Annoying Middle

One week later

Semifinals - Nara Prefecture Inter-High Qualifiers

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"One more win and we'll get to the bottomline of this prefectural tournament." Coach Soma placed his hands on his hips as he told this to the boys of Shiroshikata Gakuen. His expression was stern yet it did not conceal his excitement, because as far as the tournament is concerned, they are performing extremely well.

"But let's not go on thinking about it now. What matters is this – whall shall you do today?" He eyed ech member waiting for their answer. It was Maki who responded in behalf of the team.

"Face the opponent and play out there to get the win."

The corner of Soma's lips curved up into a smile, then he said. "You bet." And so they huddled as they waited for the referee to blow his whistle, signaling for the official warm-ups prior to the game.

"Well, Takihiko High boasts itself with the presence of their formidable setter, #1 captain Wataru Ken. That setter is a bit aggressive when it comes to scoring, so he's actually well known for his very surprising dumps from out of the blue. His tosses are fast, sometimes even exceeding the speed on his blockers – and that's the thing that you should capitalize on."

"The speed?" Asuma said in confusion.

"Yes, the speed. As I said, his tosses are extremely fast that sometimes, his spikers can't keep up with it. Given that, you should be using that against him. That setter easily gets carried away when the game's tempo is fast."

"So we mark the setter. Anything else, coach?" Maki asked.

"Hmmmm lemme think…." Soma touched his chin as if thinking about what to say next. "Their number 11. I think that's a first year. He plays in the middle, and if you noticed on the tape we had on their last game, that player can somehow keep up with some of his tosses. He's also tall for a first year."

"I noticed the same thing." Hiro added. "That middle blocker is quick on his feet and very agile in responding to his tosses. His quick is like a maxed-out version of that quick by that shrimp from Kurokumogi. It's not only fast – it's also high."

"Then I'm counting on you to block for that, Hiro. Kakuzo, you're stepping in to stop that too whenever you're in front."

The warm ups began and they began their drills before the game officially begins. Kakuzo was doing some spike drills with Asuma when the latter spoke. "Yo, titan, coach seems to have high hopes for you." To which Kakuzo only blinked in confusion. He looked at Asuma as if what he just uttered is something so ridiculous.

'I haven't even done anything yet! I don't wanna say it buy you're getting more highlights than I am!' These were only in his thoughts. Asuma continued.

"Now that I think about it, maybe having you around isn't so bad at all. Your middle support has been really on point despite your annoying presence on court."

"Did you really felt the need to insert that insult towards the end! You almost complimented me!" Kakuzo hissed at him.

A loud spike from the other side got their attention as they turned their heads there, only to see another set coming from the player wearing jersey #1 to the guy wearing #11. The set-up was high but the guy still caught it, sending a blistering straight over to their side of the court.

"Yosh, Rimuru nice kill!" the setter said after that flashy play.

"That was a good set, Wataru-san!" The guy replied.

Hiro saw that too, and it ticked him off the wrong way because the toss was obviously too high yet the player still caught it. Looking at #11 right now, he noted that he must be more or less around his height, which is tall for a freshman.

"Oi, oi, looks like Hiro-kun is gonna have to get used to those above-the-block spikes now, doesn't he?" Kouen said in a somewhat singsong voice just behind the blocker. "Hopefully, ye get some points out of those."

"Huhh? Are you doubting my blocks, emoboy?" He retorted back to their setter.

"No, can do, center ace ~" Kouen just walked away, feeling good after riling up their blocker.

"GO, GO TAKIHIKO! PUSH IT, PUSH IT, TAKIHIKO! SCORE, SCORE SCORE!"

"My, my, that cheer squad does sound kinda legit, wew." Gai whistled as he said those words after those cheers from Takihiko High's fans. "We better make them eat those words!"

Soon, the game began and as usual, Shiroshikata started on their S1 formation where Kouen got the ball to their opponent's side. Takihiko had the same rotation on their side of the court.

The one who bumped the ball up is Takihiko's libero, and he tossed it to their captain/setter, Wataru, who immediately sent the ball in the middle for a quick attack by number #11, Rimuru.

*Wooosh*

'Yup, it's definitely high' An irk mark appeared in Hiro's forehead after not getting a touch from that spike. Luckily, Gai was there for the receive. "Alright, Kouen!"

Kouen got under to set the ball next to Asuma, whose spike was caught between two blockers of Takihiko. He looked to the sides, hoping someone can dig it, and there's Kouha who managed to actually do it. "Sorry, it's low!"

"Hiro!" Maki crouched to bump it close in the center, where Hiro spiked it hard.

"One touch!" Rimuru lightly deflected the ball but its course veered towards the sides because of its spin. The ball went out, point for Shiroshikata 1 – 0.

Hiro, however, didn't really feel like he won that point. 'The guy touched it.' He internally groaned.

Kouen served again and the ball was raised with difficulty by one player from Takihiko. From that point on, the relentless rallies between the two teams went on – spikes here and there, setter dumps by Wataru, occasional blocks, some aces and a few errors for each team. Both are wary of each other's plethora of playstyles and as a result, the scores were close as one of them keeps on upping the other in frequently alternating rallies.

Until the score now reads 23 – 22, Shiroshikata in the lead, but the last point was scored by Rimuru. He served the ball and Hiro, who has been observing quite a lot in this game whether on or off court, watched from the bench as Kakuzo raised that one shakily. "Sorry, cover!"

"Kouuuha!" Kouen rushed over to get the ball and set it to his brother, who banged his way against the double block of Takihiko. The spiked demolished the block and hit the floor loudly on Takihiko's side. 24 – 22, Shiroshikata.

"YOSHAAAA!" Kouha pumped his fist after scoring that one which brought them at set point. Now, Kakuzo went at the back to serve, and Hiro moved forward in exchange for Gai.

Kakuzo served and it was easily received by Takihiko's libero. Wataru got it next, and of course, the speedy toss went to Rimuru, who hit it from the middle.

"One touch!" Hiro finally managed to deflect it, much to Rimuru's shock.

"WAAAAAAAAH!" Asuma slid through the floor and saved the ball by hitting it with his leg, football-style. The ball went up close to the net, and Hiro planned to throw it down, only to be flanked too by Rimuru.

The joust between the two happened only for a second, but their eyes conversed within that limited time frame.

Rimuru: 'Give it up, dammit!'

Hiro: 'You pesky, little, annoying middle!'

From his silent observations, Hiro finally marked #11 as a very annoying middle blocker. Annoying because he's been scampering quite a lot, making him almost dizzy with his movements. Though he noted, that the guy's moves are somehow limited only. And his insane quicks are only possible in the middle, not anywhere else. Moreover, it might be difficult indeed to reach for his spikes, but the path of the ball from his spikes can be easily manipulated, because he observed that all of it are straights. He made no cut-shots so far in the first set. Meaning, there are two ways to counter it.

First, you have to jump really high for the straights in order to kill it, or at least touch it to lessen its power. The second way is more reliable. Deliberately block for crosses, so the receivers at the back can have a clear view of the ball to properly receive it.

Going back to that joust, both of them tried to overpower each other, and Hiro, who got more experience, won on that throwdown in the middle. The ball hit Takihiko's floor, scoring a break for the Stags.

25 – 22, Shiroshikata took the first set.