[December 9 – Shiratorizawa Academy First Gymnasium, Final Day of the Interaining Camp]
"Everyone, you're really lucky today. Ushijima Wakatoshi, who just returned from the Japan Youth National Team training camp, along with the third-year pyers of Shiratorizawa, have agreed to form a team and py a practice match against you all. This will be a great opportunity to assess your progress during this camp."
Early in the m, Coaabara delivered an ued annouo the training camp partits.
"It's Ushijima-senpai!!"
Nagatsumuo, a third-year from Kosen Academy Middle School, shouted excitedly.
As this year's best middle siddle blocker in Miyagi Prefecture, he would be enrolling at Shiratorizawa spring.
Naturally, Ushijima Wakatoshi was the star pyer he had idolized for a long time.
"The Youth National Team!!"
"And we eveo py a practice match against Ushijima-senpai?!"
Amidst the murmurs of excitement, Shiratorizawa's third-years slowly ehe gym.
"It's really him!! Ushijima-senpai in the flesh!!!"
"Good m, Senpai!" Goshiki Tsutomu greeted loudly, his voice tinged with pride.
"Aa, Goshiki," Tendō Satori smirked. "You haven't been ag all high and mighty at this camp, have you?"
"Of course not!!" Goshiki responded early.
The other pyers, feeling a sense of distance from the seniors, whispered among themselves but didn't approach.
"Uh—Coach, I py?!" Hinata Shōyō asked, practically vibrating with excitement.
For a moment, all eyes turned in his dire.
Even though Coach Washijō had dismissed him, Hinata had been the most attention-grabbing pyer throughout the entire camp.
"You py," Coaabara nodded, and Hinata's fastantly lit up. But before he could get too carried away, the coach added, "However, you're not allowed to spike. Coach Washijō has assigned you to the libero position."
Tendō: "Huh?!"
Everyone instinctively looked at Hinata.
This 164 cm pyer had worked relentlessly to prove that he could pete in the air using his speed and jump height.
His dynamic pys had already left a sting impression in past matches.
And now, Washijō was making him stay on the ground?
"I do it!" Hinata ched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. "As long as I get to py, I don't care if it's libero!"
From being a ball boy to a libero—Hinata believed there was something valuable to learn from this.
After all, in these past few days of chasing after stray balls, he had noticed tless details about receptions that had never crossed his mind before.
"What a shame," Tendō mented. "I wao try blog this little guy's spikes at least once."
Seeing the firm resolve in Hinata's eyes, Coaabara decided to say no more.
"Alright, everyone, split into teams and work out ynals and coordination. Take this time to unicate as much as possible."
"I'll now annouhe lineups for the match."
Starting Lineups
Shiratorizawa Team:
Front row—Middle Blatsumuo, Outside Hitter Ushijima Wakatoshi, Setter Semi Eita.Baiddle Blocker Tendō Satori (Libero: Yamagata Hayato), Wing Spiker ōhira Reon and Wing Spiker Matsudaira Kiyomasa (Shiratorizawa Academy Middle School, 3rd year).
Training Camp Team:
Front row—Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Setter Koganegawa Kanji, Outside Hitter Goshiki Tsutomu.Back row—Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira, Wing Spiker Hyakuzawa Yūdai and Middle Blocker Tsukishima Kei (Libero: Hinata Shōyō).
Ohe teams were set, the spectators took a good look at the Training Camp Team's lineup.
As expected of the pyers selected by Coach Washijō—these were the most physically gifted first-years in Miyagi Prefecture.
Kindaichi Yūtarō – 190 cm
Koganegawa Kanji – 191.5 cm
Goshiki Tsutomu – 182 cm
Kunimi Akira – 183 cm
Hyakuzawa Yūdai – 202 cm
Tsukishima Kei – 190 cm
And finally, standing among them like an iion in an otherwise even skyline—Hinata Shōyō, 164 cm.
At that moment, they started to uand why Coach Washijō wasn't particurly fond of him.
The warm-ups ended quickly.
The match began with the Training Camp Team serving.
Tsukishima Kei sent the ball over the with a simple overhand serve.
Seeing such a non-threatening serve, Ushijima Wakatoshi—who had just pyed against the Youth Team two days ago—felt an odd moment of dise.
Yamagata Hayato received the ball smoothly.
"Wakatoshi!"
Semi Eita set the ball high to the middle.
"Double block!"
Kindaichi Yūtarō and Koganegawa Kanji leapt up together.
Hmm, not bad for a double block.
BOOM!
Ushijima spiked a sharp cross-court shot. The ball struck Tsukishima's hands and ricocheted high out of bounds.
[Shiratorizawa 1 – 0 Training Camp Team]
Too easy…
Ushijima's face returo its usual impassiveness.
"You rely on your teammates to cover those," Coaabara advised. "unicate and call out your iions while receiving!"
"Uood," Tsukishima responded.
The serve rotated to Shiratorizawa.
Nagatsumuo, a third-year middle schooler standing at 189 cm, stepped up to serve.
Boom!
A jump serve?!
Hinata tensed up.
It wasn't just a height gap—there was also a teibsp;gap between him and these pyers who had stood at the top of their geion since middle school.
Smack!
Hinata received the ball.
Koganegawa adjusted his position ahe set outward.
"Too close to the !!"
Goshiki shouted, sprinting in from the sideline before smming the ball down.
Smack!
ōhira Reon received it effortlessly. Because the set wasn't ideal, Goshiki had fewer attagles to work with.
Semi adjusted ahe ball perfectly into Tendō's attack zone.
Boom!
The ball smmed into Hyakuzawa's arms and bounced off.
[Shiratorizawa 2 – 0 Training Camp Team]
"Hinata, get your receptions on target! Aim for the setter!"
"Yes!"
"Koganegawa, stabilize your stance before setting. Slower and more trolled!"
"Yes!"
Nagatsumune served again, and this time, Hyakuzawa received it ly.
Koganegawa quickly adjusted.
"I got it!"
Kindaichi called from the left.
"If it's here, it o be a high set."
Koganegawa steadied himself a a high ball to the left wing.
Kindaichi charged, and Ushijima jumped in front of him.
At first, Kindaichi had been a bit nervous when he heard they would be pying against Ushijima.
Especially with his seniors from Aoba Johsai—Oikawa and Kaedehara Taiot here, he felt like his team cked a true anchor.
But standing right in front of Ushijima…
Strangely, his nerves vanished.
Maybe it was because he had already defeated Shiratorizawa twibsp;before.
Tap!
Kindaichi tipped the ball behind Ushijima's block.
The back-row defenders, Nagatsumune and Matsudaira, weren't expeg Ushijima's block to leave an opening.
Thud, thud, thud.
The ball nded ly.
[Shiratorizawa 2 – 1 Training Camp Team]
"Nie, Kindaichi!" Koganegaraised.
"Kunimi, you're pulling your arms back too early when blog! Don't give up so soon!"
"Got it!"
Without giving the training camp team any ce to recover, Ushijima Wakatoshi stepped onto the service line.
For them, this situation was extremely unfavorable.
"Wakatoshi-senpai, give us a good serve!"
Standing in the middle of the backcourt, Hinata Shōyō ched his fists.
—So this is the kind of pressure Nishinoya-senpai faced when we pyed against Shiratorizawa?
Ushijima tossed the ball, took his approach, and jumped.
The momeruck the ball, Hinata lightly tapped his toes against the floor, lifting his feet slightly off the ground for a brief moment.
He locked onto the ball's trajectory, thehe force of his nding as a springboard to push off and take the first step—fast!
Smack!
He received it!
But—
The sheer impact of the serve sent Hinata tumbling backwards, and the ball was deflected toward the back of the court.
[Shiratorizawa 3 – 1 Training Camp Team]
"Oh?" Tendō Satori's eyes glinted with intrigue as he gazed at Hinata.
To think that the little shrimp actually predicted Wakatoshi's serve on the very first try…It seems like he's gained quite a bit from this training camp.
Even Ushijima himself showed a flicker of i. No matter where you are, there are always things you improve upon. He aowledged Hinata's progress.
And so—
Boom!!
The sed serve flew straight at Hinata once again!
Here it es!
Hinata tensed, adjusting his posture on the balls of his feet. He could see it—the exact spot where the ball would nd in the sed…
Smack!
He guessed right!
Once again, he was knocked off bance by the impact, rolling backwards in a full somersault.
But this time, the ball soared high into the air!
Don't waste this ce!
The eraining camp team sprang into a. Goshiki Tsutomu rotated into position ahe ball. The others surged toward the .
A multi-position attack!
Boom!
Smack!
Kindaichi Yūtarō's spike smmed against Tendō Satori's outstretched arms, boung right bato the training camp team's court.
"Ara~ that was a failure~" Tendō waggled his finger pyfully. "Your i was way too obvious, both i and the spike."
[Shiratorizawa 4 – 1 Training Camp Team]
Shiratorizawa tio rack up points!
This inplete Shiratorizawa squad was making a mockery of these supposedly talented first-years at the training camp!
-----
[Twenty mier]
Kindaichi's jump serve was ly received by Yamagata Hayato. Semi Eita moved into position ahe ball high into the air.
Ushijima unched into a back-row attack, bsting through Tsukishima Kei's block for a kill.
[Shiratorizawa 25 – 16 Training Camp Team]
Set 1, over.
-----
[Intermission]
"I didn't expect the gap to be this huge…"
"Well, it's Wakatoshi-senpai. Of course, he's crazy strong!!!"
While the others discussed the game, the training camp team remained silent. Even Koganegawa Kanji was deep in thought.
"We won't be able to synize in such a short time," Tsukishima was the first to speak. "So instead of f it, let's simplify our strategy."
"Let Goshiki and Hyakuzawa take care of the attacks," Kunimi Akira added. "The rest of us should focus on blog and defence. With our blog height, we 't afford to let them score too easily."
"Agreed!" Koganegawa was the first to support the idea, though he wished they'd expin things as clearly as Futakuchi-senpai would.
"I'm good with that." Goshiki gave a simple nod.
"I'll follow your lead," Hyakuzawa Yūdai said. These guys had more experience, after all.
Kindaichi and Hinata exged gnces.
Kunimi and Tsukishima…actually fired up? Now that's rare.
After a short break, Set 2 began.
-----
Set 2 — Starting Lineups
Shiratorizawa Team:
Front row—Setter Semi Eita, Outside Hitter Matsudaira Kiyomasa, Middle Blamatsu Yumeto.Back row—Wing Spiker Ushijima Wakatoshi and Wing Spiker ōhira Reon, Middle Blocker Tendō Satori (Libero: Yamagata Hayato).
Training Camp Team:
Front row—Outside Hitter Goshiki Tsutomu, Middle Blocker Tsukishima Kei, Outside Hitter Hyakuzawa Yūdai.Back row—Setter Koganegawa Kanji, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō (Libero: Hinata Shōyō) and Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira.
Tendō served first.
Kunimi smoothly received the ball, and Koganegawa quickly set it higher.
Hyakuzawa charged in from the back row, leaping ihe three-meter line.
"Double block!"
Matsudaira and Nagamatsu jumped together.
But—Hyakuzawa's spike tact point was aire hand's width higher than their block!
Boom!
A high-hands kill, smming straight into Shiratorizawa's court.
Smabsp;Ushijima received it.
ōhira rotated in to set the ball toward the left wing. Semi took flight for an attack.
"Owo—jump!"
Tsukishima sigo Goshiki, and they both leapt to block.
Smack!
"Oouch!"
The ball rebouoward the backcourt, where Hinata sprinted and luo save it.
Too far! The ball was floating high toward the other side…
But at this height—
Hyakuzawa jumped and smmed it down with one hand!
Boom!
The ball nded deep in Shiratorizawa's backcourt—point, Hyakuzawa!
[Shiratorizawa 0 – 1 Training Camp Team]
"Hyakuzawa! That was amazing!" Hinata stared in awe.
"Ah, um…thanks…" Hyakuzawa mumbled, a bit embarrassed.
"Nagamatsu, you're croug too deep when blog—that's why you're a step behind!" Coaabara pointed out.
"Yes, sir!"
"Though, even if he jumped normally, I doubt he could stop that," Tendō muttered under his breath.
"Tendō, what did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing!" Tendō's head shook like a bobblehead—Why is Coach Washijō's heariier with age…?
Side switch—Kunimi to serve.
Kunimi aimed at Ushijima in the back row, sending a floating jump serve his way!
The ball had little movement in its trajectory—clearly, he wasn't used to this type of serve yet.
But to think that the first oo develop a neon…was Kunimi, the ziest-looking first-year from Aoba Johsai.
Ushijima effortlessly received the serve and tinued his approach without missing a beat.
Semi immediately set the ball high—Ushijima leapt.
"So fast! He's pleting his approach as the pass is made!"
Tsukishima locked onto Ushijima's movement, subtly pg his right hand on Hyakuzawa's shoulder.
"Jump!"
They both rose together.
Boom!!
The ball ricocheted off Hyakuzawa's forearm, s upward.
"It worked! We stopped him!"
Kunimi quickly set the ball to the left wing. Goshiki jumped—
"You little brat!" Semi shouted, blog his path.
Boom!
A ser-sharp line shot—point, Goshiki!
[Shiratorizawa 0 – 2 Training Camp Team]
"What the hell! The first-years are sg back-to-back points!"
"This is pletely different from the first set…"
Koganegawa g Kunimi in shock.That set just now—I couldn't have dohat!
Even after these past few days of two-on-two training, ohing was being clear.
Kunimi's setting teique…might actually be better than mine.
_________
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