"National Top Three Aces" (Japanese:
Overview
The first set between Fukurōdani Academy and Mujinazaka High continues, and Kiryū continues to display his impressive ability as an ace. Meanwhile, we learn of his volleyball-playing experience back in middle school.
Plot
As Kiryū scores another point, Kenma, and his teammates note that Kiryū's jumping, spike strength, and technique are all formidable.
We enter a flashback of Kiryū back in his second year of middle school. His teammates praise him for carrying them to victory in the first two rounds of Nationals. Kiryū is compared with Ushijima, as they are both feared aces of their respective teams. However, while Ushijima can handle the pressure of being marked by the opponent blockers, Kiryū is unable to be that infallible ace for his team. Kiryū's teammate apologizes to him after the match, and Kiryū is despondent, wishing his teammate wouldn't apologize--he doesn't want to let his team down when they were depending on him.
Meanwhile back in the present, Kiryū scores once again, this time off an unwieldy toss that only allowed him to take a single-step run-up. The commentators praise Kiryū's ability to handle any toss from anywhere on the court while spiking with precision and power. In the next rally, Kiryū spikes past two opposing blockers straight toward Bokuto. Bokuto is positioned too far forward for a conventional receive with his arms, but he quickly resorts to using his chest instead and plays it off as a "nice receive".
Appearances
- Wakatsu Kiryū
- Akinori Konoha
- Tatsuki Washio
- Yamato Sarukui
- Kenma Kozume
- Tetsurō Kuroo
- Taketora Yamamoto
- Shōhei Fukunaga
- Kiryū's Unnamed Middle School Team
- Wakatoshi Ushijima
- Atsumu Miya
- Osamu Miya
- Michiru Usuri
- Nozomu Mami
- Keiji Akaashi
- Suguru Daishō
- Mika Yamaka
- Naoharu Ezota
- Kōtarō Bokuto
Chapter notes
Character revelations
- In the flashback from four years before, the Miya twins and Ushijima (playing for the Shiratorizawa middle school team) are seen attending the national tournament with Kiryū. According to the Miya twins, Ushijima had an "aura" around him even in middle school, while Kiryū had greater all-around skills with receiving and serving.
Trivia
- In commemoration of Spring Interhigh quarterfinals, this chapter includes a color page featuring Bokuto preparing to spike.