Chapter 18: Aoba Johsai vs. Wakutani Minami 3
"Don't rush, the strategy was solid, Taku!" Coach Oninotsume shouted emphatically to Nakashima Taku.
Nakashima Taku looked up, meeting his coach's gaze. The coach said firmly, "Your battle is in the air!"
"Yes!" Nakashima Taku regained his resolve and returned to the court with his teammates.
Coach Oninotsume watched Nakashima's back, knowing that Wakutani Minami's hopes rested on him. As long as Nakashima was on the court, victory was still possible.
"Next ball!" Nakashima Taku glanced at his teammates. "We'll definitely receive it!"
"Yeah!" Wakutani Minami brimmed with determination.
Oikawa Tooru, undeterred by their resolve, opted for another powerful jump serve.
"Serve out!"
Wakutani Minami's players quietly exhaled in relief, except for Nakashima Taku, who looked slightly frustrated.
As expected, the timeout affected his rhythm, Oikawa Tooru thought, glancing at Nakashima Taku with a hint of unfinished business.
[Aoba Johsai 5 vs. Wakutani Minami 3]
Wakutani Minami's serve. Kunimi Akira received, and Kaedehara Taiichi, Matsukawa Issei, and Iwaizumi Hajime charged forward simultaneously.
Oikawa Tooru eyed Taiichi on the right. Though Taiichi had been distracted by Nakashima earlier, Nakashima was equally fixated on Taiichi.
Nakashima Taku noticed Oikawa's glance and moved to block Taiichi's path.
At that moment, Oikawa set to Iwaizumi Hajime on the left, who spiked for a point.
[Aoba Johsai 6 vs. Wakutani Minami 3]
Was that glance a feint?
Nakashima Taku gritted his teeth. That setter was crafty.
As if hearing the praise, Oikawa turned to Nakashima with a grin. "Next one's really going to Taiichi, so defend well."
"Of course I will," Nakashima Taku replied with a bright smile.
"Tch, such a tough guy," Oikawa muttered, annoyed by opponents unfazed by his taunts.
Aoba Johsai's serve. Kaedehara Taiichi sent the ball over.
"Chance ball!" Libero Akiho Kazumitsu called, cleanly passing to Hanayama Kazuya.
Damn, that serve was too easy, Taiichi thought, rushing to defend.
Hanayama Kazuya set to the left, where Naruko Teppei spiked.
Taiichi barely dug the ball, but it didn't reach Oikawa's position.
Ugh, the pressure of receiving is intense. His weakness in receiving was exposed instantly.
"I've got it!" Iwaizumi Hajime dashed to cover.
Oikawa Tooru ran for a running set, passing to Iwaizumi, who barely got the ball over the net.
Wakutani Minami organized another attack. Hanayama Kazuya set to Nakashima Taku.
"Taku!" "Double block!"
Nakashima Taku completed his approach and leaped. With a double block, he spotted a straight-line gap on the right and slammed the ball down.
The moment Nakashima jumped, Taiichi predicted the straight-line spike and slid to receive.
The ball hit Taiichi's arms, spinning out of bounds.
Damn, even guessing Nakashima's straight-line spike, he couldn't receive it.
[Aoba Johsai 6 vs. Wakutani Minami 4]
"Wooo!"
"Taku, nice!"
"What a clean straight-line spike. He hit that narrow gap. Taiichi's read was good, but his receiving fundamentals are too weak," Mizoguchi Sadayuki commented from the sidelines.
Coach Irihata thought for a moment and called over Watari Shinji. "When Taiichi rotates to the back row, swap with him. The defensive pressure's too much for him now."
"Yes!" Watari Shinji replied.
Wakutani Minami's serve. Nakashima Taku stepped to the service line.
Taiichi's heart sank. As a substitute, he never felt this pressure, only focusing on blocking and spiking.
But now, in the back row, Taiichi acutely felt he was the team's weak link, his limbs stiffening.
"You're too tense," Kunimi Akira said suddenly, tugging Taiichi lightly. "Their serve will target you. With your reflexes, you can receive it, even if it's not perfect."
Kunimi shifted two steps toward the baseline. "Just get it up, and we'll handle the rest."
"Got it!"
Taiichi caught a spark of determination in Kunimi's face, albeit a "lazy" kind.
Nakashima Taku served, the ball arcing toward Taiichi.
Taiichi adjusted quickly, and the ball hit his hands, flying backward.
"Cover!"
The instant Taiichi called, Kunimi Akira had already tracked the ball's trajectory. He chased it, diving to pop it back toward the net before it hit the ground.
Hanamaki Takahiro was waiting at the net. As the ball arrived, he jumped and spiked it down.
Nakashima Taku received from the back row, and Hanayama Kazuya set to the left for Kawato Shunya's spike.
"Touch!" Iwaizumi's single block tipped the ball up. Kunimi Akira passed it to Oikawa Tooru from the back.
Oikawa set to the right, where Matsukawa Issei spiked.
Bang!
Nakashima Taku again! He received from the back row, and Shiraishi Yuki spiked directly from the middle.
A direct middle quick attack!
Shiraishi Yuki scored.
[Aoba Johsai 6 vs. Wakutani Minami 5]
"Wooo! Nice receive, Taku!"
"Yuki, great spike!" Wakutani Minami's momentum fully returned.
Beep. Aoba Johsai called a timeout.
Coach Irihata gathered the team. "When Taiichi rotates to the back row, our front-row attack and blocking weaken, and back-row defense falters. So, when Taiichi's in the back, Shinji swaps with him. Their offense is limited, but their defense is strong. Play patiently."
"Yes!"
"Sorry to trouble you, Watari-senpai," Taiichi said, head lowered. His first start, and he needed a swap for poor play, leaving him with an indescribable sense of dejection.
Watari Shinji smiled at Taiichi, patting his shoulder. Though not skilled with words, his kindness shone through.
"Taiichi," Oikawa Tooru called suddenly. "Since you'll rest in the back row, the front-row offense is on you."
Taiichi looked up, meeting his teammates' trusting gazes. "Got it!"
Seeing Taiichi's spirits lift, Oikawa smirked. "The ace's receiving still needs work, pfft."
Taiichi's face flushed red. He should've known better than to think Oikawa had captainly grace.
"Jerk, don't say unnecessary stuff!" Iwaizumi's kick landed squarely on Oikawa.
The timeout ended, and Wakutani Minami served.
From the bench, Taiichi watched the intense rally, realizing Nakashima was also in the back row.
Without Nakashima facing the block upfront, his spiking skills were underutilized, making Wakutani Minami's offense less threatening.
But in the back row, Nakashima bolstered their defense. In the earlier rally, he effortlessly received Aoba Johsai's two spikes, enabling counterattacks.
What an enviable ace, excelling in both offense and defense.
Bang!
With Iwaizumi Hajime's spike scoring, Aoba Johsai rotated, and Kaedehara Taiichi returned to the front row.