BOOM!
Sora unleashed another powerful jump serve, the tension thick in the air.
Yaku narrowed his focus, tracking the ball's trajectory with unwavering concentration.
However, as the ball soared, Yaku's eyes widened in disbelief.
The ball seemed destined to sail outside the court, and for a fleeting moment, he halted his pursuit. To his astonishment, the ball gracefully landed on the line.
"Tweet!"
07-00 in favor of Karasuno.
Another ace by Sora, leaving Nekoma trailing and frustrated.
Yamamoto couldn't help but express his frustration, muttering, "Tch! That damn serve is hard!"
Yaku, despite the challenges, maintained his composure. He observed Sora, who was gearing up for another serve.
Over the past 10 minutes, Yaku had tirelessly attempted to receive Sora's serves, grappling with the overwhelming speed, precision, and power.
As the struggle continued, Yaku sensed a gradual adjustment within himself. Rather than succumbing to frustration, he perceived Sora's serve as a formidable test. Determined to overcome the challenge, Yaku braced himself to face Sora's serve once again, viewing it not as an obstacle but as an opportunity for growth.
Tweet!
Sora sends another thunderous jump serve, the tension palpable.
Yaku's reflexes kicked into overdrive as he tracked the ball's trajectory, determination etched into every sinew of his being.
This time, his effort bore fruit as he managed to receive the serve, albeit a bit high, causing the ball to land on Karasuno's side.
"Sorry!" Yaku's exclamation filled the air, echoed by Sora's concerned call to Kageyama.
With lightning reflexes, Kageyama swiftly adjusted to set the ball, his movements precise and calculated. Across the court, Hinata sprang into action, his feet a blur as he dashed towards the net.
In a seamless display of teamwork, Kageyama's set found its mark, and Hinata soared into the air, his spike thundering against the court.
The Nekoma players, caught off guard by the lightning-fast attack, were left rooted to the ground, unable to react in time.
A collective gasp reverberated through the gymnasium as the spectators bore witness to the stunning display of skill.
Tweet!
The scoreboard flickered to life, displaying Karasuno's commanding lead: 08-00.
Yasufumi Nekomata, the coach of Nekoma, recognized the need to regroup and called for a well-timed timeout.
===============
"Okay, I know we're trailing behind so far, but let's be calm," Nekomata asserted, his voice a steadying presence amid the heated match.
Turning his gaze towards Karasuno's side, Nekomata's eyes focused on Sora, "His serves are nothing short of exceptional. The power and speed he generates, especially for a high schooler, are truly impressive. We must find a way to handle them."
His attention then shifted to Shoyo and Kageyama, recognizing the potency of their quick attack. "Their quick attack is quite dangerous. Shoyo and Kageyama's coordination is remarkable, catching us off guard. We need to be vigilant."
Nekomata's gaze finally settled on Kenma, who felt the weight of the captain's expectations.
Sensing the unspoken inquiry in Nekomata's look, Kenma responded, "It's only been 10 minutes, and I haven't had sufficient time to analyze their strategy properly, primarily due to Sora's dominating service."
Pausing to collect his thoughts, Kenma continued, "But even within this limited time, I've observed a pattern. Karasuno seems to utilize Sora's powerful service as a strategic move to overwhelm opponents from the outset. This tactic hinders opposing teams from dissecting their other strategies effectively."
Kenma directed his attention to Shoyo, emphasizing, "Shoyo appears to be their main attacker, particularly with their quick attack. If we manage to receive Sora's serve successfully, we should focus on shutting down Shoyo to disrupt their offensive rhythm."
Yaku's gaze bore into Sora, marking him as an obstacle that demanded confrontation.
The tension between the two players hung thick in the air, a silent challenge acknowledged by Yaku with a determined resolve.
Meanwhile, on Karasuno's side, the team gathered under the watchful eye of their coach, Keishin.
"You guys are doing great so far, keep it up!" he encouraged the team before singling out Sora for special instructions. "Sora, I want you to continue what you're doing. Deliver more aces!"
Sora responded with a closed smile and a thumbs up, showing his readiness to carry out the coach's directive.
Keishin then turned his attention to Shoyo and Kageyama, emphasizing, "And I want you both to execute the quick attack if they manage to receive Sora's serve."
In unison, Shoyo and Kageyama nodded.
However, amidst the encouragement and tactical planning, Sora couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. A shiver ran down his spine, prompting him to turn around.
There, he met Yaku's intense stare. The sight sent a chill through Sora; Yaku's expression was formidable and, in Sora's eyes, even a bit intimidating.
'Holy moly, no wonder Lev Haiba is scared of him even though he's short!' Sora thought.
Sora knew the source of Yaku's intensity; it stemmed from the Nekoma libero's competitive spirit, especially when confronted with a formidable opponent, like Sora's powerful serve.
===============
Tweet!
The gymnasium brimmed with anticipation as Karasuno and Nekoma returned to the court, eager to resume their exhilarating match.
Sora unleashed another devastating jump serve, the sheer power behind his technique sending ripples of excitement through the crowd.
Yaku positioned himself to receive the incoming ball, his focus unwavering. However, despite his efforts, the ball soared higher than anticipated, causing it to veer off course.
"Sorry!" Yaku's apology echoed across the court.
Meanwhile, Kenma took his place on the court, his mind already calculating the next move.
As he prepared to set the ball, Tsukishima watched his every move with keen interest.
Tsukishima's analytical gaze followed Kenma's subtle movements, predicting the trajectory of the upcoming set.
Anticipating the ball to be set towards his left, Tsukishima prepares to block.
Unbeknownst to Tsukishima, Kenma was aware of his scrutiny.
With a subtle shift in strategy, Kenma executed a deceptive set, sending the ball in the opposite direction of Tsukishima's expectations.
Nobuyuki Kai, Nekoma's opposite hitter, unleashed a powerful spike set by Kenma.
Sora, determined as ever, positioned himself to receive Kai's attack.
However, an unexpected turn of events occurred when the volleyball suddenly emanated a red energy.
Sora's eyes widened in astonishment as he made contact with the ball, which, to everyone's disbelief, soared to an unprecedented height, shattering a 10-meter hole in the gymnasium's ceiling.
The members of both teams were left dumbfounded, their collective gaze fixated on the implausible scene.
It was clear that what had just transpired defied the laws of physics and left everyone questioning the reality of the moment.
Sora, equally bewildered, examined his hands, contemplating the inexplicable event.
"What the hell was that?" he wondered.
Concerned teammates rushed to Sora's side, with Shoyo leading the way.
"Aniki, are you okay?!" he exclaimed, displaying genuine worry.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm okay," Sora reassured Shoyo. As his teammates checked for injuries, the surreal nature of the event lingered in the air.
"Sora-san, are you okay?!" Yamaguchi inquired anxiously.
"Sora, are you all right?!" Nishinoya added.
Tsukishima, though not verbally expressing his concern, observed Sora with a worried expression.
Amidst the inquiries, Sora couldn't shake off the memory of the red energy surrounding the volleyball during Kai's spike. He felt a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity with the phenomenon.
"Did you guys see the red energy?" Sora asked, attempting to gather their attention.
The others, intrigued, stopped their questions, raising eyebrows at Sora's peculiar inquiry.
"Red energy? Are you okay in the head, Sora-san?" Nishinoya questioned, adding a touch of skepticism.
Sugawara intervened with a calming presence, coughing softly. "Ahem."
Nishinoya's eyes widen. "Ah oops."
Sora persisted, "The red energy emitted from the volleyball, did you all see it?"
"Nope." Shoyo denied seeing anything unusual.
"But I saw it!"
"Okay! That's enough!"
Before the others could respond, Keishin's voice cut through the confusion.
Everyone turned to see Keishin, Takeda, and Kiyoko, whom all are equally flabbergasted by the inexplicable event.
"Since there's a huge hole in the ceiling, the practice match is canceled," Keishin declared, leaving everyone in a state of disbelief and uncertainty.
At Nekoma's side, Kai glanced at his hand in disbelief, the remnants of his powerful spike still lingering in his mind.
"Did I just spike so hard?" he muttered to himself, a mixture of awe and uncertainty coloring his tone.
"Hey."
Startled, Kai turned around to find Kuroo, the captain of Nekoma, striding towards him with a calm demeanor. His presence brought a sense of reassurance amidst the chaos of the canceled practice match.
"Practice match has been canceled today," Kuroo informed him, his voice steady and reassuring. "And don't worry about the... damages."
Kai nodded, a weight lifting off his shoulders as Kuroo's words sank in.
Though the abrupt end to the match left lingering questions, Kuroo's leadership provided a sense of stability amidst the unexpected turn of events.
=================================
Unbeknownst to the players and spectators, a mysterious figure stood amidst the tumult of the match. With short, tousled red hair and attire befitting a character from a fantasy tale - a black top hat adorned with a crimson ribbon, a striking red tuxedo, complemented by black pants, shoes, and a flowing cape - the enigmatic man observed the unfolding events with a cryptic smile.
"Heh," the man murmured, his voice carrying an air of intrigue as he contemplated the scene before him.
"So, there are two Auberts in this universe, huh," he remarked to himself, his words laden with cryptic significance. "The other one is in America, reigning as the world's number one tennis player, while this one possesses a different physical form. However, the soul within remains that of an Aubert. How intriguing."
Meanwhile, Makoto Shimada and Yūsuke Takinoue, who had been watching the match intently, were startled when they heard a voice pierce the air. Turning towards the source, they laid eyes upon the peculiar man in the flamboyant attire.
"Uhm, hello?" Makoto ventured cautiously, his voice betraying a hint of apprehension.
Yūsuke joined in, seeking to ease the tension. "May I help you, sir? We couldn't help but notice your... unique attire."
The man chuckled softly at their inquiries, his demeanor enigmatic. "Maybe," he replied, his response adding to the air of mystique surrounding him.
As Makoto and Yūsuke exchanged puzzled glances, they noticed a faint red aura enveloping the man, adding to his aura of otherworldliness.
Suddenly, with a flick of his fingers, the man cast a spell, "em tegroF", causing both Makoto and Yūsuke's eyes to glow with an eerie crimson light.
'Sorry, but you must not remember me,' the man's thoughts echoed silently as he exerted his mysterious power.
In an instant, the man vanished, leaving behind a trail of crimson smoke, his presence dissipating like a wisp of fog.
As the red glow faded from their eyes, Makoto and Yūsuke exchanged bewildered glances, grappling on what just happened.
"Uhh, what just happened?" Makoto asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
Yūsuke shook his head. "I don't know but didn't we just witness Sora sending the ball through the ceiling?" he mused, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty.
Makoto's eyes widened in realization. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that! This is all so... weird," he concluded, his mind still reeling from the surreal experience.