Kozume Kenma slipped into the ste room, evading Kageyama Tobio's pierg gaze.

  Meanwhile, Azumane Asahi's rugged, mature demeanour actally frightehe first-year Yūki Shibayama from Nekoma.

  Not far away, Nishinoya Yū dashed off after loudly challenging Yaku Morisuke to a one-on-one duel, leaving chaos in his wake.

  Sawamura Daichi sighed in resignation as he discussed the team's antics with Kai Nobuyuki.

  Sugawara Koushi, ever the peacemaker, repeatedly apologized to Yaku Morisuke for the disorder, but the volleyball court remained a se of pandemonium.

  Coaekomata chuckled as he watched the lively youths before him, but his eyes suddenly stopped on a familiar face.

  "Keishin, are you going to take this seriously or not? Three matches, and not a single win!" Nekomata's sharp voice carried a hint of scolding as he narrowed his eyes.

  Ukai Keishin froze. "..."

  He couldn't argue.

  "But....Coach Ukai has only been here for a few days," Takeda-Sensei interjected, attempting to mediate.

  "Hmph! Even an outsider like you works harder than he does!" Nekomata retorted mercilessly.

  Veins visibly bulged on Ukai Keishin's forehead. "ime, I'll definitely win! Just wait and see!"

  That was exactly the rea Nekomata wanted. He leaned in, his eyes gleaming with challenge. "Oh? Let's hope it's not just empty words!"

  Keishin bit his tongue. Don't get mad, don't get mad….old guys are all like this!

  Naoi Manabu, standing nearby, let out a sigh. Here we go agaiepped forward to pull Nekomata back. "Coaekomata, please, don't pick fights!"

  "Hmph! It's his fault for lookily like his grandfather!" Nekomata grumbled while being dragged away.

  "Enough! Act ye already!" Naoi scolded.

  Keishi like steam was about to erupt from his ears. I swear, I'll get my revenge on the big stage someday!

  When it was time for the two teams to part ways…

  "Farewell, my friend!"

  Tanaka Ryūnosuke and Yamamoto Taketora dramatically csped hands, tears streaming down their faces like a melodramatic se from a period drama. In mere hours, the two had bee sworn brothers, bound by a shared love for volleyball and passion for battle.

  "What....is this?" Kenma, stepping off the court, froze at the sight before him.

  "Don't look. It's tagious," Kuroo Tetsurō deadpanned as he tugged Kenma away.

  "Kenma!"

  A voice called out, stopping him in his tracks. Kenma turo see Hinata Shōyō running toward him.

  "Last time we met, you mentioned you didn't really like volleyball, right?" Hinata asked, panting heavily.

  "Ah....yeah, something like that…" Kenma replied hesitantly. Just as Hinata was about to respond, Kenma raised his head, his gaze unwavering.

  "But now, there's someone I want to defeat."

  "Until I beat him, I guess I'll stay ied in volleyball, I guess..." Kenma added, a rare glimmer of determination flickering in his voice.

  "Huh?" Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. He had heard Inuoka Sō speak about Nekoma's practice match against Aoba Johsai before, but their versation hadn't touched on this.

  "Wait, did you guys lose to Aoba Johsai in that practice match?"

  Hinata Shōyō's expression shifted instantly, his head tilting as he stared at Kozume Kenma. The iy radiating from him was almost suffog.

  Kenma instinctively held his breath but quickly rexed, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

  "Shōyō, you're definitely an iing one."

  The iy in Hinata's demeanour abruptly dissolved, repced by a look of naive cluelessness.

  Realizing that Hinata wouldn't uand without a proper expnation, Kenma briefly reted the events of Nekoma's practice match against Aoba Johsai.

  "So, I really want to see Taichi's rea when he loses," Kenma said, a rare glimmer of excitement flickering in his normally calm eyes.

  "Theime…" Hinata's voice trailed off, barely audible.

  "Hm?" Kenma leaned in slightly, puzzled.

  Hinata seemed to gather his ce and shouted at the top of his lungs, "ime! We'll defeat Aoba Johsai first, and then we'll beat you guys!!"

  Kenma: "..."

  My ears….they're going to bleed.

  "Sure, I'll look forward to it," Kenma replied, his to yet oddly sincere.

  Meanwhile, oher side of the gym, the captains and coaches of both teams were shaking hands to bid farewell.

  Sawamura Daichi wore a warm, polite smile. "ime, we won't lose."

  Kuroo Tetsurō mirrored the smile but with a mischievous edge. "Oh? I was uhe impressioime you'll be fighting Aoba Johsai."

  Their handshake tightened, veins bulging in their arms as both refused to back down in their silent test of strength.

  Sugawara Koushi and Yaku Morisuke watched from the side, shuddering. "Terrifying, absolutely terrifying!"

  Uhe captains, Ukai Keishin and Naoi Manabu couldn't even maintain the pretence of civility. Their expressions twisted into grimaces as their verbal sparried.

  "ime, it won't be as easy as today."

  "Hah, if it were, it wouldn't even t as practice."

  Their arms, like those of their captains, strained as they gripped each other's hands—petitive to the very end.

  Sugaressed his palm to his forehead. "It's the same on this side too, huh?"

  Yaku sighed helplessly. "No css at all…"

  Elsewhere, Aoba Johsai's team was winding down after their own training.

  "Ahhh—I really want to watch a practice match between Nekoma and Karasuno," Taichi Kaedehara muttered as he sprawled on the gym floor.

  "The match should be over by now. Also, didn't you say the same thing this m?" Kindaichi Yūtarō, who was stretg beside him, asked dryly.

  "Don't you want to see it too? It sounds like it'd be so fun!" Taichi said, his voice brimming with curiosity.

  "Right now, training is more important. Watg others won't help me get better. I'd rather be on the court myself," Kindaichi replied firmly, his eyes filled with determination.

  Hearing Kindaichi's respoaichi gnced over at him. He couldn't help but think about how Kindaichi's passion for volleyball had only grown after graduation.

  Not only had he tinued pying, but he had bee an outstanding middle blocker in the V2 league.

  Kindaichi Yūtarō really is amazing, Taichi thought to himself.

  In his mind, stats began to form:

  [Kindaichi Yūtarō. Overall Ability: 79, Height: 189 cm, Power: 84, Jumping: 78, Stamina: 88, Speed: 72, Teique: Blog: 75, Spiking: 83.]

  Hm? It's been a while since I checked, but Kindaichi has grown a lot. His power and speed have both improved, and his coordination seems better too. Blog has even bee one of his strengths. That practice match with Shiratorizawa must've taught him a lot.

  Taichi's thoughts drifted toward the future.

  Aoba Johsai's current lineup was still dominated by third-years, but ohey graduated, the team's dynamic would undergo a major shift. If no talented first-years joined year, the responsibility would fall heavily on the current first- and sed-years.

  By then, Kindaichi would undoubtedly be one of the team's most reliable pyers. The thought made Taichi smile unsciously.

  He was already imagining how much stronger he himself would bee iure.

  "Taichi?" Kindaichi asked, fused. Mid-versation, Taichi had suddenly started grinning to himself.

  "It's nothing," Taichi said, pushing himself off the floor. He patted Kindaichi on the shoulder. "Keep it up. Do your best!"

  With that, he turned and walked out of the gym, leaving behind a fident and carefree silhouette.

  [Kaedehara Taichi (Post-Training Camp Stats)]

  Power: 80

  Jump: 70

  Stamina: 78

  Speed: 90

  Teique: Receive: 75, Serve: 72, Spike: 78.

  _________

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