Kageyama took a sudden step back, his expression looking as foul as if he had just swallowed a fly.
Just a moment ago, he felt as if he had hallucinated a senior with a terrible personality who called him a good boy.
—Can doing that really close the distance!
After reflecting for a moment on the scene where he had called out to Akari, Kageyama decisively shook his head, casting those terrifying images out of his mind.
He chose to continue asking, "Is there anything else?"
Looking at Kageyama's awkward manner, Hinata's expression was one of disdain: "You really are picky.."
No wonder he doesn't get along with others; he can't even do something as simple as calling someone by their name.
But seeing Kageyama's sincere expression, Hinata decided to take pity on him and impart some secret techniques: "Then try giving more compliments; you have to say what's truly in your heart."
Rubbing his chin, Kageyama subconsciously recalled the images of when he used to play with Sugawara Koushi.
It seems.. it really is like that; Sugawara-senpai always loved to praise every single one of them.
After locking eyes with Hinata for a few seconds, Kageyama spoke, "Thanks."
Hinata raised his hand and gave him a thumbs-up: "Exactly, that's it!"
Returning to Kunimi Akira's side, Kageyama lowered his eyes in thought.
To say what was truly in his heart..
He looked up, looking Kunimi Akira straight in the eye: "I'm counting on you today."
Kunimi Akira froze for a moment, then turned his head and replied with a single word: "Yeah."
Why did he feel like this guy was threatening him? He had the feeling that if he didn't play well this set, he would be finished..
After glancing at Rishia Heisuke and Ushijima Wakatoshi on the opposing side, Kunimi Akira felt an even stronger urge to run away.
This is going to be hard to play! Won't my hands actually break!
But there's no escaping it. Since I'm already here, I might as well play..
Nice to meet you!
Watching Tendo Makoto opposite him, Hinata licked his lips.
This is a unique guessing block that stands out among all high schools; besides Tendo Makoto, the only player he has encountered who uses it is Kawanishi Taichi from Shiratorizawa.
Besides that, Inubushi Higashi and Shirabu use it occasionally, but not very frequently.
Unlike a standard block that can be shaken off, this type of speculative block moves before he even acts, so the pressure it places on him is even greater.
Yamagata Hayato served first.
Spinning the ball in his hands, Yamagata raised his arm and spiked the ball into the corner of the court.
Hyakuwa did not back down, simply raising his hand where he stood; relying on his height and arm span, he made a slight jump and intercepted the ball in mid-air.
Yamagata was shocked: "That's insane."
"What a receive!" Hinata jogged toward the net, jumped with a thud, raised his hands to set the ball toward Position 4.
Hyakuwa was also in position and ready to spike.
Hinata's set lacked much technical skill; it was simply very high.
But for Hyakuwa, it was.. just right.
With a loud bang, Hyakuwa, who had already jumped, spiked the ball straight down, completely clearing the block.
Tendo shouted, "That's cheating—"
Yamagata lunged forward in a diving save to keep the ball up, Tendo followed immediately to set the ball near the net.
After Yamagata scrambled up, he rushed forward, leaped, struck the ball sharply toward the upper diagonal, successfully tipping it over Bai Ze's block.
"Nice block!" Hinata dropped his center of gravity and received the ball.
As long as it wasn't a power spike, receiving it was not difficult at all.
Hyakuwa glanced in Hinata's direction and raised his hands to toss the ball as high as possible.
Hinata said that even the Setter shouldn't feel any pressure, just send the ball to a high point in front of the net, he will find it himself.
But just like the first receive, it must be high enough, absolutely.
With Hyakuwa's height advantage, he doesn't need to control the ball and apply force like a Setter to achieve this effect.
This is the simplest way to play, of course, in a two-on-two situation, this height is also the most unstoppable.
Once again, it flew completely over the block, Hinata precisely sent the ball to the corner furthest from Yamagata Hayato.
The ball slammed onto the floor with a thud, Hinata and Hyakuwa scored.
Hinata raised his hands and cheered, "Yes!!"
He turned around without hesitation and jumped toward Hyakuwa Takehiro, Hyakuwa Takehiro also raised his hand, the two of them high-fiving in mid-air.
“Two meters is invincible!" Hinata reiterated once more. "And of course, I can jump high, so I am invincible too!"
Seeing Hinata's happy expression, Hyakuwa was momentarily dazed.
Thinking this way, if he could properly train his fundamentals, given his height, he should be able to jump higher than Hinata..
Tendo swayed in front of the net. "Hey, hey, hey, this is cheating! A two-meter giant and a little guy who can jump 3.5 meters.."
Yamagata Hayato, trailing behind, let his mind go blank.
The two players on the opposing side were hitting at a point that they couldn't reach at all.
In a normal six-on-six game, you should be using powerful attacks at this stage to suppress the opponent and prevent them from organizing an offense, but..
Libero Yamagata looked at Tendo, the core of the block.
—That lineup of theirs is wrong! How can they play strong attacks in a two-on-two!
Tendo wasn't panicking; instead, he waited quietly for Hinata's serve.
Hinata's jump serve was only at an acceptable level, so it posed no real pressure for a First Libero among the top eight in the nation to handle.
Yamagata steadily sent the ball right above Tendo Makoto's head.
Glancing at Hyakuwa, who was preparing to block, Tendo lightly raised his hand and pushed the ball directly over the net.
Hinata, who was still in a defensive position ready to receive, felt his pupils contract; he pushed off the ground and dove forward, barely managing to keep the ball in play.
Hinata's pass was terrible, Hyakuwa had never dealt with a ball like that before.
In the heat of the moment, the spinning ball was sent to a very low position by Hyakuwa.
Hinata struggled to adjust his spiking posture, but Tendo was already pressing down from above, his arms and palms looming over him like a mountain.
In the next second, Hinata's body leaned back slightly, he raised his hand to touch the ball, performing an acrobatic feat as he tipped the ball over to the other side.
Yamagata, who had already been waiting for the opportunity, used an underhand bump to send the ball over the net, intentionally directing it to land near the opponent's baseline.
Hinata didn't have time to retreat, Hyakuwa's diving was clumsy, so he could only watch helplessly as the ball hit the ground.
Tendo, having landed, raised both hands and made peace signs at Hinata: "Total! Absolute! Suppression!"
Glancing at Hyakuwa, who went to retrieve the ball, Hinata looked back at Tendo, who was currently gloating.
He probably understood that suppressing an opponent didn't only have to be done through powerful attacks; this kind of second attack could also achieve the goal.
I'll have to go back and ask Atsumu-senpai how to execute a Second Attack..
At this thought, Hinata paused slightly.
No, he could ask right here—Kageyama, Koganezawa, Shirabu-senpai, Wase-senpai.. they are all setters!
With a new plan in mind, Hinata stood back in his position.
Across the net, Yamagata cheered for Tendo: "Give us a good one!"
The very second the whistle blew, the ball was tossed straight up.
After a powerful impact, the volleyball tore through the net with intense spin, crashing into the corner of the court.
Ushijima Wakatoshi took a step back, lowering his center of gravity to steadily receive the ball.
Even though he doesn't receive many balls during normal play at Shiratorizawa, Ushijima's own first receive skills are very good.
Moreover, in this situation, the priority of maintaining his offensive capability is higher than that of Rishia Heisuke, so it would be best if he handles the receive.
Rishia Heisuke, who was already in position, looked up at the ball falling precisely toward him. While feeling a slight sense of awe at Ushijima's power, he jumped and sent the ball up in a set.
In fact, his setting skills were much better than Hinata's, after all, he had experience setting for Hinata for half a year.
"Good set." Ushijima stepped forward steadily, leaped with a thud in front of the net, raised his hand to spike the ball.
Kageyama's fingers made contact with the ball, but his entire center of gravity was thrown off balance.
In a two-on-two situation like this, trying to limit Ushijima Wakatoshi.. is nothing short of a pipe dream.
Kunimi Akira quickly adjusted his position, lowering his center of gravity to receive the ball.
A dull thud rang in Kageyama's ears as the volleyball flew toward the net at an extremely high speed.
Normally, this kind of abnormal ball speed is caused by a receiver's error in failing to absorb the speed of the ball.
But that was a spike from Ushijima Wakatoshi; being able to reach this level was already..
Kageyama was getting a bit excited: "Nice receive!!"
Hearing Kageyama's voice, Kunimi Akira was stunned for a moment, but he still stood up and took a running start toward the net.
The sound of the setter's fingers lightly touching the volleyball rang out, after a brief pause, the ball changed direction.
A perfect release of power, making up for all the receiver's errors.
This was Kageyama's exquisite technique, as always.
But it was nothing like before; it wasn't based on Kageyama's own judgment, but instead, it was delivered with precise accuracy to a hitting point that was incredibly comfortable for Kunimi.
The set was so gentle, just like.. Oikawa-senpai.
With a loud bang, Kunimi spiked the volleyball diagonally.
And Ushijima Wakatoshi once again moved into position in time to receive the ball, sending it back toward the net.
Rishia glanced at Kageyama, who was ready to block at any moment, raised his hand to send the ball to a high point above Position 4.