Chapter 47: Offensive and Defensive Tug of War
After Mori's standing float serve successfully executed a pinpoint attack on Nagamatsu Yumeto's movement speed, the score reached 3:1.
With consecutive points, Yukigaoka had opened up a 2-point lead. Fortunately, the match had only just begun, and the best-of-five format had much higher error tolerance than the previous best-of-three matches.
So the morale of Kosen Academy's players on court, aside from a brief slump at the opening, had never hit another low point since.
Although the current situation on court was unfavorable for them, every Kosen player still maintained vigorous fighting spirit and strong competitive drive.
All of this was taken in by Mori, who stood in the service area.
Without complaints or any small gestures like pursed lips, Mori simply wiped the sweat beads from his chin with the back of his hand, avoiding sweat dripping on the court and preventing his ball-handling palms from getting wet.
'Not being shaken in fighting spirit by my serves—very normal, as expected.'
'How could there be decisive moves when the game has just started? Based on my assessment of both teams' strength, decisive moves won't appear until at least the middle game—starting from the third set.'
'Whether it'll be a 2-0 dominant victory or a 1-1 fight for three sets is hard to say.'
'But no need to think about that for now. While maintaining the big picture view, seizing every current point is the most important thing.'
Mori's thoughts moved quickly, but he didn't continue pondering how the next few moves would play out. Instead, his expression became serious as he adjusted his attention and focused on the current second serve.
'Consistently punishing the opposing second-year blocker is what I need to focus on at this stage.'
His gaze moved swiftly, focusing on Nagamatsu Yumeto in the opposite corner, clearly telling the opposition: I'm targeting your attacker—break it if you can.
For Mori, directly scoring with serves would naturally be best, but if that wasn't possible, disrupting the first touch rhythm or forcing the opposing setter to handle the first touch would also be good results. The worst outcome would be the opposition receiving it easily.
Therefore, targeting Nagamatsu Yumeto with serves was the only means to achieve the above favorable situations.
"Everyone step forward one step! Prepare for overhand passing!"
The number 7 wing spiker commanded the entire team's movement with one sentence, while also catching the flaw in Mori's serve.
Kosen Academy's excellent response speed was the essence of this move. Like battle-hardened veterans, their trust in the number 7 wing spiker and years of accumulated training made all of Kosen move forward one step in unison like an honor guard, while simultaneously raising both hands to a position one inch higher than usual.
Don't underestimate this one inch—when receiving float serves, this inch could save a point.
'Too fast!'
The number 7's timely countermeasure and Kosen's extremely quick response speed completely shattered Mori's dream of scoring several more points. Fortunately, Mori's reaction speed wasn't slow either. The moment the opposition made their responsive call, he realized he needed to attack quickly and decisively sent out the float serve.
Unfortunately, although this float serve was sent just as they stepped forward, trying to catch them while their footing was unsteady, Mori's serve power was indeed insufficient—the ball speed was lacking considerably. By the time the serve crossed the net, Kosen Academy's players had already stabilized their center of gravity and could adjust at any time.
Nagamatsu Yumeto was ready and waiting. That forward step had already given him enough time. With a gentle lift of both hands, the volleyball lost its floating power and spun as it flew above Kosen's setter.
A quick attack—Kosen's number 7 spiked the ball against Kawashima's defense. If it were a different formation, this quick attack could easily tear through any first-year's defense.
Unfortunately, currently occupying Yukigaoka's middle blocking position was Ichise Guren, whose powerful reaction speed, height, reach, and jumping speed made his help defense speed and defensive range extraordinarily large.
Even starting from behind, needing to chase the ball while blocking, Ichise Guren still arrived first despite starting last. His extremely long reach and terrifying jumping ability allowed him to block this ball that Kosen was determined to score with his hands above Kawashima's raised hands.
The score reached 4:1.
The number 7's gaze shifted from the volleyball that had landed on their side of the court to the expressionless Ichise Guren.
'Damn it, this guy's defensive range is way too large. Not only does he jump high, but he's also fast at running and jumping.'
'The real-life version of Sakuragi Hanamichi? What a physical monster.'
But the next ball, Mori served into the net, directly giving Kosen Academy a point and somewhat relieving the tension of Kosen's players.
The current score was 4:2, with the gap back to 2 points.
Possession changed, and now another tall player stepped into Kosen's service area—Kosen's number 7.
Kosen's number 7 calmly examined Yukigaoka's defensive formation, choosing not to target Hinata Shoyo and Suzuki as breakthrough points, despite them showing certain receiving abilities in previous matches or game footage.
Instead, he chose tit-for-tat to target the setter in the back row sideline—Mori.
This wasn't a choice driven by personal emotion or to boost morale, but a selection based on serving effectiveness.
Based on past experience, Mori's setting ability wasn't weak, yet he was still a first-year. Uncommon setting ability necessarily meant requiring certain training time.
For middle school students whose daily training wouldn't exceed four hours, with an average training duration of only 2.5 hours, Mori must have sacrificed part of his receiving practice time.
That meant Mori's receiving ability might be the weakest or among the weakest on Yukigaoka's entire team.
Even if the judgment was wrong, without their setter, Yukigaoka couldn't possibly produce more comfortable sets than Mori's.
The volleyball thrown high, combined with carefully trained footwork—Kosen's number 7's powerful swing in the air precisely controlled the volleyball, rapidly bombarding toward Mori's defensive area.
The result was as Kosen's number 7 had expected. Mori's receiving ability was quite good compared to first-years, but still hadn't reached the excellent standard for middle school level.
The volleyball was received without incident, though it had certain height, it completely lost accuracy, staying far from the net and making spiking impossible.
Ichise Guren, silently scorned Kosen number 7's underhanded serve in his heart.
'Can't you learn from me and just use power?'
A jumping two-handed set, high and strong to Hyakuzawa Yudai.
Aside from Mori, only Ichise Guren's setting ability in Yukigaoka was passable, and his coordination with cousin Hyakuzawa Yudai wasn't weak either.
"Take this point!"
Ichise Guren shouted to Hyakuzawa Yudai while passing the ball.
Receiving his cousin's call, Hyakuzawa Yudai didn't hesitate. Having predicted that Ichise Guren would make a quick attack set, he was already airborne, using his massive frame to deliver a powerful strike.
A slight collision sound rang out. Kosen's number 1's fingers, blocking in the air, swelled slightly, but before landing he shouted:
"One touch!!"
Hyakuzawa Yudai looked at the opposing blockers with surprise, somewhat puzzled how they had followed so closely this time, jumping almost simultaneously and successfully making contact with the spiked ball.
But the smiles of number 7 and number 1 proclaimed [We already anticipated you'd have this move]**.
It turned out the coaching staff, after repeatedly watching Yukigaoka's previous match footage, had confirmed that when Mori handled the first touch and lacked a setter, Yukigaoka's cousin duo would execute high-and-strong aerial quick attacks.
Thus they issued the directive: 'If the opposing setter is forced to handle the first touch, you must closely watch those two tall guys.'
'The opposing coaching staff is pretty capable, huh!'
Ichise Guren's previously expressionless face now carried a trace of displeasure.
The ball, whose spike power had been reduced by the touch, was easily received by Kosen's libero, who began organizing their own offense.