hotmtlnovel Chapter 141: Hitters Spoiled by Their Setter
Chapter 141: Hitters Spoiled by Their Setter
This match had clearly been carefully orchestrated. Through the recent exchanges and rallies, subtle truths about both teams' performances swirled in Taichi’s mind. Bit by bit, the fragments aligned like pieces of a puzzle, revealing a clear picture before his eyes.
If volleyball could be boiled down into two elements—offence and defence—then his current team was built entirely around one concept: extreme defence into counterattack.
In terms of offensive power, the biggest threats on their side were, surprisingly, both first-years: himself and Goshiki Tsutomu.
But without Oikawa Tōru setting for him, Taichi was significantly handicapped. The super-quick attack was off the table, and the mix of left- and right-hand strikes that once kept blockers guessing was no longer an option. His attacking power was sharply reduced.
On the flip side, though, the team’s blocking strength was unparalleled:
Aone Takanobu, Tendō Satori, Futakuchi Kenji, Koganegawa Kanji, and himself—all formidable blockers.
Whether individually or as a group, they were a wall that would be extremely difficult to penetrate.
The goal of the teams’ division was becoming clear:
Would their block evolve fast enough to stop Ushijima Wakatoshi, or would the opposing hitters find a way to break through?
And standing as the final line of defence in this setup, Iwaizumi Hajime had to be feeling enormous pressure...
Taichi lowered his gaze.
Defence alone wouldn’t be enough.
His personal challenge in this match was to figure out how to contribute offensively without Oikawa by his side.
-----
“Beep—!” The match ended.
[ Team Irihata 17 - 25 Team Washijō]
The difference between the two teams was stark. Washijō’s side had scored a total of 16 points through Ushijima Wakatoshi and Oikawa Tōru alone.
Irihata’s team had racked up most of their points through blocking, managing to score 8 points that way.
The most surprising stat? Kaedehara Taichi had only scored 4 points with spikes throughout the entire match—a far cry from his usual performance.
Not only had it become harder for him to score, but the two setters on his team also weren’t prioritizing him the way Oikawa once had.
Koganegawa was more accustomed to setting for his seniors from Date Tech, while Shirabu naturally favoured his Shiratorizawa teammates.
“Hahaha...Taichi, see? Without me, you’re totally lost!” Oikawa’s laugh was obnoxiously loud.
“Mm.” Taichi responded with a curt hum and turned away.
Oikawa: “???”
“Oi, Iwa-chan, you and Taichi together couldn’t match me, you know!” Oikawa taunted Iwaizumi next.
“Get lost, you idiot. I don’t want to talk to you right now.” Iwaizumi’s scowl deepened as he walked off with a grim expression.
Oikawa: “???”
Iwa-chan didn’t even hit me this time...
While Washijō chewed out both Goshiki and Tendō, Irihata Nobuteru remained calm, his ever-present smile firmly in place.
Every player was lost in thought—some quickly finding clarity and new goals, while others remained mired in confusion after a whole day of effort.
The coaches observed the young players in silence. It was only the second day of the training camp, but the signs of growth were already promising.
And this was just the beginning.
Growth always came with pain and struggle, and these players were teetering on the edge of transformation.
Everyone was waiting for the moment when they would break free of their cocoons and take flight.
-----
After dinner, the players returned to the gym. After a light warm-up, they divided into teams and began the second round of matches.
The energy on the court was fierce, and the players' coordination had improved from the morning games.
Smack! Yamagata Hayato received a perfect first touch, the ball arcing beautifully toward the setter.
“Ushijima!” Oikawa called as he sent the ball to the left wing.
Ushijima Wakatoshi sprinted, then leapt into the air with effortless power. His body stretched into a flawless form as his left arm pulled back.
“Triple block!”
Koganegawa Kanji, Aone Takanobu, and Kaedehara Taichi rose on the other side of the net, forming a formidable wall.
Taichi's arms strained, pressing forward and down in sync with his teammates, his eyes locked fiercely on Ushijima.
“You’re not getting past us!!”
The wall loomed in the air with an overwhelming, unshakable presence.
For a brief moment, Ushijima felt the crushing force of their block from across the net. Then, instead of hammering the ball through, he simply tapped it upward.
The ball sailed gently over the block and dropped to the ground behind them.
Washijō’s team scored.
[ Team Irihata 14 - 18 Team Washijō]
Ushijima stood facing the trio on the other side of the net.
Though his team had scored, Oikawa’s face broke into a mysterious smile.
“Well, well. Ushijima-chan, were you avoiding the block just now?”
“Next time—”
Taichi and Aone spoke in unison, eyes blazing.
“We’ll stop you for sure!”
_________
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