By noon, the first round of matches had cluded, determining the top eight teams for the Spring High Prefecture Qualifiers and the matchups for the afternoon.
Group A: Aoba Johsai vs. ShiroshikanGroup B: Date Tech vs. SuikawaGroup C: Karasuno vs. WakunanGroup D: Shiratorizawa vs. Momijihara
News of Aoba Johsai's unpreted victory, breaking the record for the rgest set sargin in Miyagi's Spring High history, had quickly spread across the teams.
At Karasuno, Shōyō Hinata and Tobio Kageyama were nearly ready to dash off to iigate wheeammates held them back.
After all, their own first match hadn't been a breeze.
[Karasuno 25 – 21 Johzenj
[Karasuno 25 – 20 Johzenj
Although Karasuno secured a 2-0 victory, the pyful aic pystyle of Johzenji had initially caused them some trouble.
Meanwhile, the sheer dominance dispyed by Shiratorizawa, holding their oppos to just five and six points respectively, had already left Karasuno feeling pressured.
Learning about Aoba Johsai's record-breaking performance left Karasuno's coach, Keishin Ukai, nearly at a loss for words.
"Unbelievable," he muttered.
Shiratorizawa and Aoba Johsai—teams of such a calibre were their potential oppos down the line.
Still, Ukai was relieved to see that none of his pyers, aside from Asahi Azumane, who looked a bit tense as usual, seemed genuinely afraid. Daichi Sawamura and the others wore expressions of slight unease mixed with determination.
As for Hinata and Kageyama, their energy levels remained unshaken.
g his hands to quiet the chatter, Ukai said, "Alright, go grab some food a up. Our match won't be easy either!"
"Yes, Coach!"
-----
At Date Tech, first-year setter Koganegawa Kanji was shining bright.
Not only had his height and impressive blog strengthened Date Tech's renowned defe his vision and ability to ect with the most threatening hitters also made their offense more lethal.
The audience couldn't stop praising him, with some even dubbing this new wall "The Golden Iron Wall."
In their first match, Date Tech's ironcd defenpletely shut down the powerful spikes of Kuroda High's ace.
[Date Tech 25 – 16 Kuroda]
[Date Tech 25 – 14 Kuroda]
The victory came easily, but...
"What's going on with Aoba Johsai? Or is Niiyama just that weak?" grumbled Kenji Futakuchi, his dissatisfa apparent.
After all, Date Tech's oppo in Group B would be Aoba Johsai, pending the clusion of the afternoon matches.
Aoakanobu remained silent but gave Futakuchi a side-eye, signalling his disapproval.
Despite knowing Futakuchi's ents were uional, belittling aeam wasn't acceptable to him.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Futakuchi said, waving him off. His expression turned serious. "The problem clearly isn't with Niiyama. Keeping their oppos to just 2 or 3 points? Aoba Johsai isn't making any unnecessary errors...It's terrifying."
g his fists, Futakuchi muttered, "So frustrating..."
Following their loss to Karasun the Interhigh preliminaries, Date Tech's third-years had retired, leaving half the current team posed of first-years.
If only they had a little more time to develop, Futakuchi was fident they'd stand a ce.
"They're amazing!" excimed Koganegawa with a mix of surprise aement.
"Futakuchi-senpai, let's block a few of Taichi's spikes this time!"
Futakuchi sighed. This fearless guy…
Still, Futakuchi knew better than anyone: Date Tech wasn't a team to be easily uimated.
-----
As the afternoon rolled around, teams from each group began taking the court. For pyers in Miyagi, the tightly packed tour schedule was something they were well aced to.
Shiroshikan's pyers stepped onto the court with sombre expressions.
Though they believed they could defeat Niiyama, it was impossible for them to replicate Aoba Johsai's overwhelming performance.
Fag Aoba Johsai this early in the bracket was a daunting prospect, and they couldn't help wishing their match had been deyed a little longer.
"Let's go, let's go, let's go, Seijoh!""Victory, victory, victory, Aoba Johsai!"
Cheers erupted as Aoba Johsai's pyers emerged from the other side of the tunnel.
The New Kings of Miyagi had arrived, greeted by thunderous appuse that seemed to shake the very air.
As the referee's whistle sighe start of warm-ups, volleyballs soared through the air.
A figure leapt and smashed the ball downward with precision and force.
Boom!
The sound echoed through the gym. Fast, accurate, and ruthless—this was the impressio on Shiroshikan's pyers.
#4 Iwaizumi Hajime
Moments ter, another ball soared to the right side of the , where a figure darted into position.
Boom!!
The hit was just as powerful but even sharper in angle. An incredibly sharp crossshot.
The ball smmed into Shiroshikan's three-meter line, boung high into the air.
The pyer's face twisted into a fierce expression, seemingly dissatisfied with the shot.
#16 Kyōtaarō
And then—
A ball was set high, right into the tre of the court.
"Wow...that's really high."
If a Oikawa Toru had set the ball, Shiroshikan's pyers would've assumed it was a mistake. But—
A figure soared into the air, the height of his jump leaving the defenders in stunned silence.
—Boom!!!—
The ball struck the floor with such force it rattled the wooden boards, boung easily into the stands.
"…?"
Shiroshikan's pyers were frozen ihis was a first-year? The only other time they'd seen such overwhelming power was from Ushijima Wakatoshi on TV.
In the face of suinance, all they could do was follow the ball's trajectory with their eyes.
#10 Kaedehara Taichi
The gym was filled with ts and cheers from Aoba Johsai's cheer squad, support team, and brass band.
Landing from his spike, Taichi g the Shiroshikan pyers.
The atmosphere grew heavy, almost suffog.
", it's your turn."
-----
The match cluded shortly thereafter, the result almost iable.
[Aoba Johsai 25 – 8 Shiroshikan]
[Aoba Johsai 25 – 6 Shiroshikan]
Aoba Johsai secured another swift 2-0 victory.
"Taichi scored 10, 12, 16, and 14 points across today's four sets," announced manager Chiba Kah their ride back to the hotel. "That's a total of 52 points, with just one service error and a spike success rate of 92%."
"Oikawa-senpai scored 0 points in the first set but got 7 in the sed," she added.
"In any match, every point matters—whether it's earned or lost," she tinued. "If oal is that championship trophy, we have to master even the smallest details. Everyone did well today!"
Coach Irihata nodded, his tone softening. "Rest well tonight. Our oppos, Date Tech, are no pushovers."
"We've grown familiar with each other during training camps, but don't let that make you overfident. Rumour has it their iron wall is now 'golden.' Sounds like the perfect material for ing our throne!"
His rare dispy of swagger drew ughter from the team, particurly from Taichi, whom he g pyfully.
"Get plenty of rest—no carrying today's fatigue into tomorrow."
"Our match…"
"We'll win!"
_________
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