"It's here!"
Hank leaped high into the air, his arm swinging out like a whip. The ball carried a whistling gust of wind as it shot straight toward Karasuno's defensive line. Karasuno's players did everything they could to block it, but the ball's speed and power made it impossible for them to stop.
Bang!
The ball slammed heavily onto Karasuno's court, and the referee's whistle rang out right after.
"Match over! Aoba Johsai wins!"
The entire venue erupted instantly. Aoba Johsai's players rushed toward Hank one after another and tossed him high into the air. Karasuno's players looked somewhat disappointed, but they did not lose heart. Instead, their resolve to keep working hard only grew stronger.
"Hank… You really are a monster." Shoyo Hinata looked at Hank, who was surrounded by his teammates, and a trace of envy and admiration flashed through his eyes. He knew that he still had a long road ahead of him, while Hank had already reached a height he could not touch for the time being.
After the match ended, Hank did not celebrate much. Instead, he walked toward the Karasuno players and extended his hand.
"You played well. Let's play again next time." Hank's tone was calm and sincere, without the slightest arrogance of a victor.
The Karasuno players froze for a moment, then smiles appeared on their faces one after another. They shook Hank's hand, their eyes filled with fighting spirit.
"Next time… we'll definitely win!"
Hank smiled faintly, then turned and left the court. His shadow stretched long beneath the sunset, as if foreshadowing that the path ahead of him would be just as broad and bright.
At the side of the court, Satori Tendō looked at Hank's back and said softly, "Looks like… the future volleyball world will belong to him."
After the match ended, Hank's name quickly became a hot topic in the volleyball world. Whether it was the media or the fans, everyone was discussing this all-around player who had suddenly risen to prominence. His performance was not merely a victory. It was more like a shock delivered to the entire volleyball world.
Because of Hank's presence, Aoba Johsai's players also gained even more confidence. The team's overall strength seemed to have been raised to a new level.
However, Hank did not relax because of the praise from the outside world.
He knew that the real challenge had only just begun.
"Hank, your performance today was amazing!" his teammates said excitedly as they surrounded him.
Hank only smiled faintly and nodded. His gaze remained calm, as if the victory just now had only been one part of his plan.
"We still have many areas that need improvement," Hank said calmly. "Karasuno's strength can't be underestimated. Although we won today's match, their counterattacks gave us a lot of trouble too."
At the same time, the Karasuno players were also reviewing what they had gained and lost from this match.
"That guy Hank… really is way too strong," Shoyo Hinata said with his head lowered as he sat in the locker room. His tone carried a trace of unwillingness, but more than that, it carried anticipation for the future.
"Yeah. His strength really did go beyond what we expected," Tobio Kageyama said with a nod, his gaze firm. "But that doesn't mean we don't have a chance. As long as we keep working hard, one day, we'll be able to surpass him."
The Karasuno players all nodded one after another, fighting spirit flashing in their eyes. They knew that Hank's strength was not an unreachable peak.
It was the force driving them forward.
(End of Chapter)
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