Chapter 32: Excellent
The score had reached 2-0. Yukigaoka Middle School had scored right from the opening, and it was still Yukigaoka's serve.
Looking at Goshiki across the net, whose eyes flickered with intense desire, Ichise Guren couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
'Truly worthy of being the successor to Ushiwaka that Coach Washijo has his eye on. His reaction is completely different from ordinary people.'
'In that case...'
'Let's continue!'
Ichise Guren raised the volleyball with his left hand, signaling to the referee that he was ready to serve.
Then he pressed the muscles of his left arm with his right hand, adjusting his left arm's condition slightly.
The ball was tossed up, he ran up and jumped.
His right hand exploded with tremendous kinetic energy in an instant, once again.
A sound wave that echoed throughout the entire venue exploded above the court.
The volleyball tore through the air, carrying unstoppable impact force as it attacked toward Goshiki.
This was Ichise Guren's response to Goshiki's intense fighting spirit.
'I won't be serving at anyone else, you know that, right!'
And Goshiki showed no sign of surprise. Obviously, he clearly understood that as a strong player, when faced with provocation, one must strike back fiercely.
Unlike a coach or setter who needs to control the overall situation, who must put team victory above personal glory for the sake of winning.
As the team's ace, he was qualified to be willful in the match—he just had to bear the consequences and responsibility of that willfulness.
As for Ichise Guren, he simply felt that even if Goshiki received the ball, Shiratorizawa still wouldn't defeat Yukigaoka.
Or rather, he didn't think the Yukigaoka system he had built with his own hands would be defeated by a middle school team within Miyagi Prefecture. With himself as the core, paired with Yudai who had grown up with him since childhood, plus Hinata Shoyo who had a strong presence and could now execute A-quick attacks with any setter.
Combined with role players who could do their jobs and provide some assistance to the main attackers, plus a stable libero.
This lineup had basically determined the moment the Yukigaoka system took shape.
They could make it to the national tournament.
'Of course I know that!'
Goshiki knew he hadn't been wrong—this ball was coming straight for him.
This time, his eyes clearly saw the volleyball's trajectory, and his hands had already started moving in advance, getting into position, just waiting for Ichise Guren's serve to arrive.
Watching the volleyball get closer and closer, Goshiki still hadn't moved.
'Damn it! Move already!!'
In his focused state, his thoughts were too fast, and his hands had moved with anticipation. However, Goshiki's feet clearly hadn't kept up with the rhythm of the rest of his body.
"Ah!"
A roar of anger.
Goshiki's adrenaline was rapidly mobilized. His feet, which had been trained hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of times, finally moved at the instant the volleyball was about to hit the ground.
With a lightning-fast lateral step, Goshiki—so tense that his lips were pressed tight—made a diving save, getting the ball up before it hit the ground.
But he ended up in a prone position due to this save. Though Goshiki got up as quickly as possible, he still couldn't join the attack in time.
Because he hadn't had his approach run, and to save the ball he had dug up, Shiratorizawa's setter could only make another dive to get the ball up to the net.
Forget the approach run—even if Goshiki had gotten up and immediately sprinted to the net, the volleyball might have already hit the ground.
So Shiratorizawa's middle blocker could only force an attack against the wall formed by Hyakuzawa Yudai and Hinata Shoyo.
As luck would have it, the pass was already extremely forced due to the awkward setting motion, resulting in completely insufficient height, and the middle blocker's approach and jump couldn't perform at their proper level due to rhythm issues.
This spike happened to hit Hyakuzawa Yudai's upper arm.
Creating a perfect deflection.
So Goshiki, who had been slightly dejected just moments before, immediately brightened up.
Raising his hand, he shouted loudly:
"One more ball!"
Though it was a lucky deflection, the trajectory and speed were both very comfortable.
Shiratorizawa's other middle blocker delivered an extremely high-quality first pass—the angle, direction, and force were exactly what Shirabu Kenjirou loved most.
"Nice ball!"
The frustration of being scored on twice by Ichise Guren now transformed into motivation to play this ball well.
"Goshiki-senpai!"
Eyes locked on the volleyball descending through the air, getting into position, he delivered a practically perfect set with both hands.
Seeing this ball from across the net, Mori felt his hair stand on end.
'How much practice would it take to deliver a set like that?'
'Such strong fundamentals!'
Though Mori felt somewhat envious and admiring in his heart, he didn't spend too much mental energy on it. He quickly shifted his gaze to Goshiki, moving his feet to Hyakuzawa Yudai's side, ready at any moment to face the spike from the opposing ace.
"Great set! Shirabu!"
Goshiki began to get excited. With such an amazing set, I absolutely must score this point!
While watching the volleyball's trajectory, he also quickly glanced at Ichise Guren.
'I admit, I'm no match for you in serving.'
'But in spiking! I absolutely won't give up easily!'
'Here it comes!'
Goshiki counted the volleyball's falling speed, then took his first step, followed immediately by fluid running motion.
As if he had practiced it countless times, Goshiki ran a slightly curved approach route.
And this route was caught by both Mori beside Hinata Shoyo and Hyakuzawa Yudai.
The two quickly exchanged glances, then confirmed their thoughts.
"3, 2, 1!"
The instant Mori called out the jumping command, he and Hyakuzawa Yudai immediately switched positions, then jumped.
Based on the two official matches and countless practice games that Hyakuzawa Yudai and Mori had played together, the information they had just captured indicated that Goshiki's approach route was for a cross-court spike.
But the two still didn't dare to be certain, afraid it might be Goshiki's deception. So after exchanging glances, seeing Goshiki's body orientation after takeoff was also for a cross-court spike.
The two quickly switched blocking positions, with Hyakuzawa Yudai—who had the highest blocking reach—going to shut down the cross-court spike that Goshiki was about to execute.
Even if they had fallen for the opponent's deception, the line shot would still be blocked by Hinata Shoyo, who had exceptional jumping ability, so it could still be effective.
But the two in mid-air suddenly thought to themselves: 'This guy!'
Both clearly saw the mischievous smile on Goshiki's face, and immediately knew they had still been tricked.
Meanwhile, Goshiki on the other side of the net thought: 'I knew that if someone saw my route and orientation, they would definitely come to block my cross-court spike."
'Just kidding!'
'I've used this move countless times. How could a little kid who's not even 170cm tall possibly block me!'
'WHAT!'
Just as he was about to execute his signature spike—the fake cross-court, hit line—Goshiki was shocked to discover that Hinata Shoyo, whom he had completely dismissed.
His current blocking height was not much lower than Goshiki's spiking height.
Though it wasn't as high as his, the distance between them wasn't far enough.
If he tried to execute a downward spiking trajectory, he would definitely be blocked hard by Hinata Shoyo.
'Crap! I jumped too far forward!'
'I can only push through!'
Cornered by Hinata Shoyo's block, Goshiki was forced to spike toward Hinata Shoyo's right side, this attack that should have been a sure thing.
BANG!
The line judge didn't raise his flag.
"Nice one, Goshiki!"
"Beautifully done!"
Forced into a corner, Goshiki had actually executed an exquisitely precise line shot that barely caught the line.
The point was valid.
The score became 2-1.
With an unrepeatable line shot that barely caught the edge, Goshiki broke the situation where he had been suppressed by Ichise Guren from the opening.
He successfully added a miraculous shot to his volleyball career.
"Ahahahahaha!"
"I'm the ace! How could a little shorty, no matter how high he jumps, possibly block me!!!"
Though feeling somewhat guilty, Goshiki, who had been suppressed for two rallies, began to laugh. He tried to use loud laughter to cover up his guilt.
After all, one lucky deflection, one miraculous line shot.
Without either of these balls, the next rotation would still be the opponent's serve.
'Damn it! I was saved by luck this time. Next time, I must win back with pure skill, fair and square.'
Goshiki, with his back to the net, was gathered with his teammates celebrating their team's point.
Secretly, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Meanwhile, on the blocking side, Hinata Shoyo was grinding his teeth in frustration.
"Damn bowl cut! Next time I'll definitely block your spike hard!"
Mori and Hyakuzawa Yudai just looked helpless.
They had prepared for both possibilities yet still couldn't suppress the opponent's momentum. This truly was a case of doing everything humanly possible, but heaven not cooperating.
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