As the numbers lit up on the giant screen above the arena, the crowd once again erupted into a frenzy.
"An-another miracle! Kaedehara Taichi has rewritten history once more!"
"In that last attack, Kaedehara soared to an astonishing spike height of 368 cm, breaking a record that has stood for fifteen years in Japan's professional league!"
"Up until now, the highest recorded spike in the V-League was 366 cm, jointly held by retired national team ace Matsunaga Hiraaki and Tachibana Red Falcon's middle blocker Honda Sakuma."
Before commentator Daisuke could even finish his sentence, the spectators could no longer contain their excitement. They leapt from their seats, waving their cheering gear wildly, and screamed Kaedehara Taichi's name at the top of their lungs.
They had a feeling—this was only the beginning.
After all, Kaedehara Taichi had just turned seventeen. This was only his first professional match.
A storm was sweeping through the V-League, and at the very center of that storm stood a black-haired boy with his chin slightly raised and eyes sharp as blades.
"In this moment, Kaedehara Taichi has not only surpassed his predecessors—he's surpassed even himself! His talent and relentless effort are forging a legend that belongs to him alone!"
The era of Kaedehara Taichi had begun!
"Don't let it get to you! Reset your mindset!" Meian Shūgo shouted loudly.
At this point, Shūgo had already lost count of how many times he'd been shocked today. The "monster" on the other side of the court just kept breaking past the limits right in front of him, over and over again.
It wasn't the same feeling as when he first joined the pros and watched seasoned veterans pull off dazzling plays on the court. Back then, their brilliance only made his blood boil with excitement and drive—he knew he would get there someday.
But now, watching a boy eight years younger than him put on a performance ...what surged up inside him was astonishment, pressure—maybe even a little frustration.
"Just like in the first set, let's give this guy another 'milestone of grief!'"
"Kaedehara Taichi…" Shūgo muttered the name under his breath, as if tasting its weight. In that moment, he regarded the seventeen-year-old rookie as a true rival on equal footing. The fire in his eyes reignited—the same burning drive he'd felt when he first challenged the veterans. His entire body buzzed with a hunger to give it everything he had.
"Tweet!—"The whistle for serve blew.
Kitajima Kippei launched the second ball.
Inunaki Shion received it cleanly, and Miya Atsumu leapt into the air to set. All three of Black Jackals' front row attackers began to move at once.
"DH's blocking strategy changed?!"
Miya's eyes flicked to the other side of the net. DH's front row had pulled back Yoshii Hiyu to the backline, leaving only Kaedehara Taichi and Nitta Asahiro up front.
Despite having one fewer blocker, the pressure bearing down on Black Jackals' offence only seemed to rise.
The ball soared toward the centre for a quick attack. Miya decided to go with the most straightforward option first—Oliver Barnes sprang up for a spike.
Nitta Asahiro and Kaedehara Taichi jumped together toward the centre.
"They read it completely."
The ball smashed against Kaedehara Taichi's arm and ricocheted high into the air, flying toward the backline of DH's court.
"I've got it!" Kubo Wataru dashed after it immediately.
The ball was high but not fast. Wataru calmly sent it back into play.
Iizuna Tsukasa took off from the back row to set. Almost everyone expected where the ball would go next—
Kaedehara Taichi sprinted down the right sideline for his approach.
"Triple block!" Sakusa Kiyoomi, Oliver Barnes, and Meian Shūgo all leapt at once.
A flicker of surprise flashed through Kaedehara Taichi's eyes.
Black Jackals' block formation wasn't as tight as before—there was noticeable space between the three players, effectively expanding their defensive coverage by about the width of one player. Yet in Taichi's eyes, what should have been a gap looked more like a trap.
He could clearly see the defenders behind the block. If he forced a tool-off spike, the ball would just fall right into their hands.
"Black Jackals adjusted their block this quickly?"
Several seasoned fans on the sidelines picked up on it too. Widening the block like that demanded that every player have elite-level blocking technique. Take Meian Shūgo, for example—even though he was positioned on the far right, it felt like his blocking zone extended out like a "fan" in front of him.
Kaedehara Taichi's lips curled into a slight smirk. His arms tensed as he swung down in a powerful half-circle arc from behind.
The ball tore clean through the gap between Sakusa Kiyoomi and Oliver Barnes, slamming hard onto Black Jackals' three-meter line.
Kaedehara Taichi scores!
[DH 25 - 24 Black Jackals]
"A really solid block," Taichi said sincerely after landing. "But...one of you didn't keep up."
The person he referred to was, of course, Black Jackals' newest addition—Sakusa Kiyoomi. His arm had been blasted away the moment it made contact with the ball.
"This isn't on you," said Oliver Barnes. He had also felt that monstrous power transfer through the ball. While he managed to hold his block form without collapsing, his arm was still tingling slightly.
As a 207cm power-type player, Oliver Barnes was long used to dominating opponents with his sheer size and strength—so much so that few dared to even challenge him. Yet this 17-year-old kid, leaner and ten years younger, had surprised him in power.
For the first time in the match, DH turned the tables after trailing behind.
DH continued serving—Kitajima Kippei delivered the third serve.
There was no elaborate tactic in DH's serving game, nor did Black Jackals try to alter their reception formation—Inunaki Shion once again handled the first pass. Both teams were betting on their own weapons to win head-on.
Miya Atsumu sent the ball sharply to the far right—Meian Shūgo launched a quick attack.
Despite being a middle blocker, Meian's offensive stats were among the best in the V-League. Miya's fast, pinpoint set gave him a one-on-one showdown at the net with Kaedehara Taichi.
They jumped nearly in sync, reaching the peak of their jumps at the same time.
"What a terrifying guy…"
A trace of dread flickered in Meian's eyes. Even in a one-on-one, most of his usual spike routes were already smothered by Kaedehara's positioning. He knew this feeling well—this was what a proper block was supposed to do: make attackers hesitate. Meian had made others feel that way before—but Taichi was even better at it.
Meian barely avoided the block, slicing the ball diagonally.
"I got it!" Yoshii Hiyu made a clean reception.
Iizuna Tsukasa rotated into position and sent a high set to the right.
Kaedehara Taichi jumped for another spike.
The ball exploded through the block, smashing against Miya Atsumu's arms and flying out of bounds.
No hesitation. No gaps. Kaedehara Taichi scored once more.
[DH 26 - 24 Black Jackals]
"Beeep—!"The long whistle echoed across the gym.
The second set of the 2014–2015 Division 1 Men's Preseason Exhibition Match ended.
Winner: DESEO Hornets.
The match was now tied at one set apiece. Both teams were back to square one.
"When I step onto the court, I do only one thing—I win." Kaedehara Taichi said calmly.
[Kaedehara Taichi—Outside Hitter:Height: 195 cm
Serve: 97 | Receive: 92 | Dig: 92 | Set: 90 | Spike: 97| Block: 97
Spike Reach: 368 cm /Block Reach: 342 cm.]
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