[75] Grade 11: Spring National High School Competition

Although Director Kurosu had already seen through Tsurumeikan's "boiling frog" tactic against Inarisaki, he was still able to see through it all.

But deep within him lingered an inexplicable confusion—

Why do these kids still fall into the same trap again, even though they know that Tsurumeikan will use psychological tactics, and they have prepared and rehearsed with the team members in advance, and even replaced calm team members such as Kita Shinsuke with them after considering many factors?

Meanwhile, in the rest area of ​​the Crane Cry Pavilion.

While Coach Fukui was pointing out the shortcomings of the Tsurumeikan team in the previous inning, he happened to catch a glimpse of the barely perceptible, subtle confusion and restlessness between the brows of Coach Kurobe on the opposite side of the court.

The veteran coach, who was over sixty years old, smiled slightly.

His experienced eyes held a knowing smile, as if he had already seen through all the changes in the current situation.

He is the first SSR volleyball coach that Imadegawa pulled from the coach pool—a coach pool that complements the teammates pool and only draws coaches/teachers who are adults and have a certain foundation in volleyball coaching.

Coach Fukui's brilliance extends far beyond his daily training schedule and tactical arrangements. He was, besides Imadegawa, the cornerstone of the Tsurumeikan volleyball team's rapid rise this year.

Since his arrival, no matter how many SSR-level coaches with different abilities Imadegawa has summoned since then, none of them can shake his absolute position as the head coach of this team.

This is not only due to Director Fukui's seniority, but also because he possesses a strategic insight that far surpasses that of ordinary people, almost like intuition.

Coach Fukui can see through the core intentions of the opponent's tactics at a glance, and can also accurately grasp the psychological state of the opposing coach.

Just like at this moment, Director Fukui deduced from the subtle changes in Kurosu's expression that the opponent might have realized the superficial tactic of "boiling the frog slowly," but was most likely caught in a deeper confusion about "why they couldn't break it."

The very existence of Coach Fukui is the most stable iceberg in Tsurumeikan's tactical system.

The part hidden underwater is far larger and more terrifying than what is visible on the surface.

He is also the only coach in the Tsurumeikan who can fully understand and master Imadegawa's "talent" and transform it into victory.

Coach Fukui carefully recalled the two innings against Inarizaki.

As for Kurosu's confusion, Fukui, who had worked with Imadegawa to formulate various tactical plans, was already well aware of it.

In fact, it's because—

The "boiling frog in lukewarm water" technique used by Jin Chuan is not just about controlling the rhythm.

His real target wasn't any specific player, but rather the entire Inarizaki team's offensive system and the "atmosphere" upon which they depended.

Even if Kita Shinsuke is able to stabilize himself, or even influence his teammates on a small scale, temporarily restoring order to his local area.

But Heming Hall's tactics are a vast network covering the entire arena.

By choosing his passes, Imadegawa constantly provokes the setters' competitive spirit, stimulates the ace's desire to perform, and continuously puts pressure on key scorers like Oshiro.

He is systematically and continuously heating the entire "pot," rather than just targeting a single "frog."

The calmness of the north is like a small piece of ice thrown into a boiling pot; it can bring a momentary coolness, but it cannot stop the overall water temperature from continuing to rise steadily under Imadegawa's control.

He can cool things down locally, but he can't reverse the overall trend of "cooking" the situation.

In this match, what Imadegawa wants to break is Inarisaki's "rhythm" as a whole, rather than attacking the mentality of an individual and then disrupting the rhythm.

So—

Director Fukui's eyes held a smile.

—The reason you feel you can't break free is because every push that's about to succeed is turned into fuel by Imadegawa to keep 'heating up' the arena.

Coach Fukui didn't glance at the other side again, but instead turned his attention back to the players surrounding him, especially Imadegawa.

He nodded slightly.

From indirect disruption to direct destruction—

This child,

She's a true master at manipulating people's hearts.

——————

With almost no time to adjust their mindset, the referee signaled for both teams to return to the field.

The third round, which started in a hurried and rushed manner, began.

With Coach Kurosu's insightful reminder, the Inarizaki team members calmed their previously anxious minds and focused intently on guarding against the relentless and persistent pressure from Tsurumeikan.

But they soon discovered that the seemingly elegant and serene cranes opposite them were just as quick-witted and astute as they, these cunning Kansai foxes.

As the foxes mustered their courage and attempted to take a step forward, tearing apart the enemy's formation with a fierce attack.

The lead crane would use its seemingly delicate beak and sharp claws to tease and provoke their nerves, guiding their attacks towards areas that appeared to offer opportunities but were actually traps, leaving them with nowhere to vent their energy and making them even more restless and agitated.

When the foxes become wary and choose to temporarily avoid the fray, taking a step back to calmly observe and act cautiously, the sudden gust of wind whipped up by the crane's wings will come crashing down on them.

The wind carried an almost unbearable pressure, giving them no chance to catch their breath or adjust, forcing them to react immediately and hastily throw themselves back into battle.

The rhythm was once again firmly grasped by the other party without them even realizing it.

If you advance, you will be easily overwhelmed and sink into a quagmire.

If they retreat, they will be pursued by fierce winds and torrential rains, and they will be exhausted from running for their lives.

For the first time, the foxes of Inarizaki felt so frustrated and powerless.

It was as if they weren't playing a volleyball match against a team, but rather a game against a lake that was only a habitat for cranes.

No matter how much they struggle, they will eventually be gently but resolutely dragged into the abyss by the inclusive yet cool lake water.

——————

The timeout in the third set.

Akagi sat in the chair, neither drinking water nor wiping his sweat. Instead, he bent over, placed his hands on his knees, and stared blankly at the floor beside his feet.

"...I can't stand it."

Akagi squeezed out these words through gritted teeth.

"Why are there so many 'monsters' in their Crane Cry Pavilion?!"

"Why have I never seen these people when I was in junior high school?!"

"Why is it that as soon as we entered high school, they all started showing up from Crane Cry Hall?!"

A deep, almost overwhelming sense of powerlessness was rising from the very depths of my bones.

This feeling was even stronger than when I lost to Hemingguan in the last five games.

Even in the fifth set, with a huge point difference and facing Hemingguan's final smash, he could rely on instinct and willpower to leap out without hesitation, firmly believing that he could at least touch the ball.

But now...

Akagi felt as if his legs were being entangled by an invisible current, making every movement exceptionally heavy.

Crane Cry Hall's attack was not simply a matter of overwhelming strength or speed, but a kind of torture that made it hard to breathe.

It was as if no matter which direction they lunged, they were always a step too slow, an inch too far behind.

(MUci)

Wei Bai and Da Er sat beside him, silently wiping their sweat.

……yes.

Where on earth did all these people from Heming Pavilion come from...?

Compared to the IH era, where they could sense subtle suppression and targeting of a particular player from Imadegawa and Aoyagi's fast breaks, now they feel the entire Tsurumeikan's pressure on Inarisaki.

Originally, there was only one monster, Imadegawa, but now it seems that everyone standing in the half of the Tsurumeikan arena is shrouded in a layer of gloom.

It's as if Imadegawa spread this monster's characteristics to everyone at Tsurumeikan.

So they all turned into monsters.

They turned into monsters on the field, their faces distorted and their true appearance obscured.

"Akagi."

Director Kurosu's voice pulled Akagi back from his brief moment of self-doubt.

Coach Blackbeard's gaze swept over his slightly pale face, without blaming him, "If you feel you can't receive the ball in the next round, or can't judge the landing point clearly, don't force it."

“Let Bei go and pick him up.” Blackbeard’s voice was full of trust. “Bei, can you do it? I need you to cover more of the defensive area.”

All the team members' eyes, along with Coach Blackbeard's heavy expectations, fell on Kita Shinsuke.

Even though Kita Shinsuke possesses a composure and stability far beyond his peers, he now faces the heavy responsibility entrusted to him by his supervisor, and the subconscious gazes of his seniors and classmates that are filled with expectation and encouragement.

The future captain of the third-year Inarizaki team also began to feel a slight flush on his cheeks.

A faint hint of youthful shyness flickered across his clear eyes.

After all, he was just a first-year student at that time.

But Kita Shinsuke did not hesitate. He raised his head, met Blackbeard's gaze, and then answered clearly in his usual calm, even somewhat simple voice:

"Yes, I can supervise."

The game continues.

Both teams returned to the battlefield.

During the brief interval between rotations, Imadegawa suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze passing over the chaotic figures at the net and landing on Kita Shinsuke on the opposite side.

Their gazes met unexpectedly in the air, like two calm lakes suddenly merging.

Jin Chuchuan's usual faint smile faded slightly.

At opposite ends of the net, on a diagonal line measuring 9 meters by 18 meters, two pairs of equally calm, almost indifferent, yet completely different eyes stared at each other silently for several seconds across the noisy arena.

One side is the calmness of having a comprehensive understanding and controlling the rhythm, while the other side is the purity of being free from distractions and focused on the present moment.

The next moment, Imadegawa was the first to turn his gaze, not out of retreat, but because...

—Saotome has already cushioned Inarizaki's spike.

Imadegawa's attention was instantly focused on the spinning volleyball, as if the brief exchange of glances had never happened.

Yet, deep within his heart, a voice whispered: 'The aura... it's changed again...'

Imadegawa's fingers gently touched the ball, his body leaned back slightly, and his vision encompassed the entire frontcourt.

'However, it shouldn't have much of an impact.'

The volleyball slipped from my hand.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Kita Nobusuke slightly bent his knees and lowered his center of gravity.

His gaze wasn't focused on analyzing Imadegawa's movements, but rather on the volleyball—Imadegawa's movements were too fast; observing the trajectory of the volleyball directly was more efficient than trying to catch Imadegawa to study him.

Meanwhile, Kita Shinsuke entered a state of extreme focus.

At this moment, he was no longer just a substitute for a first-year student, but a key pillar entrusted with important responsibilities by his teammates to protect the team's defenses.

————————!!————————

(Sucks paws) I'm sleepy ww Goodnight——