Chapter 19: Chapter 19 : Match (1)
"What? Did I hear you wrong?"
"He actually agreed? He actually wants to play against professional players!"
"This kid is really bold! Isn't he afraid of being defeated by Mr. Iwai?"
"Alas! Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers! I think when I was young, I was also so reckless, but..."
"But you were beaten badly by the harsh reality! Ha ha!"
"Hmph! Don't laugh at me! This child will suffer soon!"
...
After agreeing to the challenge from Iwai, Akira joined the two teams with him and Kento under the notarization of the system.
Akira chose the wing spiker, while Iwai also took the wing spiker role. His younger brother, Kento, played as the opposite hitter.
Once they had chosen their spots, they waited in place for the system to assign the other nine participants.
As they waited, more and more people gathered around the stadium. Word of this asymmetrical game had spread.
From the information displayed on the big screen, they learned that Akira was actually a new member! There hadn't been a single match inside the Miyagi Arena yet!
"This must be a high school student who wants to test himself!"
"That's right, such a high school student meeting Mr. Iwai, a professional player..."
"I'm afraid he'll get destroyed!"
"Hey! You see, Mr. Iwai has someone who seems to be a high school student too!"
"He's only played twice since entering the arena, and both times they lost!"
"What about high school students? With a strong professional like Mr. Iwai, that high school student will just add to the numbers, but will they still lose?"
...
Discussions continued around them, but Akira didn't pay attention to it. He simply closed his eyes and waited for the game to start.
...
A sharp whistle rang through the air. The referee assigned by the arena was already in place.
Akira looked up and saw that the other players assigned by the stadium system had also arrived on the field.
The two sides gathered to discuss their strategies for the game. Akira put on the jersey with his number, as issued by the stadium, and walked toward the field.
"Hey! I just heard we have a high school teammate here, and I didn't believe it at first..." A man, who looked like an uncle, shook his head and sighed.
"Yeah! I thought the strength of our team this time was decent, and there was still hope for victory!"
"This time we have Mr. Hitani ! Though he's not a professional player, he has played in the high division of Group C and almost made it to Group B!"
"But... among the current teammates, there is really a high school student. How can we win?"
"Alas! This was my chance to be promoted to Group D! I can't believe it's gone!"
The Hitani they were talking about was a man with a mustache, positioned in the center of the team, surrounded by several people.
Given the attitude of his teammates, Akira had already expected it, so he didn't take their words to heart.
"Alas! Lad!" An uncle, wearing the No. 3 jersey for the team, walked up to Akira, smiled gently at him, and said, "Seeing you like this takes me back to when I was young!"
He said seriously, "At that time, I was full of ambition, and I wanted to try higher-level volleyball."
"But the reality is very cruel!"
"At that time, I was completely beaten!" He said with a nostalgic look, touching his hair.
"After that, I was depressed for a long time!"
"I hope you don't repeat my mistakes. There's a very strong player on the other side!"
"Even if you lose badly, don't lose your love for volleyball!"
Akira nodded, he could tell the uncle was sincerely trying to comfort him.
"Hey! Mase, what do you have to say to this smelly kid??" The No. 6 uncle, who had mentioned advancing to the competition, said indignantly.
"Hmph! This kind of guy, who doesn't have a clear understanding of his own strength, should be taught a lesson!"
Uncle No. 3, named Mase, appeared to be the setter. He smiled and walked over to comfort the No. 6 uncle.
The man they mentioned, Hitani , wearing the number 4 shirt, was frowning as he looked across the net.
His position was the same as Akira's: Wing spiker.
Without waiting for further comments, the referee saw that everyone was in place and announced that the game was about to start!
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😮💨
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Chirping!
With both teams in place, the game was about to begin!
At that moment, Iwai , across the net, noticed that his brother still appeared nervous—more so than at the start of the match. His expression grew even more serious.
He couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "kento, you really need to see for yourself if this opponent is as strong as you claim."
"Y-Yes... I understand, brother," Kento replied quietly, not daring to lift his head.
Iwai sighed. He turned his gaze toward Akira on the other side of the net and thought to himself, Who are you really? Can you really beat someone as bold as me?
...
Chirping!
After confirming the players' positions, the referee's whistle sounded, signaling the start of the game!
The opponent's back row was up for the first serve. The man serving steadied himself and focused on the other side of the net. Akira, standing in the back row, was ready for the ball.
The server glanced at him and gave a slight smile. Akira met his gaze and smiled back.
The server hesitated, then threw the ball with a sharp angle. The floating serve flew towards Akira in the back row!
From an outsider's perspective, this was a fairly typical play. After all, Akira was the only high school student in the match. It was clear that the seasoned players on the field had already labeled him as the likely weak point. The serve itself—an easy-to-read floating ball—was a test to see if Akira could keep up.
Alas, it's looking like they're about to lose this point… Uncle No. 6, who played in a opposite hitter, shook his head and sighed.
However, to everyone's surprise, Akira easily handled the float serve. He received the ball and set it perfectly for his team.
Boom!
"I didn't see that coming! This kid's got skills!"
"Yeah, most high schoolers struggle with that kind of serve, but he handled it like a pro!"
"It's not just that it's rare, but only a few high school players could do that. I certainly couldn't!"
...
What truly shocked everyone, though, was Akira's teammates.
"I didn't think he could handle that serve," Mase, the setter, whispered under his breath. He had been the closest to the action and saw everything clearly. "He completely nullified the spin on the ball... And his positioning was perfect..."
But there was no time for Mase to process further—Hitani , in the main attacking position, was already calling for the set. Mase knew well that hitani was the key to their offense. If they were going to score, it would be with hitani's powerful spike.
At the same time, Akira's side faced a significant challenge: Iwai , a professional player, was right there in the front row, waiting to block. Could Hitani get past him?
Without wasting a moment, Mase set the ball. Hitani stepped forward and smashed it with all his might.
Everyone on the court knew just how dangerous Hitani spikes could be.
His arm muscles bulged as he hit the ball with incredible power. The trajectory was nearly impossible to predict.
But...
Bang!
The ball hit the ground—but not in the opponent's court. It landed on their side.
Hitani powerful spike had been stopped mid-flight!
The team on Akira's side went pale. How were they supposed to fight back now? His spike was top-tier, yet Iwai had easily blocked it.
The realization dawned on them all—This is the power of a professional player?
It was an overwhelming, crushing feeling.
...
As the game progressed, the gap between professional and amateur became even more apparent.
Iwai expertise wasn't limited to just blocking; his offensive skills were impeccable, and he was also proficient in setting up plays and assisting teammates with his precise passing.
"How do you feel now, Kento?" Iwai asked, turning to his younger brother.
"You've always watched from the sidelines. Now that you're on the court, do you see the difference?"
Kento, now fully aware of the gap, nodded. "I see it, brother! The difference between professionals and amateurs is so clear."
A proud smile appeared on Iwai's face. "Good. Now, do you still think that high school student is a real threat? Does he have the strength of a professional player?"
Kento, still fired up from the game, replied eagerly, "Yes! Now I'm even more convinced that he has the potential of a professional player!"
Iwai nearly choked on his own words. He wanted to argue, but his frustration was so overwhelming that he could only turn and look at Akira, who remained calm on the other side of the net.
"Hmph! You'll regret underestimating professional players, kento. Today, your brother will show you the true gap between what you think is a professional player and what a real professional can do."
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It's been rough months 😮💨
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