The match between Aoba Johsai and Oomisaki had ended quickly. By the time they rushed to another court, Karasuno and Date Tech were still finishing their first set, with the sed set about to begin.

  "Go, Go, let's go, let's go, Date Tech!"

  "Go, Go, let's go, let's go, Date Tech!!"

  "Date Tech, fight!"

  "Ohh, Date Tech's cheer squad is pretty impressive too, huh?" Oikawa Tōru said as he looked around, sing Date Tech's enthusiastic supporters.

  "Focus och, would you?" Iwaizumi Hajime retorted, delivering a firm kick to Oikawa's back.

  "So, Date Tech lost the first set to Karasuno, huh?" Matsukawa Issei said quietly, his eyes fixed on the scoreboard. "Once Karasuheir rhythm, they be terrifying to face."

  Hanamaki Takahiro casually plopped down onto a seat and ented, "Think they'll just take the sed set in one go?"

  "It probably won't be the same as the first set," Coach Irihata interjected suddenly. "Date Tech specializes in blog. It all es down to how they limit Karasuno's offence."

  "Yes, sir!"

  [Karasuno vs. Date Tech. The sed set began.]

  Karasuno High's lineup:

  Front row—Wing Spiker Ryūnosuke Tanaka, Middle Blocker Hinata Shōyō, Wing Spiker Daichi Sawamura.Back row—Setter Tobio Kageyama, Middle Blocker Kei Tsukishima (Libero: Nishinoya Yū), Wing Spiker Asahi Azumane.

  Date Tech High's lineup:

  Front row—Outside Hitter Takehito Sasaya, Outside Hitter Kenji Futakuchi, Middle Blocker Takanobu Aone.Back row—Outside Hitter Yutaka Obara, Middle Blocker Yasushi Kamasaki aer Kaname Moniwa.(Libero: Kōsuke Sakunami).

  "Oh? Karasuno's formation looks a little different from the first set," Sadayuki Mizoguchi remarked, refereng the opening lineup he'd asked other pyers to note down earlier.

  "pared to the first set, Karasuno's rotation has shifted back two positions," Coach Irihata observed thoughtfully. "It's likely because Date Tech's blog has started interfering with Karasuno's 'freak quick' attacks."

  "In the first set, Karasuno seemed to prioritize their stro receiving lineup for the opening. That way, even if their spikers were blocked, they could still recover the ball and attempt a sed attack."

  "But Date Tech's front line probably mao disrupt Karasuno's quick attacks, f them to adapt and position their shorter pyer—Hinata—away from their stro blockers."

  That adjustment, however, meant the pressure would now shift to Karasuno's 'new face'—the tall middle blocker…

  Karasuno's Ryūnosuke Tanaka served the ball, sending it ly over the . Date Tech's libero, Kosuke Sakunami, received it effortlessly.

  "Nice receive, Sakunami!" Moniwa Kaname called out, direg the ball toward the right side of the .

  Takehito Sasaya swung into a, spiking the ball past two Karasuno blockers.

  Smack!

  Yū Nishinoya perfectly received the ball, keeping it in py.

  Shōyō Hinata immediately began to run, and for a split sed, Date Tech's blockers seemed caught off guard.

  Tobio Kageyama leapt into the air, poised to set the ball. His form was fwless—so perfect that no one could predict which spiker he would pass to.

  Whoosh!

  The ball shot toward Shōyō Hinata.

  At the same time, Takanobu Aone and Kenji Futakuchi stepped forward, leaping swiftly to block.

  Smack!

  Hinata Shōyō's spike was mercilessly blocked a back by Date Tech.

  Date Tech scores with a block!

  [Karasuno 0 - 1 Date Tech]

  "Huh? I thought Hinata had already shaken off the blockers," Kindaichi muttered, recalling some unpleasant memories.

  "So that's a 'read-a block'? The blockers jump only after seeing the setter's toss," Taichi Kaedehara said, watg in disbelief. It was his first time witnessing such a teique, and it was remarkable that it could effectively shut down such a fast attack.

  "That's right," Coach Irihata praised Taichi, sensing that his theoretical uanding of volleyball had improved.

  "The oppos we've faced before usually rely on what's called 'guess blog.' They jump based ohey predict the toss will go."

  "But Date Tech uses a pure 'read-a' block. Their blockers only jump ohey see the dire of the set. That means they're much less likely to fall for decoys or fakes."

  "Coach, I learn that?" Kindaichi asked, still bitter about how Karasuno's "freak quick" had outpyed him in the past. This blog method seemed like something worth trying.

  Coach Irihata paused for a moment before replying, "I'm afraid not. This kind of blog is slower to initiate than guess blog. To catch up to the spiker's attack, it demands even more from the blockers—height, speed, aion time."

  Notig that Kaedehara seemed equally intrigued, Coach Irihata added, "Height, speed, vertical jump—none of those be g. her of you currently has the physical attributes to pull it off."

  Kindaichi sighed i. But Taiodded to himself, as if making a silent promise: I'll wait until I'm stronger.

  The match tinued. After Hinata Shōyō rotated to the back row, Karasuno's offeruggled even more. Asahi Azumane was uo break through Date Tech's formidable defense.

  The score reached [Karasuno 4 - 7 Date Tech].

  "Karasuno hasn't had a single opportunity for a attack….It's like they're just barely esg Date Tech's blocks," said team manager Sadayuki Mizoguchi, his expression grim as he analyzed the match.

  "At this rate, Date Tech should have no problem taking the sed set," someone murmured.

  Coach Irihata leaned forward, his eyes locked on the court.

  "Turning a point that should have beloo the oppo into one of your own—that shatters the enemy's fidend boosts your team's morale."

  "The stro defence is also the fastest offehis is 'The Iron Wall of Date Tech.'"

  Coach Irihata had long sidered Date Tee of Aoba Johsai's biggest obstacles, so he had studied their strategies iail. However, something about the current game felt….odd. Karasuno might be falling behind, but there was no trace of pani their faces.

  Date Tech served.

  With Nishinoya Yū in the back row, Karasuno's serve reception remained solid, giving Kageyama Tobio ample time to sider his move.

  A, Kageyama chose the most direct option.

  Hinata Shōyō sprio the far right side of the court, with Aoakanobu hot on his heels.

  "It's a decht? Didn't they just block his quick attack?"

  Whoosh!

  Amid the murmurs and doubts from the crowd, Kageyama still set the ball toward Hinata Shōyō.

  "They've got him!"

  Date Tech's Kenji Futakuchi reized the toss dire and quickly moved to support Aone, f a double block.

  Their bined height made it easy to match Hinata's jump.

  But in their rush, a feared in their positioning: a small gap had opened between their blog hands, just wide enough for a volleyball to pass through.

  In midair, Hinata Shōyō's sharp eyes locked onto that gap.

  The ball reached him precisely where he , as if guided by an invisible thread.

  Smack!

  The volleyball bsted through Date Tech's double block, hitting the court behind them—an undefended spot.

  Hinata Shōyō scores!

  _________

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