"Has the first round of matches on Court C ended?"

"Looks like it. The next match should be Mujinazaka's."

"Mujinazaka? You mean that Kiryū Wakatsu from Kyushu?"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's head over!"

Two high school students chatted as they hurried toward Court C.

Inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, this was a familiar scene. As matches concluded, spectators roamed the venue in search of their favourite teams.

Today, with so many powerhouses competing, fans moved swiftly, eager not to miss the action.

At this moment, in the rest area of Court C, a towering, broad-shouldered young man stood watching the court with a solemn expression. His shaven head glistened under the gymnasium lights, and his powerful frame emanated an intimidating presence.

"The crowd seems to be growing. Are they all here to watch me play?"

A flicker of doubt crossed his face.

"Wait, no. Maybe they're here for Aoba Johsai. I haven't heard of them before, but they did defeat Hoshikawa High in the previous round. If I recall correctly, they're representing Miyagi Prefecture…so they must've taken down Shiratorizawa?"

His sharp gaze darkened further.

"Does that mean they defeated Ushijima? Damn it, are they trying to rise in the shadows and steal the spotlight?!"

The towering young man groaned internally as some spectators began to leave the stands.

"Wait, they are not leaving because they aren't interested in my match, are they?"@@novelbin@@

This imposing figure, standing at 188.3 cm with an air of authority, was none other than Kiryū Wakatsu, the ace of Mujinazaka High School.

Yet, behind his stern exterior hid a meticulous and surprisingly self-conscious mind.

"Kiryū-senpai, is something bothering you?"

The voice came from Usuri Michiru, Mujinazaka's second-year setter, who approached with a cheerful grin and a light bounce in his step.

"!!!"

Kiryū flinched, startled by the sudden intrusion. "Of course not!"

"That's good to hear. As always, today's Kiryū-senpai is the strongest!" Usuri clenched his fist enthusiastically, his positivity unwavering.

"Tch, as if I need your reassurance…" Kiryū muttered, straightening up and feigning composure.

The referee's whistle echoed sharply, signalling the beginning of warm-ups. Both teams stepped onto the court, and the crowd's energy rose with anticipation.

Aoba Johsai's players entered with an air of confidence, their crisp white-and-blue uniforms standing out under the lights. However, to Kiryū Wakatsu, their demeanor seemed anything but innocent.

To his eyes, the Seijoh players looked like a bunch of troublemakers.

Three of them—Oikawa Tōru, Kaedehara Taichi, and Yahaba Shigeru—wore what he perceived as mocking smirks (though, in reality, they were merely smiling).

Two others, Kindaichi Yūtarō and Kyōtani Kentarō, carried an almost feral energy with their intense expressions.

The rest of the team, maintaining their composure, appeared stoic and indifferent.

"Are they here to play volleyball or pick a fight?" Kiryū couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Meanwhile:

"Wow, Taichi, Mujinazaka's players are huge!"

Kindaichi's wide-eyed observation immediately betrayed his simple-minded nature.

Taichi glanced at Mujinazaka's lineup. "You're not wrong," he admitted. But then he noticed Vice-Captain Iwaizumi Hajime's face darken slightly—clearly unimpressed by Kindaichi's lack of subtlety.

Aoba Johsai's overall height was already above average for a high school team.

However, Mujinazaka matched them in average height and even boasted two players who stood out—Yunnan Keisuke and Nozomu Mami, both towering over 190 cm. The duo had earned the nickname 'Mujinazaka's Twin Towers' for their imposing presence as middle blockers.

As warm-ups commenced, Taichi quietly analyzed the opposing team from the sidelines. His focused gaze didn't go unnoticed by Mujinazaka's players.

"That's the first-year everyone's been talking about lately," murmured Usuri Michiru.

Positioning himself in front of Kiryū, he locked eyes with Taichi, attempting to intimidate him. But Taichi remained unperturbed, continuing to gather information.

[Player Stats – Mujinazaka High School]

[Kiryū Wakatsu – Outside Hitter(Ace). Overall Ability Rating: 92.5, Height: 188.3 cm, Power: 99, Jump: 90, Stamina: 90, Speed: 85. Key Traits: Spike: 99

, Serve: 99, Receive: 94, Set: 90.]

Another Hexagonal Monster!

Taichi's thoughts raced.

"His strength rivals Ushijima Wakatoshi's, though his physical endurance and speed are quite a bit weaker. On the other hand, his technical skills surpass Ushijima's in some areas, likely due to his experience handling poorly set balls."

"Truly an ace worthy of his reputation."

[Hondo Subaru – Wing Spiker. Overall Ability Rating: 84, Height: 178.8 cm, Power: 82, Jump: 88, Stamina: 80, Speed: 81. Key Traits: Spike: 88, Serve: 86.]

"A balanced wing spiker, quite similar to Iwaizumi before his transition to defence."

[Usuri Michiru – Setter. Overall Ability Rating: 85, Height: 182 cm, Power: 82, Jump: 82, Stamina: 88, Speed: 84. Key Traits: Set: 88.]

"Even the setter's height is above average for nationals. He's probably a setter who can spike when needed—a true double threat."

[Ezoita Naoya – Wing Spiker. Overall Ability Rating: 85, Height: 182 cm, Power: 80, Jump: 90, Stamina: 88, Speed

: 82. Key Traits: Spike: 85, Receive: 86.]

[Nozomu Mami – Middle Blocker. Overall Ability Rating: 86, Height: 190.4 cm, Power: 90, Jump: 80, Stamina: 88, Speed: 86. Key Traits: Block: 90, Spike: 80.]

One half of Mujinazaka's 'Twin Towers', Nozomu combined raw strength with agility, a rarity for players of his size.

[Unnan Keisuke – Middle Blocker. Overall Ability Rating: 83.4, Height: 190.3 cm, Power: 75, Jump: 82, Stamina: 86, Speed: 88. Key Traits: Block: 90, Spike: 82.]

The other half of Mujinazaka's 'Twin Towers', Unnan was slightly less powerful but made up for it with superior speed.

Just the sight of these two towering blockers was enough to put pressure on any opposing team.

[Bishin Haruma – Libero. Overall Ability Rating: 85, Height: 174 cm, Power: 82, Jump: 88, Stamina: 86, Speed: 84. Key Traits:

 Receive: 88, Set: 90.]

Even though Mujinazaka's ace, Kiryū Wakatsu, drew most of the attention, every single member of their lineup was undeniably strong.

The gymnasium announcers began introducing the match, their voices echoing across Court C.

"Welcome, volleyball fans! The third-round match of the National Tournament is about to begin. Mujinazaka High School faces off against Aoba Johsai High School. I'm Ōtomo, your commentator for Court C today."

"And I'm Aoi, thrilled to join you all!"

"Both teams have impressed us in the past two days of competition. Mujinazaka, a powerhouse with a legacy of nine consecutive years in the Nationals, appearing for the 29th time; and Aoba Johsai, making their triumphant return after a five-year hiatus, entering Nationals for the 7th time in their history."

"This is bound to be an electrifying clash between two strong teams!"

"Their aces are particularly intriguing. Mujinazaka's ace, Kiryū Wakatsu, is renowned as one of the top three spikers in the country. On the other hand, Aoba Johsai's ace, first-year Kaedehara Taichi, has quickly gained attention for his raw talent and immense potential."

"This matchup isn't just about skill or tactics—it's a confrontation of experience versus youth. Kiryū represents the peak of a seasoned powerhouse, while Kaedehara symbolizes the boundless possibilities of the next generation."

"Indeed, this ace-versus-ace battle has drawn the eyes of volleyball fans everywhere. We expect this match to be a highlight of the tournament!"

"The crowd's anticipation is palpable. The players have finished warming up!"

The referee signalled the start of the game.

Aoba Johsai's lineup:

Front row—Opposite Hitter Kyōtani Kentarō, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Setter Oikawa Tōru

Back row—Wing Spiker Hanamaki Takahiro, Middle Blocker Kaedehara Taichi (Libero: Watari Shinji) and Wing Spiker Iwaizumi Hajime.

Mujinazaka's starting lineup:

Front row—Wing Spiker Hondo Subaru, Middle Blocker Unnan Keisuke, Wing Spiker Naoharu Ezota

Back row—Wing Spiker Kiryū Wakatsu, Middle Blocker Nozomu Mami (Libero: Bishin Haruma), Setter Usuri Michiru

Both teams lined up at the net, bowing respectfully. "Please take care of us!"

-----

The first set would begin with Usuri Michiru, Mujinazaka's setter, serving.

"Give us a good serve, Usuri!"

"I'm on it!" Usuri stepped up to the baseline, tossing the ball high before launching into a jump float serve.

"It's a jump float!"

"I got it!" Iwaizumi called out, stepping forward to receive. His arms angled perfectly, guiding the ball with precision.

"Great receive!" Taichi, standing nearby, couldn't help but praise Iwaizumi's skill.

The ball was sent cleanly to Oikawa, who quickly surveyed his options as Seijoh's attackers began their approach patterns.

Taichi was poised for a powerful back-row attack, his recent form making him a constant threat.

On the right side of the net, Kyōtani exuded ferocity, itching for the ball to come his way.

And in the front row, Kindaichi's height drew Mujinazaka's attention, marking him as a dangerous blocker.

Oikawa, however, had his own plan.

Jumping smoothly into the air, he faked a set before suddenly rotating his body and spiking the ball directly into Mujinazaka's court.

"Bam!"

The ball hit the floor before Mujinazaka could react.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Mujinazaka]

"Who said this match is all about the aces? I never agreed to that."

Oikawa's trademark grin widened as his presence loomed over Mujinazaka's players. In their eyes, that smile was nothing short of oppressive.

_________

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