Chapter 32: Aoba Johsai vs. Shiratorizawa
"It feels like Ushi's power has gotten even stronger," Iwaizumi Hajime said, his expression grave.
"Definitely. Looks like he wasn't going all out when Taiichi and I scouted their training last time," Oikawa Tooru replied, his voice low.
Oikawa had seemed normal throughout the trip, but that very normalcy struck Iwaizumi as odd. He kicked Oikawa's shin.
"Hey, you're too stiff! If the captain's like this, how are we supposed to take on Shiratorizawa? It's just a practice match."
Oikawa stumbled forward from the kick, glaring back. "What's that? Can't I act a bit serious? Iwa-chan, haven't you noticed how many Shiratorizawa girls are in the crowd today?"
"Once they see my dashing figure, they'll be cheering for me. Ah, I'm such a sinful man!" Oikawa, ever stubborn, indulged in his fantasies.
Still, it wasn't bad. Seeing Oikawa revert to his familiar, infuriating grin and showy pose, Iwaizumi reflexively headbutted Oikawa's beaming face.
"Ow!" Oikawa clutched his reddened forehead, staggering back. He was about to retort when he saw Iwaizumi's serious expression.
"Good to see you're fine. Time to lead the team for warm-ups, Captain."
"Right."
Oikawa glanced at his teammates behind him, his unease finally easing, and walked toward the center of the gym.
"Everyone, warm up quickly. Match starts in thirty minutes."
"Yes!"
Both teams began warming up, passing, setting, and simulating spikes one after another.
"System-san, there should be a task for facing Shiratorizawa, right?" Kaedehara Taiichi asked the system while stretching.
Ding! Temporary Task: Rehearsal for the Finals.
"As Aoba Johsai's biggest rival in Miyagi, victory in this practice match is a crucial stepping stone to winning the finals."
Task Goal 1: Defeat Shiratorizawa. Reward: All host ability values +1.
Task Goal 2: Be the match's top scorer. Reward: Spike +5.
Task Goal 3: Limit Ushijima Wakatoshi's points to 10 or fewer per set (including 10). Reward: Receive +2 per set achieved.
Task Failure Penalty: None.
Taiichi studied the task lines before him, deep in thought. Three tasks for a practice match, with no penalty for failure—was the system implying he couldn't complete any?
Would this match be that tough?
"Taiichi, why're you zoning out?" Kindaichi Yuutarou nudged him from behind, signaling it was his turn to spike.
"Nothing." Taiichi snapped back, quickly jumping to spike.
…
On the other side of the net, Tendou Satori sauntered over to teammate Kawanishi Taichi, whispering, "Taichi, did you notice the other team has a kid named Taichi too?"
Kawanishi nodded. "Yeah, the first-year who came with Oikawa-senpai last time. I know."
Tendou darted to the other side. "Heard he beat Ushi in a long-distance run during training."
"What? Tendou-senpai, is that true?" Goshiki Tsutomu popped up suddenly.
Before Tendou could answer, Goshiki rushed to Ushijima Wakatoshi. "Ushijima-senpai, did you lose to that first-year in a long-distance run?"
Ushijima frowned. To him, it wasn't really a competition, but he nodded. "That's right."
"No way!" Goshiki looked devastated.
Hearing his ace's reply, Kawanishi couldn't help glancing at the first-year across the net, a ripple stirring in his heart.
"Ushijima-senpai, I'm the only one who can surpass you! Today, I'll prove my strength by crushing Kaedehara Taiichi!" Goshiki, sparked by a new goal, rallied and shouted to Ushijima.
"Talk big when your skills catch up," Shirabu Kenjirou doused Goshiki's enthusiasm with cold water, as usual.
"Alright, alright, Goshiki's words are as cool as his bangs!" Tendou, thrilled by the escalating drama, chimed in.
"Thanks, Tendou-senpai!" Goshiki responded loudly and earnestly.
Taiichi glanced at Shiratorizawa's noisy group, wondering what they were talking about.
Ding! "Temporary Task: Only One Taichi."
"The host has caught Kawanishi Taichi's attention and is seen as the top target to defeat. Task Goal: Outscore Kawanishi Taichi in spikes. Reward: Spike +1."
???
What's going on? Before Taiichi could process it—
Ding! "Temporary Task: Surpassing the Ace's Rival."
"The host has caught Goshiki Tsutomu's attention and is seen as the top target to defeat. Task Goal: Outperform Goshiki Tsutomu overall. Rewards: Forward spike +1 per set, Power +2."
Another one? And what does "outperform" mean?
Taiichi eyed Kawanishi Taichi and Goshiki Tsutomu. Both looked perfectly normal.
"Damn it, always someone out to get me," he muttered.
Still, it was just one goal. No big deal. He'd just spike harder.
Taiichi felt like Shiratorizawa was a task generator. This practice match alone spawned more tasks than all the previous ones combined.
But this commotion eased his nerves, calming his earlier tension.
Beep! "Both teams, line up."
"Please guide us!"
Aoba Johsai's lineup: Front row—setter Oikawa Tooru, middle blocker Kaedehara Taiichi, wing spiker Kunimi Akira; Back row—wing spiker Hanamaki Takahiro, middle blocker Matsukawa Issei (libero Watari Shinji), wing spiker Iwaizumi Hajime.
Shiratorizawa's lineup: Front row—middle blocker Kawanishi Taichi, wing spiker Ushijima Wakatoshi, wing spiker Ohira Reon; Back row—middle blocker Tendou Satori (libero Yamagata Hayato), setter Shirabu Kenjirou, wing spiker Goshiki Tsutomu.
The match began with Aoba Johsai serving.
Shiratorizawa's positioning was as Aoba Johsai anticipated. To maximize Ushijima Wakatoshi's attack power, they placed him in the front row to attack from the outset.
"Let's test the rookie's receiving first." Iwaizumi served, targeting first-year Goshiki instead of third-year Tendou Satori or libero Yamagata Hayato.
"Nice receive, Tsutomu!"
Goshiki deftly received the ball, sending it perfectly to Shirabu Kenjirou.
"Ushijima-senpai!" The first ball naturally went to their ace. Shirabu set it high, right to the net's center!
Ushijima charged from the back, took a powerful step, and leaped high.
Here it comes! The three at the net tensed.
"Triple block!" Oikawa Tooru, Kaedehara Taiichi, and Kunimi Akira jumped in unison.
Bang!
The ball blasted through, unhindered, smashing into Aoba Johsai's court.
A clean spike!
Ushijima Wakatoshi's spike soared above Taiichi and Kunimi's block, landing squarely in Aoba Johsai's backcourt.
[Aoba Johsai 0 vs. 1 Shiratorizawa]