Haikyuu: Rise of Sengoku

Host: Akashi Asuka

Height: 184.1 cm

Weight: 80.4 kg

Strength: 80.8 [Core Strength 80.8, Arm Strength 80.8]

Speed: 77 [Burst Speed 76.5, Reaction Speed 77.5]

Stamina: 78.3 [Endurance 78.4, Cardiopulmonary 78.2]

Jump: 79.3 [Jumping 80.6, Hang Time 78]

Basic Skills: 74.7 [Serving 76.8, Passing 72.8, Setting 66.8, Spiking 80.9, Blocking 78, Defense 73.1]

Advanced Skills: [Cross-court Spike 78.4], [Straight Spike 79.2], [Power Jump Serve 80]

It's been about four or five months since the national tournament ended.

During this time, although Akashi Asuka couldn't fully push himself due to the dissolution of the Sengoku volleyball club, which lowered his ability to gain "Grind Points" efficiently, he certainly wasn't just going to sit idle.

This period was crucial for his development. Even without intense training, natural growth in height, bones, and muscles meant some basic stats would still improve.

Take his Jump for example. In these four months, Akashi Asuka didn't do much fundamental training, yet as he grew taller, his jump stat naturally surpassed a new threshold and passed 80 points.

Of course, this kind of physical growth didn't affect Strength in the same way.

Once a physical stat surpasses 80, it's basically impossible to improve it through conventional training alone. You have to spend Grind Points to increase it, which explains why his Strength has only improved slowly over these months.

After the national tournament, Akashi Asuka mainly focused on honing his offensive techniques and serving skills.

Especially his Spiking and Power Jump Serve, after months of hard work, both stats broke through the 80-point mark. That's why he managed to score two points in a row with his serves.

As for the "violent aura" Ryuhei Sanashita mentioned, Akashi Asuka hadn't really felt it himself.

After all, he saw himself as a top student who excelled academically. How could he be associated with "violence"?

Ryuhei Sanashita scoffed: "Heh, you must have forgotten, you used to be a delinquent, didn't you?"

,, 

"Hey, Yaguchi, you alright?"

After who knows how long, someone from the White Team finally remembered to help Yaguchi Hide up from the floor.

"I'm fine." Yaguchi rubbed his chest, still shaken. "Sorry, I messed up that reception."

"It's okay, really. It's normal not to catch that kind of serve. Even Oikawa's serves don't have that kind of power."

"Hey, who said my serve's weaker than those first-year kid's?"

"Hah! Isn't it obvious? You only scored one point with your serve while they already have two."

Iwaizumi pointed at the scoreboard: the score between Red and White teams had already reached 3-1.

Rookies vs. Seniors.

Only three minutes into the welcome match, the senior team was completely on the back foot.

"Amazing serve!" At the edge of the court, Coach Nobuteru Irihata from Aoba Johsai watched Akashi Asuka's performance with delight. "Though his serves were impressive on video, seeing it live really brings home how terrifying they are."

"Yeah! Two powerful serves just crushed the White Team's hard-built momentum. This kind of skill isn't something Junior Highers should have, it's no wonder he was named best attacker in the national tournament. We really hit the jackpot with Akashi Asuka." An assistant coach agreed nearby.

"By the way, Coach Irihata, when we first approached Akashi Asuka, he rejected us. So why is he with Aoba Johsai now? Did Shiratorizawa Academy turn him down?"

"Heh, no way. They never intended to recruit him through club special admissions from the start."

,, 

"Oh dear, looks like things are getting complicated. Seems like the opponents plan to crush us completely with their serves."

Mentioning this made Iwaizumi furious: "How can you say that, trash Oikawa? If you had scored more points with your serves at the start, we wouldn't be in this mess! You're worse than a first-year rookie, I think you should quit!"

Oikawa Issei grinned mischievously: "Huh? Isn't it because you messed up the reception, Iwaizumi-chan?"

Iwaizumi gave him a death glare.

BAM! 

A hard fist struck Oikawa's forehead, and suddenly the world went quiet.

Iwaizumi calmed his breathing, then grabbed the swollen bump on Oikawa's head and gathered everyone: "From now on, the backcourt defense is all on me and Oikawa. The opponent's serves are more powerful and faster than his, but they lack control. If we find the right spots and soften the impact, there's a good chance we can receive those serves."

"Got it!"

Though Iwaizumi was initially intimidated by Akashi's serves, as vice-captain, he quickly found the opponent's weak points.

At that moment, Akashi Asuka was ready to send his third serve.

Once his Power Jump Serve surpassed 80, not only did the serve's power increase, but so did its success rate.

There was no timeout during the practice match, so even after two consecutive serves, Akashi still felt in the zone. As the volleyball was tossed up again, he sensed this serve was going to be just as good.

BANG!

Just as expected.

The ball whistled over the net again, landing cleanly inside the opponent's court.

But just before the ball hit the ground, a figure slid in front of it, hands reaching out. There was a muffled thud, and the ball bounced high into the air.

However, this time the ball didn't go out of bounds.

"Nice one, Iwaizumi-chan, good reception!"

Oikawa praised him, then moved his feet and sent a flat pass backward, launching a quick attack with Hanamaki Takahiro. The frontcourt's Yūtarō Kindaichi was just a step too slow on the block, and White Team scored.

"Oh!"

"Great job."

"See that, rookies? This is what senior power looks like. Don't think you can beat us just because you know a few serves. You've got a hundred years to catch up!"

After scoring, the White Team members were ecstatic, celebrating loudly.

Standing by the net and watching the opposing team cheer, Ryuhei Sanashita looked puzzled.

Strange.

You guys are the seniors, so why are you more excited than us after scoring?

Who exactly is the third-year here?

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