What is this?
It's a chance to play officially! A chance to play in the quarterfinals of the National Tournament!
Seeing him so motivated, Coach Kurosu also felt relieved: "Good, when the time comes, don't overthink things; just give it your all on your serves."
"Yes!" Rishia responded loudly.
Watching Rishia, who had already started walking with his feet out of sync, Kurosu couldn't help but smile.
According to Inarizaki's usual schedule, the adjustment period for freshmen generally lasts more than six months, they usually don't get to play until the National Sports Festival or Haruko.
But this year was indeed somewhat unexpected; everyone's coordination speed was incredibly fast, even Rishia, who originally had personality issues, had improved immensely.
—Being able to be used in time is what matters most.
In the quarterfinals this afternoon, Itachiyama and Seito were the first to advance, the third match following them was the game between Inarizaki and Shiratorizawa.
As two of the most famous cheering squads in the country, the atmosphere in the arena was incredibly lively from the very start.
Go, go, Inarizaki is the strongest!
“Shiratorizawa!”
In the stands, Akaashi sighed as he watched the dejected Bokuto-senpai: "Cheer up, Bokuto-senpai. We'll fight again at Haruko."
Bokuto hung his head, his mind filled with that final line shot that had been shut down by Seito's ace, Kobayashi: "But it was just a little bit off.. if only I could have gotten that one point.."
Saru Yamato and Komi Haruki, sitting behind him, exchanged glances, Komi Haruki spoke up proactively, "If you think about it, Seito defeated Rakusan to advance to the nationals. Being able to defeat the previous runners-up proves that Seito itself has the qualities of a champion."
We were only just a little short; doesn't that prove we have the qualities of champions too?
Saru also spoke up, "Besides, this is just the Interhigh. We can show everyone what we're truly capable of during Haruko."
Bokuto lifted his head, his eyes brimming with tears that looked ready to fall at any moment.
Akaashi knelt before Bokuto, looking directly at the absolute pillar of Fukurodani: "Making it to the top eight in the nation is already our best achievement. Bokuto-senpai, you should feel proud of having led us this far."
Like I said, we'll fight again at Haruko.
His gaze was focused and devout, causing Bokuto's once chaotic mind to gradually calm down.
That's right, this is the biggest difference between Interhigh and Haruko.
After IH ends, they still have Haruko to fight in, but for a third-year like Bokuto.. Haruko truly is the last time.
Akaashi clenched his fists secretly, trying to pray that his words would have an effect.
Please, pull yourself together, their Ace.
Bokuto sniffed his nose, looking at Akaashi with teary eyes: "Akaashi, Haruko.. we're going to win the championship."
Akaashi nodded solemnly: "We definitely will."
To leave nothing to regret, they must..
The whistle sounded from below, the match between Inarizaki and Shiratorizawa officially began.
Please look forward to our game!!
The starting lineups for Shiratorizawa and Inarizaki were all as usual, the incredibly lucky Kita Shinsuke lived up to everyone's expectations by securing a starting position.
On the court, Miya Atsumu walked to the serving position holding the ball, while Rishia Heisuke in the waiting area took a deep breath, adjusting his condition.
Miya Atsumu's service game ended after Ushijima Wakatoshi scored three points with a spike, the rotation shifted to Goshiki Tsutomu's serve on the Shiratorizawa side.
As the future Ace of Shiratorizawa, Goshiki Tsutomu's serve is extremely stable; even in a massive stage like the Nationals, the experienced boy does not feel intimidated in the slightest.
Facing Inarizaki's defensive formation, he managed to score a point through sheer force with his serve.
Great serve! One more!
Hinata swallowed hard. "He's even stronger than before.."
When he was at Shiratorizawa, Goshiki Tsutomu would practice jump serves in his spare time. He naturally tried to receive them as well, but his overall performance wasn't very good.
However.. for the battle-hardened seniors, it wasn't a difficult task at all.
"I've got it!" Akagi spread his arms, stepping forward with lightning-fast reflexes to steadily receive the ball that Goshiki had spiked into the open space on the side.
Nice receive!
Miya Atsumu quickly organized the attack, Owari Aran scored from the back row.
With Rishia Heisuke looking forward to it expectantly, the serve was handed over to Suna.
The course of the match was much like Coach Kurosu's original prediction, since the two sides had just exchanged information not long ago, their understanding of each other was equally profound.
Aside from the gap Miya Atsumu opened up at the start, the overall match remained quite close.
Hinata, who was on Rishia, was also stunned because he didn't know beforehand that Coach Kurosu was planning to let him do it, he only realized what was happening when Suna and Rishia exchanged the ball in front of him.
A massive wave of joy and excitement surged through him, Hinata shouted, "Heisuke! Give me a good serve!"
Rishia nodded heavily: "Alright!"
Naturally, the members of Shiratorizawa had an impression of Rishia, as he was a player who had faced them on the court.
Before the whistle blew, Yamagata Hayato quickly organized the defense: "Power serve, power serve, get back!"
Rishia Heisuke stood at the service position holding the volleyball, the noise that had been in his ears was replaced at this moment by nothing but the passionate music of the Inarizaki Brass Band.
The whistle blew, he let out a long breath, instantly simulating the trajectory of his upcoming serve in his mind.
On that day, he had told Hinata that he would work hard on the court for both of them, until Hinata also reached this place.
He thought that moment might arrive very soon.
But before that, he was still the pioneer walking ahead of Hinata.
This path.. let him forge ahead first!
At the very last second of the time limit, Rishia raised his hand and tossed the ball.
Taking a large stride to run forward, he jumped with all his might just before the three-meter line,
His eyes searched for the ball, finally scanning across the entire court and locking onto the spot that would lead to victory.
BANG!!
A heavy thud rang in everyone's ears as the ball, traveling at an unexpected speed with intense spin, whizzed past Goshiki Tsutomu and finally slammed into the floor.
The volleyball slightly deformed before bouncing back up a moment later, flying upward as if it were about to hit the ceiling.
Taking a short breath, Rishia clenched his fists tightly: "Alright!"
He turned his head to look at Hinata by the sidelines and reached out a hand to him immediately.
Hinata slapped it back without hesitation: "Heisuke's serve was amazing!"
Coach Unabara, standing by the sidelines, nodded repeatedly: "The quality of Inarizaki's freshmen is quite impressive; this serve has the same style as Aran's back in the day."
Coach Hiya was also very satisfied: "Next year will be even more worth looking forward to."
Chapter 69: The Sixty-Ninth Fox
Having completely missed that ball, Goshiki Tsutomu glanced over the net at Rishia Heisuke, who was high-fiving Hinata and cheering, then took a deep breath, his expression becoming even more solemn.
It seemed that during this period, he wasn't the only one who had made progress.
That was true. After all, he was a substitute for the Inarizaki starting lineup; even if he wasn't as good as him, he was still far superior to an ordinary player.
Tendo Makoto narrowed his eyes, watching Rishia Heisuke catch the ball and prepare for the next serve.
No, this guy's growth rate is, in a sense, faster than Goshiki's—you could even say it's much faster.
It's not that Rishia Heisuke is stronger than Goshiki Tsutomu at this stage, but rather.. the two of them had different starting points.
Goshiki Tsutomu went from an 80 to an 85, while these two little ones from Inarizaki could be said to have gone from 50 to nearly 70.
The little orange one might be even more terrifying.
Although Tendo wasn't sure what Hinata's current level was, during that week at Shiratorizawa, his growth rate could only be described as a qualitative transformation.
Patting the volleyball against the ground, amidst the cheering from the Inarizaki supporters, Rishia tossed the ball up once again.
Goshiki Tsutomu's pupils contracted. What was he trying to do?
The height of this toss was even higher and further than the previous one; no wonder Rishia Heisuke's starting position and legwork had changed.
Bokuto, his eyes rimmed with red in the stands, immediately saw what Rishia Heisuke was trying to do: "A sudden breakthrough on the court?"
Akaashi nodded. "As a key server, he can't afford to lack this kind of courage."
But this kind of serve, which even changed the approach run, was very risky, unless.. he had already been practicing it.
With a thud, Rishia Heisuke stepped forward to begin his approach.
Hinata's eyes lit up; this was a perfect approach.
The approach run, maintained at the same rhythm, left a one-step distance from the baseline after completing the third step.
And then.. step four.
Yamagata Hayato's pupils contracted as a figure he could simulate with his eyes closed—a figure they were all so familiar with—suddenly overlapped with Rishia on the opposite side.
The next second, the volleyball was struck heavily, flying over the net and suddenly arriving right in front of him.
BANG!!
Hinata jumped up suddenly, shouting loudly, "Free ball! Follow it!!"
The volleyball soared high into the air, falling toward the center of the Inarizaki court.
Miya Atsumu clapped his hands to signal his teammate to receive the ball, Rishia Heisuke rushed forward quickly, steadily receiving the ball and sending it to him.
Under the cover of Aran, who had already rushed to Position 4 to prepare for an attack, Miya Atsumu raised his hands and sent a jump set to Miya Osamu, who had already jumped from the closest distance at Position 3 to perform a Quick Attack.
Before anyone could react, the ball had already been spiked by Miya Osamu, crashing into Shiratorizawa's court.
—A truly perfect Back Quick.
The stands on the Inarizaki side suddenly erupted with cheers so loud they nearly blew the roof off: "Beautiful!!"
What a serve from Heisuke! So cool!!