Chapter 17: Seijoh vs Wakunan (2)

"Don't worry! That was just a lucky shot. We'll take the next point!" Nakashima Takeru's calm voice cut through the tension.

"Got it!" The players of Wakunan responded without a trace of panic.

Nakashima fixed his gaze on Kaedehara Taiichi. There was something oddly familiar about him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Aoba Johsai's Iwaizumi Hajime served the ball with precision, sending it over the net. Nakashima received it cleanly and set it high above Hanayama Kazumasa.

"Nice receive!"

Kaedehara Taiichi locked onto Nakashima's position, prepared to jump in for a block. But Hanayama deftly tipped the ball to the back row instead. Out of nowhere, a pineapple-headed Kawatabi Shunki soared from the back line. With only a single blocker in his way, he spiked the ball with a resounding thud.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – Wakunan 1]

"Great spike, Kawatabi!" Nakashima praised enthusiastically.

Kawatabi turned with a grin and struck a victorious pose, feeding the team's rising momentum.

"This is Wakunan for you—consistently ranked among the top teams in the prefecture," remarked Coach Mizoguchi from Aoba Johsai's bench. "Their average height isn't anything remarkable, but their teamwork rivals ours."

Coach Irihata nodded. "Their players are incredibly polished, and with Nakashima Takeru as their core, they don't let the game's flow rattle them."

"Who would've thought that Hanayama Kazumasa—a burly setter with a beard—could pull off such a delicate set?" Oikawa Tooru flicked his wrist and turned to Kaedehara. "Taichi, you're too focused on Nakashima. They've got more than just one ace up their sleeve."

"Yes, I understand!" Taichi replied, realizing his mistake. He had been so preoccupied with the opposing ace that he'd neglected his immediate defensive responsibilities.

Wakunan's Shiroishi Yūki stepped up to serve, sending the ball spinning toward Aoba Johsai. Hanamaki Takahiro received it with precision.

"Nice receive, Hanamaki!"

Oikawa set the ball high to the right. Iwaizumi rushed in and hammered it with all his might. Wakunan's libero, Kazeteru barely managed to dig it out.

"Not stable! Cover it!"

Hanayama had no choice but to bump it lightly toward Nakashima. "Takeru this one's on you."

"Got it!" Nakashima charged forward, timing his jump perfectly.

"One, two—block him!" Aoba Johsai's triple block formed—a wall of Iwaizumi, Taichi, and Matsukawa Issei.

Nakashima targeted Taichi's fingertips, slicing the ball to the edge of the court. It ricocheted off his hand and flew out of bounds.

Touch out! Nakashima scored with a powerful spike.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – Wakunan 2]

Taichi sighed as he watched the ball land outside. He had expected this.

Unlike Kamomedai's Hoshiumi Korai, whose stature and raw strength had earned him the title of the current Little Giant, Nakashima Takeshi's playstyle was eerily reminiscent of the former Little Giant from Karasuno.

Wakunan served again. Kunimi Akira received it cleanly, sending the ball toward Oikawa. Iwaizumi was already airborne on the left.

A quick attack? Wakunan's front-row blockers scrambled to follow. But just as Oikawa raised his hands, his set turned into a surprise dump. The ball slammed into Wakunan's court before anyone could react.

[Aoba Johsai 2 – Wakunan 2]

For a moment, the entire gym fell silent.

"A second-touch attack by Oikawa-senpai!" A gasp erupted from Aoba Johsai's bench.

"No one saw that coming…" Wakunan's players felt like they'd been toyed with.

"Oikawa-kun is so cool!" The Oikawa fan club, as expected, erupted with cheers.

Seeing his teammates still caught in the moment, Nakashima clapped his hands to snap them out of it. "It's fine! Focus on the next ball!"

"Yeah, don't zone out. Make sure to receive it," Oikawa chimed in with a smile, his tone light but teasing.

Because next, it was Oikawa's turn to serve. And that man could be downright sadistic.

"No need to rush. If we can't stop their ace for now, let's solve it with offence," Nakashima encouraged his team.

Oikawa walked to the service line, holding the ball and pointing straight at Nakashima. "After all, no matter how powerful your attack, you've still got to receive my serve."

He was brimming with confidence. His fingertips tingled as he tossed the ball into the air, ran up, and jumped with perfect form. The ball rocketed toward Wakunan's baseline at a blistering speed.

BAM!

For a moment, Wakunan froze in place, unable to react.

"Line ball. Service ace."

[Aoba Johsai 3 VS 2 Wakunan]

Nakashima Takeru's sharp gaze locked onto Oikawa Tooru. Facing one of the top teams in the prefecture? What luck!

"One more serve!" Aoba Johsai's players cheered enthusiastically.

Taichi felt a sense of reassurance as he watched Oikawa step up to serve again. His serves had an almost hypnotic charm.

Bang!

Oikawa's second serve cut through the air. Wakunan's libero, Kazeteru, barely reacted in time. He shifted his footing slightly, but the ball struck near his feet and ricocheted out of bounds.

[Aoba Johsai 4 VS 2 Wakunan]

"Nice serve, Oikawa-senpai!"

"One more!"

"Ahhh, Oikawa-kun is so cool!"

The atmosphere on Wakunan's bench was tense. Their head coach, Onikobe, couldn't sit still and was already preparing to call a timeout.

"Let's just get the ball up first!" Nakashima suddenly shouted. "Everyone, move back! I'll take the first touch with Kazeteru and Yūki. The rest of you, be ready for follow-ups!"

He knew such powerful serves weren't guaranteed to succeed every time, but the key now was to stabilize the game as quickly as possible.

"Shun, don't be so tense," Nakashima added, noticing Kawatabi Shunki's tight shoulders. "Look up at the second floor. See that girl with long hair? She's not cheering for Oikawa. She might be one of our fans!" He winked playfully at his teammate.

"What? Really?" Kawatabi turned to where Nakashima pointed, his eyes lighting up. "Wow, she's so cute!"

The tension among Wakunan's players eased a little. Laughter rippled through the team, breaking the heavy atmosphere. Their movements became less rigid.

"See that, Oikawa?" Matsukawa Issei teased from the back row. "Now that's what a real captain does."

"I'm just a different kind of leader!" Oikawa retorted, feigning offence. His approach was certainly less motivational, but it had its charm. That said, what if they still can't receive my serve?

He launched his third serve. This time, the ball was even faster, a testament to Oikawa's control and power.

In the blink of an eye, the ball was hurtling toward Nakashima Takeru.

Move! Move! My body needs to move! Nakashima screamed internally, willing his muscles into action.

He leaned slightly forward, lowering his centre of gravity and carefully adjusting his arm's position to meet the ball.

Bang!

The volleyball struck Nakashima's arms and ricocheted upward, flying straight toward the second-floor railing.

"Ah!" A group of girls watching the practice match on the second floor squealed, startled as the ball hurtled toward them.

The ball bounced back onto the court. Silence fell over the gym as everyone processed what had just happened.

[Aoba Johsai 5 VS 2 Wakunan]

Oikawa Tooru's serves had earned three consecutive points.

"Timeout requested by Wakunan," the referee announced, blowing the whistle. Wakunan's players were still trying to catch their breath.

"Takeru, are you okay?" Coach Onikobe's voice snapped Nakashima out of his daze.

For a brief moment, Nakashima felt like he was back on the court against Shiratorizawa last year, facing Ushijima Wakatoshi's monstrous serves. Wakunan had been crushed 2-0 in that semifinal match, with Ushijima scoring over ten points just from serves alone.

Can we stop this? Can we even handle it? Oikawa Tooru's serves alone were putting enormous pressure on Wakunan.

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