Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Hey! Akashi, what you're saying is too much."
Akashi Asuka had barely finished speaking when, before Oikawa Tooru could respond, the rest of the team had already begun reprimanding him.
However, Akashi Asuka's expression didn't change at all; he simply said calmly, "This is the National Tournament, not a child's game. Do you think showing off now can help us win?"
Everyone instantly fell silent. Even Oikawa Tooru's fluctuating expression froze in an instant.
For a moment,
the atmosphere on the court felt a little stiff.
Just then, the referee's whistle blew again. Everyone looked back and saw Mishita Ryuheistanding in the substitution area, holding up his number card.
Oikawa Tooru's pupils instantly constricted a little.
After a long while,
Oikawa Tooru lowered his head as if finally resigned to his fate, and whispered, "I'm sorry…"
"No need."
Before Oikawa Tooru finished speaking, Akashi Asuka directly interrupted him: "I will win this match, so your apology is meaningless."
With that, Akashi Asuka turned and left.
Oikawa Tooru stared blankly at Akashi Asuka's retreating figure, pursed his lips, and ultimately couldn't say anything.
Mishita Ryuhei substituted for Oikawa Tooru.
In this precarious situation where Aoba Johsai High School had consecutively lost 3 points at the start, the team's main Setter suddenly leaving the court was clearly adding insult to injury for Aoba Johsai High School.
"Oh my~ It seems like it's been a long time since I played in the National Tournament. This feeling is really nostalgic!"
Although Mishita Ryuhei was making his first appearance, his expression wasn't overly nervous. After all, he had already participated in the National Tournament once before, and the current situation wasn't enough to scare him.
Everyone speculated that this was also why Irihata Nobuteru chose to let Mishita Ryuheiplay instead of the second-year Yahaba Shigeru.
"Hey! Akashi, how are you feeling now?"
"Almost!"
Mishita Ryuhei's eyes lit up: "Is that so! That's great, it's all up to you from now on. I don't want to go home so soon!"
The conversation between Mishita Ryuhei and Akashi Asuka made the Aoba Johsai High School players somewhat uneasy.
Because from Mishita Ryuhei's words, he completely intended to put all the heavy burden on Akashi Asuka, which was clearly a bit difficult for the Aoba Johsai High School players, who always played 'team volleyball,' to accept.
"Then, the Defense is up to you, seniors!" Mishita Ryuhei continued.
"Wait, Defense? What about the offense?" Matsukawa Issei noticed Mishita Ryuhei's slip of the tongue and quickly asked.
"Offense? Of course, it's all up to Akashi." Mishita Ryuhei looked at everyone strangely and said as if it were the most natural thing.
"All up to Akashi, but that's…"
"Everyone!"
Before Matsukawa Issei could finish, he was suddenly interrupted by Mishita Ryuhei, who slowly scanned the Aoba Johsai High Schoolplayers and then slowly said, "Are you perhaps underestimating Akashi's power too much?"
・・・・・・
A moment later!
Accompanied by a whistle,
the match officially began.
Mujinzaka High School continued to serve the fourth ball of this set. After Watari Shinjireceived the first Passing, Mishita Ryuheidirectly set the ball to Akashi Asuka, sending a high ball that surprised everyone.
[We can see that Aoba Johsai High School's main Setter has been taken off the court. For Aoba Johsai High School, this is probably a major blow!]
[Indeed, Oda-san is right. In their previous match against Mujinzaka High School, Aoba Johsai High School was only able to contend with Mujinzaka High School's 'Ace,' Kiryu Hachi, through the tacit cooperation between Akashi Asuka and Oikawa Tooru.]
[But now that Oikawa Tooru has suddenly left the court, for Aoba Johsai High School, it is undoubtedly a major blow. This way, it will probably not be so easy for Aoba Johsai High School's first-year 'Ace,' Akashi Asuka, to score points…]
After Oikawa Tooru was substituted, not only the Aoba Johsai High School supporters but also the commentators became more pessimistic about Aoba Johsai High School's situation.
However, in the next moment,
Commentator Oda-san's words were cut short. Suddenly, his speech came to an abrupt halt, and he instantly became dumbfounded, as if he had seen something incredibly unbelievable.
・・・・・・・
Aoba Johsai High School's bench.
Since leaving the court, Oikawa Tooru had been covering his head with a towel, completely silent.
Iwaizumi Hajime stood beside Oikawa Tooru, not offering comfort, nor knowing how to comfort him, because even without speaking, he could feel Oikawa Tooru's remorse and regret at that moment.
After all, this was a National Tournament ticket that the entire team had worked hard for three years to earn.
Yet now, due to his own mistake, the entire team was facing defeat. How could he easily accept such a result?
But just then, Irihata Nobuteru suddenly spoke, "Oikawa, how do you think your cooperation with Akashi has been during this period?"
"I probably utilized about 90% of Akashi's power!" Oikawa Tooru was silent for a moment before finally giving an answer.
"Is that so!"
Irihata Nobuteru nodded, neither admitting nor denying, but continued, "Then look up, and see how much potential Mishita has brought out of Akashi?"
Oikawa Tooru felt a slight doubt in his heart. He wasn't a proud person, but Oikawa Tooru also had a certain confidence in his own abilities.
Oikawa Tooru admitted that Mishita Ryuhei's volleyball skills were good, but that was only among first-years. In the Setter position, at least the current Mishita Ryuhei should be completely unqualified to be compared with him.
However, despite his doubt, Oikawa Tooru still slightly looked up at the match on the court, and the moment he looked up, Oikawa Tooru's pupils violently trembled.
Because at that moment, he happened to see Akashi Asuka jump to receive the ball, and then, facing Mujinzaka High School's block, he unleashed a super spike that had never appeared during his Passing period.
Boom!
An incredibly violent force instantly pierced through the block jointly set up by Yunnan Keisuke and Kiryu Hachi. The volleyball fell into the Mujinzaka High School court with unstoppable momentum, easily scoring a point.
This ball shocked everyone.
Whether it was the Aoba Johsai High Schoolplayers or the Mujinzaka High School players, all of them were completely speechless because of Akashi Asuka's last shot.
This is impossible!
Everyone felt it was incredible. It was already the third set, and the opposing team's main Setter had already left the court, so why did this guy's spike not weaken but instead become stronger?
Everyone couldn't understand.
They also didn't notice…
Akashi Asuka, after landing, his aura rapidly changed, as if in an instant, he directly stepped from one realm into another.
The door… opened.