Chapter 66: Facing Aoba Johsai
For Hinata, who was leaving school for a practice match for the first time, this was quite a fresh experience. Since he was very active on the bus, he brought an especially cheerful atmosphere to the team.
Throughout the journey, thanks to already having experience reaching the national tournament, Hinata Shoyo didn't feel particularly nervous about this practice match, so naturally he didn't end up throwing up rainbows all over Tanaka's pants.
Instead, it was Yamaguchi Tadashi who seemed a bit nervous. Although he wasn't a starter and didn't know if he'd get a chance to play, his throat still felt tight with nerves.
Fortunately, the comfortable cabin and luxurious interior attracted the attention of the Karasuno members, helping to ease their nervousness to some extent.
...
Ichise Guren was the last to get off the bus. Before getting off, he went to the bathroom, relieved himself, and grabbed a sports drink on his way out.
As soon as he got off, he saw Sawamura Daichi holding onto Tanaka while apologizing to two guys wearing Aoba Johsai uniforms.
One of them was a familiar face with leek-shaped hair - Kindaichi Yutaro, whom he'd played against in that first middle school match. The other one Ichise Guren didn't recognize.
Fortunately, Ichise Guren didn't dwell on such small matters. Seeing that the two hadn't noticed him, he got off and joined Hyakuzawa Yudai and Hoshino Masaru who were waiting, then waited for the main group to head to Aoba Johsai's gymnasium together.
Kindaichi, who had once encountered the former Yukigaoka members, only felt that those guys in Karasuno uniforms looked somewhat familiar, including a really tall guy, but couldn't remember where he'd seen them.
It wasn't until the Karasuno group had walked far away that Kindaichi suddenly turned around.
"That guy!"
"What's wrong, Kindaichi?"
Yahaba Shigeru was puzzled by Kindaichi's sudden action.
"Ah..."
"Last year in Monthly Volleyball, those guys from Yukigaoka Middle School, the Miyagi prefecture representatives who made it to the national semifinals."
"They might not have gone to Shiratorizawa."
Yahaba Shigeru didn't react at first, just tilted his head, not understanding why Kindaichi was suddenly bringing this up. Then a light bulb went off in his head.
"Hey!"
"You mean Yukigaoka's third-year graduates went to Karasuno?"
Seeing Yahaba Shigeru's reaction, Kindaichi felt a sense of deja vu, as if the senpai across from him was just like himself moments ago.
"Yeah..."
"The tallest guy in the Karasuno group looked familiar, and then I saw there was also an orange-haired guy, plus one with dark blue hair and one with light blue hair. The heights match up too, if they've all grown taller."
Yahaba Shigeru patted Kindaichi and made a gesture to run toward the gymnasium.
"This is big news, Kindaichi! Quick, run back and tell Coach Irihata!"
"Eh? Yes!"
The two began sprinting toward the gymnasium.
.....
Before long, the Karasuno group had arrived at the entrance to Aoba Johsai West's Third Gymnasium.
Hinata Shoyo looked at Aoba Johsai's high-end gymnasium and couldn't help but exclaim.
"So big!"
"The gymnasium and players are all so tall!"
Tanaka Ryunosuke looked confused and patted Hinata Shoyo's head, saying.
"Huh? Do you want to look at what you're saying?"
Then he turned Hinata Shoyo's head toward their own team.
Instantly, three guys who far exceeded Aoba Johsai's height made Hinata Shoyo much calmer.
"Our own team is the land of giants - two meters, one-nine, one-eight-seven."
The greeting led by Sawamura Daichi also set the rhythm for everyone to bow to the Aoba Johsai West players.
The Aoba Johsai players also politely returned the bow, showing their respect.
After scanning the various Aoba Johsai West players who were practicing, Sawamura Daichi realized that they truly lived up to being a powerhouse team in Miyagi Prefecture. Each player on the team had formidable skills with solid fundamentals and excellent physical conditioning.
Any one of them could probably be considered an ace at other non-powerhouse schools.
Sugawara Koshi then gave Sawamura Daichi a well-timed punch to the gut, put both hands on his hips, and said with considerable pride.
"Don't underestimate the current Karasuno! Daichi!"
"...Yeah!"
Aoba Johsai West during warm-up:
"Coach!"
"Ichise Guren went to Karasuno!"
The assistant coach quietly relayed to Coach Irihata what Kindaichi and Yahaba had just run to the gymnasium to tell him.
"What?"
Coach Irihata immediately furrowed his brow.
'I originally thought those kids would go to Shiratorizawa. After all, it's pretty rare for none of them to come even though Aoba Johsai sent special recruitment invitations.'
'But considering that while Shiratorizawa is very strong, their recruitment standards are also very high. Still, they were main members of a team that made it to the national semifinals.'
'With Shiratorizawa's financial resources, it wouldn't be impossible for them to do a package deal and take them all.'
'I originally thought the strengthened Shiratorizawa wouldn't actually have much change.'
'Instead, that fallen powerhouse has brought in several apparently excellent newcomers.'
Coach Irihata's gaze kept switching between the Karasuno first-year students.
'Champion libero Hoshino Masaru, two-meter middle blocker Hyakuzawa Yudai, the agile and jumping Hinata Shoyo, Kitagawa Daiichi's king Kageyama Tobio.'
'And...'
Coach Irihata looked again at Ichise Guren, who was warming up on the other side of the court.
'Miyagi Prefecture's volleyball demon king, Ichise Guren.'
'Looks like there might be another strong rival in the prefecture. I hope he's not another Ushijima.'
'Otherwise, Miyagi Prefecture will probably be dominated by a national-level ace for another three years.'
....
The match officially began.
With Hinata Shoyo, who had relatively rich tournament experience, paired with Kageyama Tobio, these two had developed the freak quick attack. Combined with Hyakuzawa Yudai as the two-meter powerful opposite, and Hoshino Masaru with excellent back-row defense skills.
Plus Tsukishima Kei, whose blocking technique wasn't polished but whose height was still a powerful weapon, the rock-solid captain with impeccable receiving technique, and the charging captain with fierce spiking power and momentum.
The strength Karasuno displayed in the first set matched Aoba Johsai West blow for blow, not falling behind at all. Even as their coordination and condition improved, the strength the Karasuno members could display grew stronger and stronger.
It wasn't until Iwaizumi Hajime and Matsukawa Issei began to see through the weaknesses of several Karasuno players that the score stopped being pulled further apart, but Aoba Johsai still showed no signs of catching up.
After the coach called a timeout, Aoba Johsai's third-year members began frantically using the thirty seconds to discuss how to deal with their opponents.
Vice-captain Iwaizumi Hajime began giving everyone advice, sharing the conclusions from his observations.
"That two-meter guy's receiving is unexpectedly not weak. Stop serving to him."
"But his spiking technique can only be called decent. It's far from being able to skillfully combine straight and cross-court spikes. As long as we watch his body orientation and use soft touches, we can still neutralize his over-hand attack advantage!"
"Yes!"
Matsukawa Issei also began sharing his observations of Hinata Shoyo's spiking style and offensive habits.
"Stay calm! Even if that shorty breaks through our blocks, don't panic. I've figured it out."
"When that shorty uses those ridiculously fast spikes, he can't choose his spiking direction. We just need someone to follow him to solve that quick attack."
"Senpai, what if he uses normal quick attacks?"
"What are you thinking!"
"If he uses normal quick attacks, our teammates will definitely be able to get into defensive position quickly!"
"Yes!"
After the players finished their discussion, the coach also gave everyone a pep talk.
Standing in the bench area, Ichise Guren watched the Aoba Johsai members having their intense discussion and smirked.
'Pretty quick. As expected of a top-four team. Even without the Greay King, they can find their opponents' weaknesses through their own observation and thinking, then exploit them.'
'This really is a mature team.'
***
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