"What kind of monster is that? He can attack from the back row too!?"
"And that power... it doesn't even feel human."
When Kuroo saw that Hank, positioned in the back row, could still launch an attack like that, he immediately began reassessing him. Hank really was incredibly strong. As expected of Aoba Johsai's ace, he was nowhere near as simple as he looked.
"It had to be luck. There's no way that pretty-boy is actually that strong!"
Taketora said stubbornly. Even though he was forcing himself to stay calm, his trembling hands were telling him the truth. If Hank's spike came flying at him again, he might lose it again.
The power behind it was just too overwhelming, and Hank's jumping ability didn't seem human at all.
"Taketora, Inuoka, get ready to block."
"As long as we can get a touch and slow his shot down a little, the pressure on our receivers will drop a lot."
Kenma spoke in a low voice, his catlike eyes constantly tracking Aoba Johsai's movements on the court, as if he were trying to find the flaw in their game.
"Leave it to me!"
Inuoka held both hands in front of his chest, his face full of determination. His job now was to lock onto Hank and make sure he didn't get another chance to unleash a full-power spike.
...
"Give us a good serve, Hank!"
As the match went on, Aoba Johsai had already opened up a 5–1 lead in the current set, and in sets they were already ahead 1–0 after taking the first set.
Aoba Johsai held an absolute advantage, and now Hank, who had already scored several points in a row off his serve, stepped up to the service line again. Watching him continue to pile up points, everyone on Nekoma started feeling an inexplicable pressure.
What was going on...?
The match had already been going on for quite a while, yet they still had no answer for Hank's serve. In a single rotation, they had already given up fourteen points to him alone!
His strength was absurdly overwhelming, so strong that it hardly felt real.
Did that guy really never make mistakes?
If they let him keep going like this, the match would be put away before long.
"Hiss—!"
Just as Hank was about to serve again, Nekoma's coach finally called a time-out. But this time, instead of discussing tactics, they made a substitution.
The No. 3 libero from the bench came in for the player wearing No. 12.
Making a switch like that so early in the match was definitely enough to leave people confused, but the game still had to continue. There was no room to relax.
"So he's finally here... Yaku."
"Kuroo alone can't handle the serve from their No. 23. From here on out, we're counting on you."
After glancing at the No. 3 libero, Yaku, Kenma's expression didn't change much, but inwardly he felt much more at ease. Nekoma High was known for its receiving, and as the team's libero, Yaku naturally had extremely solid receiving fundamentals.
After graduation, he would even go on to join Japan's national team.
That alone was enough to show just how strong his defense was. His skill was already masterful, to the point that he could be called the soul of Nekoma.
Among players of the same generation, practically no one could match him in receiving.
"Yeah, I saw."
"I won't mess it up like he did."
Yaku spoke calmly, then began getting ready. At the net, Kuroo's face immediately darkened.
What had that guy just said!?
Was he looking down on him?
"They subbed in another player? A last-second change?"
"He doesn't look simple. He seems more confident than their previous libero."
Watching Yaku take the court, Oikawa could not help analyzing him. He did not seem like a backup libero at all. If anything, he looked more like their real starting player... which only made it even stranger.
Why had their starting libero not been on the court from the very beginning?
"In a moment, you'll see what real receiving looks like... volleyball is, at its core, a sport of receiving."
"As long as the ball doesn't hit the floor, the match isn't over."
Coach Nekomata spoke in an intentionally mysterious tone. Then he turned to look at Coach Irihata, his eyes full of anticipation. He wanted to see whether Aoba Johsai's prized ace could break through a fully grown cat.
For a Miyagi powerhouse like Aoba Johsai, this was probably their first time facing a team built almost entirely around receiving.
Nothing had been decided yet. Even though Aoba Johsai was ahead on the scoreboard, they still had not won the match itself. Everything still had to be treated seriously. They could not afford to underestimate their opponent.
"Uooooooh!"
After that rhythmic shout rang out, Hank's jump float serve flew straight into Nekoma's back row. But just before the ball dropped, Yaku, who had only just entered the match, dropped to one knee and cleanly received Hank's serve.
(End of Chapter)
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