"Selected? Selected for what?" The Aoba Johsai pyers wore puzzled expressions.
"Heh, this is big news! None of the other teams know yet!" Mizoguchi Sadayuki's excitement had clearly gotteter of him; he had run all the way from the office to deliver the news.
Now that he had caught his breath, he was i on building some suspense.
"Mizoguchi-san! Please, just tell us!" The pyers, ever cooperative, bowed in unison.
"Ahem, listen up, everyone!" Mizoguchi cleared his throat, then solemnly annouōru Oikawa has beeed as an official member of the National U19 Youth Team!"
The gym went silent for a moment.
"!!!"
"The National Youth Team?!"
"An official member of the U19 team?!"
"That's incredible!!!" excimed Kindaichi Yūtarō, his jaw practically hitting the floor.
"The U19 Youth Team is the national representative team for pyers under 19, right?" Even Kunimi Akira, usually calm and posed, couldn't hide his surprise.
"Doesn't that make him the same as Ushiwaka?" Matsukawa Issei murmured.
"But Ushiwaka was already a reserve member of the Youth Team, wasn't he? He officially became a regur pyer earlier this year," Iwaizumi Hajime added.
Mizoguodded. "Yes, and this is rgely thanks to Coach Washijō and Ushijima Wakatoshi. During the Inter-High Nationals, Oikawa's outstanding performance caught the attention of the U19 staff."
He tinued, "Since he's a third-year, they sulted with Ushijima and Coach Washijō befranting him this exceptional opportunity."
Mizoguchi paused, then looked directly at Oikawa. "There might still be individual assessments for you after you join, but I'm sure you'll hahem just fine."
Oikawa stood frozen ihis was pletely ued.
For someone who had always measured himself against Ushijima, the significe of the Youth Team was not lost on him.
Unlike Ushijima, who had already achieved national reition, Oikawa had never even peted oional stage.
Was he not good enough?
Did he ck potential?
These thoughts had often haunted him, filling him with self-doubt.
But now, it felt like a yer of i his heart had melted. His expression shifted from shock to gratitude to excitement, before settling into a nont mask—albeit ohat couldn't fully hide his joy.
"Didn't Mizoguchi-san also mention Taichi earlier?" Hanamaki Takahiro suddenly pointed out.
"Ahem, onto the sed annou!" Mizoguchi teased, relishing the suspehe National Youth Team has iaichi Kaedehara to atte month's interaining camp!"
!!!
Even though they had somewhat anticipated it, hearing it firmed left the Aoba Johsai pyers stunned.
This was the standard pathway to being a regur member of the U19 team. Excelling at the training camp would pave the way for Taichi to joieam iure officially.
Only the rarest, most talented first-years were ever scouted for this camp.
While Oikawa's face earlier had dispyed a whirlwind of emotions, Taichi Kaedehara remained posed.
"Oh, okay," Taichi replied casually.
"Taichi! This is the National Youth Team we're talking about!" Kindaichi seemed more thrilled than Taichi himself.
"Yeah, I know," Taichi said with a slight smirk, gng at Oikawa.
Though he was a bit happy, he couldn't let himself get as flustered as Oikawa.
"You little—!" Oikawa immediately picked up on Taichi's thoughts and moved to chase after him.
"Ahem, the third annou." Mizoguchi once again redirected everyone's attention.
"There's more?!"
The eeam turo him in unison.
"Coach Washijō is anizing a prefecture-wide interaining camp for first-year pyers in early December. It's one of many efforts aimed at improving the overall level of volleyball in Miyagi. Think of it as a localized version of the National Youth Team's training camp."
"This camp is specifically for first-years, and both Kindaichi and Kunimi have been invited," Mizoguchi announced.
"Me—?!" Kindaichi stared in disbelief.
"Of course, you were invited." Iwaizumi ughed and cpped Kindaichi on the shoulder. "You two helped defeat Shiratorizawa in front of Coach Washijō. He clearly saw your potential."
Kunimi shot a g Kindaichi. This idiot spends so much time around Taichi, he's pletely lost faith in himself.
"These invitations aren't mandatory," Mizoguchi tinued. "But I strongly ence you all to go. It's a great pete against other top-tier pyers ye from across the nation."
Just then, Coach Irihata ehe room. These annous had been jointly arranged by him and Mizoguchi, though the tter had rushed ahead to share the news.
"All of you should go," Irihata said, "and use this opportunity to see what kind of petition awaits you at the national level. Sooner or ter, you'll have to face them all."
"Of course we'll go! It's a ce to scout the petition we'll eventually crush," Iwaizumi said with a grin, his fidence practically radiating.
"Yes!" The pyers heir resolve clear.
"I'll go call them baow to firm!" Mizoguchi excimed, looking as excited as if he himself had been invited. He dashed off again, leaving Irihata shaking his head.
"Ah, youth..." Irihata sighed with a smile.
"All of these camps start after the semester ends in early December," Irihata addressed the team. "Until then, we'll stick tur training. Remember, winning the ty championship was just the first step!"
"What's our ultimate goal?"
"To domihe nation!!!" The Aoba Johsai pyers shouted in unison.
"Excellent." Satisfied with their enthusiasm, Irihata left the room, trusting that this group needed little supervision to stay motivated.
-----
Two weeks had passed sihe finals of the Spring High Representative Tour qualifiers.
"All the handover work has been pleted..." Shiratorizawa's vice-captain, Sengawa Jin, was ing up the day's training session when—
"Wait, I'd like to say a few words."
The sudden sound of Ushijima Wakatoshi's voice startled Sengawa.
"Yes! Of course!" Sengawa immediately stepped aside, allowing Ushijima to address the team.
Ushijima walked over to stand before the first and sed-year pyers. He stood silently for a moment before beginning.
"Kawanishi."
"Here!" Kawanishi Taichi was caught off guard but responded promptly.
"With Tendō gone, your blog will bee the core of our defence. You o have more fiden yourself," Ushijima said in a calm, steady voice. "Also, foproving your serves."
"Yes, uood!" Kawanishi responded loudly.
"Shirabu."
"Present!"
"From now on, the responsibility anizing the team's offence falls entirely on you. There are no ikers in Shiratorizawa. Use them effectively. Also, work on sharpening your defensive skills."
"Got it!"
"Umeda."
"Here!"
"You o stabilize your positioning. Never sck off during training."
"Uood!"
"Tsunohama."
"Here!"
"Foproving your rea speed at the ."
"Yes, sir!"
"Samukawa."
"Present!"
"Is Ushijima pnning to gh the eeam?" Yamagata Hayato chuckled.
"Well, he's always been atteo everyoendō Satori replied, his usual pyful grin in pce.
"Goshiki."
"H-Here!" Goshiki Tsutomu stiffened as he answered.
In the brief silence, waves ret flooded him.
Serve receptions, blocks, mental fortitude—there was so much he o address. How could he have the audacity to call himself the ace up until now?
Ushijima's gaze softened as he looked at Goshiki. His normally stern expression eased, and his tone carried a rare warmth.
"The team will be in your hands from now on."
There was no additional advice. Entrusting the team to Goshiki was, in itself, the most profound guidance Ushijima could give to Shiratorizawa's future ace.
"Yes, sir!!!" Goshiki's voice cracked as he shouted, tears streaming down his face.
The third-years watched their typically boisterous junior with tender smiles.
Seated at the back, Coach Washijō observed this passing of the torch.
With just a single sentence, Ushijima had encapsuted the unwavering trust and expectations of the seniors foshiki.
As Kawanishi watched this unfold, a memory of what Semi had once said to him during a match surfaced.
"Even if they don't show it, the ones who care about you guys the most are Tendō and Ushijima..."
_________
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