The Birth of A Volleyball Legend

"It is okay, Yuki. It is just one point." Koji patted Yuki's back to comfort his kouhai.

"Yeah, Koji is right." Kaede also nodded. "Don't think about it too much."

Even though all the Tsunemori players were disappointed as they couldn't grab the initiative from the beginning of the game, they were more worried about Yuki's state, especially when they saw the glasses boy dozed off in the middle of the court. At first, they didn't know what happened to him.

However, when they thought about it carefully, they realized this was the first time they saw someone fool Yuki so blatantly like this. No matter how talented he was, there was no way this wouldn't shake his mind.

"Don't worry, Senpai, I am okay." Yuki smiled. However, it was clear the smile didn't reach his teammates. "Rather than worrying about me, we should think of the next play. Even though we have seen his video before, seeing it directly would be a different experience."

The other Tsunemori players who heard his words nodded, and the atmosphere turned solemn as all the eyes turned to Konan's captain. The curly-haired boy walked to the service line while waiting for the referee to start the game again.

His name was Ashina Matsumoto, a third-year student from Konan High. He had a reputation around the volleyball circle as one of the most talented players that Japan had ever produced in the last couple of years. With his 186 cm of height which wasn't final yet and his amazing speed, Matsumoto was built like a tank. His spike was sharp, powerful, and could crush any wall in front of him.

And just like any other powerful spiker, Matsumoto also had an unstoppable jump serve in his arsenal.

"Get ready for him," Yuki said.

"Aye."

A moment later, everyone was back in their position, and the referee was ready to start the game again. Yuki stared intently at the players on the other side of the court, trying to recall the intelligence Akira showed a few weeks ago.

'Matsumoto's role as the first to service is to destroy his opponent's mentality, so he will use all of his strength to break the best defender on the opposite side of the court. If you are in the backline, be ready to receive, Yuki. But if not, Kai, you will take over the rest.'

With him on the front line, of course, Yuki didn't have to worry about the defense. If it was only a brute force, there was no way the opponent could get through Kaede's defense. Or… So that was what he thought.

The moment the referee blew his whistle, Matsumoto tossed the ball in the air, and then he jumped pretty high before smashing the ball in the air. It moved like a laser, and the sound of the ball piercing the air could be heard even from the stand. Before anyone could react, the ball went straight in Kaede's direction, and the defensive specialist didn't even have time to dodge it.

*BAM!*

"KAI!" It was Yuki who reacted first. Even though it wasn't him who received the ball, just based on its speed itself, Yuki could guess how painful the impact would be. And when he saw Kaede was thrown away several meters to the back, he unconsciously remembered how Nitta bullied him in the game against Konan. "You okay?!"

However, it seemed Kaede had his own thoughts about this situation. "Fucking hell, don't think about me! The ball is still alive!" He shouted.

That was when all the players on Tsunemori's side realized, that indeed, the ball was still flying in the air. Yuki saw the position of the ball and calculated quickly inside his mind, just to reach the conclusion that he would be able to save it if he was quick enough. Gritting his teeth, Yuki rushed without hesitation, crossing the sideline and went through the sponsor board.

When the ball was within his reach, Yuki extended one of his hands and swung it hard so it would go back to the court.

"Oh! Nice save, Yuki!"

"Jimmy! Kill the ball!"

"I got this!"

Since this was going to be the third touch, Ogawa had no choice but to send it to the opponent's side. However, he didn't want to make it easy for them. After looking on the other side of the net for a second, he determined where he should send the ball and jumped, wanting to spike the ball.

Unfortunately, it was proven to be a mistake.

When he was in the air, Ogawa suddenly felt a huge pressure coming from the opponent's blockers, as if a mountain suddenly put on his shoulder and crushed his body. He froze for a moment, couldn't swing the ball at all. The intimidating feeling as if he were an ant in front of a giant was something he had never felt before.

'Damn! Is this something a normal human could possess?!'

Ogawa gritted his teeth while trying his best to spike the ball. Unfortunately, he was affected by the pressure and could only send a weak ball, which was easy for the blocker to crush.

*BAM!*

"Oh! Nice kill!"

"As expected of Akihiro, the beast from the north!"

"Come on, Akihiro!"

The cheers exploded from the crowd as they saw the clean block from Konan's middle blocker. As for all the Tsunemori players, they had their mouths gaped wide while staring at the opponent's blocker who had a sadistic grin on his face.

"Come on, Tsunemori! Don't disappoint me! Show me how you beat that bastard Haruo in the last round!" He roared, challenging his opponent.

Yuki himself was dumbfounded, then remembered Haruo, Kyoei Gakuen's middle blocker, and his last message after the game against Kyoei Gakuen was over flashed through Yuki's mind.

'You will face a more troublesome guy against Konan High. Don't underestimate him.'

"So, this is the troublesome guy you mean, huh?" Looking at the shocked state Ogawa showed, Yuki let out a deep sigh as it seemed Haruo downplayed the blocker's ability by only describing him as a 'troublesome' guy. "Fucking hell, this is far worse than troublesome. No wonder their defense is so well-built. His aura on the frontline is crazy.

Even I who wasn't the one to spike could feel it too, let alone Jimmy-senpai. Man, he is going to be a nightmare."