Chapter 38 ends tomorrow. It will be a new day, won't it? ...
Good! Kuroo and Mamoru weren't in the stands today. Yuihara Kaoru gritted her teeth, wondering how she'd handle these two the next time she returned to Tokyo.
Turning their attention back to the field, the scorers confirmed their numbers at the table and the players gave one last pre-match pep talk.
Yuihara Kaoru placed her palm on the back of Abe Makoto's cold hand, and then felt the slightly sweaty palm of Igarashi-senpai pressing down on her, and shouted "Come on" with everyone.
Before the whistle blew, the Rikkai University supporters shouted out inspiring slogans in unison.
"Always win Rikkai University! Let's go Rikkai University!"
The positions were adjusted today. Yuihara Kaoru started at position 4, and Haneo started at position 6. After the serve, she would swap positions with Abe Makoto at position 5.
The players of East Kyushu stood on the right side, obviously making Yuhara Kaoru their defensive focus.
Hopefully...the plan they set up this morning to break the deadlock will work.
Matsumoto Genon served the ball. She was no longer restrained and used her most powerful jump serve, aiming at the opponent's setter who was also in the number one position.
Just as the volleyball was about to cross the net, the opponent's No. 6 player suddenly exchanged positions with the setter and received the ball smoothly with a perfect posture.
The three players in the front row of Rikkai University were closely watching the setter's posture. When they were sure that she had already passed the ball to the fourth-position main attacker, they immediately moved to the right and jumped.
But the volleyball continued to move towards the gateway, until it was no longer possible to reach the highest point, and then Dong Jiuzhou's main attacker took action.
But at this time, Yuihara Kaoru, Igarashi Kotomi and Masuda Aiko had already started to fall and were unable to effectively block the ball.
In the time-difference attack, the three players in Rikkai University's back row did not give up on the spike that seemed to have missed the best power point. Unfortunately, the moment Abe Makoto touched the ball, she knew that the power had not been weakened much, and the volleyball flew out of her hand and out of the court.
The start was not good.
These were the results he had imagined yesterday. Abe Makoto slowly got up from the ground, said "mine", and stood back in his original position.
The setter of Higashikyushu started to serve, but she was targeting Yuihara Kaoru.
A floating ball that just brushed the net.
Xiangcheng held the ball with both hands and sent it directly to Kotomi Igarashi without giving the opponent time to react. Igarashi immediately made a quick attack and scored before the opponent tried to block.
"Interesting." Masako Suzuki, the setter of East Kyushu, stepped forward to fill her position, staring intently at Yuihara Kaoru who was changing positions.
Yuhara Kaoru caught her gaze sharply, the corners of his mouth curved slightly, and he silently mouthed, "Come on!"
Once again, Suzuki Masako passed the ball to the main attacker. At this moment, Rikkai University's front row was filled with two blocking deputy attackers, Kobayashi Megumi and Igarashi Harumi, plus Yuhara Kaoru, which could be said to be the strongest defensive round.
The main attacker of Higashikyushu did not rush to spike the ball, but waited for the front row of Rikkai University to jump after him before choosing to lob the ball.
Xiangcheng only had time to turn around and say "guard against the hang" before he fell heavily to the ground. Fortunately, Yu Jianxu saved it, but it went directly over the net, giving his opponent a second chance to attack.
The main attacker of Dongjiuzhou didn't wait for Xiangcheng and the others to jump again, and made a decisive shot to dunk the ball.
"It's all my fault!" Yu Jianxu pounded the floor in frustration. Matsumoto Genyin pulled her up: "Hold on!"
The game went on in a tense manner with each side scoring one point at a time.
Whoever makes a mistake will lose.
Masako Suzuki went to the front row, still staring at Yuihara Kaoru who had rotated to the number one position.
A few points ago, Yuihara Kaoru's spike broke through their block. If she was in the back row...
Masako Suzuki gestured to her teammates, and everyone in East Kyushu took a step back to prevent a surprise attack from Yuihara Kaoru.
For another goal, Xiangcheng jumped high from behind the three-meter line, his sight passed through the opponent's block, but he didn't find any good position.
Then - she swung her right arm with all her might, letting the volleyball hit the palm of the setter at the far edge firmly.
Masako Suzuki could not bear such a great force, so she insisted on turning her wrist back and letting the volleyball reach her own backcourt.
"Touch the ball once!"
The back row players of East Kyushu tried their best to save the ball, but they did not find a suitable attacking opportunity, so they could only push the ball forward, giving Rikkai University a chance to organize again.
This time, Matsumoto Genon passed the ball to Masuda Aiko who had been waiting for a long time.
She jumped in the opposite direction and hit the ball with her left hand in a way that went against the feel of right-handed players, and Dong Jiuzhou was unable to save the ball.
The other side immediately called a timeout.
Only then did Masako Suzuki take this team seriously.
Two ambidextrous main attackers, a strong blocking secondary attacker, and a setter who directs the game.
Make this game interesting.
"The test is over, everyone~" Masako Suzuki clapped her hands, interrupting her teammates' various small actions.
She continued, "Then please show your true strength, widen the score, and win quickly."
The score of 17:18 is enough to give Rikkai face.
Back on court, Kobayashi Kei serves.
From the moment Higashikyushu received the ball, Rikkai University noticed that the opponent's concentration was completely different from before.
It seemed as if the sleeping monster finally opened its eyes and bared its fangs.
The first pass is on point, the second pass is accurate, and the attack is fast and powerful.
The weight of the ball that flew away from Yuihara Kaoru's hand forced her to release the force, and her right knee slammed to the ground.
From this angle, the other person's figure became so tall that it was difficult for her to breathe.
It seemed that at this moment, the naughty and unyielding spirit in her bones suddenly broke through her well-behaved shell, supporting her to stand up steadily.
She found Matsumoto Genyin's eyes, looked into those eyes filled with worry, and said silently, "It's time."
Higashikyushu served. In their eyes, Rikkai University's actions were as fast-forwarded as if pressed, with a series of rapid passes, and Yuihara Kaoru waiting in the air, all done in one go.
Dong Jiuzhou wanted to stabilize his pace, but he couldn't help feeling a little anxious.
Rikkai University's counterattack was so swift and fierce that it made Dongjiuzhou, which had just shown its fangs, a little dazed.
After losing this game, Suzuki Masako gritted her teeth and said, "Don't let the opponent lead the rhythm. Follow our own pace..."
I can't slow down at all!
It was either a surprise attack or a fast break, with occasional lobs, which made it difficult to give them time to react and adjust.
Suzuki Masako suddenly smiled: "Yuhara Kaoru, I don't believe she has the physical strength to keep up."
Teacher Misaki patted Yuhara Kaoru's shoulder and said, "It's okay. I know. This is probably the best choice."
Everyone worked very hard today, making few mistakes, and the strategy of speeding up the pace was effective. However, the intense physical exertion...
Back on the court, Xiangcheng found where his grandparents were and saw those familiar friends.
Seriously, isn't there a tennis match tomorrow?
She took another deep breath and silently threw herself into the next battle.
After scoring 17 points in a bombardment, Rikkai University's defense was the first to collapse. The reaction speeds of Haneo and Abe Makoto slowed down, giving Higashikyushu a good opportunity to score a few points.
Next came the secondary attackers, who kept repeating the movements of jumping to block the fast break, making their steps heavier.
Then came Aiko Masuda. Today, both her arms were swinging so hard that smoke was coming out, and the height of her jumps was getting lower and lower.
Lost the second game.
Finally, it was Matsumoto Genon and Yuhara Kaoru who stood at the hurdle of the third game and scored 15 points with great difficulty.
The equally breathless East Kyushu players had to admire Rikkai University's move. The match, which was supposed to end in two innings, was dragged into a third. Even if they won, they wouldn't have enough energy for the afternoon match.
Suzuki Masako thought, "If you injure the enemy by 800, you will injure yourself by 1,000." Then she felt a shudder of fear. Yuihara Kaoru must have known that Rikkai University's lineup wouldn't win this match!
She just wanted to bite off a piece of flesh from them... and attack them frantically, just to force them to abandon their stable rhythm and the strategy of saving their energy for the afternoon, and have to devote themselves to the game.
She wanted her opponent to fight with all her strength.
Although it sounds unbelievable, Suzuki Masako subconsciously felt that this should be Yuihara Kaoru's true thoughts, and even the entire Rikkai University team has been brainwashed by such ideas.
It's really scary.
Masako Suzuki watched as Yuihara Kaoru leaped up for the last time, holding her movements steady and determined to slam down hard even if she had no strength left.
Out of bounds.
In the third game, Dong Jiuzhou won the final victory 25:15.
Yuihara Kaoru just leaned sideways, looking at the place where the volleyball finally landed, and then looked at Suzuki Masako again.
The madness in her eyes faded away, leaving only relief and defiance.
If you defeat us, you won't stand a chance.
See you in Chungao then.
Masako Suzuki gave her one last calm look and threw herself into the fun with her teammates.
Yuihara Kaoru turned around and pulled up her teammates, who were exhausted but couldn't stop crying, one by one.
She didn't know how to comfort them—should she tell them they had done well, or would do better next time?
This was her first time facing her team's defeat. Her eyes drifted to the stands, where many of her classmates could hardly hide their disappointment, and her grandparents applauded her.
She saw Yukimura Seiichi again.
His eyes seemed so worried too.
She tried her best to smile, wanting to tell him that it was okay.
But he didn't even have the strength to lift the corners of his mouth.
Her eyes became blurry, and she held her head high, studying the crisscrossing steel dome as she did every time she entered the gymnasium.
The first national competition ends like this.
"Mom, I'm going out for a walk, don't worry about me!" After seeing off her grandparents, Yuihara Xiangcheng also went out.
She walked aimlessly in the streets and alleys, and unknowingly came to a beach.
“I really miss it.”
She chose a huge reef, planned her route, and climbed up in no time.
In front of me is the surging sea, and in the distance is the hazy Mount Fuji.
A year ago, she hid here to escape the pain of being banned. A year later, she hid here to digest the emotions of losing.
But today, she really played with great enthusiasm, dragging her opponents into her world together, forcing them to follow her accelerated pace, forcing them to guard against her with all their heart and soul.
If... her physical condition was a little better, maybe the final ball wouldn't have gone out of bounds? Maybe she could have dragged it out a little longer and turned the game around?
Then practice more and work harder!
The setting sun also took away its last bit of brilliance, the whole world was submerged in blue, and Mount Fuji became faintly visible.
Xiangcheng stared into the distance in a trance until darkness completely enveloped the entire world.
Tomorrow will be a new day, won't it?
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Author's words: Yuihara Kaoru: Crazy Gambler [Shy]
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