Chapter 30: Gathering Intelligence
"System," Kaedehara Taiichi thought, and the system displayed Shirabu's stats.
"Shirabu Kenjirou, Overall Ability: 82, Height: 174 cm, Power: 75, Jump: 82, Stamina: 88, Speed: 80, Specialties: Receive 85, Set 88."
To Kaedehara Taiichi's surprise, the stats were quite ordinary, matching Shirabu's setting performance—a truly reserved setter.
He'd expected a more exceptional setter to pair with Ushijima Wakatoshi. Then, Taiichi recalled that Shiratorizawa did have another starting setter.
"Found him." It wasn't hard to spot, as the other setter was training with Tendou Satori and Ohira Reon, while Goshiki Tsutomu practiced receiving on the other side of the net.
"Semi Eita, Overall Ability: 87, Height: 179.5 cm, Power: 89, Jump: 85, Stamina: 90, Speed: 88, Specialties: Receive 81, Set 85."
Whoa, aside from slightly lower receiving and setting skills, his power, jump, and speed outshine Shirabu's?
It's hard to imagine Coach Washijo choosing Shirabu as the starting setter with that personality.
Taiichi approached Oikawa Tooru and asked, "That setter training with the third-years—doesn't he seem stronger than Shirabu-senpai? Why is Shirabu-senpai always practicing with the team's ace?"
Oikawa glanced at Semi Eita, thought for a moment, and said, "Maybe it's exactly because he's stronger that he was replaced."
???
Taiichi looked at Oikawa, confused. That explained nothing.
Oikawa recalled, "Last year, when we played Shiratorizawa, their setter was Semi Eita. He was indeed stronger, but Shiratorizawa lost points because he overfocused on showing off."
Taiichi glanced at Oikawa. Speaking of flaunting skills, isn't that you?
Oikawa instantly read Taiichi's look, grabbed his head, and said, "I act after careful thought. Setting you guys up to score gives me the real superiority."
Fair point, Taiichi conceded, retracting his gaze.
Oikawa continued, "I think Shiratorizawa doesn't need a setter who can't fully dedicate themselves to the ace. Compared to Semi, who cares about his own skills, Shiratorizawa—or rather, Ushijima—needs this reserved 'good boy' now."
"After all, his eyes seem fixed solely on the ace."
Got it. Taiichi's view of Oikawa shifted. Spending so much time training together lately, he'd forgotten that, beyond being childish, Oikawa was Miyagi's top setter.
Still, Oikawa misjudged one thing—Shirabu Kenjirou's "goodness" was limited to his hairstyle.
"What about you, Oikawa-senpai? If you were at Shiratorizawa, would you fully dedicate yourself to Ushijima-senpai?" Taiichi suddenly grew curious.
"No way, absolutely not. I'd never want to be on his team," Oikawa said, his face full of disgust. "But, if that day ever came, I'd set to him…"
Meaning just setting to Ushijima Wakatoshi guarantees points? Acknowledging his strength precisely because he's the opponent to defeat.
Taiichi pondered, then looked up at Oikawa with a grin. "Oikawa-senpai, just set to me, and I'll win the match too."
Oikawa stared at the confident Taiichi, slightly stunned. After seeing Shiratorizawa's training and Ushijima's spike, he wasn't shaken at all?
"You're getting cockier lately," Oikawa said.
"Hahaha… thanks to your teaching, senpai."
…
Talk alone wasn't enough. Taiichi's smile faded as he quickly focused, diving into gathering intelligence on Shiratorizawa's players.
After observing Shiratorizawa's current state, he was more convinced of one thing: the importance of intelligence. Against an opponent like Shiratorizawa, precise analysis could be the key to victory.
In the original timeline, Shiratorizawa lost to Karasuno in the Spring High prefectural finals.
Beyond Karasuno's offense matching Shiratorizawa's, with Nishinoya Yuu and Tsukishima Kei limiting them defensively, the critical factor was Karasuno's thorough study of Ushijima Wakatoshi. They locked him down, while Shiratorizawa knew nothing about this dark horse!
Shiratorizawa's defense wasn't weak, but against Karasuno, they didn't outperform Aoba Johsai. The key was defending Hinata Shouyou.
Aoba Johsai, Nekoma, and even Wakunan—any team that faced or studied Karasuno—used single-player restrictions on Hinata Shouyou, at least turning him from a lethal weapon into an average middle blocker.
Shiratorizawa didn't know this. Hinata Shouyou's brilliance in the prefectural finals unleashed Asahi Azumane and Tanaka Ryuunosuke, making Karasuno's offense equal to Shiratorizawa's.
No matter how strong Ushijima Wakatoshi was alone, his attack patterns and rhythms could be deciphered. The more he attacked, the better Karasuno's coordinated defensive formations became.
Aoba Johsai lacked Karasuno's advantage against Shiratorizawa, as Shiratorizawa's annual prefectural finals target was Aoba Johsai.
Thus, Taiichi needed to proactively gather all opponent data— it might prove decisive in the match.
"Ohira Reon, Overall Ability: 82, Height: 182.7 cm, Power: 94, Jump: 78, Stamina: 82, Speed: 70, Specialties: Receive 85, Spike 88."
Another Shiratorizawa wing spiker with terrifying power, likely balancing offense and defense.
"Yamagata Hayato, Overall Ability: 85, Height: 174.3 cm, Power: 78, Jump: 85, Stamina: 94, Speed: 87, Specialties: Receive 82, Set 80."
Did this libero misallocate his skill points? Such great speed and jump, yet weaker technique.
"Kawanishi Taichi, Overall Ability: 81, Height: 188.3 cm, Power: 82, Jump: 72, Stamina: 88, Speed: 82, Specialties: Receive 78, Spike 82."
Fine, you're also called Taichi, huh? Kaedehara Taiichi decided to keep a close eye on Kawanishi Taichi.
After reviewing Shiratorizawa's roster, Taiichi's anxiety finally eased. Everyone was strong, exactly as Shiratorizawa's selection philosophy dictated.
"Taiichi, what's wrong?" Oikawa noticed Taiichi's prolonged silence and asked, worried he was intimidated by Shiratorizawa.
Taiichi slapped his cheeks, exhaled deeply, and said, "Nothing, just watching makes me want to train too."
"True, it's about time." Coach Irihata stood, shaking hands with Coach Washijo to bid farewell.
"Two weeks left. Train hard—there's no shortcut to strength."
"Yes!"