Haikyuu : The Unstoppable Force

It wasn't just the libero who had noticed the problem.

Anyone who received Akira's spike could more or less sense that something was off.

"What's going on?"

"Did everyone suddenly slack off in training?"

From the coach's box outside the court, Mizoguchi frowned as he watched the score gap widen, pacing anxiously.

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Seeing Matsukawa fail to receive another spike, he gritted his teeth and muttered in frustration:

"Even the most basic ball reception is resulting in mistakes?"

"Unbelievable!"

"Calm down, Mizoguchi!"

Shinichi Irihata, standing beside him, interjected, unable to ignore his agitation.

"Maybe the problem isn't with our players."

His expression turned serious as he analyzed the situation on the court.

"What?" Mizoguchi looked at him in surprise. "You mean…"

"That main attacker from the other team!"

Irihata's expression darkened slightly.

"The spikes he's hitting—they seem to carry some kind of spin!"

"What?"

"Spin?!"

Mizoguchi's eyes widened as he focused on the court.

"But if the ball has side spin, it wouldn't travel so straight!"

"Yet, his spikes…"

He trailed off, hesitant.

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Just then, the referee's whistle blew again.

Aoba Johsai had lost another point!

"I can't say for sure, but let's call them over and ask."

Irihata sighed, shaking his head.

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"Oh? Aoba Johsai's coach has called a timeout!"

"Haha! Must be for some emergency strategy!"

"With reception like that, can they really be considered a powerhouse team? It's embarrassing!"

The audience murmured among themselves, throwing criticism at Aoba Johsai's performance.

"Not necessarily!"

A new voice interrupted the discussion.

Iwai stood up, his brows furrowed as he analyzed the match.

As a professional player, he had started to notice something unusual.

"What do you mean, brother?" Kento looked at him in confusion.

Aoba Johsai had failed to receive Akira's spikes multiple times now.

It looked like a simple mistake on their part.

He was sure he could receive those spikes himself!

Others nearby turned their attention to Iwai, curious about his thoughts.

"Hmm… The ball Akira just spiked… it seems to have some kind of additional rotation," Iwai said hesitantly.

"Rotation?" Kento frowned. "Aren't normal spikes already spinning? Who would spike a floater?"

"No! No!" Iwaiquickly shook his head. "This isn't the usual topspin spike!"

"It's a spike with either left or right spin!"

"What?!"

"Left spin? Right spin?"

The people around him froze in shock.

Iwai swallowed hard before continuing.

"Yes! When that spinning ball makes contact with the receiver's arms, the rotational force causes it to bounce off at an unpredictable angle!"

"That's why it looks like they're just failing at basic reception."

Kento turned to stare at Akira on the court, still unconvinced.

"But… in that case, why doesn't the ball's trajectory curve left or right?"

Iwai sighed, smiling bitterly.

"Exactly! That's what confuses me!"

"Because this kind of spike shouldn't be possible!"

———

"Why?! Why can't we properly receive that spike?!"

The moment Aoba Johsai's players left the court, Mizoguchi was the first to speak.

"Haven't you all been in contact with it multiple times already?!"

"Are you getting nervous?!"

"Calm down, Mizoguchi!"

Irihata sighed, rubbing his forehead at Mizoguchi's impatience.

Then, turning to the players, he asked in a measured tone:

"Is there something strange about Akira's spikes?"

"Yes!"

The libero was the first to answer.

"The ball he spikes feels like it has a spring attached to it!"

"When it hits my arm, it just bounces away!"

"And…"

His face flushed in frustration, unable to properly describe what he had felt.

"There's some kind of strange spin on the ball," another player added.

"Yes! That's it!"

The libero shot him a grateful glance.

"Sigh…"

Irihata lowered his head, sighing deeply.

"I didn't want to believe it, but it seems to be true."

"The strangest part is that even though the ball has left or right spin, its trajectory doesn't change visibly!"

"We can't judge where it will go!"

"That's why it keeps slipping past us!" the libero added from behind.

Irihata remained silent for a moment, deep in thought.

Because there was no real countermeasure to this.

If the receiver positioned their arms for a left-spinning ball, but it turned out to be right-spinning or even a no-spin shot, the ball would bounce off uncontrollably.

And if they positioned themselves for a right-spin, they would still miscalculate for left-spin or floaters!

It was an unsolvable problem!

"So… we just have to rely on luck to defend against his spikes?"

Mizoguchi's voice trembled as he voiced his growing despair.

"There's no other choice!"

Irihata shook his head grimly.

"Blocking won't work against him. It might even backfire."

"The only thing we can do is receive and hope for the best."

"If this continues, there's only one option left."

"What?!" Mizoguchi's eyes lit up. "You mean… we still have a way to win?!"

"Yes."

"Since we can't defend properly, we'll have to attack instead."

"Attack with everything we've got!"

"Continuously push the offense and take points from Karasuno!"

Mizoguchi clenched his fists.

"Attack with everything…"

"And…"

Irihata continued with a serious expression.

"We must take advantage of Akira's back-row rotations!"

"Without his blocking at the net, Karasuno's defense will weaken significantly!"

"That's when we launch our counterattack!"

"Yes!"

He nodded firmly, his eyes burning with determination.

"When Akira moves to the back, we strike with everything we have!"

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Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones