Komori Motoya's eyes widened in shock.
Did…did Sakusa just say that?
He sneaked a g Sakusa, only to find an unfamiliar sight—his face was far more expressive than usual.
"Of course," Kaedehara Taichi responded with a smile. "I want to go up against every team that has a top-five a the nation."
In the er of the court, Kageyama Tobio ractically on the verge of developing a psychological plex. He had always thought that he wasn't a match for Oikawa-senpai—but now, could it have been because of Kaedehara Taichi all along?
"Idiot Hinata! Dumbass!"
Muttering curses under his breath, Kageyama mao calm himself down a little.
No matter what, his performance just now had been solid. If he could maintain that state, then the ime they faced Aoba Johsai, they might actually have a ce.
That t wall that had always stood in Karasuno's way—Kageyama could now see its peak.
Cp, cp, cp…
Coach Fuki Hibarida walked over while appuding.
"Great work, everyohat was a solid performane of you even exceeded my expectations."
"Now that you've gotten a bit more familiar with each other, make sure to stretch properly. After a short break, we'll go over the game footage."
"Just o?" Kageyama suddenly asked.
Coach Hibarida looked at the group of teenagers. Eae of them had the same fierce glint in their eyes.
What a bunch of volleyball maniacs.
Perhaps it was this very passion that had brought them all here.
Hibarida couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't worry, there will be plenty of practice matches ahead. Today's main goal was to help you get to know each other."
"Who knows? Maybe in a few days, I might even have a surprise for you."
-----
The Ajinomoto National Trainier was a venue used for Olympic events.
Besides its striking architectural design, the facility seamlessly ied cutting-edge teology.
To ehat every spectator had the best possible viewing experiehe venue was equipped with a massive dispy s. Surrounding the court were numerous high-tech cameras—sharp, unblinking eyes that captured every single movement of the athletes.
These cameras weren't just abundant; they were alsically pced, providing plete ce of the court from every angle. No matter where a pyer moved, their as would be recorded with pinpoint precision.
During the Interaining Camp, they would be making full use of this teology—reviewing and analyzing footage of their training sessions to pinpoint weaknesses and find ways to improve.
After ing up the first day of training, all the pyers gathered at the cafeteria for dinner.
The meal sisted of a well-banced spread—four dishes, one soup, and fresh fruit for dessert. It looked quite impressive.
"Whoa… As expected of the national team, this food is amazing!" Chigaya Eikichi excimed.
For some reason, he had ended up stig close to Kageyama Tobio. But for Kaedehara Taichi, having a normal but talented guy like Eikichi around was a relief—otherwise, he'd be surrounded by nothing but weirdos.
His gaze shifted toward Sakusa Kiyoomi and Komori Motoya, who were seated nearby.
"What?" Sakusa eyed him warily. "What kind of scheme are you cooking up now?"
Seated at the farthest end of the round table, Sakusa looked as if he was deliberately trying to distance himself from everyone else. Judging by how cautious he was, he robably worried that the others might "inate" his food.
In that case, why even sit at the same table?!
"My bad, my bad! He tends to see things in a pretty ive light," Komori Motoya said apologetically.
"I'm not ive—I'm cautious," Sakusa corrected, clearly displeased. "That brat has a particurly devious mind. You should watch out too, Motoya."
Kaedehara Taichi: "…"
Wasn't that just a personal attack?!
"Haha…Don't take it personally," Komori chuckled. "That's just how he talks. Maybe he feels a little threatened by you, Taichi."
"I'm done," Sakusa suddenly announced.
"So fast?!" Chigaya leaned over in disbelief.
He looked like the type to eat slowly aiculously, but did geniuses eve faster than normal people?!
Sakusa shot a brief g the "broccoli-head" before quickly looking away.
Left-handed. Nothing special.
"I'm going to shower," he said to Komori, pulling up his face mask.
"I o finish before the bathwater gets inated by other people's bacteria."
"Alright, I'll head over ter."
Only Komori Motoya waved casually at Sakusa Kiyoomi, pletely unfazed.
"Komori-senpai, even though you're on the same team, you and Sakusa-senpai have such a...good retionship"
Kaedehara Taichi ented, not out of surprise that they were teammates, but rather because it was hard to imagine Sakusa getting along so well with anyone.
"Hmm? Oh, you mean Kiyoomi? We're cousins~" Komori raised an eyebrow and casually dropped a bombshell.
"Huh?! But your personalities are way too different!"
"Haha…Yeah, people say that all the time," Khed.
"Kiyoomi's parents were always busy with work, and his older siblings were much older than him, so he spent most of his childhood alone," he recalled. "Even as a kid, he was quiet and not the type to make friends easily. Even though we're the same age, we barely ied back then."
Seems like he still isn't great at socializing…Chigaya Eikichi thought to himself.
"My parents told me to spend more time with him, so I invited him to py volleyball."
"But to be ho, I don't thiarted pying because he really wao. It was more like… 'Well, I've got nothier to do, might as well give it a shot.'"
"But the thing about Kiyoomi is—once he starts something, he never gives up halfway. He always sees things through to the end. That's probably why he's still on this path."
"Oh—he's seriously amazing!" Chigaya said with genuine admiration. Even if he's a bit strange, he's still incredible!
Hearing Komori's expnation, Kaedehara Taichi couldn't help but g Kageyama Tobio.
Ever since his grandfather passed away, Kageyama had also spent most of his time alone. In both of their worlds, volleyball was almost everything.
But at least Sakusa had Komori by his side. And in high school, Kageyama had met Hinata Shōyō.
In volleyball, the most important thing truly is 'e.'
Komori looked at Kaedehara Taichi and Kageyama Tobio and said, "Ba middle school, we faced Shiratorizawa—the team Ushijima was on. After that enter, every time we pyed against Ushijima in a match ot called to the same training camp, Kiyoomi would—very rarely—seem happy."
"And now, meeting the two of you is the same thing," Komori smiled brightly. "Miyagi Prefecture really is a blessing for us! It's like a treasure trove of monsters, eae appearing oer another, never-ending."
Kageyama had just finished his meal. Hearing those words, his mind immediately fshed to a certain bright e-haired idiot.
Then he shook his head. That dumbass. He still has a long way to go.
-----
Far away, at Shiratorizawa First Gymnasium, Hinata Shōyō—who was stayio train—suddenly sneezed during his approach.
That was already the sed time today.
"Idiot. You better not be catg a cold," Tsukishima Kei scoffed, stepping away from him in disgust.
"No way, I feel totally fine," Hinata said, looking thoughtful. "And I've been listening to Sugawara-senpai's advice—I always wear my jacket after practice!"
Tsukishima: "..."
Are you a grade-schooler or something?
Oher side of the gym.
"Kunimi, you're trainira hard today…"
Kindaichi Yūtarō rarely saw Kunimi Akira put in this much effort, so he plimented him sincerely.
Kunimi didn't look pleased at all. Instead, his expression darkened.
"...If yonna say that, haven't you always been w hard?"
Kindaiodded, his eyes filled with determination.
"Yeah. I don't want to fall too far behind Taichi. And since even Kageyama is over there now, there's no way I'm losing to him either."
Kunimi g the volleyball by his feet.
Ever siepping onto the national stage, his mi had started to ge—just a little.
The future wait.
At least in high school, I give my all for something I love.
_________
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