Oikawa Tooru was momentarily surprised by Akashi Asuka's sudden rebound hit, but his reaction was quick. As the ball dropped, Oikawa smoothly passed it back to Akashi.
Akashi jumped into the air and smashed a powerful spike, helping Aoba Johsai secure a point and maintain their three-point lead.
15–12.
But in the very next rally, Wakatsu Kiryu unleashed a heavy hit to pull the score back to two points.
15–13.
Oikawa's lips twitched slightly. Wakatsu Kiryu's performance reminded him involuntarily of someone irritating.
From Junior High through high school, Oikawa had always been overshadowed by Ushijima Wakatoshi, only in this year's national tournament had he managed to strike back.
Still, some psychological scars aren't so easy to erase.
"This guy really gets under your skin–" Oikawa muttered.
Akashi glanced at him but said nothing, Oikawa had plenty of people he disliked; Wakatsu Kiryu was just another name on the list.
The match went on.
Mujinazaka served; Aoba attacked.
Akashi was heavily guarded now, so trying to use him again so soon was risky. But without Akashi, Aoba's offense lacked some firepower.
Oikawa's mind raced.
Sweat trickled down his cheeks as his face took on a faintly unnatural pale tint, though his intense focus seemed unaware of this.
When the ball was passed to Oikawa, Mujinazaka's frontcourt defenders froze, only reacting the moment Oikawa sent the ball flying toward Kindaichi's direction.
But the ball actually went straight to Akashi.
Smash!
Rarely gifted with an open court, Akashi immediately launched a powerful spike that landed inside Mujinazaka's court.
The Mujinazaka players were stunned.
Oikawa, facing Mujinazaka's substitute setter, smirked, "Since our 'ace' is clearly being guarded, I'm not passing to him anymore... That's what you're thinking, right?"
Across the net, Mujinazaka's sub setter's calm expression finally flickered.
"You're bold."
"Heh~"
Oikawa's lips curved into a cold smile. "Isn't that obvious? I love playing guessing games. Want to bet again?"
────────── ✦ ──────────
The sub setter had no answer, because after that point, Mujinazaka swapped him back out.
No doubt about it.
In this mental duel just between setters, Oikawa had decisively won.
Whether it was Usuri's traps or the sub setter's calculations, Oikawa saw through and dismantled them all.
Unfortunately, a setter's battle isn't as flashy as an ace's exchange, there's no bloodshed or dramatic clashes, everything ends quietly.
So not even the commentators could guarantee what had just happened.
Only top-level setters like Akaashi Keiji from elite schools caught glimpses of the action.
16–13.
Oikawa helped Aoba maintain their three-point lead.
But as the match progressed, holding that lead became tougher.
After the break, Michiru Usuri calmed down and stopped playing tricks, instead battling with straightforward strength.
Suddenly, the situation turned very unfavorable for Aoba.
Without cunning tactics, Usuri couldn't shatter their mindset early, but he could steadily claim every point.
────────── ✦ ──────────
Wakatsu Kiryu's heavy hit, Mujinazaka scored.
16–14.
────────── ✦ ──────────
Oikawa seized a chance for a setter attack.
17–14.
────────── ✦ ──────────
Wakatsu Kiryu's heavy hit, Mujinazaka scored.
17–15.
────────── ✦ ──────────
Akashi's tactical hit took advantage of a gap behind Mujinazaka's two front defenders and scored a difficult point.
18–15.
────────── ✦ ──────────
Wakatsu Kiryu's heavy hit, Mujinazaka scored.
18–16.
────────── ✦ ──────────
Oikawa and Akashi coordinated with Akashi as bait and Hanamaki Takahiro attacking, but Mujinazaka's libero caught it, switching defense and offense.
Wakatsu Kiryu's heavy hit, Mujinazaka scored.
18–17.
Faced with Mujinazaka's solid and steady play, Aoba felt a completely different pressure than before.
Before, Mujinazaka was like a suddenly erupting volcano, formidable but possible to avoid if you found shelter.
Now, Mujinazaka was like a sealed steam room, harmless at first, but if it kept up, like a frog in warming water, defeat would suddenly explode.
Just now, a small mistake shrank Aoba's lead from three points to one.
And every point Mujinazaka scored was unstoppable, while every point Aoba won required full tactics and extreme effort.
────────── ✦ ──────────
In the blink of an eye,
The score was tied at 23–23.
The only advantage Aoba had left was the serve.
Sweating heavily, Oikawa barely passed the ball to Akashi, but immediately Mujinazaka's middle blocker rushed up.
After long surveillance, Mujinazaka's "Twin Towers" had fully adapted to Akashi's rhythm.
Now, once Akashi received the ball, they had over a 70% chance to predict his attack direction in advance.
A towering block stood ahead like a giant fortress, blocking Akashi's straight line.
If Akashi tried a cross-court shot, other players were waiting to pounce.
In an instant,
Akashi was trapped again.
Mujinazaka's defense was truly amazing.
Since Akashi and Oikawa began cooperating, the number of block crises they faced far exceeded any before.
Aoba's players' faces darkened.
But in the face of this danger, Akashi felt calm inside.
That feeling from the final moments against Fukurodani yesterday returned.
Then, inspired, Akashi calmly aimed at the tip of Unnan Keisuke's right hand and launched a spike...
==========
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