[One Week Until the IH Qualifiers]

  "Hey, Taichi!"

  Before training began, Oikawa Tōru called out to Kaedehara Taichi.

  "What's up, Oikawa-senpai?"

  "Ihird set of the practice match against Nekoma st time, you iionally used a 'solo dey attack,' didn't you? I remember you tried that move when you first started pying."

  Kaedehara Taichi thought bad nodded. "During that match against the college team, I tried to offset the timing of my jump to avoid their blockers. It worked, but only because you adjusted your set to match my jump. I didn't realize it back then."

  "Ich against Nekoma, I noticed Kuroo-senpai using that move effectively, so I decided to give it a shot myself—taking trol of the tempo on purpose this time."

  Oikawa nodded in approval. "It's great that you uand this kind of attack requires the setter's cooperation."

  "Your current strength is your speed, which is why we rely on 'Taichi Quick' and A-style quick attacks. Both require you to break free from the blockers while I quickly match your pace with my sets. The dey attack works the opposite way—you trick the blockers first, and I time my set so you spike right after."

  "In a match, relying on eye tact alone is risky and lead to mistakes. Let's create a signal for it."

  "When the oppo's blockers start catg up to you, I'll point my pinky downward. That's the cue for a dey attack."

  Oikawa began discussing the finer points of offeh Taichi, his tone serious and focused—pletely different from his usual carefree attitude.

  "Let's spend the rest of the week perfeg our coordination," Oikawa said with a stretch. unig with Taichi was easy, but the real headache would be dealing with their hot-headed little wild dog ter.

  "Wait a sed, Oikawa-senpai. I have one more thing," Taichi said suddenly.

  "Hm?"

  "I've been w on my ball trol. you teach me the step for the jump float serve?"

  "???"

  It had only been two weeks! Oikawa stared at Taichi in disbelief. This guy was improving at su insane speed—it was almost frightening.

  Even as his teammate, Oikawa couldn't help but feel a little stunned by his rapid progress.

  Still, there was no reason to doubt him. Oikawa decided to check Taichi's results for himself.

  "Serve ten balls. Let's see how far you've e."

  Oikawa grabbed some empty water bottles and lihem up on the opposite side of the . "Use a regur jump serve and knock these bottles down in order."

  "Got it."

  Taichi stepped onto the service liaking a deep breath. He held it in for a moment, stretched his arms zily to loosen up and then exhaled, expelling the stale air in his lungs. He inhaled deeply again, and his focus sharpened.

  Oikawa raised an eyebrow. "..."

  It was just a basic service. Why did it look like Taichi reparing to unleash some kind of superpower? This guy was way too dramatic.

  Taichi tossed the ball lightly into the air, took two steps forward, and struck it ly as it dropped.

  Bang!

  Ctter!

  The volleyball hit the farthest water bottle dead-on.

  Without missing a beat, Taichi returo the service line and picked up another ball.

  Bang, ctter...Bang, ctter...Bang, ctter...

  The rhythmic sound of the volleyball hitting the floor and knog over water bottles echoed across the court. Every single ball hit its target with pinpoint accuracy.

  Oikawa Tōru stared in shock. Taichi hadn't just met his expectations—he had blown them out of the water, perf even more fwlessly than Oikawa had anticipated.

  Kaedehara Taichi, still immersed in the exercise, instinctively reached for another ball in the basket, only to realize that he'd already used up all ten.

  "So, Oikawa-senpai, how was it? we move on to the step?"

  Oikawa grinned and his was the first time since Kageyama Tobio that he had felt such a sense ency about someone else's talent. But unlike middle school, his perspective had ged entirely.

  "If Taichi had joined Aoba Johsai a year earlier…" A fleeting thought crossed Oikawa's mind, but he quickly shook it off. No use dwelling on what-ifs. Life was about appreciating the here and now, and right now…

  Right now is the best time.

  "The key to the jump float serve lies in the fluidity of your motion and the explosive power you gee at the right moment," Oikawa began, his tone switg to that of a seasoned coach. "You o nail the exact tact point and timing with your hand to ehe ball doesn't spin but still creates an uable floating trajectory."

  Oikawa started with the fuals, emphasizing their importao Taichi.

  He demonstrated the preparatory stance: feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and his tre of gravity low. "Your staneeds to be stable, like this. Focus all your energy and prepare to explode into a."

  , Oikawa showcased his approach. His movements were smooth and powerful—each step precise. "The approach should be fast, with the st step being big. That's where you gee the most momentum for your jump."

  On the air, Oikawa swung his arm fluidly, his upper arm leading the motion, followed by his forearm, before striking the volleyball with the firm part of his palm.

  He hit the ball ly on the lower back portion. "Make sure you use the base of your palm to strike the ball. Don't let it spin. At the moment of tact, your arm and wrist should briefly pause. That split-sed stillness is what makes the ball faster and its trajectory harder to predict."

  The ball soared over the . Just as Taichi thought it might go out of bounds, it abruptly veered left and dropped sharply to the floor.

  Oikawa-senpai's jump float serve is even sharper than before, Taichi thought, feeling a renewed respect. It was clear that everyone oeam was striving for even the smallest improvements.

  Oikawa turned around and asked, "Did you get all that, Taichi?"

  "Yeah, I got it."

  Oikawa raised an eyebrow. "I knew you wouldn't uand it pletely. I should probably—wait, what did you say?"

  "I said I uood," Taichi replied early. "Let me try a few serves, and you tell me what needs adjusting."

  "…Fine, show me what you've got!" Oikawa stepped aside, folding his arms as he prepared to observe Taichi's attempt.

  Taichi didn't waste any time. He took two quick steps forward, mimig the image of Oikawa's motion in his mind, and struck the ball with precision.

  The ball's speed wasn't as fast as Oikawa's—likely due to the differen raw power—but that worked to Taichi's advahe loss of velocity mid-flight created a noticeable drop, making the ball plummet sharply he end of its trajectory.

  Oikawa froze, momentarily stunned. It wasn't perfect, but the serve bore a striking resembo his own—about 70 or 80% accurate. If this guy has su innate feel for the game, what oh was he doing in middle school?

  Taichi repeated the serve several more times, each attempt smoother tha. Oikawa carefully observed his movements, looking for areas to refine.

  "Taichi, watch your hand position. Keep your fiogether and leave a slight gap in your palm to better trol the ball's dire and power. Try again. Remember, the power es from the rotation of your torso and the straight swing of your arm."

  Thankfully, Taichi was still a begi the jump float serve, which gave Oikalenty of opportuo coach him. Puffing out his chest slightly, Oikawa thought to himself that he still had some authority as a setter after all.

  "The jump float serve works by exploiting air resistahe irregur airflow over the ball's surface causes slight, uable deviations in its flight path. That's why trolling the tact point and force is critical. No two pyers' jump float serves are exactly the same."

  With Oikaatient guidaaichi practised relentlessly, tweaking his teique and experimenting to find what worked best for him.

  Over time, the movements began to feel natural, as if his body were itting the skill to muscle memory.

  Oikawa watched with satisfa. This ued breakthrough leasant surprise.

  The team would soon have another powerful on in their arsenal for Aoba Johsai's future matches.

  _________

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