Do you understand what a 'Blacksmith' is?"
Inside the Karasuno High School clubroom, everyone gathered. During the National Tournament, Coach Ukai Keishin made sure to set aside time every day for all of Karasuno to watch matches, as watching replays was also a form of training.
However, due to time constraints, Karasunohadn't been able to watch Aoba Johsai High School's matches in the previous days. Today was the first time.
Just as they were watching Mishita Ryuhei's performance after he entered the game, someone couldn't help but ask a question. In response to this question, Oda Miki did not immediately answer, but instead asked a seemingly unrelated question.
"A Blacksmith?"
The Karasuno players were utterly confused, with several question marks appearing above their heads.
What does this have to do with volleyball?
"Mishita's grandfather was once a blacksmith. He once said that an excellent blacksmith can forge countless famous swords in a lifetime. But an ordinary blacksmith might only be able to barely forge one in their entire life."
"So for many ordinary but determined blacksmiths, in order to forge a famous sword, they sometimes have to give up forging other blades."
The others were still somewhat confused by Oda's strange analogy, but Kageyama Tobiopondered for a moment and seemed to understand something.
At this moment, Oda Miki continued, "Mishita's talent is very ordinary. He is not a genius like Kageyama, but from Zenkoku Middle Schooluntil now, through countless tempering, he has also forged a 'famous sword.'
"Perhaps Mishita doesn't understand the other 'blades' in the team, but only with this one 'famous sword' can Mishita use it as well as anyone."
This time, the Karasuno players finally understood the meaning behind Oda Miki's words.
The reason Mishita Ryuhei could always catch Akashi Asuka's highest Spike point was because he understood Akashi Asuka well enough. In contrast, Mishita Ryuhei and the other Aoba Johsai High School players had absolutely no chemistry.
Because for such a long time, Mishita's object of study had always been Akashi Asuka alone.
"In that case, isn't Aoba Johsai High School in great danger now? After all, all their attacks can only rely on Akashi-kun alone. Once the other side discovers this and everyone targets Akashi-kun, then..."
"It's alright."
Before Sugawara Koushi could finish speaking, Oda Miki interrupted him, "Mishita will absolutely not let such a thing happen again."
"Again?" Everyone looked at each other.
And Oda Miki's memory involuntarily drifted back to the National Tournament during his Zenkoku Middle School days.
It was the final match they played in the National Tournament, also the third set, and also an unexpected withdrawal, only that time the person who withdrew was Mishita Ryuheihimself.
At that time, Mishita Ryuhei, in an attempt to receive an opponent's serve, collided with the referee's stand nearby, resulting in an accidental arm sprain.
He had no choice but to let the substitute setter Nishimori Tomohiko play.
But Nishimori Tomohiko, being his first time participating in a national competition, was overly nervous and was almost completely out of form throughout the match. As a result, Sengoku lost that promotion match by a narrow margin.
At the same time, it also completely ended their journey in the National Tournament.
The third set match between Aoba Johsai High School and Mujinzaka High School almost perfectly replicated that regretful incident from their Zenkoku Middle School days. Therefore, Oda Miki firmly believed that neither Mishita nor Akashi would ever let history repeat itself.
······
"Beautiful!"
"Another 'over-the-block' Spike! This is already the fifth 'over-the-block' ball in this match. Aoba Johsai High School's substitute setter, player Mishita Ryuhei, with astonishing Passingaccuracy, almost every set reaches player Akashi Asuka's highest point."
"Relying on his height advantage, player Akashi Asuka has helped Aoba Johsai High Schoolscore continuously. At this moment, the score between the two teams has reached 16:15."
"Although Aoba Johsai High School's main setter has left the court, player Akashi Asuka, as Aoba Johsai High School's 'Ace,' has stepped up and resolutely taken on the team's heavy responsibility, directly confronting player Kiryu Hachi of Mujinzaka High School without falling behind."
"There is no doubt that player Akashi Asuka, although only a first-year, already possesses the demeanor of a national-level 'Ace.'"
"Huff, huff… Darn it, what's wrong with this guy? Why is his Spike getting stronger and stronger?"
The Mujinzaka High School players were panting heavily, completely unable to understand what was happening with Akashi Asuka.
Since the start of the third set, out of the 16 points Aoba Johsai High School scored, about 12 were scored by Akashi Asuka alone. Even the remaining 4 points were due to Mujinzaka being overly cautious of Akashi Asuka, leading to huge gaps in other positions, forcing Mishita Ryuhei to pass to others for scores.
This scoring efficiency was even more exaggerated than the first two sets combined! Even Kiryu Hachi, one of the top three Aces in the nation, would find it difficult to achieve this level when specifically targeted by the opponent!
Akashi Asuka naturally didn't know what these people were thinking at the moment, because he was now completely immersed in his own world. Unless it was necessary match information, Akashi Asuka's vision would automatically filter out the outside world.
After scoring.
After a position rotation, it was Akashi Asuka's turn to serve again for Aoba Johsai High School.
Seeing Akashi Asuka walk to the serving area, Mujinzaka High School's Libero, Onishin Haruma, felt an uncontrollable fear rise within him.
"Thump!"
A thunderous hitting sound echoed from above the Aoba Johsai High School court. The volleyball, almost deformed by the immense force, carried a strong gust of wind through the block and went straight towards the Libero's position in Mujinzaka High School's backcourt.
And facing this serve, Onishin Haruma, for some unknown reason, failed to react immediately.
The next second.
With a dull thud, the volleyball slammed into Onishin Haruma's face.
Almost instantly, blood immediately flowed from Onishin Haruma's nostrils.
"Beep~~~"
The referee urgently blew his whistle, and the Mujinzaka High School players hurriedly gathered around, placing Onishin Haruma in the center.
Suddenly hit by the volleyball, Onishin Haruma was clearly stunned for a moment, and by the time he came to his senses, he found himself surrounded by a group of people, with blood staining a large part of his clothes.
However, his spirits seemed good. After a doctor's examination, it was found that only capillaries had ruptured, and the injury was not serious.
Nevertheless, Onishin Haruma still had to temporarily leave the court to rest for a while.
This was originally just a simple accident.
However, with a sudden announcement from the commentator, the entire stadium instantly erupted again.
"Incredible!"
"Just received news, 110km/h! Player Akashi Asuka's serve just now, once again reached an astonishing 110km/h..."