"AOTORI—! You bastard—!!"

The anger in Coach Washijo's voice made Shirabu, who was standing beside Kobayashi Aotori, freeze. Kobayashi Aotori cleared his throat lightly. As expected, I was getting scolded. It doesn't matter; my acting skills are excellent!

No one can tell that I did it on purpose!

If everyone could hear Kobayashi Aotori's inner thoughts, they would have to harshly mock him:

This lousy acting is considered good?

So, unbeknownst to Kobayashi Aotori, his personality had already taken shape—

A guy with a penchant for advanced sarcasm, full of wicked humor that infuriates people.

Whether Kobayashi Aotori's actions were meant as taunts or not was a matter for post-match discussion.

This included the infuriated Coach Washijo, with his darkened face,was barely held back by the club advisor from jumping over the net to beat up Kobayashi Aotori.

And now, the match continued. Though unwilling to admit it, Aoba Johsai's players secretly sighed in relief as Kobayashi Aotori's bizarre "dynamite" serves finally stopped.

Without him realizing it, Kobayashi Aotori had changed his position. He now stood on the flank, half-crouched, and although his hazel eyes seemed a bit distracted, careful observation would reveal that these eyes were always focused on the movements of the volleyball, never straying.

And Oikawa Tooru was that "careful observer."

Standing under the net, his eyes scanning, he instantly nated the positions and steps of everyone around him.

"Iwa-chan!" he called out softly. Hearing the call, Iwaizumi's sharp gaze swept across the opposing court.

Ushijima Wakatoshi won't be participating in the defense... This is a good opportunity!

He acted swiftly, aiming at the opponent's court, and with a powerful swing—

"Bang!"

The volleyball barely grazed Yamagata Hayato's fingertips, falling to the ground.

Yamagata Hayato cursed under his breath, quickly got up, and repositioned himself.

Aoba Johsai, having finally scored a point, was encouraged, but Oikawa Tooru's gaze still lingered on Kobayashi Aotori.

Just now... he was probably restricted in his movement. Otherwise, with his focus, he could have reached Iwa-chan before Yamagata Hayato.

UNAWARE OF OIKAWA'S THOUGHTS, Kobayashi Aotori indeed couldn't make it in time just now. He looked down at his palm.

Hmm... if it were Hinata Shoyo, with his speed and jumping ability, he would have made it.

Ha, after all, he's the main character.

He turned back to his position.

He glanced at the scoreboard next to him, 12:8.

The following plays were normal; Ushijima's title as the "Cannon" was well-deserved. His attack was unbeatable, and evidently, his volleyball "etiquette" was inferior to Kobayashi Aotori, who knew how to let the ball pass.

Ushijima: ?

Despite Aoba Johsai's strong cohesion, Shiratorizawa still took this game.

Before leaving the court, Kobayashi Aotori, originally with a calm face, suddenly met Coach Washijo and his intimidating gaze. He hesitated for a moment, then walked up to him and bowed slightly:

"I'll practice an extra hundred serves on top of my daily training when I go back."

"...Hmph." Even though Coach Washijo was preempted, his inner dissatisfaction remained unresolved because this wasn't a matter of skill—clearly, this kid was just a bastard at heart!

If only he could rein in his playful nature...

So, Kobayashi Aotori took a sip of water, and following Semi Eita's prompt, he turned his head and saw Coach Washijo sitting alone, his face growing darker with each thought.

He quickly turned his head away.

Scary...

But, the little old man looking all puffed up is kinda... cute?

Kobayashi Aotori felt like he was going crazy and quickly dismissed this thought from his mind.

Thus, under the guidance of the advisor, the second set began.

With the sound of the whistle, the boys poured their sweat on the court.

After an unknown period, Kobayashi Aotori tilted his head slightly and looked at the scoreboard: 14:12.

Having saved those last few balls just now, he felt that his joints were numb from the hits.

However, for Kobayashi Aotori, this state was undoubtedly good because he wouldn't feel pain that could affect his movements, allowing him to play to his heart's content.

...Though it would hurt a lot later, he was already accustomed to it in his previous life.

Sweat flowed down his jawline, and Kobayashi Aotori casually wiped it away with his wrist, breathing lightly, his gaze fixed firmly on the trajectory of the volleyball.

WITH A LOUD BANG, Oikawa landed effortlessly, a smile on his face as he watched the serve fly straight towards the back row where Ushijima was, and next to him was... another member, who was also a first-year, adept at hitting straight-line shots.

So, with everyone's attention, Ushijima suddenly tilted his body, and received the ball!

Goshiki Tsutomu, who couldn't make it in time, frowned. In the front row, Shirabu Kenjirou saw the ball's position clearly, his hands wrapped in white tape making a move while his eyes scanned around him—

Goshiki's movement still maintained the backward running motion... Kobayashi Aotori was on the flank...

He gritted his teeth, once again making the reaction he had practiced countless times during training, lifting the ball high, and loudly declared with closed eyes, "Aotori!"

Before the words even fell, as soon as Shirabu made a sound, the players from Shiratorizawa familiarly stopped in their tracks, and while the players from Seijoh were confused, a figure instantly swept past—

With a flash of his slightly long navy-blue hair, facing the incoming volleyball, he leaped above everyone's heads and fiercely smashed the ball down—!

"Bang—!!"

The ball touched the hands of the blockers, Hanamaki Takahiro and Iwaizumi Hajime, then, breaking through the human wall, it passed through the dense crowd, landing heavily in the Aoba Johsai's side with an unstoppable force!

The recoil of the ball instantly sent it high into the air, leaping out of everyone's sight.

Everyone stared in astonishment at this ball, still savoring the speed and power contained within.

Iwaizumi Hajime and Hanamaki Takahiro looked down at their fingers.

A stinging pain.

A sharp pain as if they were broken.

Clearly, it was a jump and spike without any preparation time, just a temporarily shout, yet why... why could he perform a spike that seemed like he had a run-up?

This guy is a monster.

They looked at Kobayashi Aotori standing in front of the net with fear.

"Hmph... Is this guy some kind of superhuman?" Oikawa crossed his arms, speaking with a voice that was neither loud nor soft.

"In situations where you can't solve it, just call his name, and he'll instantly appear at your side?"

Kunimi Akira next to him wiped away the sweat, silently nodding in agreement.

"Sorry, I should have gone to save the ball; Ushijima's spike is much better than mine," Kobayashi Aotori's light and airy words stood out in the frozen air.

Iwaizumi Hajime was about to show a dead fish eye when suddenly he felt an overwhelming evil aura behind him, making him instinctively turn around—

There, Oikawa Tooru was clenching his fist, a "gentle" smile on his face, if you ignored the tangible black aura that had formed behind him.

"You... you're really good at provoking, aren't you?" Oikawa Tooru "smiled" at Kobayashi Aotori with narrowed eyes.

"So 'dynamite' doesn't mean lighting up the volleyball but igniting the opponent's sanity?"

"C-CALM DOWN, Oikawa senpai...!" Kindaichi's words lacked conviction.

Hmm... Kobayashi Aotori was still the same as in middle school, no matter what astonishing ball he hit, he never shouted excitedly or celebrated...

Too calm, this monster.

However... he helplessly looked at Kobayashi Aotori. Compared to everyone, he, having experienced Kobayashi Aotori's terrifying dominance in middle school, could clearly accept it better. Not to mention, up till now, the other party had maintained a relatively "low-profile" play style. But behind this low-profile Kobayashi Aotori stood...

Ushijima Wakatoshi.

Ushijima walked over to Kobayashi Aotori, patted his shoulder, "No need to apologize. Your spike was also very good."

Shirabu's mouth twitched a bit. Ushijima, don't be so naive. He had just pretended to be modest, and it was infuriating!

"Eh~ seems like the next ace could very likely be Aotori-chan, Tsutomu, you need to work harder!" Tendou appeared at just the right moment to stir up trouble again.

Kobayashi Aotori felt the intense and eager gaze from behind him, courtesy of Goshiki, and didn't know what to say.

In any case, he remained silent, focusing on being the "background" and "middleman."

The oppressive feeling from Ushijima was indeed as terrifying as imagined. The second set, with the double assurance of Ushijima and Kobayashi Aotori, gradually approached its conclusion.

"Bang—!"

"Beep—"

It's over.

Thought Kobayashi Aotori as he relaxed on the ground.

Before leaving, during the handshake with Ushijima Wakatoshi, Oikawa Tooru, once again annoyed by Ushijima's natural daze, turned his head with a dark face, waving his arms, wanting to rush towards Kobayashi Aotori, only to be subdued by Iwaizumi Hajime's punch.

Kobayashi Aotori, who was removing the tape, was puzzled but still threw his coat over his shoulder, held the school bag with one hand, and waved at Iwaizumi Hajime, who was pressing down Oikawa Tooru and waving with his other hand.

Hmm... why did Iwaizumi Hajime look unwell?

Probably an illusion. Maybe Oikawa annoyed him again.

The culprit thought indifferently.

—————

SHIRATORIZAWA VOLLEYBALL CLUB

The squeaky sound of sports shoes rubbing against the floor, sweat dripping on the ground, Shirabu in the resting area looked a bit distracted, with lifeless eyes looking ahead, hands holding the water bottle slightly trembling.

Beside him, Ohira Reon looked at him with sympathy and handed him a towel.

At this moment, Shirabu felt like his whole body was falling apart.

Initially, it was just Ushijima-senpai, which was manageable. Now, with the addition of Kobayashi Aotori, whose training intensity far surpassed Ushijima-senpai's, Shirabu, physically and mentally exhausted, felt the dangers of society.

He watched Kobayashi Aotori's slightly long navy-blue hair tied into a small ponytail at the back, bobbing with each movement.

"I have an idea..."

His leisurely voice reached Ohira Reon's ears. He chuckled dryly, "What idea?"

Shirabu focused his eyes, hands crossed, looking ahead with utmost seriousness:

"Senpai, look up the regulations on murder for me."

"Don't do anything stupid, Kenjirou—!!"