Chapter 52 : Done

Smack!

This is already Tsukishima's twelfth attempt!

He gritted his teeth and moved to the back, waiting for the others to finish receiving the ball.

So far, only Nishinoya has been able to barely receive Akira's spike after ten tries—and even then, it isn't stable.

There are two major difficulties in handling this kind of ball:

One is the rotational force and unpredictable trajectory that defies common sense.

The other is the sheer power behind Akira's spike.

Even if it were a standard spinning ball, receiving it with this level of force would be difficult!

Under this immense pressure, Tanaka wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

He glanced at Akira on the other side of the net.

Even after hitting so many high-intensity spikes, this guy wasn't even out of breath!

He looked completely unfazed!

"This kid... what a monster!"

Smack!

Another spike flew toward Tanaka!

He barely managed to receive it, though the impact still stung his arms.

Rubbing his sore muscles, he moved back in line.

Despite the number of spikes, Akira's power hadn't dropped in the slightest!

"Alright!"

"It's getting late."

Seeing the exhaustion on his teammates' faces, Akira smiled and said, "Let's stop here for today!"

"If we don't rest properly, it'll affect tomorrow's match."

"One more! Just one more!"

Several voices called out in unison.

Especially Nishinoya.

"Haha! It's good that you feel that way!" Akira chuckled. "At least everyone is getting a feel for it."

"When you face a left-handed spike tomorrow, you'll only need a bit more time to adjust."

"Perfectly receiving it in such a short period isn't realistic!"

"That's right."

Coach Ukai, who had been watching from the sidelines, stepped in.

"You need to know when to stop training. It's already late."

Hearing that, everyone finally calmed down.

If they continued to train without proper rest, it could affect their performance in tomorrow's match!

"Let's wrap it up!"

"Remember, if you don't clear the opponent in front of you, there's no final to look forward to."

"All this preparation will mean nothing if you don't win tomorrow!"

"Yes, sir!"

The next day.

The third round of the Qualifier League.

Sendai City Gymnasium.

Although there were only four teams competing today, the crowd was larger than ever!

Spectators filled the stands, eagerly awaiting the matches.

Today's schedule consisted of two major matches—

One was the semifinals between Shiratorizawa, the reigning champions of Miyagi Prefecture, and a powerhouse team, Minami Kutanami.

The other was between this year's biggest dark horse, Karasuno, and another well-known strong team, Jozenji.

Both matches promised to be thrilling, attracting numerous volleyball enthusiasts to the venue.

The first match was bound to be a spectacle.

Every game involving Shiratorizawa was worth watching!

Even against a weaker opponent, Ushijima Wakatoshi's sheer power made for an incredible display of strength and precision.

And with Minami Kutanami as their opponent, this match would be an intense battle between two strong teams.

However, the second match was even more intriguing!

Jozenji had long been considered a top-tier team, earning praise for their stable and disciplined playstyle.

Although some controversy had surrounded their team in recent years, their overall strength had only grown, making them a formidable opponent.

This year, they stormed into the top four of the tournament with their strongest performance yet!

And then, there was their opponent—Karasuno High School.

A team that had once been a dominant force in Miyagi Prefecture, frequently reaching the national stage.

However, after their legendary coach retired due to illness, their strength began to decline.

In recent years, they had faded from major tournaments.

They were labeled as:

[The Fallen Powerhouse]

[A Crow That Can't Fly]

But this year, things were different.

During the group stage, they were placed in Group A—the infamous "Group of Death."

The group contained not only the top-seeded Aoba Johsai but also another formidable school—Date Tech, known as "The Iron Wall."

Just three months prior, Karasuno had suffered a crushing defeat against Date Tech in the Prefectural Tournament.

Yet, despite being counted out by almost everyone…

Karasuno had risen again!

They shocked everyone by defeating both Date Tech and Aoba Johsai, securing their spot in the knockout rounds.

And they didn't just win—they dominated both teams with a decisive 2-0 victory!

They then carried that momentum into their next match, crushing Izumitate in another landslide win to advance to the semifinals.

However, many spectators weren't just here for Karasuno's team.

They were here for one player.

Outside the stadium, fans gathered eagerly.

"Shintani! You're here too?"

"Oh? Kimura? Didn't expect to see you here!"

"Haha! Of course, I wouldn't miss this!"

"I saw a bunch of familiar faces from the volleyball scene earlier. There are definitely going to be even more people here in the afternoon!"

"Man, today's matches are just too exciting!"

"I even spotted a couple of pro players watching from the VIP section!"

"What?! Even those guys…?"

"And get this—there's a rumor that Arai and another former national player will be in the stands for the finals!"

"No way… That can't be true!"

"I heard it's been confirmed!"

"That's amazing!"

"I just hope we get to see Akira's signature serve again! The last time I saw it, I was completely blown away!"

"He might save it for the finals."

"Yeah, I heard he doesn't use it unless it's necessary."

"But can Shiratorizawa really push Karasuno into a disadvantage?"

"Haha! Guess we'll find out soon enough!"

The conversation between these two was just a small glimpse of the buzz surrounding the event.

Many others were equally excited, eagerly anticipating a clash of titans!

The energy in the gymnasium was electric.

Everyone was waiting for the matches to begin!

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7/8✅