Chapter 156 Ogata 2 Although things went well with Hinata, Uh…

Although they had a good conversation with Hyuga, Karasuno wasn't entirely at ease. Their tactics, since joining the team in their first year, could be said to have been built on Hyuga's foundation. Hyuga might not be the core of their offense, but his presence undoubtedly brought Karasuno to a higher level.

In the previous set, Ogata's dedicated shift blocked many attacks launched from the flanks, but it wasn't as noticeable when Hinata was on the court. Hinata's speed is enough to easily get past the block.

When Hyuga was substituted, the other Karasuno players' attacks, while not monotonous, were sluggish against the opponent's predictable attacks. Without Hyuga's speed, they were like sticky candy, clinging tightly to them.

Tsukishima watched as the ball, which had been blocked and saved by a net from the other side, was spiked, his expression turning cold. He turned around.

Although I experienced it in the last game, it's still very difficult to shake them off.

Hyuga is a monster.

"It's becoming difficult for Karasuno to score points." On the sidelines, Tenma Unai looked anxiously at Hinata, who had not yet returned.

Just now, Hitoka and Chrome went to the infirmary with Irie Shoichi, and we don't know what's going on.

Kiyoko Shimizu stood there, mindful of preventing any unforeseen circumstances, so she didn't accompany Hinata and the others to the infirmary.

"Hyuga's performance on the field goes far beyond what can be described as a 'freakish quick attack'," Shimada emphasized.

"The quick attack is his and Kageyama's most unexpected and highest scoring method, but Hyuga's receiving, blocking, and occasional swing setter with Kageyama have almost penetrated every aspect of Karasuno's tactical system."

The advantage brought by Hyuga is so great that his departure will create an equal void for Karasuno.

"Ugh, this is too hard!" Shimada said, starting to frantically pull at her hair.

I wasn't nervous before because no matter what, Karasuno always had his own tricks to deal with it.

Even against a championship-seeded team like Inarisaki, these crows can still secretly hide a few tricks up their sleeves. But once their core player leaves, let alone having any tricks up their sleeves, it's not easy for them to maintain their previous stability.

not to mention,

Their gaze fell on the team on the court, who seemed tense after losing two points in a row.

The biggest impact of a teammate's departure is on mentality.

Tanaka bent down slightly. What was going on? He hadn't realized Oudai's blocking was so difficult to deal with in the last set. Now it seemed like they would block every single ball.

Looking down from his vantage point, Yukiro turned to Hoshino beside him and spoke with a hint of regret in his voice.

"With number 10 off the field, their shot patterns become easier to predict."

Behind him, a man on a white horse grumbled, "It's rare to see a spike like number 10's, that kind of messy spikes."

She has such an innocent-looking face, but she's such a good liar!

Their blocking system is very comprehensive, but Hyuga Ryu is also a skilled blocker.

Hoshino was clearly very dissatisfied. The Day God knew what he was thinking; he just couldn't finish the battle against the Little Giants with Hyuga.

However, for the rest of them, although it was a bit inappropriate to say it like that, Hyuga's departure undoubtedly relieved them.

In a corner they didn't notice, Xiao Gu defeated his opponent today and successfully advanced to the fourth day.

Mu Tu looked around the stands but didn't see her apprentice. She turned to the setter and asked...

"Where's Hinata!?"

Even Hinata isn't on Karasuno's bench!

Akaashi first checked the score, and only after seeing that the score was 1-0 did he realize something was wrong. Karasuno would not let Hyuga play. Their happy mood gradually sank, and they found Otoko and his group on the other side with serious expressions.

"What! Hinata has a fever!?" Bokuto exclaimed in shock.

Akaashi Kyoji's expression was also not good. He thought for a moment. He had just finished the competition and was drenched in sweat, but at this moment he was still a little worried about his childhood friend.

Xiangyang is probably feeling extremely guilty right now.

He and the grinding stone were on the same page.

"I saw their team doctor take Xiangyang to the infirmary. Maybe he can still make it to the third game," Kuroo comforted them. This was also news brought by Shimizu Kiyoko.

Kozume Kenma and Akaashi Kyoji sat for a while, but couldn't help standing up. They looked at each other, knowing that the other thought the same thing.

"Let's go to the infirmary."

Kuro didn't say much, just nodded, "Then I'll watch the match from here."

Bokuto wanted to see his apprentice, but also felt that watching the match here was the best way to understand the situation. Akaashi Kyoji reassured him.

"We don't need too many people from Xiangyang. Senior Bokuto can just watch the game."

Although Sawada Tsunayoshi didn't notice much of a problem with his spiking, he could still sense the heavy atmosphere within the team.

He is different from Hyuga. Hyuga can be said to have made up for his lack of height with skills, while Sawada Tsunayoshi is purely strong.

Even with Outai's rapid follow-up blocking, his strength could forcefully break through the iron wall.

The jojima dog, dressed almost exactly like Rokudo Mukuro, recalled some unpleasant memories.

"After all, he was someone who could bend steel bars with his bare hands when he was in elementary school."

Although a flame was used, it is already quite problematic that a primary school student could ignite such a powerful flame!

"The three years of gap in junior high school made him slightly lacking in technique, but his strength made up for it." Shimada felt a little more at ease as he watched Sawada Tsunayoshi continue to score steadily.

"Sawada played very aggressively in this game." Shirakawa, who originally just came to watch, has completely become a fan of Karasuno.

“After all, when Hyuga was there, Sawada didn’t have to think too much about things at the net. He only needed to make up for the balls that Hyuga missed and coordinate with the others. But now that Hyuga is no longer an offensive point, he has to step up.”

Matsukawa and Aoyama returned from the medical room and overheard Shimada's analysis.

"Although Tsunayoshi is very strong, he is not very aggressive."

"Or rather, his overall offensive desire is not strong."

Sawada Tsunayoshi also knows that he is mostly easygoing and that as long as his bottom line is not crossed, he is usually fine with whatever he wants.

This is reflected in volleyball, where, despite his great power, he excels at receiving the ball as an opposite hitter, and he also coordinates well with Hyuga and the others.

He doesn't actively ask for the ball at the net, unless Shoyo needs it or Kageyama passes it to him.

Sawada Tsunayoshi defines his role as "wherever he's needed, he'll go," a good-natured way of saying.

"But with Shoyo's departure and the resulting gap in Karasuno's fighting strength, Tsunayoshi will also make changes."

Aoyama Kaede and Sawada Tsunayoshi had been teammates for three years, after all. He narrowed his eyes; the 1.9-meter-tall man now appeared somewhat shy.

"The fact that you can completely trust and rely on someone at any time is what makes Tsuna so terrifying."

Tsukishima Akimitsu looked at the score: 3-4, with Ogata leading by one point. Although their scoring efficiency had decreased and their spikes were visibly sticky, Karasuno was not far behind.

Tsuna puffed out his cheeks, looking quite cute, but it was because he was putting his whole body into it.

The rapidly closing block loomed over him like a mountain, but Sawada Tsunayoshi wasn't too afraid. He had experienced total defense during his training sessions with Tsukishima Island; if the ball went out of bounds, the eye contact couldn't be too obvious.

While Xiao Xiang is adept at deceiving others, he can also discern the opponent's inducements in most situations. Fortunately, Sawada Tsunayoshi has little expression in actual combat, and his unwavering face can fool many people.

Ogata's net was startled when he saw Sawada Tsunayoshi gathering his strength.

The Day God felt that his hands, armed to the fingertips, were still not prepared enough. Sawada was already strong, and now he was even gathering his strength.

Lev's expression was grim. "This really could break their hands!"

Sawada Tsunayoshi usually has very few expressions during matches, especially at the net. This obvious change in his demeanor has caused everyone to gasp in surprise.

The center of attention swung its arm, and the three Outai defenders' eyes sharpened as they blocked the net: Here they come!

etc!

Wrong direction!

The God of Day looked at his fingertips, where the lingering vibrations had not yet faded.

This guy, with a face that screams "I'm going to smash all of you!", suddenly went out of bounds as a thug! ? ?

The ball flew arrogantly out of bounds, giving Outai no chance to catch it again.

Sawada Tsunayoshi looked away. Well, not everyone has the speed to catch up to Sho outside the arena.

Hinata, who was watching the live stream in the infirmary, smiled and said, "Tsuna was definitely thinking about me when he glanced at me just now."

Kouzhua, who brought the tablet, hummed in agreement. "Now you can rest assured, right?"

Hinata nodded, and Irie Shoichi placed a fever-reducing patch on his forehead.

"Now that you're relieved, take a rest for a while. You still want to go back to the competition, right?"

"But I can't sleep either!" Hinata wailed.

Shoichi Irie sighed, "Sho, individual strength is not just about your volleyball skills. During a match, your control over your body, how you manage your energy, and how you control your emotional fluctuations are all very important."

He had mentioned these things to Hinata a long time ago, but this guy clearly didn't listen, or rather, didn't understand.

Hinata leaned back on the sofa, "But there's no way to control illness!"

"It's true that we can't control it, but we must take precautions."

Shoichi Irie calmly said, "A little excitement can help you get into the game quickly, but excessive excitement will consume too much physical and mental energy. Besides, you'll be secretly doing extra training, right?"

Hinata's breath hitched, and he shrank back.

"Energy loss is the biggest reason for your fever this time."

"Xiao Xiang, this is especially important for your future career if you want to stay on the field for a few more years."

Every illness takes a toll on one's professional lifespan.

This fever made Hinata realize this very clearly. He was indeed very excited, and he even dreamed about playing volleyball that night. He lowered his head, thinking how awful it was to be sick.

Unable to play

That's outrageous!

Seeing that Hinata had come to his senses, Irie Masakazu breathed a sigh of relief.

Hinata obediently returned the tablet to Mojin and found a suitable position to lie down and rest. The coach had promised him that if his temperature dropped in the third game, he could continue the match.

"Xiao Zheng, you must call me."

Irie Shoichi chuckled, "Alright."

Hitoka Yachi and Chrome were also relieved. They had been quite annoyed when Hinata insisted on going to the sidelines to rest, but Sawada Tsunayoshi's shot put Hinata at ease, and now she was willing to go to sleep obediently.

Akaashi Kyoji and Irie Shoichi, who came out casually, asked, "Can Shoyo participate in the third inning?"

Shoichi Irie nodded. "It's not a viral cold. It's just that he's been exercising too much these past few days. His temperature will come down after taking fever-reducing medication."

With his strict control, the entire Karasuno team rarely caught the flu.

"He really overused his brain and it's gotten to the point where his brain is fried," sighed Kyoji Akaashi.

"He must be so excited," Mojin said. "After all, he never made it to the national tournament in middle school, so he's probably been waiting for this day for a long time."

Kyoji Akaashi was going back to watch the match, and Chrome went back with him. Kenma, Hitoka Yachi, and Shoichi Irie stayed behind to look after Hinata.

After thinking for a moment, Yachi Hitoka said, "Irie-kun, go back and watch the game. I'll take care of things here."

She still clearly remembers the expression on Irie Shoichi's face as he cheered for Sawada Tsunayoshi. It must have been a pity for Irie Shoichi that he couldn't watch the game.

Irie Masakazu smiled and said, "It's alright."

He pushed up his glasses. "I'm the same as Xiangyang."

"I really trust Tsunayoshi-kun."

"Even though I didn't watch the match, I believe he can win this match together with everyone from Karasuno."

"Even without a regular player, he's still so difficult to deal with!" Hoshino Hikaru shook his hand.

Unlike most heavy hitter players, Sawada Tsunayoshi is quite agile, which can be seen from his ability to catch the ball.

“Kageyama!” Tsunayoshi’s tone was urgent and firm.

This was Karasuno's chance; Kageyama quickly moved to the landing point and made a direct pass.

"Walk!"

After the block, there was still one defender. This thought popped into Sawada Tsunayoshi's mind. The opponent should be on guard if the ball goes out of bounds. If it's a lob, the libero is probably waiting. In the side corner, Hoshino Hikari is eager to try.

A near-perfect defense.

Sawada Tsunayoshi licked his dry, slightly chapped lips.

Then, let's pull it open.

"Sawada didn't spike the ball! Instead, he passed it away!"

"The setter spikes the ball directly! Kageyama scores!"

Thanks to Hyuga, Tsunayoshi quickly became familiar with Kageyama, and their teamwork wasn't too awkward.

Although they managed to shut me down, the middle lane is now wide open.

Sawada Tsunayoshi's expression remained unchanged, which only made Omoidai's net, which had been shaken off, even angrier.

Hoshino jumped up and down on the spot, "I'll definitely take back the next ball!"

Then I saw Sawada Tsunayoshi stand up to serve.

Shiratori thought with a heavy heart, "This serve could kill someone."

However, Karasuno chose to switch, and Tsunayoshi and Yamaguchi Tadashi exchanged number plates. Karasuno waved to him, and Sawada Tsunayoshi jogged over.

He was pulled to sit on a bench.

"Are you alright?"

He had perfect attendance this morning, and then he jumped around like crazy again. Ukai was worried that Sawada would end up in the infirmary just like Hinata.

Sawada Tsunayoshi's gaze never left the field; ever since Hyuga left, his concentration had been terrifyingly high.

"I'm fine, coach. I can play another game without any problems."

Hinata, who is only sixteen years old, has learned to make the most of every spare moment to replenish her energy, and she has even mastered the skill of falling into a deep sleep within three seconds at noon.

Wu Yangxi didn't let his worries affect the team members. "How about we change our defensive formation?"

Before he knew it, he had started discussing tactics with Sawada Tsunayoshi.

But Tsuna quickly realized what the coach was thinking and shook his head.

Ukai advised, "Anyway, there's still a third game. We can launch a counterattack when Hyuga returns."

He was still worried about the physical condition of these team members. If another one of them collapsed from exhaustion, then there would truly be no hope for them.

"But we still can't be sure if Sho will be able to get back in the third inning," Sawada Tsunayoshi pointed out the loophole in the coach's words.

The coach, his thoughts exposed, gave an awkward smile, only to see the young man in front of him smile reassuringly, his eyes shining with unwavering confidence.

"If our offensive capabilities aren't strong, defense is indeed the best option right now. But apart from Xiaoxiang, Karasuno is inherently an offensive team,"

"The best defense is to keep attacking."

Ukai knew this made sense, and he sighed inwardly, but this would put the most pressure on Sawada Tsunayoshi, who was responsible for the entire game.

Switching to defense and reducing jumping might help them hold on a bit longer.

He patted Sawada Tsunayoshi on the shoulder, about to say something, when he noticed that the child's back was also tense.

Ukai was speechless. So, Sawada Tsunayoshi can get nervous after all.

Judging from his expression, I thought he wasn't nervous at all.

Tadashi Yamaguchi knew that the coach had let him serve partly because his float serve had become more consistent, and partly because he wanted Tsunayoshi to rest.

Even Tsunayoshi was jumping with all his might, so he couldn't back down either.

Driven by a desire for victory, Yamaguchi secured three points, widening the gap between Ogatadai and Karasuno.

Sawada Tsunayoshi and Yamaguchi Tadashi exchanged cards and happily high-fived each other, exclaiming, "That was a great handicap!"

"It's up to you now!" Yamaguchi's eyes remained resolute.

However, Oodai is not so easy to deal with. The spiked ball is either blocked directly by the net, or even if it breaks through the net, other players will save the ball. Hoshino Mitsuru will then carry the ball and smash it hard onto the Karasuno field.

"Hyuga's departure still has some impact on their mentality." Kuroo Tetsurou leaned on the railing, looking away from the moment Tanaka's spike was blocked by Ogaodai.

After Irie Shoichi left, Gokudera Hayato took on the task of cheering for the day. He didn't just focus on cheering for the Tenth Generation as expected. Perhaps it was because Karasuno's match was really good, or perhaps it was because their determination not to give up moved him.

This chaotic cheerleading squad did a great job cheering the players when they won and comforting them when they made mistakes.

"Don't worry about it! Let's have another one!"

Don't dwell on the mistakes you made; focus on scoring points in the future.

As for reviewing the game, we'll talk about that after we win!

Tanaka straightened up. He was indeed a little anxious after Hyuga left the field, not because he was afraid or worried, but because he wanted to score some points for the team when they were at a disadvantage.

This anxious state of mind made him think less, and he felt like a foolish young man who was blindly running into the opponent's net. How lame!

Sawada Tsunayoshi did not go forward to comfort the other person. Tanaka-senpai was different from the others; he had already realized his shortcomings and would definitely improve in the future.

Sure enough, after calming down, Tanaka hit a super cross-court ball against Oudai's three-man block.

"You guys are really something, none of you should be underestimated."

Upon hearing Ogata's assessment, Sawada Tsunayoshi tilted his head. "That's only natural."

Shoyo is Kageyama's bait; once the others' attention is drawn, it's time for the weapons to make their appearance.

Everyone will do their best to bring victory to Karasuno.

However, Karasuno's recovery was slow, and they were defeated by Omodai 25-23 in the second game. They heard sighs from the stands, and some people said that Hinata's illness was really bad timing.

They're probably all worried about Karasuno's upcoming matches and afraid they won't be able to win and will be eliminated here.

But the Karasuno players felt good.

"Omodai isn't as difficult to deal with as you thought, is he?" Sawada Tsunayoshi smiled at everyone.

Tsukishima glanced at that smile and immediately turned her head away.

The others nodded. They had initially thought that they would have a tough time after Hyuga left, but once they calmed down, they were able to continue scoring with spikes.

The score difference wasn't even that big.

Kageyama glanced down the passageway; Hinata hadn't appeared yet, and he had no idea what her current situation was.

Ukai pondered for a moment, then pointed at Sugawara no Koji.

"Sugawara, you switch to Earth next round."

Sugawara paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Coach, you mean!?"

Wu Yang nodded. "Since we're going to attack, let's be more decisive and use two setters."

In the last game, we had to consider our stamina. Now it's the third game. If we don't fight now, when will we?

Sawada Tsunayoshi understood what the coach meant.

Sugawara indicated that he understood, meaning that in the third set, apart from the libero, every member of Karasuno would participate in the attack, and even the setter wouldn't necessarily have to set the ball.

Although Sawada Tsunayoshi could also do this, Coach Ukai was still worried that the guy was expending too much energy.

"Sawada, in the third set, you focus on defense. For the rest, just focus on offense. Pass the ball to the two setters."

Sawada Tsunayoshi: "Okay."

To allow Tsunayoshi, a powerful player, to fully utilize his strength, Ukai Keishin discovered in the first few sets that Sawada Tsunayoshi's unique intuition allowed him to quickly determine the best way to spike when facing Omodai's block.

It seems that this intuition extends beyond just receiving the ball; it extends to tactical considerations as well.

"Isn't Kageyama too tired?" Sugawara asked worriedly.

Setting is already physically demanding, and now they also have to participate in the attack. Is it really okay?

Kageyama grasped his trembling hands. "I'm fine."

It hasn't reached its limit yet.

"Their morale is still so high." Hoshino Mitsuru observed the Karasuno team while drinking water.

Sawada Tsunayoshi dug out his stock of energy bars and gave one to everyone. The effect wasn't great, but eating helped calm their minds down.

A sweet feeling makes me feel good.

In the third set, Karasuno's unusual lineup made Bokuto narrow his eyes, "Double setters?"

Kuro-o nodded. "Yes."

"Those monsters from Karasuno, they're still so energetic in the third game."

Yoruichi watched as Sawada Tsunayoshi repeatedly jumped at the net to call for the ball.

"He wasn't playing this hard when he played against us this morning!"

Tetsuro Kuroo accepted the suggestion well, saying, "Different teammates naturally require different tactics."

"Since Shoyo isn't here, Tsunayoshi is probably thinking of deducting Shoyo's share as well."

"But his stamina is too good." Yamamoto Taketaka was secretly shocked.

"They're really going all out for Hinata!"

With teary eyes, the wooden rabbit exclaimed, "I'm so touched!"

Other members of the Xiaogu team: What are you so moved about!

Sawada Tsunayoshi knew long ago that what was attractive to him was not volleyball, but Hyuga Shoyo, who played volleyball with him. Later, the number of people gradually increased, from one side of the net to the other.

Everyone was giving it their all, all for victory, for winning the game.

In this atmosphere, not wanting to lose became Sawada Tsunayoshi's goal.

Sweat dripped down his cheeks, and Sawada Tsunayoshi felt as if he were back in elementary school, during a match. Although Hyuga wasn't on the field, he could still feel the heat emanating from his opponent.

It was scalding hot, unlike his flames.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't tired; Sawada Tsunayoshi felt like he was playing entirely on instinct.

The shouts of his teammates and the attacks of his opponents slowed down in his eyes, and his steps became heavy.

But he can't stop here!

The body was exhausted to the extreme, and the brain was unable to think, yet it still jumped based on instinct.

He saw the opposing team's defense gritted teeth fiercely, his family members in the stands moved to tears, and...

In the corner, Hinata Shoyo and Irie Shoichi appeared, panting heavily.

Sawada Tsunayoshi's lips curled up, and once again, defying his body's will, he jumped.

Shoyo, even though you're not here, I'm still motivated by you and want to win the game.

Driven by his competitive spirit, Sawada Tsunayoshi finally began to enjoy the game.

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Author's Note: Actually, I feel like the main text is almost finished, haha. I'm not familiar with the later teams, so I can't write about them (scratching head).

But after the main story ends, there will be interviews, forums, and a trip to Italy as an adult! I plan to write side stories for all of these.

Regarding Xiao Taiyang's fever, I think it's quite important. He needs this incident to realize the importance of physical health for professional athletes. With 27 around, this incident won't be something he'll dwell on, and he won't feel too guilty either. At least he can win.

Actually, this Little Sun is already in the form of a great demon king! This person increased Little Sun's combat power in this way.

We, 27, are capable of achieving miracles through sheer force. Actually, 27's personality isn't laid-back at all; he's quite stubborn. However, he might not care about things he doesn't care about, and he'll pretend to be blind to them. But for his teammates, he'll do the exact opposite, giving his all to win. That's what touches me the most.

I initially started writing this book to see 27 playing volleyball, but as I've written this far, seeing 27 starting to enjoy the game has been very gratifying [crying emoji].