Miya Atsumu stood at the service line, as though the spotlight in the entire arena had focused solely on him. From the Inarizaki supporters' section, a thunderous wave of cheers erupted. The rhythm of drums grew more intense, gradually accompanied by the blaring sounds of horns.
The charged atmosphere made Aoba Johsai's players' hearts pound uncontrollably. In Miya Atsumu's calm and confident gaze, they sensed an unprecedented threat.
As the symphony orchestra's performance reache...
2025-01-01 16:00:16 +0000 UTC
View Post
"Congratulations to Inarizaki for advancing to the quarterfinals! Your match was scheduled as the final game this morning. Will this affect your performance in the afternoon?"
At Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium's Court B, the representative team from Hyōgo, Inarizaki High, had just secured their spot in the IH National Tournament's quarterfinals.
Renowned sports journalist Machino Keiko, who had been waiting on the sidelines, wasted no time approaching Inarizaki's captain, Kita Shin...
2025-01-01 14:24:33 +0000 UTC
View Post
[Ding! Kiryū Wakatsu's burst mode deactivated]
[Ding! The host's burst mode deactivated]
The continuous system notifications didn't stir Kaedehara Taichi in the slightest. His entire focus was on the next play.
Just one more point and Aoba Johsai would secure the victory and advance to the quarterfinals.
The tension was palpable on Mujinazaka's side. After all, Oikawa Tōru was still on the service line.
2024-12-31 16:01:03 +0000 UTC
View Post
Finally hearing the familiar system notification sound, Kaedehara Taichi let out a deep breath of relief. Holding his ground against Kiryū Wakatsu alone had pushed him to his limit.
"Damn Oikawa, you're always a step too slow."
Mujinazaka's Nozomu Mami served the ball sharply over the net.
"Cover!" Iwaizumi Hajime called out as he barely managed to dig the serve.
Oikawa Tōru stepped in with a flawless form, balancing himself mid-step as he jumped to deliver an immaculat...
2024-12-31 16:00:15 +0000 UTC
View Post
"In this critical final set, Mujinazaka holds a firm grip on the game!"
"Their dominance is largely due to the timely return of their core member—Usuri Mitsuru. He had a rough time being targeted by Aoba Johsai in the last set," the commentator Aoi chuckled lightly.
"Yet, he quickly adjusted his mindset and reentered the game. Usuri's exceptional court vision has revitalized Mujinazaka's offensive system, making Kiryū's attacks even more menacing."
Bang!
"K...
2024-12-30 16:01:01 +0000 UTC
View Post
First-year setter Fujii Fuku stood on the court, overwhelmed and at a loss. In his mind, the position of Mujinazaka's setter had always seemed relatively simple.
With Kiryū Wakatsu, one of the top three ace spikers in the nation, and their towering 190cm twin blockers, all the setter had to do was feed the ace. After all, Kiryū-senpai was famous for being able to hit any ball, even if the set wasn't perfect.
"That's how it should've been…"
"Tha...
2024-12-30 16:00:11 +0000 UTC
View Post
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
When put under the same pressure, Mujinazaka's setter, Usuri Michiru, was the first to lose his composure.
Tweet! Mujinazaka called for a timeout.
"Michiru!" Mujinazaka High's coach, Kuzuri Michiko, tapped his head. "Are you all right? Are you overthinking things again?"
"Yeah…" Usuri lowered his head, burdened with guilt.
"You idiot! On the court, all you need to do is focus on m...
2024-12-29 16:02:01 +0000 UTC
View Post
"Aoba Johsai struggled under Mujinazaka's relentless assault, ultimately losing the first set."
"Hah, so this is the so-called dark horse? Aoba Johsai dropped the first set to Mujinazaka," a spectator sneered from the stands.
"Not necessarily," another spectator chimed in. "Aoba Johsai played better in the latter half. They managed to stop the gap from widening further. Sure, they lost, but it wasn't disgraceful. This match is far from over."
"Tch, no matter how har...
2024-12-29 16:01:01 +0000 UTC
View Post
Kiryū Wakatsu.
In his second year of junior high, he led his school team to their first-ever breakthrough into the second round of the National Junior High Tournament.
"Thanks to Kiryū's powerful spikes!"
"Their defence players were practically scared out of their pants, haha…"
"Kiryū Wakatsu is the number one ace in Japan!"
Faced with his teammates' unabashed praise, Kiryū bashfully smiled. "Let's sweep through the tournament and take the champion...
2024-12-29 16:00:10 +0000 UTC
View Post
"—And just like that, a setter dump scores the opening point!"
"What a bold play from Aoba Johsai's setter, #1—Oikawa Tōru!" exclaimed Ōtomo, the commentator.
Throughout the matches leading up to this point, Oikawa had left a deep impression on Ōtomo.
As a setter of such calibre, it was almost unthinkable that this was his first time competing at Nationals, only in his third year. Ōtomo and Aoi had often lamented the cruel realities of the National tournamen...
2024-12-28 16:01:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
"Has the first round of matches on Court C ended?"
"Looks like it. The next match should be Mujinazaka's."
"Mujinazaka? You mean that Kiryū Wakatsu from Kyushu?"
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's head over!"
Two high school students chatted as they hurried toward Court C.
Inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, this was a familiar scene. As matches concluded, spectators roamed the venue in search of their favourite teams.
Today, with so m...
2024-12-28 16:00:11 +0000 UTC
View Post
After finishing their second-round match, the Seijoh players finally started to settle into the atmosphere of the national tournament. To help the team relax, Coach Irihata gave them two hours of free time.
Kuroo Tetsurō and Kozume Kenma also came to watch the matches today. Since it was the weekend and their school was on holiday, it was convenient for them to visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
More importantly, Kozume Kenma was dead serious about one thing—defeating ...
2024-12-27 16:26:40 +0000 UTC
View Post
On the morning of June 30th, the players of Shiratorizawa Academy's boys' volleyball team returned to the gym after completing their early morning training run.
In the past two years, they would have been warming up at Tokyo's arena at this time while preparing for their next match.
But this year, Shiratorizawa had lost to Aoba Johsai in the Miyagi Prefecture's finals of the Inter-High qualifiers, forfeiting their chance to represent the prefecture on the national st...
2024-12-27 16:00:14 +0000 UTC
View Post
[Aoba Johsai 23 – 17 Nohebi]
"Why can't we stop them?!" Nohebi Academy's middle blocker, Seguro Akihiko, stared at the widening score gap with growing anxiety.
"Hold the line! We won't fall here!" Their captain, Suguru, shouted with determination as he received the serve.
Sakishima Izumi set the ball to the right wing, and their spiker, Naoyasu Kuguri, prepared for the attack.
"Double block!"
"One Touch!" Taichi yelled toward the backline.
<...
2024-12-27 15:53:40 +0000 UTC
View Post
[Aoba Johsai 25 – 22 Nohebi]
"What an impeccably precise line shot!"
"Aoba Johsai's ace, Kaedehara Taichi, did not disappoint his teammates, clinching this set with a decisive and clean spike!"
"Throughout the first set, #10, Kaedehara Taichi primarily relied on diagonal shots, but at the crucial moment, he surprised everyone with a spectacular straight shot to finish things off. Such a well-planned strategy…"
"Let's take a short break bef...
2024-12-26 16:51:37 +0000 UTC
View Post
"Oh dear, it seems Aoba Johsai's #16 player, Kyōtani Kentarō, isn't happy with the referee's decision. A disagreement has erupted, and Aoba Johsai was given a red card."
"Looks like the coach might sub him out now. Such a shame, considering how brilliant Kyōtani has been so far," commented the announcer.
In contrast, the spectators largely agreed with the referee's decision. Some even thought the punishment was too light—many felt the 'blonde brat' deserved to be ejected enti...
2024-12-26 16:31:31 +0000 UTC
View Post
In volleyball, nothing is ever guaranteed. Success often comes from riding the unpredictable winds of fortune.
And if winning was the goal, why not use every possible tactic to achieve it?
Nohebi Academy's serve. Naoyasu Kuguri delivered a float serve with a controlled jump, sending the ball spinning toward the court. Watari Shinji moved laterally and received it cleanly.
"Eh? Can't you even receive properly?" Naoyasu Kuguri taunted Kunimi Akira, his tone dripping with mock ...
2024-12-26 16:12:55 +0000 UTC
View Post
[Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Court D]
Twenty minutes remained before the match would begin.
Compared to the Sendai City Gymnasium—the venue for the Miyagi Prefecture Finals, which occasionally hosted international-level matches—the Tokyo Gymnasium was on an entirely different scale.
The sheer size of the arena was overwhelming, especially for a first-time visitor. It would take some time to adjust to the sense of distance, and the players need...
2024-12-25 17:08:55 +0000 UTC
View Post
[Friday Morning, June 29th]
The volleyball team members boarded the bus, carrying their volleyball gear and luggage for the next few days, ready to set off for Tokyo. After a five-year hiatus, Aoba Johsai's boys' volleyball team was finally making their return to the Nationals.
The atmosphere inside the bus was anything but tense. None of the players showed signs of pressure on their faces. For most of them, this was their first time advancing to the Nationals, an...
2024-12-25 16:08:15 +0000 UTC
View Post
Even if they were seniors, once they stood on the opposite side of the net, they became opponents.
Taichi Kaedehara's response made Ichisuke Takahashi's eyelid twitch. As the most mild-mannered member of the university team, even he couldn't help but feel the urge to shut him down after such a cheeky remark.
Aoba Johsai served. This time, Akira Kunimi learned from his previous mistake and avoided targeting the opponent's setter.
The ball landed between Kazuya Sugimoto and Yu...
2024-12-25 16:05:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
"What?! You saw two of the top five spikers in the nation at the Tokyo games?!"
A loud exclamation from Kindaichi echoed through the hallway of Class 1-5 at Aoba Johsai High, drawing curious glances from nearby students.
"Keep your voice down; we're already attracting enough attention as it is…"
Recently, the volleyball team members had indeed become the talk of the school.
Despite Aoba Johsai's reputation as an academic-focused institution, their volleyball team's r...
2024-12-24 17:45:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
"Tch!"
Even though he scored, Tōru Oikawa still seemed dissatisfied.
After two deceptive float serves, Kazuya Sugimoto suddenly switched to a powerful jump serve.
The university players hadn't expected Akira Kunimi to react in time to receive it. Yet, when Shinji Watari stepped in to set up the ball, they had enough time to organize their response—but they failed to execute a proper block.
"The seniors are still holding back, huh? How leisurely," Oikawa said through...
2024-12-24 16:51:06 +0000 UTC
View Post
[June 9th, early Saturday morning. Aoba Johsai's Third Gym]
Kindaichi Yūtarō pushed open the door to the volleyball club's activity room.
"Good morning!"
"Morning!" replied the group of third-year seniors in unison. The four of them were always inseparable, something Kindaichi had long gotten used to.
"Kindaichi, did you bring the milk bread for me?" Oikawa Tōru asked with an expectant look.
"Yes, I brought it today!" Kindaichi placed the brea...
2024-12-24 16:14:29 +0000 UTC
View Post
[Nekoma High School Gymnasium]
Today's opponent wasn't particularly strong, so Coach Nekomata wrapped up the post-game review quickly and allowed the Nekoma players to start practising on their own.
With Taichi Kaedehara now part of the team, Kuroo Tetsurō decided to spice things up a bit—by organizing a 3v3 match with mixed teams.
"You two are pretty close; why not be on the same team?" Kuroo smirked, glancing at Taichi and Kenma.
"No way!...
2024-12-23 16:02:01 +0000 UTC
View Post
Both Nekoma and Fukurodani breezed through their respective matches earlier in the day. That afternoon, Taichi decided to watch the matches of Itachiyama and Nohebi Academy.
Nohebi Academy wasn't bad—they showed solid fundamentals in defence and serving, along with some well-coordinated offensive plays against blockers. However, they lacked a true standout player who could carry the team in critical moments.
Adding to their arsenal were their occasion...
2024-12-23 16:01:02 +0000 UTC
View Post
Inside a gymnasium near Kanto University, Taichi Kaedehara and Tenma Udai were practising volleyball together.
"Wow, even though you mentioned Aoba Johsai made it to Nationals, I didn't expect you to have improved so much!" Tenma Udai stared at Taichi Kaedehara in amazement. The last time they had parted, he already had high hopes for him, but his growth was still astonishing.
Initially, Tenma had assumed that Aoba Johsai's success had little to do with Taichi, given he was only a...
2024-12-23 16:00:16 +0000 UTC
View Post
[June 8th, at the Aoba Johsai Gymnasium]
It had been a few days since Aoba Johsai claimed victory in the prefectural qualifiers. The initial excitement had worn off, and the volleyball club resumed its daily training as usual.
"What are those two doing?" Iwaizumi Hajime asked as he stepped into the gym, spotting Taichi Kaedehara and Kentarō Kyōtani locked in an intense staring contest in a corner of the gym. A small crowd had gathered around them, spectating the...
2024-12-22 16:14:07 +0000 UTC
View Post
"I really didn't expect you to calmly declare your ambition to dominate the nationals in that situation," Tōru Oikawa said, his mouth full of beef, as he spoke indistinctly to Taichi.
With all the tedious matters concluded, the entire Aoba Johsai volleyball team gathered once again at their favourite yakiniku spot, Gyu-Kaku.
Unlike the apprehensive mood during their last team dinner, this time, the atmosphere was thoroughly celebratory.
"Maybe Taichi's secretly a s...
2024-12-22 16:10:09 +0000 UTC
View Post
Victory?
In that decisive moment, as the ball hit the ground, the scoreboard froze, announcing the match's outcome.
The news of victory surged through the tense, electrified air like a current, yet it seemed to need a moment to truly register in everyone's minds.
The players of Aoba Johsai remained rooted in place, as if unable to believe what had just happened.
Joy, like the first rays of dawn, slowly illuminated their stunned expressions.
"We...
2024-12-21 16:31:19 +0000 UTC
View Post
Was the blocking gesture off?
No, it didn't seem so.
Was the timing of the jump wrong?
No, that wasn't it either.
Then, there was only one explanation—he had jumped higher than he did at the start.
The saying that "a run-up is like artificial wings" couldn't have been more accurate.
Technically, Taichi Kaedehara and Reon Ōhira shouldn't have differed much in height.
However, thanks to his approach, Taichi managed to execu...
2024-12-21 16:17:19 +0000 UTC
View Post
