"Did you know? I've always kind of hated that guy."
After Akashi Asuka received Miya Atsumu's setter attack and sent the ball back into the air, Oikawa Tooru suddenly called out to Atsumu across the net.
"Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because that guy… in certain moments, he completely shuts down us setters."
Oikawa grinned, then sent a back-row quick set flying across the court to Kindaichi, who went in for a fast attack in perfect sync.
However, just as Kindaichi's hand connected with the ball,
Bang!
Smack!
The ball was immediately blocked and sent hurtling back to Aoba Johsai's side of the court at an even greater speed.
0:1.
Inarizaki scores the first point.
Oikawa's smile froze in place, while across the net, a smug grin crept up Atsumu's face.
"I told you before, we're the same kind. That's why I knew from the start you'd spot my intent to go for a setter attack. But what I didn't expect… was for him to receive that ball."
"Still, even if things didn't go exactly as planned, the result speaks for itself, this point is ours."
In truth, Atsumu's attack wasn't aimed at Akashi Asuka at all, it was meant for Oikawa.
He had anticipated Oikawa would catch on to the play, so he baited him with the setter attack and then reinforced the left wing with defense.
As a fellow setter, Atsumu knew very well, if Oikawa was taken out of the equation, Akashi's firepower would drop significantly. That would give Inarizaki a real chance at blocking his spikes.
However, things hadn't gone exactly according to plan.
Even Akashi had read his intent.
Still, the outcome worked in Inarizaki's favor.
Oikawa, on the other hand, didn't take it so well.
"Tch… damn brat. You're just as annoying as little Tobio!"
────────── ✦ ──────────
The match continued.
Serve rotation: it was now Miya Osamu's turn.
His first serve dropped perfectly between Iwaizumi and Kyotani, who clearly lacked the coordination of Oikawa and Watari. Despite both moving for the receive, neither managed to get to the ball in time.
0:2.
Inarizaki extended their lead.
"As I thought… that feeling earlier wasn't a fluke. Even though they lost the first set, Inarizaki's momentum hasn't dropped, they've returned to their initial, razor-sharp form."
Iwaizumi pressed his lips together, looking more serious than before.
He knew just how dangerous a team like that could be, one that stayed composed no matter the situation.
"Give me the ball."
Just as Iwaizumi was running through strategies in his head, a calm but commanding voice echoed from the front.
"We don't have time to waste here. Our goal this tournament isn't something as small as the top eight. Give me the ball. I'll crush them."
Iwaizumi looked up.
Standing at the net, Akashi Asuka once again radiated the same overwhelming aura he had during that five-point scoring streak in the previous set.
"Huh…?"
That pressure hit not just his teammates on Aoba Johsai, but also three of Inarizaki's players, Atsumu, Osamu, and Aran Ojiro, who all felt a jolt in their chest at the same moment.
What the hell's with this guy?
"Uwahh~ He's terrifying! Why does Akashi have that kind of presence!?" A player from Aoba Johsai's bench shivered involuntarily.
Takeda-sensei, however, kept his eyes fixed on Akashi and murmured softly,
"Because that's what a true 'ace' is."
────────── ✦ ──────────
Miya Osamu served again.
This time, Watari received it cleanly. Oikawa took the first touch and clicked his tongue.
"Tch! Kids these days, so damn selfish."
Even though he was still bitter about being overwhelmed by Akashi's aura, Oikawa still tossed the ball high, to where Akashi was ready and waiting.
Atsumu's eyes sharpened immediately.
"I've been waiting for this."
Like a coordinated trap, three players from Inarizaki, Atsumu, Aran, and Suna, formed a triple block right in front of Akashi. A towering wall of six outstretched arms rose up before him, casting a deep shadow and completely blocking out the gym's lights.
And that was only the first line of defense.
The back row, Inarizaki's libero and their opposite, simultaneously moved to cover both the diagonal and back straight paths.
It was airtight.
They weren't just shutting down Akashi's spike, they were cutting off any possibility of him scoring at all.
["Oooooohhhhh…!!"]
["A flawless defense from Inarizaki! They've set up a complete wall against Akashi Asuka!"]
["Even a national-level ace might find himself helpless against this. This looks bad for Akashi!"]
It was obvious that Inarizaki's coach had gone to great lengths preparing for this.
Yet…
Despite this ironclad defense, Akashi's eyes remained unwavering.
Like a hawk soaring through the air, he rose, and with a swing of his arm, he unleashed a devastating strike.
BOOM!!!
It wasn't quite as ferocious as his earlier spikes, but the sound still thundered through the gym.
Inarizaki's triple block braced themselves, ready for the hit. But just before the ball made contact with their hands, it suddenly curved midair and bypassed the wall entirely.
The ball veered around them like it had a mind of its own.
It drifted past the blockers, and even the defenders in the back row flinched for a split second. That tiny delay was all it took, the ball sailed through the gap and landed cleanly on the court.
Thud.
The ball hit the floor.
Akashi scored.
1:2.
"What the hell?! Was that a… curved spike?!"
Inarizaki's players stared, stunned.
It had already been outrageous that Akashi had mastered the curved serve. But now, even a curved spike?
And yet, what they didn't know was, this was just the beginning…
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria