Haikyuu : The Unstoppable Force Chapter 5 - 5 : 3 Vs 3 Match

Squeak!

The shrill sound of the whistle officially commenced the match. Both teams assumed their stances at opposite sides of the net:

- **Left Side:** Akira, Tsukishima Kei, and Tsukishima's associate, Yamaguchi.

- **Right Side:** Kageyama, Shoyo Hinata, and the second-year student, Ryunosuke Tanaka.

However, Tsukishima, positioned on Akira's side, exhibited visible unease. He repeatedly cast glances towards Akira, as though the sheer pressure emanating from him was nearly insurmountable. The composure he typically displayed had vanished entirely.

Across the net, Kageyama's expression revealed a profound animosity directed at Akira, his gaze locked onto him with palpable anger.

Following a brief exchange of nods between both sides, the game commenced in earnest. Yamaguchi initiated the serve, lofting a high ball over the net, which was, however, effortlessly handled by Tanaka.

Akira and his teammates braced themselves for the impending assault.

Yet, Kageyama's demeanor suggested a profound internal turmoil rather than outward calm. He was assailed by an overwhelming sense of dread – a disconcertingly familiar feeling of utter hopelessness.

As he scrutinized Akira and Tsukishima's blockade for any potential weakness, his eyes unexpectedly met Akira's.

The smirk that graced Akira's lips sent a cold sweat trickling down Kageyama's forehead, as if all his innermost anxieties had been laid bare.

From the sidelines, Daichi and Sugawara exchanged worried glances. "What's amiss with Kageyama today? He seems quite out of sorts!" Daichi observed.

"Indeed, it's merely a friendly 3v3 – there's no need for such intense tension, wouldn't you agree?" Sugawara added. "Do you suppose Daichi's earlier remarks might have unnerved him?"

"No! Absolutely not! How could I possibly unnerve him?" Daichi vociferously denied.

Meanwhile, Hinata, brimming with anticipation for the game, lit up upon spotting Kageyama. "Kageyama!" he exclaimed, his excitement practically radiating.

Executing a potent spike had invariably been Hinata's most cherished aspiration throughout his three years in junior high – a period during which he stood as the sole male member of the volleyball team.

Now, surrounded by teammates, the opportunity for a perfectly timed pass had finally arrived. As Kageyama instinctively directed the ball his way, Hinata erupted in cheers, "Great!! Set it to me!"

"This is going to be legendary – my inaugural point in high school!" He soared into the air. "I am going to score!"

Even Daichi viewed Hinata as a beacon of hope for the volleyball team's future. Astonishingly, despite standing at a modest 160 cm, Hinata's vertical leap rivaled that of Tsukishima, a player nearly 30 cm taller!

However, Akira stood poised, ready to intercept.

**Smack!**

Hinata's forceful spike collided with an impenetrable barrier, rebounding with swift velocity. He landed, a mask of disappointment settling upon his features.

"Try harder next time!" Akira offered words of encouragement, a friendly smile gracing his lips.

"My word, this newcomer, Akira, possesses truly astonishing reflexes!" Sugawara voiced, his excitement palpable.

"He covered the entire court with such incredible speed!"

"Precisely," Daichi concurred, nodding in affirmation. "Judging by this display, this newcomer isn't as inexperienced as we initially supposed! He exhibits a robust foundation!"

Nevertheless, Akira's subsequent action seemed to cast doubt upon Daichi's earlier assessment.

**Phew!** The volleyball whizzed over the net, and Akira elegantly received Tanaka's powerful spike.

"A bit higher!" he instructed Tsukishima.

"Understood!" Tsukishima acquiesced almost mechanically. By the time the realization of the unusual request dawned on him, it was too late – the ball was already en route.

"Remarkable, even if Akira requests a higher set, Tsukishima needn't deliver it quite so elevated!" Daichi observed, but his commentary faltered.

He rose to his feet, captivated, witnessing the impressive figure ascending high above the court. Sugawara, too, was left in a state of shock.

From their vantage point on the sidelines, it was distinctly apparent that Akira's eye level during his jump surpassed Kageyama's blocking reach by a considerable margin!

**What an extraordinary leap!**

Kageyama found himself virtually defenseless against Akira's offensive maneuver. Even players with limited experience understood the sheer danger posed by an unblocked smash!

**Smash!**

A resounding smash descended, sending reverberations across the court. **Score!**

"That jump…" Sugawara stammered, turning towards Daichi. "Daichi, what were you about to articulate?"

Daichi remained rooted to the spot, rendered speechless, comprehending the extent of his misjudgment regarding Akira. The game had barely commenced, yet it already felt as though a fundamental shift was imminent.

"I..." At that precise moment, Daichi felt as though the ball Akira had just spiked had not merely impacted the floor.

It had struck him squarely on the head. The entire court seemed to spin. Tanaka, on the court, shouted with unrestrained enthusiasm!

"Simply incredible, Akira, your prowess is astounding!"

"What sort of spike was that? I barely registered it!" He sprinted over, seized the net with both hands, and addressed Akira across the divide.

"It's just a normal spike, senpai," Akira said, scratching his head in embarrassment, as if to convey, "This is just the basics; why are you all reacting so intensely?"

His nonchalant reply left everyone utterly speechless, with imaginary black lines appearing on their foreheads.

"Alright, stop gaping like that! The game resumes now," Sugawara's voice called out from the back.

Squeak!

As the match continued, everyone was once again confronted by Akira's overwhelming prowess. The more they observed, the more their admiration grew.

"Ah, he blocked that one too?"

"This spike... just watching it feels incredibly potent!"

"Yeah, it even deflected Tanaka's arm!"

"Wow! That timing was absolutely perfect!"

"This... How do his setting skills appear so formidable? Was he a setter previously?"

"This newcomer truly excels at everything!"

...

As the game progressed, the score disparity widened continuously.

Kageyama began to feel a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest. The revenge he had envisioned seemed increasingly out of reach.

He had dedicated himself to intense training, believing he had significantly improved since their last encounter. He was convinced that facing Akira again would finally lead to his victory.

Yet, standing across the net now, he was confronted with the stark reality of his own inadequacy.

The triumphant revenge he had fantasized about, the scenarios where he would dominate Akira... they now appeared utterly laughable.

This daunting opponent, Akira, felt like an unfathomably deep abyss. The closer Kageyama got, the more he recognized the monumental gulf between their abilities.

"One more ball!"

In contrast to Kageyama, Hinata's greatest asset was his unyielding spirit. Fueled by boundless energy, he swiftly cast aside any self-doubt and pressed onward.

However, sometimes sheer effort isn't enough. Even with Hinata giving his absolute best, penetrating Akira's blocks at this juncture proved impossible.

"Wouldn't it be better to employ your 'kingly' sets?" Tsukishima taunted from the sidelines.

"The kind that are so impossibly precise they discourage your own teammates?"

His words struck Kageyama like a jolt.

"Those passes that got you kicked off the team?"

"You don't need to go for a quick attack every single time. Or... are you still dwelling on that past match?"

Tsukishima turned to cast a curious glance at Akira, eager to witness Kageyama's reaction in front of his former rival – the one who had bested him before.

But Akira remained silent, observing the unfolding drama with detached interest.

This was a crucial turning point for Kageyama. Without enduring this experience, he would never achieve true growth. Until he grasped the significance of teamwork, he could only remain a skilled setter – not a truly great one.

No team desires a self-centered setter.

Akira understood this truth intimately. During his Middle School days, he had adopted a similarly extreme playstyle due to the significantly lower skill level of his team.

He was compelled to dictate their every move, single-handedly elevating the entire team's standard of play.

While the coach of Kitagawa Daiichi was correct about Akira's teammates lacking individual talent, Akira's leadership amplified their capabilities far beyond their inherent skills.

He directed their actions with meticulous precision, transforming six ordinary players into a formidable unit.

By synergizing his teammates' efforts with his own immense talent, Akira propelled his Middle School team to victory over Kitagawa Daiichi, overcoming their individual deficiencies.

Conversely, Kageyama's impulsiveness and his failure to consider his teammates had led to his isolation.

---

"Isn't there still me?" Hinata's voice pierced the quiet, offering reassurance to the disheartened Kageyama.

"This isn't Middle School anymore! No matter the type of pass or set, I'll spike it!"

---

Was this the dawn of Karasuno's Monster Duo?

Akira observed the scene with a subtle smile, yet beneath his composed exterior, a fierce competitive spirit simmered.

That monstrous quick attack Hinata and Kageyama were about to unleash...

Let me experience it firsthand!

!

---

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