Bang!!
BOOM!!!!
It wasn't until the volleyball fell sharply from the ceiling and landed among the Inarizaki spectators that it felt as though someone had flipped off the mute switch.
From dead silence, the crowd erupted into a tidal wave of noise!
"Whoa!!"
"Just that serve!"
"What… what was that?!"
"I didn't even see where the ball went! When did he even hit it?!"
"That was way too fast! From the time it was struck to when it landed—barely a blink!!"
"God, who can even receive something like that? You need a professional to stop it!"
…
Everyone who came to watch this match was completely shaken by Akira's serve.
Among them were volleyball enthusiasts, family members of the players, teams who stayed to spectate after being eliminated, and even future opponents like Fukurōdani and Kamomedai…
All of them were left speechless, their breath caught as they stared at the figure on the court who had just landed.
…
"Hah!"
"I knew he'd do something like that…"
In the activity room of Aoba Johsai High, Oikawa looked like someone who had been expecting this all along.
Among everyone present, only he had previously seen Akira's ferocious jump serve.
Only he understood how terrifying that serve truly was.
Back home in his study, Arai stared at the screen in front of him with a wry smile.
"That kind of jump serve…"
"It's way outside the range of what high school players can receive."
Maybe others watching through the TV couldn't fully grasp the horror behind Akira's serve.
But Arai had received it firsthand—he knew exactly what it was.
This one… was even more terrifying than the last time he saw it.
And yet… even now, he didn't know—
Had Akira gone all out?
At the very least… that serve still landed just past Inarizaki's three-meter line.
…
Tweet!
Finally, the referee recovered from the shock and blew his whistle.
Karasuno scores!!
There was no doubt—that ball landed cleanly within Inarizaki's boundaries.
"This… this is unreal…"
Even someone unfamiliar with volleyball could tell just how overwhelming that serve was.
Not only from how invisible it had seemed, but also from Udai Tenma's reaction on the sidelines.
That man had once been Karasuno's ace in high school!
Even he was struck speechless—if he was stunned, that alone showed how powerful the serve was!!!
Across the court, Osamu Miya and Hitoshi Ginjima stood frozen, eyes wide.
The ball had just landed right between them.
Yet their bodies hadn't moved an inch.
Their reflexive reaction, which usually kicked in without thinking, had completely failed.
Deep down, they already had a suspicion.
The ball was simply too fast.
So fast…
Their instincts hadn't even had time to trigger.
They hadn't even seen the ball before it hit the ground.
How do you receive something like that?
That was the question screaming inside both of them.
Why… why had he never used this serve in previous matches?
Nearby, Michinari Akagi was the first to snap out of it.
"You guys..."
Right now, he didn't even know what to say.
Usually, as third-years, it was their job to stabilize the second-years, who often lost their composure.
But this time, after witnessing that explosive jump serve, Akagi himself was at a loss for words.
"It's fine… just receive the next one properly!"
In the end, he could only force out that line through gritted teeth.
Osamu and Ginjima exchanged looks, both unsure how to respond to Akagi's words.
"It doesn't matter!"
Outside the court, Inarizaki's coach, Kurosu, suddenly shouted:
"Forget what just happened!"
"Put everything into the next one!!"
As their coach, he knew how critical the situation had become.
Taro's booming voice finally snapped the team back to reality.
"Yes!!"
They shouted in unison.
But when they all turned their eyes toward Akira, who was calmly walking back to the baseline, their hearts collectively sank again.
That same serve…
Was it about to happen again??
Now, not just Inarizaki's players, but everyone was watching Akira's every move with rapt attention.
That last point—was it a fluke? Or was that his real strength?
Thump… thump… thump… THUMP!!
This time, the cheerleaders' drums pounded louder than ever before!
As if trying to bring the entire stadium roof down!
"We have to… distract him!!"
They clenched their jaws, glaring at the boy slowly approaching the end line.
That last serve—they'd seen it too.
It was the first time they had witnessed a serve so… unstoppable.
Just recalling it brought a wave of helplessness crashing over them.
If they were honest, even just as spectators… they had been scared by that point.
Now, frustration began to bubble up inside them.
How could he be so… overpowering??
If they couldn't receive it, then let him mess up on the serve!!
People always said to block out distractions and stay focused on your own rhythm.
But when the moment actually comes, who can really do that?
So no matter how composed or focused he looked…
He had to be affected somehow!
With that thought, the Inarizaki cheerleaders struck the drums even harder.
"Receive… this ball!!"
"Receive… this ball!!"
…
On the other side of the court, Akira had picked up the ball that had rolled to his feet and turned around.
Standing opposite him—six of Inarizaki's top players.
Each one of them had their eyes locked onto his every movement.
From the stands, the relentless pounding of Inarizaki's cheer drums filled the arena.
That look in their eyes—fierce and unyielding!
In his ears—only the enemy's war drums echoed!!
At this moment, Akira looked like he was facing off against the entire world.
But… not a single flicker of panic could be seen in his movements.
Not a hint of nervousness in his eyes.
Even when the referee's whistle blew, his preparation remained completely unfazed.
Effortless. Controlled.
As natural as breathing or drinking water.
But this simple, casual motion pulled at the heartstrings of everyone present.