"Uh… what just happened…?"
Most of the players on Tokai Heavy Industries Esperanza were still in a daze.
Everything had happened so fast, they hadn't even processed it before it was already over.
Only one middle blocker had experienced the full impact, quite literally.
He stood at 195 cm, with a fully developed adult physique.
When he went up for a solo block against Akashi Asuka, his mindset was still relaxed.
He even had the presence of mind to think:
"Should I go easy on him? It's just a high school kid, it might hurt his confidence if I block him too hard…"
But in the very next moment,
Boom!
A cannonball came straight at him.
That instant, the blocker didn't feel like he was facing a high school student, but rather, a fellow pro-level ace.
His arms, extended to form a solid solo block, were instantly blown through.
The ball didn't even slow down, it blasted past the back row defense and slammed into the floor.
1–0.
Aoba Johsai took the first point.
It was only then that the players of Esperanza snapped out of their daze.
"Wait… that was their spike?!"
"Are high schoolers this terrifying now? And they're not even the national champions, just some regional qualifiers!"
"Guys, we'd better take this seriously. If we lose to a bunch of high schoolers in a training match, we'll never hear the end of it back at the team…"
That one explosive point was a wake-up call.
The mood on the Esperanza side instantly turned more serious.
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The match resumed.
This time, Esperanza began showing the true strength of a pro team.
Their counterattack was swift and overwhelming, catching Aoba Johsai completely off guard.
In the V2 League, you typically don't see flashy geniuses.
But many of these players, back in their high school days, were at least on the level of standouts like Kentarou Kyotani or Tsukishima Kei.
They might not have been Kageyama-level prodigies, but years of relentless training had forged solid fundamentals.
In terms of overall team strength, Aoba Johsai was clearly outmatched.
With tight coordination and superior teamwork, Esperanza quickly scored two consecutive points, flipping the score to 1–2.
But then Akashi Asuka and Oikawa Tooru showed why they were the core of Aoba Johsai.
The two worked together seamlessly, Oikawa feinted an attack as a setter, drawing away a third of the opponent's defense…
…which left Akashi in a one-on-two situation.
Facing a double block from two professional players, he unleashed a wicked super sharp cross, threading the ball through the smallest of angles.
2–2.
"That was insane!"
Hinata Shoyo, watching from the sidelines, was completely stunned.
He already knew Akashi was strong, but seeing it up close was a whole different experience.
"He's shredding through the pros like it's nothing!"
Akashi's height and power were already at the peak level for a Japanese high schooler.
Just those two weapons alone would place him among the nation's top aces.
But that wasn't all Akashi had.
He could serve, block, and had rock-solid technique.
As an ace, Akashi Asuka had no obvious weaknesses. He was the real deal.
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The first practice match ended quickly.
Akashi and Oikawa went all out, and their individual skills even shocked the professional players of Esperanza.
But in the end, Aoba Johsai still lost, 22–25.
While Akashi and Oikawa were individually on par with pro players in the V2 league, the rest of the team couldn't match Esperanza's consistency and polish.
"Hey, Oikawa Tooru, right? What are your plans after graduation? Want to join us?"
During the break, one of the Esperanza players casually extended an invitation to Oikawa.
But before Oikawa could even respond, Miki Oda's older brother, Miwa Oda, smacked the guy on the back of the head.
"You idiot! With this kid's talent, he could easily jump straight into a V1 League team. Are you trying to ruin him by dragging him down to our level?!"
"Ow, jeez! I know that! I was just trying to get lucky. You never know, right?"
Oikawa blinked.
"…Are you guys seriously treating me like I'm stupid?"
Then he suddenly asked, "By the way, why didn't you guys try to recruit Akashi instead? He's clearly more talented than I am."
"Akashi?"
The Esperanza players turned to look at the boy Oikawa was pointing to.
"Oh, that kid? So his name's Akashi, huh?"
"Yeah, no chance we'd even try. With talent like that, he's headed for V1 minimum, more likely international level. Our little team couldn't possibly keep a god like that in our tiny temple."
It was clearly a joke, but even they knew:
Akashi Asuka, still just a first-year, was already performing at a level that could only lead to greatness, so long as nothing derailed him.
Oikawa was momentarily enlightened …until he felt a dark shadow fall over his face.
So what you're saying is… I'm less valuable than that bastard Akashi, huh?
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After a brief break, the second match began.
This time, Aoba Johsai added Hinata Shoyo to the roster.
When Hinata stepped onto the court, he drew quite a few curious glances from the Esperanza players.
In volleyball, unless you're a libero, a player of Hinata's short stature is extremely rare, nearly unheard of.
"This is amazing… I actually get to play against pros!"
Hinata was thrilled.
He hadn't come here for a match originally, he'd just overheard Miki Oda mentioning her brother's team was training here, and shamelessly tagged along.
As for what he'd do once he got here, he hadn't really thought that far ahead.
But that was Hinata for you.
He was bold. He acted on instinct.
What he lacked in planning, he made up for in guts.
Tweet!
With the shrill blast of a whistle, the second practice match officially began…
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria