Haikyuu : The Unstoppable Force

Chapter 13: Chapter 13 : Improvement



"Very simple principle!"

Facing everyone's doubts, Akira smiled and spoke.

"When I sent that ball, I increased the force of pressing down on my wrist!"

"In this way, the topspin of the ball during flight becomes more !"

"The downward trend will start earlier!"

"Although this sacrifices part of the ball's speed..."

"It creates a trajectory that's much harder to judge!"

Akira's explanation left everyone stunned.

Could it really work like that?

When playing volleyball, most people focus only on making the ball stronger or faster.

Who would think about how wrist movements affect the ball's trajectory?

Everyone looked at Akira with admiration.

Such attention to detail—paired with his incredible skills—seemed to be the secret of his excellence.

Even Nishinoya was stunned after hearing Akira's explanation.

It took him a while to process the information before he sighed and said, "This point... I truly lost."

After a brief rest, the second set started again.

The scrappy players were back to their fierce battle around the net!

Although the Karasuno Neighborhood Team was full of energy, the results were far from satisfactory.

The biggest obstacle to their scoring? Akira's blocking!

Even Asahi, who had regained his fighting spirit, struggled to break through Akira's ironclad defense.

When Akira rotated to the back row, Kageyama and Hinata stepped up to launch their signature quick attack!

Hinata also served as a decoy, pulling defenders and clearing space for Tanaka to Spike.

This balanced rotation ensured Karasuno's front row always had a powerful scoring threat.

"Impressive! Karasuno's offensive system is well-rounded," Ukai remarked with a smile.

"No matter how they rotate, their front-row offensive ability remains intact!"

Turning to Takeda, he asked, "Did you consult with professional coaches from other schools?"

"Not quite," Takeda replied.

"As I mentioned before..."

"Our strong showing against Aoba Johsai, one of the best teams in Tokyo, was largely thanks to Akira."

Ukai's eyes widened. "Wait... Are you saying..."

"Yes," Takeda confirmed. "Akira proposed this new rotation system after our first set against Aoba Johsai during the practice match."

"After testing it, we saw its effectiveness and decided to adopt it fully."

Ukai stared at Akira on the court, unable to hide his amazement.

"An all-around talent does exist..."

"Not only is he an exceptional individual player, but he's also the brain of the team!"

The second set ended with a sharp whistle, signaling another victory for Karasuno.

"Haha! You high schoolers are surprisingly strong!"

"We uncles are too old to keep up!"

"Seeing your spirited effort... it brings back nostalgic memories of our youth!"

Members of the Karasuno Neighborhood Team laughed as they left the court.

Despite their loss, they felt exhilarated.

"This was our youth once, too!"

"Today's game was outstanding!"

Ukai entered the gym with a beaming smile.

Seeing the team's performance filled him with hope for their upcoming rematch against Nekoma.

"However, there's still room for improvement," he added.

"Especially in ball reception—you all need work!"

"Your system is solid," Ukai continued, "but because Hinata and a few others struggle with receiving, the back row defense suffers when Akira rotates to front."

"When facing a team like Nekoma, with their strong defense and consistent playstyle, this weakness could lead to our defeat."

"Without a solid first touch, all other strategies fall apart!"

"First and second-years, this means you!"

Ukai's tone turned firm.

"From tomorrow, expect rigorous training on this!"

"Understood!"

--------

Karasuno High School, inside the volleyball Gymnasium.

"Everyone has arrived, right?" Keishin looked around and said loudly, his eyes scanning the room.

"Four days later, it's a training match with Nekoma!" he continued, his voice firm, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

"Immediately after the practice match, it's time for the high school league qualifiers!"

He paused, looking at each player intently. "Time is tight! But you're still full of holes!" His voice grew more intense as he addressed the team. "If you want to win now, there is only one way to go! Practice, practice, practice!! Practice until you Collapse"

The vast volleyball Gymnasium echoed with the sound of intense training as everyone got into position.

This time, it was not Coach Keishin who was responsible for Spiking the ball for everyone, but Akira. He was calm and composed, fully aware of each teammate's strengths and weaknesses. He knew exactly how to target them.

He smirked as he prepared for the next round.

For instance, Daichi, who was physically strong and experienced, but lacked flexibility, receiving fastballs with tricky angles aimed to challenge his weaknesses.

Meanwhile, Asahi, whose skills and flexibility were top-notch, receives, straight-line Spikes designed to test his precision under pressure.

"One more ball!" Akira called out as he prepared for another powerful serve.

Everyone shared the same thought: Why is the ball so difficult to receive? It wasn't just in training with teammates.

Even in their usual practice matches, Akira's spikes were something else. His understanding of the game allowed him to adapt his attack style for each opponent, making his shots nearly impossible to predict.

As the match progressed, the opponent's frustration grew. Initially, they found his Spikes high and powerful, but as the game went on,

Akira's techniques only became harder to read. His ability to fine-tune his attacks left the opposing team scrambling. They couldn't figure out how to stop his hits.

After a few hours of grueling practice, the players finally had a chance to catch their breath.

Training within the team had its benefits, but it wasn't just about physical endurance. It was also about strategy and adaptation.

Later, as they settled into their dormitory, Akira's presence was still central to their thoughts.

"Akira, don't you stay here anymore?" Hinata asked, raising an eyebrow when he saw Akira packing up.

"Because it's too late today, I'm a little scared to walk alone at night, so I want Akira to accompany me back," Kiyoko chimed in, her tone lighthearted as she stood beside him.

"I'll come back tomorrow morning, don't worry," Akira assured them.

As everyone gathered their things, Hinata couldn't help but envy Akira. "Whew... I envy you so much, Akira!" he said.

Akira just smiled in response, his calm demeanor making him seem even more unshakable.

"Be careful when walking at night!" came the final piece of advice from their teammates, a reminder of their bond.

The intensity of their training was far from over. From this point forward, they were entering a phase of joint accommodation.

It meant living together, which saved time and allowed them to train more effectively.

Meanwhile, across the city, Nekoma High School was preparing for their own match with Karasuno.

The Nekoma volleyball team, led by Kuroo, had been performing exceptionally well in recent training matches.

Kuroo, who was now a leader in the team, couldn't help but feel a sense of rivalry with Karasuno, especially with their upcoming match on the horizon.

"Coach, do you think we have a chance to win the battle with Karasuno next week?" Kuroo asked, turning to his coach.

Coach Nekomata, a wise and seasoned coach with a signature grin, chuckled before responding, "Kuroo, don't be too obsessed with winning or losing."

He paused, his eyes gleaming with a hint of nostalgia. "Karasuno is a good opponent, and more important than whether we win or not is whether we learn anything from the game."

Kuroo nodded but still felt a bit unsure of himself.

"But..." Coach Nekomata continued, his tone shifting as a sly grin crossed his face, "When Karasuno was at its strongest, I had a few battles with that old crow."

Kuroo raised an eyebrow. "You mean the Coach Ukai?"

"Yes," Coach Nekomata said, his voice tinged with regret. "At that time, Karasuno team was unstoppable. But now, with Karasuno without the old crow... it won't be easy to beat us."

Bonus Chapter - 400 Power Stones 🤔 😝

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