it were me on the court right now...'
'What would I do?'