Fukurodani's resting area.
All the players, including the coach, had tense expressions, and the atmosphere was heavy.
The team was only one point away from elimination. In such a situation, it would be difficult for anyone to relax…
"Heheheh~~"
"What are you all doing? The match isn't over yet, so why are you looking so dejected?"
The Fukurodani players exchanged glances, then looked at the energetic Motoyasu Kotaro and said speechlessly, "Motoyasu, aren't you nervous at all? We're only one point away from being eliminated!"
Motoyasu tilted his head, confused, "Why should I be nervous? If we're still one point away, can't we just catch up?"
Everyone was speechless for a moment.
"That's just like you, Motoyasu!"
"But what he said is absolutely right! If we're still one point away, then let's work hard to catch up! After all, at this point, being nervous is meaningless."
…
"Ahhh, these guys, don't they know what fear is at all?"
Seijoh's resting area.
Hanamaki Takahiro was the first to notice the change in Fukurodani's momentum. Seeing that the match had progressed this far, but none of the Fukurodani players felt discouraged, Hanamaki Takahiro's already listless eyes suddenly showed a few more traces of exhaustion.
"Heh~ This is Nationals. How could a team that has made it this far be so easily defeated by us?"
Iwaizumi Hajime bent down to roll up his knee pads, then stood up and led the way onto the court, "Alright, don't think so much. Let's go!"
Accompanied by the referee's whistle.
The match restarted.
Akashi Asuka of Seijoh served.
Seeing Akashi Asuka walk to the serving area, everyone from Fukurodani's expressions instantly dropped.
"Damn it, it's this guy's turn to serve again at this exact moment. There's nothing worse than this!"
Akashi Asuka gently rotated the volleyball a few times. The closer it got to the end, the calmer Akashi Asuka's heart became, just like a clear Mirror Calm Water. All external things were taken in by him, but they couldn't cause the slightest ripple in his heart.
Thud!
Without any warning, Akashi Asuka suddenly unleashed a Power Jump Serve.
The volleyball, deformed by the immense force, instantly crossed the mid-court, heading straight for the Libero in Fukurodani's backcourt…
"Bastard, don't underestimate people too much."
The Fukurodani Libero saw the ball falling directly towards his central position and immediately felt an inexplicable surge of anger, even though he guessed that the opponent likely couldn't control the landing spot of such a serve.
Slap!
The volleyball bounced high into the sky, soaring over ten meters, but this time the landing spot was within the Fukurodani court's boundary.
"Nice!"
"Well done, Komi."
"Good ball, well received!"
The Fukurodani players' morale was greatly boosted. Immediately, Keiji Akaashi received the first Passing, and a back-set sent the ball above Motoyasu Kotaro.
Kindaichi, Matsukawa Issei, and Kunimi Akirareacted quickly, directly setting up a tall three-person block with six arms. At the end of the second set, being able to seize such a blocking opportunity was like a nightmare for any attacker.
But at this moment, the three blocking players from Seijoh felt no joy in their hearts. On the contrary, they had a strange sense of unease.
Because Motoyasu Kotaro, directly opposite them, his eyes were too bright.
In those eyes, the three saw joy, anticipation, and passion… but not a single trace of fear.
Bang!
A shattering Spike came. At the very first contact, Kunimi Akira felt a sharp pain in his arm, and then his hands uncontrollably bounced back, creating a slight gap in the block.
Thud!
Finally.
The volleyball pierced through the block and slammed hard onto the floor.
He… he scored!
Motoyasu Kotaro, at this crucial moment of the match, broke through Seijoh's Defense with a powerful Spike, successfully pulling Fukurodaniback from the edge of the death cliff.
He did not disappoint the title of 'Ace'.
…
"This guy, at this point, his attack power can still increase again?" Compared to the cheers of the Fukurodani players at this moment, the Seijoh players felt a little horrified.
"What kind of monster is this?"
Many in Seijoh truly couldn't understand Motoyasu Kotaro.
At the beginning of the first set, his mental fortitude was like that of a child.
Yet now, as the match nears its end, not only does he not feel discouraged despite the team being at a disadvantage, but why is it that even on the verge of elimination, this guy's fighting spirit has not waned, but instead grown even stronger?
"Clap, clap, clap… Alright, stop discussing the opponent's performance. No matter how strong the 'Ace' on the other side is, he can only score one point. Don't forget, we are still in the lead."
Oikawa Tooru saw that the team's morale was almost affected by Motoyasu Kotaro's previous Spike, so he quickly clapped his hands to divert everyone's attention.
Then he continued, "And, although the opponent's 'Ace' is strong, our 'Ace' is not weak either!"
Upon hearing this, everyone subconsciously looked at Akashi Asuka.
Then everyone noticed the abnormality in Akashi Asuka at this moment. Compared to Motoyasu Kotaro's aura, which radiated like sunlight, Akashi Asuka, though standing in the backcourt, felt like a shadow to everyone. If one didn't look carefully, they might not even notice his presence.
Akashi Asuka's state was very strange now. He felt very calm, already one foot outside the door of the Mirror Calm Water state, but he still found it difficult to truly step inside.
It was as if he was missing a Key to open the door.
Beep!
The referee blew the whistle, and Fukurodaniserved the volleyball over the net.
After Oikawa Tooru received the first Passingfrom Watari Shinji, he used his eyes to deceive a Fukurodani blocker, then set the volleyball to Akashi Asuka in the backcourt.
The remaining Fukurodani defensive players in the front court, seeing this, decisively dove directly in front of Akashi Asuka to block the straight shot.
And the backcourt players blocked off the cross-court shot.
Fukurodani's Defense was perfectly coordinated. Such a Defense, let alone anyone else, even Oikawa Tooru, who set the ball to Akashi Asuka, changed his expression for a moment.
But Akashi Asuka himself, seeing such a tight Defense, not only felt no pressure at all, but instead felt it was full of loopholes.
In mid-air.
Akashi Asuka even thought for a moment about which direction to choose for his breakthrough.
About 1 second later.
He decided to choose a slightly more difficult breakthrough direction.
The next second.
Only a muffled 'thud' was heard as the volleyball flew straight from Akashi Asuka's hand, all the way to the Fukurodani blocker directly in front of him, before suddenly turning and landing just inside the line, along the sideline.
Thump~
Accompanied by the dull thud of the ball landing.
In an instant.
The entire court, including the nearby spectator stands, fell silent.
Arc… Arc shot.
Unbelievable, unbelievable! Seijoh's 'Ace' player, Akashi Asuka, facing Fukurodani's coordinated and tight Defense, suddenly unleashed an Arc shot like a crescent moon.
Fukurodani's blocking players had no time to react to such a ball.
The volleyball followed a huge arc along the sideline, directly landing on the line for a point.
25:24.
Seijoh took the lead again.
Boom~~
Accompanied by the commentator's excited, almost hoarse commentary, the court, which had been silent for about three seconds, erupted.
"What was that?"
"Incredible, simply incredible! To be able to hit such a Spike in a match? Is that first-year from Seijoh a monster?"
"Does that kind of ball actually exist in the real world? I always thought it was impossible to hit such a ball in volleyball!"
"Seijoh! Seijoh! Seijoh!"
The spectator stands instantly became noisy.
And the Fukurodani players on the court couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have believed what they had just witnessed.
What kind of divine Spike was that?
Facing such a Spike, no matter how determined Fukurodani was, they couldn't help but feel a little despair at this moment.
But only Motoyasu Kotaro, upon seeing this ball, not only showed no discouragement, but the light in his eyes grew even stronger.
The next rally quickly restarted.
Seijoh served.
After Fukurodani gained the right to attack, they still passed the ball to Motoyasu. Facing Motoyasu's powerful Spike, the two-person block formed by Matsukawa Issei and Kunimi Akira seemed to be nonexistent, easily broken through.
However, just as this ball was about to land, an unexpected change occurred in Seijoh's backcourt.
Without any warning.
Akashi Asuka himself didn't even know how he did it. In this state, just a step away from Mirror Calm Water, he seemed to have predicted the direction of the ball's landing, leisurely walking to the landing spot and easily receiving Motoyasu's Spike.
Upon seeing this, even Motoyasu Kotaro, who had never known what discouragement was, couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
The offense and Defense instantly reversed.
Facing Akashi Asuka's inspired receive, even Oikawa Tooru's stable composure couldn't help but tremble with excitement at this moment.
"Nice receive, Akashi-chan!"
Oikawa Tooru had just shouted this when he suddenly saw Akashi Asuka already leaping into the air. His Speed was so fast that it was even before Oikawa Tooru's set, which was incredible.
And facing Akashi Asuka, who was already airborne, the volleyball in Oikawa Tooru's hand was as if pulled by a magnet, completely out of his control, and with a whoosh, it arrived directly above Akashi Asuka.
At this moment.
Akashi Asuka's vision suddenly became exceptionally clear.
In Fukurodani's backcourt, 11, the Libero Komi Haruki, and 7, the Wing Spiker Akinori Konoha, were moving rapidly with panicked expressions, trying to make a save…
12, the Middle Blocker Osamu Onaga, was momentarily frozen in place, looking bewildered, seemingly not having reacted yet…
In the front court, 2, the Middle Blocker Washio Tatsumi, and 5, the ※_11_⛬ Keiji Akaashi, were rushing towards his position, jumping with all their might, arms outstretched, trying to block…
And Motoyasu Kotaro, who had just landed from the sky and hadn't had time to make any other movements, could only stand in place…
Court size, player expressions, number positions, player movements…
Everything.
In that instant, Akashi Asuka saw everything with exceptional clarity.
The flow of time seemed to slow down at this moment.
Facing such a scene, Akashi Asuka didn't even use much strength; he simply waved his hand and lightly tapped the volleyball.
Then, the volleyball traveled precariously yet steadily through all obstructions, effortlessly landing on the Fukurodani court floor.
"Beep~~~~"
"Match over, Seijoh wins, two-zero. The scores for the two sets are 25:1
A moment later.
The referee's long and sharp whistle, and the sound of the referee's declaration, echoed throughout the court.
And as the whistle sounded, the movements and expressions of all Fukurodani players seemed to freeze as if time had stopped, and the light in everyone's eyes quickly faded.
Only Motoyasu Kotaro remained, his gaze still high, standing tall and proud on the court.