"Watch out for the back-row attack!"
Even though Akira had rotated to the back row, Shiratorizawa still didn't let their guard down.
As Ushijima's teammates, they all knew it.
A super ace's back-row attack could be just as lethal as a front-row one!
But as Hinata moved to the front row, a spark of excitement flickered in his eyes.
With anticipation, he glanced at Kageyama beside him, only to find Kageyama already looking at him.
Their gazes met for a moment before they both turned away at the same time.
On the other side of the net, Tendō narrowed his eyes, catching the exchange.
But for now, he had been subbed out for the libero and, even if he sensed something, he couldn't do much about it.
Without Akira in the front row to block, Shiratorizawa's offense surged in intensity.
However, Karasuno's attack power wasn't falling behind either.
Despite Akira being in the back row, they didn't show the weakness Shiratorizawa had anticipated.
Hinata's front-row attack caught Shiratorizawa off guard right from the start!
Bang!
Before the blockers could react, Hinata spiked the ball straight down for a point!
Even if Shiratorizawa adjusted to his quick attack over time, it still took them a moment to adapt.
But if all attention was focused on Hinata, then the other attackers would strike before Shiratorizawa could react!
On the flip side, defending against Shiratorizawa's attacks was no easy feat for Karasuno.
Without Akira in the front row, their blocking became far less effective against Shiratorizawa's powerful offense.
"Stop them!" Tanaka gritted his teeth in frustration.
Shiratorizawa's strength didn't lie in Ushijima alone.
Though no one else on the team could match his sheer power, they were still some of the best players in all of Miyagi Prefecture.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been selected by Coach Washijo for Shiratorizawa.
A talented first-year wing spiker, Goshiki Tsutomu.
A precise and efficient setter, Shirabu Kenjirō, who devoted himself to feeding Ushijima the perfect sets.
A middle blocker with insane instincts, Tendō Satori.
An outstanding libero, Yamagata Hayato.
And solid, well-rounded players like Ohira Reon and Kawanishi Taichi.
This was the reigning king of Miyagi: Shiratorizawa!
As the teams continued to trade points, rotations shifted.
Soon, the eager Tendō returned to the front row, eyes locked onto Hinata and Kageyama across the net.
"That freak quick attack..."
"I finally get to experience it firsthand!"
The whistle blew!
Bang!
After Akira received Ohira's serve, Karasuno's attack formation began!
Hinata started running.
As he neared Kageyama, he suddenly changed direction, cutting diagonally!
At the same time, Asahi and Tanaka also accelerated toward their attack positions!
Kageyama's toss flew up!
A quick set to Hinata!
Hundreds of repetitions had refined their movements into pure instinct!
But at that very moment, Akira, stationed in the back row, narrowed his eyes.
Tendō had already moved.
It was as if he had anticipated their attack before they even set it in motion.
Among three attackers, he locked onto Hinata instantly and predicted the shot!
Bang!
The freak quick attack was blocked!
The ball bounced back to Karasuno's side, and Hinata and Kageyama stared in shock at Tendō.
This quick attack had been blocked before, but even Date Tech's blockers needed time to adjust before shutting it down!
"Did he predict it from watching on the sidelines?"
From the back row, Akira had the best vantage point.
From the beginning, Tendō had exuded confidence in stopping this attack.
If nothing else, this quick attack wouldn't work against him!
"Now, I'm in full form!"
Tendō's wild laughter echoed across the court.
"Shiratorizawa isn't just about Ushiwaka!"
Shiratorizawa resumed serving.
But Akira's reception remained steady—regular serves posed no threat to him.
Once the ball was in play, Karasuno's front-row spikers moved again!
And Tendō, across the net, fixated on Kageyama, noticing the slight beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Who would this set go to?
Kageyama Tobio, the genius setter from Kitagawa Daiichi!
Karasuno's attackers moved exactly as before!
But this time, Tendō had already stopped their quick attack once.
Normally, any setter would instinctively avoid repeating a failed play.
But Kageyama did the opposite.
With all three attackers rushing the net, he still set the ball to Hinata!
When both teams are evenly matched...
It becomes a battle of the setter versus the opposing blocker!
Tendō read their movements again.
But it was only similar on the surface.
This time, Kageyama's toss was slightly slower!
It looked the same, but in reality, it was different!
And Hinata understood immediately.
Back during their practice match against Nekoma, Inuoka had adapted to their quick attack.
Since then, Hinata had practiced a variation!
The spike speed would be slightly reduced...
But in exchange, he could aim for the open gaps in the defense!
He jumped!
Bang!
Unexpectedly, at the last moment, Tendō adjusted his arm position!
He blocked Hinata's new attack route!
Karasuno's attack was shut down again!
Shiratorizawa scored consecutive points!
"What... the hell?!"
Hinata stared at the volleyball in disbelief.
Even after adjusting the attack angle, it was still blocked!
There were only two outcomes for an instinct-based blocker like Tendō.
Either he performed at zero percent or at 120%!
And now that he was fully activated, he was terrifying!
Sure enough, in the next few rallies, Kageyama and Hinata were unable to break past Tendō's block even once!
At this moment, Tendō's blocking felt almost godlike!
He was always exactly where he needed to be!
"Heh-heh!"
"I'm on fire right now!"
Tendō's laughter rang out across the net.
"Hahahaha!"
Shiratorizawa continued to close the point gap.
And as the game progressed...
Karasuno received even worse news.
Ushijima had rotated to the front row.
This meant Shiratorizawa's heaviest artillery was now in prime position to attack!
Though Ushijima could attack from the back row, he had to jump behind the three-meter line.
That required more stamina.
Now, in the front row, his attacks would be even more devastating.
But...
Ushijima's rotation also meant something else.
Akira was about to rotate into the front row as well!
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