Serve switch—San Juan to serve.

"Next up is Ramos's service rotation. His serves have become more and more aggressive in recent matches."

"Tweet!—"The service whistle sounded.

Ramos launched a powerful jump serve!

Smack!!

Sanhos received it, but the pass was slightly off.

The ball floated toward the front row. Fernand moved in to set it, and at that moment, Yoandy, Souza, and Wallace all launched their approaches at the same time!

Taichi was drawn to Wallace on the right side. Yoandy leapt on the left!

Loser jumped alone to block.

BOOM!!!

A perfectly placed line shot slipped past the block, right through the gap between Conte and Oikawa in the back row, smashing onto San Juan's end line.

Yoandy scored!

[San Juan 2 - 4 São Paulo]

"Whoa, I thought São Paulo's players might waver after seeing Taichi's impossible spike just now."

"That guy is so calm!"

"The momentum is still firmly in São Paulo's hands!"

Serve switch—São Paulo to serve.

Yoandy stepped onto the service line.

"For Leal, there's no such thing as good or bad condition," Sanhos thought. "After all, he's always like that."

"Tweet!—"

Yoandy tossed the ball, approached, jumped, and struck!

BOOM!!!

The ball curved sharply, precisely targeting the gap between Conte and Oikawa!

"So fast!"

"I got it!"

Smack!!!

The ball slammed off Conte's arm and flew out of bounds; Oikawa failed to recover it.

Yoandy scored a service ace!

[San Juan 2 - 5 São Paulo]

—"Back-to-back points from Yoandy Leal!"

—"Conte is usually one of San Juan's most stable receivers, and yet Yoandy's serve completely blew him away!"

São Paulo continued serving.

Yoandy served again!

BOOM!!!—

The speed was just as terrifying, but this time the trajectory was more direct.

Smack!!

Oikawa took it head-on, pass slightly off.

Bruno stepped in for the set, tossing the ball high to the right wing. Taichi leapt for the spike!

"Double block!" Souza and Wallace jumped up together.

—BOOOM!!!

The ball flew over the block, slammed into Hinata Shōyō's arm in the back row, and shot out of bounds.

Hinata fell onto the floor.

Kaedehara Taichi scored!

[San Juan 3 - 5 São Paulo]

Serve switch—San Juan to serve.

Taichi launched a powerful jump serve!

BOOM!!!

Wallace held firm, the pass sailing smoothly to the front row.

Fernand leapt to set. Hinata attacked from the right!

"Left wing!"

"Damn it!"

Before Taichi could shout, Loser had already leapt up to block Hinata.

"Damn it! That guy's presence suddenly shot through the roof!"

The ball flew to the left. Souza jumped as a decoy, but Conte's eyes were locked firmly on what was behind him.

Yoandy soared from the back row for the spike!

"Double block!" Conte and Bruno jumped together.

—BOOM!!!

The ball easily cleared Bruno's reach, smashing off Santiago's shoulder and flying out.

Yoandy scored!

[San Juan 3 - 6 São Paulo]

"That ball was so fast!"

Yoandy raised a hand to apologise—after all, it had slammed straight into the opponent.

Santiago glared at him fiercely. Damn it, as a libero he couldn't spike the ball back even if he wanted to.

-----

Serve switch—São Paulo to serve.

Souza lightly tossed the ball and served quickly.

BANG!!!

The ball fell toward San Juan's front row, toward Loser.

"This guy really loves his float serves!"

Loser was ready. He jumped in place and bumped the ball up with both hands.

"Nice receive!"

Oikawa shouted, then calmly set the ball high to the left wing. Conte leapt for the spike!

"Double block!" Wallace and Lucas jumped together.

BOOM!!!

The ball slipped past the left side of the block, deflected off Souza's arm, and flew out.

"I thought it was going to be a cross-court shot..." Fernand muttered from the right back corner.

Conte scored!

[San Juan 14 - 16 São Paulo]

Serve switch—San Juan to serve.

Bruno launched a powerful jump serve!

Smack!

Yoandy received it solidly. Fernand leapt to set; all three front-row attackers moved at once!

"Slower…I can read his set direction…"

Loser's eyes locked onto Fernand.

"Right side!"

Taichi shouted. Loser moved almost simultaneously toward the right.

The ball flew to the right wing. By Fernand's design, this should have been a surprise quick attack—but—

Loser was right in front of Lucas.

"Your block needs to have killing intent!" Taichi's words echoed in Loser's mind as he tensed his arms and pressed over toward Lucas.

BOOM!!!

The ball avoided the block and flew toward San Juan's left back corner.

Smack!

Santiago barely got under it.

"Give me the ball!" Taichi charged in from the right for the approach!

Oikawa moved in to support, delivering a perfect set high to the right wing.

"Double block!" Wallace and Lucas jumped up together.

BOOM!!!

The ball cut past the right side of the block, slammed into Fernand's arm, and flew out.

Kaedehara Taichi scored!

[San Juan 15 - 16 São Paulo]

Left and right—Conte and Taichi tore open São Paulo's defence from the flanks.

San Juan continued serving.

Bruno served again, targeting São Paulo's front row.

Rather than limiting Yoandy's attack, Bruno thought reducing São Paulo's front-row options would be more effective.

"I got it!"

Hinata covered Lucas and received it, pass slightly off.

Fernand quickly stepped in, setting high to the left wing. Wallace leapt for the spike!

"Double block!" Conte and Loser jumped up together, staying close.

—BOOM!!!

The ball soared above the block—a powerful over-the-block spike!

Smack!

Taichi picked it up, and the ball arced high.

Oikawa calmly moved into position and set the ball high again to the left wing.

Conte pulled back for a long approach and leapt for the spike!

"Double block!" Wallace and Lucas jumped together.

—BOOM!!!

Another devastating over-the-block smash!

Hinata flashed into position and received it!

"Perfect defense!"

Fernand moved quickly and popped the ball high. Yoandy launched from the back row for the attack!

"Double block!"

BOOM!!!

The ball deflected off Conte's fingertips and flew far out of bounds.

Off-the-block point!

Yoandy scored from the back row!

[San Juan 15 - 17 São Paulo]

São Paulo clung fiercely to their final lead!

—"Feels like São Paulo is absolutely on fire today!"

—"Is it because they're facing an old rival? Whether it's offence or defence, this is easily their best performance in the Club World Championship so far!"

—"Incredible blocking and defence coordination, unbelievable back sets and pipe attacks!"

Serve switch—São Paulo to serve.

Wallace stepped onto the service line.

"Should I call you guys confident…or arrogant?"

"You lost the first set exactly like this, yet you still refuse to change a thing."

"Then…prepare to pay the price!"

"Tweet!—" The service whistle sounded.

Wallace launched a powerful jump serve!

—"Wallace's serve is viciously sharp and fast."

—"But Taichi received it stably, perfect pass!"

—"Oikawa set the ball to the left wing—Conte—"

—"Conte scored!"

[San Juan 16 - 17 São Paulo]

After Wallace rotated to the back row, São Paulo's front-row block visibly weakened. With only Lucas as the core blocker, it wasn't enough to stop Conte's attacks.

Serve switch—San Juan to serve.

Loser launched a powerful jump serve!

BOOM!!!

Smack!!

Sanhos received it, pass slightly off.

Fernand jumped in front and suddenly pushed out a second-touch attack!

Smack!

The ball slammed off Oikawa's arm and bounced high.

"I got it!"

Bruno calmly received it. Oikawa stepped back, jumped, and set the ball.

Taichi charged from the back row for the spike!

"Double block!" Lucas and Hinata jumped together.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew toward the right wing.

"My set isn't as easy to read as your second-touch attacks."

Conte leaped for the spike, Fernand jumped for a single block.

The height difference between them was obvious to the naked eye.

—BOOM!!!

A devastating over-the-block smash!

The ball slammed heavily into the centre of São Paulo's court.

Conte scored!

[San Juan 17 - 17 São Paulo]

"Huh?"

It wasn't until they saw the score update that the Brazilian fans realized—the match had been tied up without them even noticing…

"What did they even do?"

"Tweet!—"The audience's question was answered by the referee's whistle for the serve.

Loser stepped up for his second serve!

BOOM!!!

Smash!

The ball hit the top of the net and dropped straight down.

"You aimed too low, idiot."

"Sorry!"

Service error! São Paulo took back a point.

[San Juan 17 - 18 São Paulo]

"What the heck!"

"Booo—" Jeers erupted from the stands.

"Don't mind it! Next ball!"

Serve switch—São Paulo to serve.

Hinata Shōyō launched a powerful jump serve!

Smack!

Bruno easily received it, perfect pass.

Whoosh!—

BOOM!!!

The ball slammed right by Hinata's feet, bouncing out of bounds just as he landed back in court.

Lucas's block was a full beat too late.

Kaedehara Taichi's ultra-quick attack scored instantly!

[San Juan 18 - 18 São Paulo]

—"What a lightning-fast spike!"

—"Oikawa's surprise negative-tempo quick set left São Paulo no time to react."

"But really, that serve was way too sweet," Miya Atsumu commented, resting his chin on his hand. "Even though the little guy has grown so much, at certain moments, he still becomes a weakness."

-----

Serve switch—San Juan to serve. Kaedehara Taichi rotated to the front row.

"The game's over now, Shōyō."

"Tweet!—"

Conte launched a powerful jump serve!

BOOOM!!!

Smack!!!

The ball's impact stunned Wallace in place for a moment.

Luckily, the pass was still salvageable; Fernand hustled to set it high on the right side. Yoandy leapt for the spike!

"Shut down the line shot!"

"Got it!"

"Double block!" Taichi and Ramos rose together, but deliberately left a clear gap between them.

Kaedehara Taichi was once again laying out the same trap he'd used against Alexander—this time for Yoandy!

Somewhere in the stands, Alexander's pupils shrank.

BOOM!!!—

The ball shot straight through the gap between Taichi and Ramos. Taichi didn't even move.

"Because…that path was left open just for you."

Smack!

Santiago received it!

The ball flew high but still hovered above San Juan's side.

Taichi backed off for a full run-up.

Whoosh—!

Oikawa calmly and precisely set it high to the left wing.

Thump!

Taichi soared from the front row!

"Double block!" Lucas and Yoandy jumped together.

With Yoandy in the front row, São Paulo's blocking strength had greatly improved—except…

Kaedehara Taichi's arm was already above the block!

—BOOOM!!!

"I got it!"

Hinata Shōyō flashed forward, positioning himself right in front of the ball.

SMACK!!!

The ball crashed over the block, slammed into Hinata's arm, and bounced out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scored!

[San Juan 19 - 18 São Paulo]

Hinata sat down hard on the floor, his arm trembling slightly.

"It's different…this spike's power is completely on another level…"

"What do you mean 'I got it'?" Taichi looked down at him from above. "I'm sorry, Shōyō."

"Your Club World Championship journey ends here."

"Beep! São Paulo calls for a timeout."

San Juan had rattled off three straight points to take the lead. Meanwhile, São Paulo's players still hadn't fully snapped out of their shock at having just been ahead. Coach Rezende decisively called a timeout, hoping to break San Juan's momentum.

Kaedehara Taichi rotating back into the front row at this critical juncture—it couldn't be worse news for São Paulo.

"Everyone listen up—clamp down on them and keep attacking!" Coach Rezende jabbed hard at a red circle on the tactics board. "Don't be afraid of their offence! Trade point for point if we have to, just keep our rhythm!"

"As long as we can push Kaedehara Taichi back to the back row within six points, we can definitely win this set!"

"Yes!!!"

---

Hearing the roars from São Paulo's bench, Taichi glanced over unintentionally, the corner of his lips curling into a faint, cold smile.

-----

Timeout ended. Match resumed. San Juan to serve.

Conte served his second ball!

BOOM!!!

Smack!!!

—"Conte's serve targeted setter Fernand directly—forced a shanked pass!"

"Save it!"

Hinata had already sprinted out of bounds the instant the ball flew off.

Whoosh—!

The ball was somehow sent back high to the left wing. Lucas leapt for the spike!

"Guard the cross shot!"

"Roger!"

Taichi and Ramos jumped together.

"They know someone's always waiting there to receive—I won't—"

BOOOM!!!—

Lucas's arm tensed as he powered the ball out!

—SMACK!!!

The ball smashed into Taichi's arm and ricocheted back toward São Paulo's side even faster.

THUD!

Hinata scrambled back from out of bounds and dove, but the ball slammed onto São Paulo's sideline right in front of him.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a block!

[San Juan 20 - 18 São Paulo]

Taichi didn't even look at the prone Hinata; instead, he turned to Lucas with a grin and said, "You don't seem too fond of using your head, huh~"

"You bastard! What did you just say?!" Lucas glared furiously.

Taichi hadn't expected a reaction and his grin only widened.

"I meant it literally."

Lucas wanted to retort, but he noticed all of San Juan's players were looking at him with pity.

"???"

"Don't mind him, Lucas," Fernand said. "That guy has a really nasty personality."

"…," Taichi's eyes narrowed dangerously, an ominous glint flashing. "Talking badly about someone to their face—that's not very nice, you know."

"Even I wouldn't be so greedy as to hunt two prey at the same time~"

"Tweet!—"

The serve whistle saved Fernand just in time. He snapped back to focus and drew a deep breath.

BOOM!!!

Conte served his third ball!

Smack!!

Wallace received it steadily, though the pass was slightly off.

Fernand jumped to set, but he felt a piercing stare locked on him from behind.

Whoosh—!

"——?!"

"Damn it!"

The ball flew high to the left wing—yet Fernand himself hadn't even been fully conscious of the set!

Lucas jumped for the spike, but Taichi and Ramos were already waiting in front of him.

"I can't avoid it!"

Lucas clenched his teeth. In his mind, the scene of Kaedehara blocking him replayed on a loop.

BOOM!!!

Smack!

"One touch!" The ball slammed into Ramos's hand and popped high.

At that moment, Lucas didn't feel frustrated at being blocked. Instead, he felt relief that he hadn't been completely shut down.

Smack!

Santiago firmly received the ball and delivered a perfect pass.

A shadow loomed over Lucas. He looked up to see Kaedehara Taichi already soaring above him.

—BOOM!!!

Before Lucas could even think about jumping, the ball had already soared over the net and crashed hard just past the three-meter line behind him.

Ultra-quick attack!

Kaedehara Taichi scored!

[San Juan 21 - 18 São Paulo]

"Hmm…" Taichi tilted his chin slightly, as if thinking deeply. Then, he tilted his head, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"How boring…You're even duller than I imagined."

_________