[Karasuno 25 - 12 Tokonam

  [Karasuno 25 - 14 Tokonam

  -

  [Date Tech 25 - 12 Sakura]

  [Date Tech 25 - 8 Sakura]

  -

  Karasuno decisively defeated Tokonami High School 2-0, while oher court, Date Tech cruised past Sakura Academy to secure their spot in the round.

  "What a pity. The match I really wao see was Karasuno versus Date Tech."

  The Aoba Johsai team was having their lun the gymnasium cafeteria. This afternoon, it would be Karasuno versus Date Tech, as well as Aoba Johsai versus Oomisaki High.

  The skill gap between Oomisaki High and Chikawa North wasn't as signifit as in the earlier matches featuring Karasuno and Date Tech, which had ended with overwhelming scores.

  "The afternoon matches start at 1:30. Everyone, just eat a little to keep your energy up—don't overstuff yourselves," said Coach Mizoguchi with a friendly reminder.

  "Yes!"

  Sihey weren't on their home turf, Aoba Johsai's team members fiheir meal rather quietly.

  "Shouldn't it be about time?" Coach Irihata g his watch, firming with Coach Mizoguchi.

  Taichi Kaedehara noticed the knowing gnces exged between the coaches and the sed and third-year pyers. He was pletely puzzled—was there something special about the match?

  His fusion didn't st long. The momeepped into the arena, all his questions were answered.

  The spectator stands were awash in a vivid sea of blue—the unmistakable colour of Aoba Johsai's uniforms. Siheir match was scheduled for the afternoon, the school had anized for the students to have an early lund take buses to the venue.

  "Ah, they're here!" someone in the crowd excimed as the Aoba Johsai volleyball team ehe gym.

  "Oikawa-senpai!"

  "Iwaizumi-senpai! Do your best!"

  "Oikawa, you have to win this one!"

  "Taichi! You've got this!"

  Hearing a sudden cheer for his aichi Kaedehara was utterly baffled. He spent most of his time sleeping in css and rarely ied with his cssmates—how did they actually know who he was?

  What Taichi didn't realize was that he was sort of a 'legend' in his entire grade. Despite his id-back attitude, his sistently high grades and his status as a starter in the school's volleyball team had made him into something akin to an i.

  "Yo, Kyōtani, we're here too," said Shimizu-san, the manager of the Machimin Gym.

  To the left of Aoba Johsai's studeion sat a group of adults. Some were uy students, others were local shop owners from the nearby ercial district, but most were regurs at the Aoba Johsai sports plex.

  Kentarō Kyōtani goward the familiar faces in the crowd. He froze momentarily before scoffing and turning his head away.

  At that moment, a group of students in the front row of the stands unfurled a massive banner, hanging it fag the court.

  "Rule the Court!!"

  Taichi Kaedehara felt a surge of electricity rush through his body, sending shivers down his spine. He turo look at his teammates. The sed and third-years were posed and prepared, but Kindaichi's face looked as though he were on the verge of tears.

  Kunimi gave them both a light nudge, silently urging them to follow their seniors' lead.

  Uhe guidance of Iwaizumi Hajime and Oikawa Tōru, the Aoba Johsai pyers approached the stands, giving a slight bow of gratitude to their supporters before dispersing for their warm-ups.

  Oomisaki High's pyers, who had beeing on the court, couldn't help but feel awe at the show of Aoba Johsai's team spirit and support.

  Once Aoba Johsai began warming up, the Oomisaki pyers also began rising to prepare.

  "Seijoh, Seijoh! We reign supreme!"

  "Seijoh is the stro—unmatched and unstoppable!"

  "Fight, fight, fight! Seijoh!"

  "Victory, victory, victory! Seijoh!"

  The rhythmic pounding of water bottles bined with the thunderous cheers echoed across the gymnasium. The overwhelming sound engulfed the entire court.

  For a moment, the pyers of Oomisaki High froze in pce, feeling as though the entire gym had been dyed in Aoba Johsai blue.

  "D-Don't panic! Show them what we've got!" shouted the Oomisaki coach, his voice attempting to cut through the pressure. But even he felt the suffog weight of the matd he wasn't the oepping onto the court.

  The Oomisaki captain gathered his pyers into a tight circle, trying to shut out some of the overwhelming cheers from Aoba Johsai's supporters.

  "No problem, all the sweat we've shed during training will never betray us!" the captain shouted, his voice brimming with fidence.

  "Yeah!"

  Warm-up time ended quickly. The referee stepped into the tre of the court, signalling for both teams to line up.

  "Let's have a good game!"

  Tweet—

  With the referee's whistle, the match between Aoba Johsai and Oomisaki High officially began.

  "Today, I believe in all of you, too~." Oikawa Tōru suddenly turned back to his teammates with unusual solemnity before stepping onto the court.

  For first-time tour pyers Taichi Kaedehara and Akira Kunimi, any lingering nervousness immediately melted away. Sometimes, having such dependable seniors around was exactly what they needed.

  Aoba Johsai's starting lineup:

  Front row—Outside Hitter Hanamaki Takahiro, Middle Blocker Taichi Kaedehara, Outside Hitter Akira Kunimi.Back row—Outside Hitter Iwaizumi Hajime, Middle Blocker Kentarō Kyōtani (Libero Watari Shinji), Setter Oikawa Tōru.

  Aoba Johsai's game pn was clear from the start: un aggressive attack to take trol of the match.

  Oomisaki High's starting lineup:

  Front row—Middle Blocker Domae Moto, Outside Hitter Tatsuya Yuuto, Outside Hitter Yamoto Masahiro.Baiddle Blocker Kayane Kenshi (Libero Masaru Iiō), Setter Touma Risho, Outside Hitter Yamashita Yasuhisa.

  Taichi Kaedehara gnced across the court. As far as he could see, there weren't any standout pyers on Oomisaki High.

  Aoba Johsai's first serve—Oikawa Tōru stepped onto the service lihe ers of his lips curling into an amused smirk as he observed his oppos' nervous expressions.

  He didn't mind pying the vilin here. Better to be the one crushing someone's volleyball dreams than to lose and wallow i ter.

  Oikaressed the ball firmly with both hands, feeling the esticity of its surface. Perfect. His dition today was exceptional.

  Iingly enough, there had been a time when it took Oikawa a while to find his rhythm in a match. Whether it eed, power, or trol, he always felt more at ease as the game progressed.

  But ever siaichi Kaedehara had joined Aoba Johsai—more precisely, since Oikawa's third year—things had ged. Oikawa found himself entering the zone much faster, and he suspected it had something to do with a shift in his mi.

  Before Taichi's arrival, Oikawa often looked at the road to Nationals and saw a vast, insurmountable chasm. He had the drive aermination to cross it but couldn't find the path.

  And then Taichi appeared—pletely inexperienced, utterly g in skill, yet somehow carrying a quiet, unshakable vi that they would make it to Nationals.

  His presen the court during practice seemed to wordlessly tell everyohe path to Nationals is a straight road. Just take it oep at a time, aually, you'll get there.

  It was this quiet resolve that had unknowingly influenced Oikawa. One day, he realized that the chasm he had always seen before him was gone.

  Instead, there it was: a clear, straight path.

  Now, Oikawa wanted nothing more than to take it—oep at a time.

  Bang!

  A sharp, resounding crack echoed through the gym. Oikawa's serve bsted into Oomisaki's court, nding ly ihe boundary.

  The Oomisaki pyers froze, their faces bnk with fusion. They hadn't even processed what had just happened.

  Service ace!

  Oikaicked up the sed ball and pointed across the Oomisaki's stunned pyers.

  "The ones advang to Nationals….will be us—Aoba Johsai!"

  _________

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