Jump serves weren't rare at this level—Hayato could do them, and so could Ushijima. The difference lay in their raw power. Hayato's first jump serve had worked mostly because it caught Shiratorizawa off guard.
This time, though, Shiratorizawa was ready.
"Mine!" Kawanishi lunged in from the back row, his arms braced like a shield. The ball smacked against his forearm with a heavy thud, forcing him back a step, but he absorbed the impact and kept it alive.
"Oh no!"
"They got it this time…"
Karasuno's supporters groaned, but Takinoue and the front-row fans were already on their feet.
"Watch Ushijima! He's going to spike—get ready!"
"Perfect pass, Wakatoshi!" Reon shouted, and the set was already rising.
Ushijima launched himself, his left arm drawing back like a coiled whip. In one smooth, merciless motion, he ripped through Karasuno's triple block and sent the ball hurtling toward the back row.
Nishinoya dove, arms braced, but the sheer force of the hit blasted through, bouncing off his forearms and crashing to the floor.
"Damn it…" He clicked his tongue as he scrambled to his feet, his palms still stinging. That single spike had thrown his entire body backward—an undeniable reminder of Ushijima's monstrous strength.
"Ushijima! One more, Ushijima!"
The rhythmic chant from Shiratorizawa's fans rolled like thunder, pressing down on Karasuno.
"Three more touches—after that, I'll have him figured out," Nishinoya said firmly, adjusting his wristband.
Daichi clapped his shoulder with a grin. "Then we'll hold out until you do."
Hayato smirked, pumping his fist. "Or maybe we'll stop him before that."
Their words steadied the team, and though Shiratorizawa held the serve, Karasuno's spirit didn't waver.
But now, Ushijima had rotated to the back row.
Good news? He wouldn't be spiking up front for a while.
Bad news? He was at the service line—ready to unleash the prefecture's most feared weapon: his jump serve.
Unlike Oikawa or Hayato, who combined power with precision, Ushijima relied purely on overwhelming force. It wasn't refined, and sometimes it missed, but when it landed, it was devastating—earning its reputation as the "Heavy Cannon."
Tsukishima exhaled in relief at the net. At least I don't have to be the one receiving this… Facing geniuses like Ushijima, Hayato, or Kageyama wasn't his role. But he hadn't given up. Karasuno had its own genius on the back line.
Nishinoya crouched low, legs wide, eyes locked on Ushijima. The air around him sharpened—Karasuno's Guardian Deity standing unshaken against the storm.
I will receive this.
"Bring it on!!"
Ushijima tossed the ball high, his body bending like a bow. In a single explosive motion, he struck.
Boom!
The ball screamed across the net, a cannonball ripping through the air. It slammed into Nishinoya's arms, rattling his bones and sending him skidding back. The sound echoed so loudly that even in the stands, Kohane winced.
"That was insane…"
"Hayato's serves were strong, but this… this is on another level."
Up in the crowd, Saeko frowned. "I still don't get it—what's so special about him being left-handed?"
Akiteru leaned forward, voice steady. "The spin. A left-hander puts reverse rotation on the ball. Even tiny changes in spin mess up a defense. Plus, blockers are used to adjusting against right-handers. Against a southpaw, that split-second delay can mean everything."
"Next one's ours!" Daichi barked, rallying the team.
Nishinoya slapped his cheeks and shouted, "Bring it on!"
Ushijima tossed again, and the heavy serve tore across the court.
"Come on, come on, come on—send it to me!" Nishinoya whispered, his eyes tracking every movement.
At the last second, Tanaka stepped aside, trusting him completely. Nishinoya lunged, arms taut, his whole body trembling under the force—but the ball soared up cleanly into the air.
"He got it!"
The court erupted. Kageyama, already reading the ball's path, sprang up. Tendō jumped with him, grinning wildly—only to realize too late.
It wasn't Kageyama who would spike.
From the back row, Hayato surged forward, rising with perfect timing. His right arm whipped through, smashing the ball down.
"Point, Karasuno!"
Cheers exploded. Nishinoya had kept his word, and Hayato had finished the job.
On the court, everyone swarmed Nishinoya.
"As expected!"
"Legendary as always, Yu!"
Even Tsukishima cracked a small smile. "Nice receive."
Their circle tightened, fists raised. "Keep the pressure! Karasuno—fight!"
The momentum had shifted. Nishinoya had done his part, and now it was Hinata's turn. Subbing in, he slapped Nishinoya's palm on his way out and bounced onto the court, buzzing with energy.
"Let's go, Hinata!"
"Don't mess up!"
"I got this!"
He grinned wide, bouncing on his toes, as Kageyama groaned, "You're way too hyped…"
But that spark—Karasuno needed it now more than ever.
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