How could the National Championship Finals ever be compared to an ordinary match?
Even before today's showdown began, everyone on Aoba Johsai knew this was going to be a brutal, all-out war. But knowing something in theory and experiencing it firsthand are two very different things.
As a newly established team, Aoba Johsai's volleyball club had never made it this far, not even qualifying for Nationals before, let alone reaching the finals.
Which is why even their coach, Nobuteru Irihata, didn't truly grasp the weight of what a "battle to the death" really meant.
Before the match, they had claimed, "We'll give it everything we've got."
But looking back, that was a bit of an overstatement.
Because in the end, this was still just a match, not something worth dying over.
But the truth is, everything short of dying can, and will, be thrown into the arena during a national final.
That... is what "battle to the death" really means.
And because they underestimated it, Aoba Johsai paid the price in the second set.
After falling behind by two points, Irihata quickly sent Akashi Asuka back onto the court, and once again, Akashi didn't disappoint. With unstoppable momentum, he racked up five points in a row.
But even that wasn't enough.
Despite Akashi's brilliance, the score gap didn't close.
Because in this second set, Kamomedai High had thrown out all hesitation. They had gone to war, every single point was a life-or-death struggle.
Tactics?
Formations?
Energy management?
None of that mattered anymore. They abandoned it all, even their own safety.
When the score reached 16–18, Akashi launched a devastating spike straight at Korai Hoshiumi, knocking him off his feet.
But just before hitting the ground, Hoshiumi managed to dig the ball back up.
The ball shot into the air, toward the first-floor stands.
Normally, a ball like that would be declared dead.
Because it's not just about distance, the problem is terrain. The stands are uneven, the risk of injuring both players and spectators is far too high. Most players would've let it go.
But not this time.
Aikichi Suwa, Kamomedai's captain and setter, didn't hesitate for a second.
He dove headfirst into the stands.
Four spectators were knocked over on the spot. Blood streamed from Suwa's forehead as he stood up, but he didn't even flinch.
Without even wiping the blood away, he sprinted back to the court.
Only after seeing his team win that point did Suwa finally notice his own injury.
The referee called an emergency timeout.
But it lasted less than a minute.
Suwa returned almost immediately, a rough bandage wrapped around his head. It was clear, there had been no real check-up, just a quick patch-up job before he rushed back in.
That alone was intense.
But what truly shook Aoba Johsai… was that even Kamomedai's 68-year-old coach silently allowed it.
That… was the true horror.
In that moment, Aoba Johsai finally understood what kind of battlefield the national finals really were.
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"Looks like starting next year, we've got another dangerous rival to deal with."
In the stands, players from powerhouse schools like Itachiyama, Inarizaki, Fukurodani, and Mujigasaka watched the match closely.
When they saw Aikichi Suwa return to the court bandaged and bleeding, none of them looked surprised.
Because to them, this was normal.
This is what a national final should look like.
If Suwa had actually gone off for a proper medical check instead? That's when they'd have been shocked.
Instead, what really drew their attention was Aoba Johsai.
Because with Akashi Asuka, Aoba Johsai already had the foundation to become a top-tier school.
But a single foundation stone isn't enough to build a dynasty.
High school isn't pro volleyball.
No matter how incredible Akashi is, in two years, he'll graduate.
To create a powerhouse that endures across generations, you need more than just talent. You need a spiritual core, a culture that can be passed down.
Style.
Philosophy.
Spirit.
Experience.
These are the true materials needed to build an elite national program.
And before all that, every top-level school must first understand one basic, non-negotiable truth:
The National Tournament is a battlefield of cruelty.
Most teams learn this the hard way during their first appearance at Nationals.
But Aoba Johsai?
It's hard to say whether they're lucky or unlucky.
In their first-ever Nationals, they made the Top 8.
Now, in only their second appearance, they've reached the finals.
So while Aoba Johsai's players had experienced the difficulty and pressure of Nationals… they hadn't truly tasted its cruelty.
Until now.
After this match, that lesson would be burned into them.
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As a regional powerhouse, Aoba Johsai already had their style, their philosophy, and a volleyball culture worth passing on.
And with Akashi only in his first year, there were two more years for him to help shape and nurture the next generation.
So really, it was just a matter of time.
In the near future, Aoba Johsai was destined to become one of Japan's top high school programs.
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With their awakening, Aoba Johsai finally stepped into the reality of the finals.
So for the rest of the match, even though they couldn't close the gap on Kamomedai, they never backed down.
The second set pushed both teams to their limits.
Point after point.
Rally after rally.
Until the final score read: 29–31.
Kamomedai had taken the set.
The match score was now tied at 1–1.
As both teams returned to their benches, the players were gasping for breath, chests rising and falling, sweat dripping from their jaws.
Even the spectators could feel the exhaustion in the air.
But between the two teams, Aoba Johsai seemed to have the slight edge in stamina.
Because while Kamomedai had fought all-out from the beginning of the second set, Aoba Johsai had only truly awakened two-thirds of the way in.
"That third set's looking dangerous for Kamomedai."
"Yeah, they're definitely at a stamina disadvantage now. But in a final like this, no one can say for sure who'll win until the very last point."
At this level, stamina, tactics, and skill all matter.
But none of them alone can decide the outcome.
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria