Haikyuu: Rise of Sengoku
Chapter 80: End of the First Set
After the timeout, Akashi Asuka returned to the court, but his first serve resulted in an error, costing Aoba Johsai a point.
Score: 5–4.
However, in the very next rally, after Shiratorizawa served, Tooru Oikawa caught everyone off guard with a surprise setter dump, reclaiming the two-point lead.
Next serve.
This time Aoba Johsai was serving, giving Shiratorizawa control of the attack.
After a cleverly disguised setup, the ball once again ended up with Goshiki Tsutomu. However, he didn't aim for Akashi Asuka this time, opting for a standard spike instead.
As the only first-year among Shiratorizawa's starting lineup, Goshiki's skills were undeniable.
Although his spikes didn't have the overwhelming force of Akashi Asuka's, his technique was sharp. He managed to avoid the block by a hair and scored just before Kindaichi could reach the ball.
Score: 6–5.
"Oh? Has the little first-year finally learned his lesson? Given up already?" Oikawa teased from the front row, eyes locked on Goshiki across the net. As the crafty, manipulative type, no, tactical setter that he was, Oikawa couldn't resist taking a jab at his opponent's morale.
Unfortunately for him, Goshiki didn't seem fazed.
"I've never known the meaning of 'give up.' That just wasn't the right moment to strike." he responded coolly.
Before taking the court, Coach Washijō hadn't told Goshiki to stop challenging Akashi Asuka, only that if he chose to do it, he'd have to deal with the consequences.
After all, Coach Washijō was a man of his word. If Goshiki continued targeting Asuka, then this match was his chance, but he'd also have to accept every bit of punishment afterward.
And Goshiki wasn't someone who feared punishment.
The match pressed on.
Both teams stayed neck and neck, never more than a point or two apart. It was a back-and-forth battle all the way to Aoba Johsai's set point.
Final rally of the set.
Shiratorizawa served. Aoba Johsai received the ball cleanly, and Oikawa immediately initiated a quick offensive. After a flurry of precise passes, the ball ended up in Akashi Asuka's hands.
He soared into the air.
Facing him at the net were two blockers, Goshiki and Ohira Reon.
Smack!
Hanging in the air just long enough, Asuka aimed straight at Goshiki, blasting the ball through his arms with sheer power. The volleyball ricocheted out of bounds.
Beeeeeeep,
The sharp whistle signaled the end of the first set.
"OHHHHHHHH!!"
"Asuka, that was amazing!"
"Nice spike!"
The moment Akashi landed, the Aoba Johsai players rushed toward him, shouting and cheering, surrounding him in a wild celebration.
Their excitement was completely justified.
After all, this was the first time Aoba Johsai had ever won a set against Shiratorizawa in an official match. Even in practice games, victories were rare and only happened when Shiratorizawa was either having an off day or missing key players.
But today, against a full-power Shiratorizawa, they had taken the first set. A historic moment.
On the other side of the net, Shiratorizawa's bench was eerily quiet.
The court was silent, save for the sound of heavy breathing.
No one spoke for a long moment, until a hand slapped Goshiki's back.
"Well done. Let's give it our all in the next set."
At those words, the dazed look in Goshiki's eyes disappeared, replaced by a burning frustration.
As he had said himself earlier, he hadn't given up his challenge against Akashi Asuka, the "best Junior High Spiker."
But before he could even mount a proper challenge, he had already lost.
Asuka had targeted him multiple times throughout the set, racking up points.
Yet, this wasn't Asuka rising to a personal provocation. It was a simple strategy, Goshiki's position happened to be Shiratorizawa's weakest point on defense.
And that very fact dealt Goshiki an even deeper blow.
Back on the bench, Coach Washijō stood in front of his team, silent for a long while. Finally, he spoke:
"This practice match… I won't be giving any instructions from here on out."
The players blinked in confusion, expecting a scolding.
"Aoba Johsai has definitely strengthened with their new recruits this year," he continued. "But if we're talking sheer strength, there's no doubt, we're still the stronger team. So from this point forward, it's up to you. Win or lose, show me what you're made of."
…..
After the break, both teams returned to the court.
The moment they stepped onto the floor, Aoba Johsai's players felt it, a heavy, suffocating pressure rolling in from the other side, like the weight of a mountain.
Iwaizumi smirked slightly. "Heh. Looks like the real trouble is about to begin."
"Don't be scared, everyone." Oikawa called out, rallying his teammates. "We've already taken the first set, let's aim to end it in the second!"
Second set kickoff, Shiratorizawa served first.
They had swapped in a new player with grey hair: Eita Semi.
He was once the team's main setter, but after Shirabu Kenjiro joined, Semi was moved to the bench. Now, he served as a key tactical server.
In terms of pure passing skill, Semi actually surpassed Shirabu. But his personal style was too distinct. Coach Washijō didn't want a flashy playmaker, he wanted a tool that could maximize Ushijima Wakatoshi's power.
Semi had too many ideas of his own. That's why he was benched.
Still, Semi's serve was a powerful jump serve. It wasn't quite as fast as Ushijima, or as tricky as Oikawa's or Asuka's, but that didn't matter.
You don't need to out-serve the opponent's best server. You only need to beat their receivers.
Smack!
The ball flew over the net, landing in a deep corner of Aoba Johsai's backcourt.
Iwaizumi dove just in time to make contact, but the ball bounced awkwardly and soared back toward Shiratorizawa's side.
"Free ball!" Shirabu shouted.
But just as he moved to set the ball, a figure suddenly soared beside him, leaping high into the air and slamming it down with explosive force.
BOOM!
The ball crashed hard onto Aoba Johsai's court, then bounced off the back wall with a resounding thud before ricocheting back.
For a moment, the air on the court seemed to freeze.
==========
You can find much more on my Patreon: Patreon.com/Veltoria
There are currently 5 active fanfictions on Patreon, with over 217+ advanced chapters available across them!
From Naruto Onwards, I Control Time — Up to Chapter 212
Haikyuu!!: Rise of Sengoku — Up to Chapter 117
Danmachi: Is It Wrong To Aspire to Be An Adventurer? — Up to Chapter 55
Legend of Hogwarts (Harry Potter x League of Legends) — Up to Chapter 53
I Am Luffy: Partner System Online (One Piece) — Up to Chapter 25