Tendō whistled low after watching Hayato's spike land with force. He leaned toward Ushijima with a sly grin.
"Wakatoshi-kun~ looks like they're trying to provoke you."
"Is that so? It's good to have fighting spirit."
Ushijima, as calm as ever, didn't react much. His unwavering confidence left Tendō shrugging.
"Hayato Kuroha, huh? I wonder what it feels like to block your spike."
In the stands, Shiratorizawa's female students covered their mouths in disbelief.
"Wait, that spike… it was brutal."
"Yeah, totally different from how he looks."
"No way! Even if it was strong, it's nowhere near Ushijima-senpai's level."
But for Karasuno, the effect was immediate—Hayato's spike snapped them out of their nerves. The cheering squad, who had been dwarfed by Shiratorizawa's presence, roared back to life.
"Hayatooo!"
Koyuki cupped her hands around her mouth, leading the charge. Soon the crowd of second-years joined in—Hayato's name was well-known across school. After all, the handsome transfer student who excelled in both academics and sports was hard to ignore.
On court, the team was buzzing.
"Hayato-senpai, you're blazing today!"
"That hit shook the whole place!" Yamaguchi and Nishinoya hollered from the sidelines.
Even Coach Ukai and Takeda-sensei exchanged nods.
"He's brimming with fire today."
"Well, if he lost his nerve here, I'd be the one with a headache," Ukai muttered.
Kiyoko and Hitoka watched from the manager's bench, eyes following Hayato.
"Hayato-senpai is sharper than ever," Hitoka whispered.
"Yes." Kiyoko smiled faintly, pride gleaming in her expression.
Next up, Karasuno's strongest decoy took his mark.
"Hinata, let's show them," Daichi called.
"Got it!"
Hinata's sprint was a blur, his jump explosive. Kageyama's toss, nearly vertical, dropped perfectly into his path. Hinata's arm whipped forward—smack!—the ball crashed just beyond the net.
The stadium buzzed.
"Right at the net?!"
"Did you see how fast that was?!"
For spectators unfamiliar with Karasuno, the coordination was jaw-dropping. The ball seemed to materialize into Hinata's hands in an instant. Even Tendō squinted, unsure if Kageyama had actually touched the ball.
But Shiratorizawa's resolve didn't waver. Their champions' poise was unshaken.
"No matter who steps up," Goshiki Tsutomu declared, hands on his hips, "we'll crush them with our strength!"
"Talk's cheap," Shirabu shot back.
Before they could argue further, Tendō wrapped an arm around each.
"Easy, easy~ Goshiki-kun, you're as sharp as your bangs."
"Thank you, Senpai!"
Kawanishi sighed. "You spoil him too much."
Tendō only chuckled. "He's a first-year who made it into the regulars. Aiming for Ace isn't bad at all."
At the word "Ace," Goshiki's eyes blazed.
"I won't let you down!"
"Go on then, future Ace," Tendō teased.
The atmosphere remained light. Ushijima, just back from deciding the serve with Daichi, stepped in.
"Wakatoshi-kun~ it's your stage again today," Tendō chimed.
"Don't slack either," Reon added, earning a lazy grin from Tendō.
"Are you his Benkei or something?"
But Goshiki stepped forward, cutting in.
"Ushijima-senpai! I'll prove myself today. I'll show I deserve to be Ace!"
Ushijima regarded him steadily. "Oh. Good luck."
The blunt sincerity stung, as always. Tendō snickered behind his hand while Goshiki clenched his fists tighter. Ushijima's overwhelming aura was something he still couldn't match.
Karasuno, meanwhile, had turned inward, focusing back on their own rhythm. Their warm-ups finished, and Coach Ukai gathered them.
"The lineup's as expected. You've memorized their info?"
"Yes!"
"Good. Even if Ushijima scores, don't panic. Reset, take the next point. They'll make mistakes too. And don't forget—our offense isn't weak either."
"Right!"
Ukai stepped back, and Takeda-sensei moved forward.
"Everyone—the final match is here. Since you've come this far, take the next step. Win it, and soar onto the National stage!"
"Yes!"
The clock struck eleven. The announcer's sweet voice filled the gym.
"Next is the Miyagi Prefecture Representative Final of the All-Japan High School Volleyball Tournament. Karasuno High School versus Shiratorizawa Academy!"
Applause thundered as both teams lined up across the net. The captains shook hands, cameras rolled, and for a brief second, the gym seemed to hold its breath.
From the stands, Hinata's middle school friends leaned forward.
"Shōyo really made it to this stage."
"Yeah, but… are those guys really high schoolers?"
"Hey, some of Karasuno's don't look that different either."
With introductions ahead, the atmosphere thickened. Every eye was locked on the court.
The final was about to begin.