The first day of the training camp was filled with tinuous matches, with each team pying two sets against every other team.

  Shiratorizawa—7 wins, 1 loss (dropped a set to Aoba Johsai)

  Aoba Johsai—7 wins, 1 loss (dropped a set to Shiratorizawa)

  Date Tech—3 wins, 5 losses (lost to both Shiratorizawa and Aoba Johsai, as well as oo Jousanji)

  Jousanji—2 wins, 6 losses (lost all sets to Shiratorizawa and Aoba Johsai, and dropped a set to Kakugawa)

  Kakugawa—1 win, 7 losses

  In Shiratorizawa’s exclusive coag room, coaches from various schools gathered to discuss pyers with promising potential.

  Aoba Johsai—Kyōtaarō, Kaedehara Taichi, Kunimi Akira, Kindaichi Yūtarō.

  Coach Irihata basked in the envious gnces from the others before he spoke slowly, sav the moment:"Kyōtani’s growth has been a bit lopsided. He’s an aggressive attacker, but his height is insuffit for effective blog as a middle blocker. His receiving skills are weak, making him a liability as an outside hitter..."

  Feeling the dangerous gres intensifying, Irihata cleared his throat and shifted the topic

  "Let’s move on to other teams."

  Shiratorizawa—Kawanishi Taichi, Goshiki Tsutomu.

  Coach Irihata smirked to himself, thinking, Our Taichi is defihe stronger one.

  Coach Washijō seemed to read Irihata’s thoughts and snorted. "Goshiki is our ace, but his posure still needs work. He requires careful refi."

  Date Tech—Aoakanobu, Futakuchi Kenji, Kanji Koganegawa.

  Although Date Tech’s results hadn’t been particurly impressive, Coach Oiwake had much to say. Aone and Futakuchi’s blog had been nearly perfected at the st Inter-High tour. With the addition of Koganegawa, a 191cm first-year, Date Tech had a promising future.

  "Koganegawa may be rough around the edges, but with his height, he could develop into an excellent rge-scale setter."

  Other notable pyers included Terushima Yūji from Johzenji and Hyakuzawa Yūdai from Kakugawa.

  "Terushima is an all-rounder, but his erratic personality makes him an unstable factor in matches. As for Hyakuzawa—if he were part of a strong team, he’d be a nightmare for oppos in the wo years."

  Kakugawa cked a specialized coad was led by a faculty advisor. Only Coach Washijō’s keen eye for talent and refusal to waste potential had prompted Shiratorizawa to initiate tact with Kakugawa.

  Coaabara thought to himself: In the wo years, Aoba Johsai and Date Tech will likely bee Shiratorizawa’s greatest threats. The era of Shiratorizawa reigning as the lone powerhouse in Miyagi Prefecture may soon ge.

  -----

  After dinner, all the pyers gathered again in the gymnasium.

  "Based on overall strength and performahe coaches have decided tanize you into six mixed teams. Each pair of teams will form a group, peting ich each m and evening. The remaining time will be used for self-training."

  "The team assigs are as follows..."

  Irihata Nobuteru's Team—Setter Shirabu Kenjirō, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Outside Hitter Goshiki Tsutomu, Outside Hitter Futakuchi Kenji, Middle Blocker Tendō Satori, Middle Blocker Aoakanobu, Libero Iwaizumi Hajime. Substitute: Kanji Koganegawa.

  Washijō Tanji's Team—Setter Oikawa Tōru, Outside Hitter Ushijima Wakatoshi, Outside Hitter Terushima Yūji, Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Middle Blocker Hyakuzawa Yūdai, Libero Yamagata Hayato. Substitute: Kyōtaarō.

  Oiwake Takurō's Team—Setter Semi Eita, Outside Hitter Hanamaki Takahiro...

  Anabara Takayuki's Team—Setter Yahaba Shigeru, Outside Hitter ōhira Reon..

  Mizoguchi Sadayuki's Team—Setter Futamata Takeharu, Outside Hitter Higashiyama Katsumichi...

  Saitō Akira's Team—Setter Komaki Yuzuru...

  As soon as the list was announced, murmurs rippled through the gym.

  "Oikawa and Ushijima on the same team?"

  "The best setter a spiker in the prefecture? How do you evehat?"

  Even Ushijima Wakatoshi and Oikawa Tōru exged gnces. Long-time rivals, this was their first time pying as teammates...

  More puzzling to many pyers was the positional switch for several individuals. Kaedehara Taichi was now listed as an outside hitter, and Hyakuzawa Yūdai had been reassigo middle blocker. These ges were surprising but acceptable.

  What truly shocked both Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizayers was Iwaizumi Hajime’s new role as libero. This decision stripped him of his offensive capabilities—something no one had expected.

  Coach Washijō offered no expnation, merely giving his final instrus: "Use tonight's free practiiliarize yourself with your teammates. Matches will begin tomorrow m at eight."

  With that, he gathered several pyers from his team for a brief, st-minute session, fog on giving Hyakuzaersonalized guidance.

  The most tentious decision during the coaches' earlier discussions had been Iwaizumi's position.

  —An Hour Earlier—

  "Iwaizumi as an outside hitter is more thae," Coach Irihata said, his brows furrowed. "Among the outside hitters here, he’s easily top five. Putting him at libero wastes his potential."

  "I won’t argue with that," Coach Washijō replied. "But being 'adequate' isn’t enough when fag teams at the national level. Iwaizumi's skill set makes him capable of being exceptional in receiving."

  Coach Irihata paused, sidering the point. Though their coag philosophies differed, both had decades of experiend sharp eyes for talent.

  After all, Washijō was the same coach whated a highly capable setter like Semi Eita to the bench—but that move pushed Semi to develop a deadly jump float serve as his secret on.

  Irihata recalled Aoba Johsai’s matding rally against Shiratorizawa in the ret tour. It was Iwaizumi’s perfect receive against Ushijima’s spike that kept the py alive, leading to Aoba Johsai’s decisive point.

  Still, moving Iwaizumi from a key offensive role to a defensive specialist seemed a cruel fate. He had already sacrificed much, putting his heart into defetheeam’s foundation.

  Stripping him of the title of outside hitter—one of the most dynamic roles—felt like too great a blow.

  "I’ll allow him to py libero for the training matches," Irihata finally said. "Experieng different positions may broaden his vision. But unless Iwaizumi himself requests it, I’ll make sure he wears the number 4 jersey and finishes his high school volleyball career as an outside hitter."

  "Stubborn as always," Washijō snorted. "Well, Aoba Johsai is your team, not mine."

  Irihata smiled fidently. "And as an outside hitter, Iwaizumi will help Aoba Johsai defeat Shiratorizaring Nationals."

  Washijō ughed bitterly. "Such big talk for a man who’s only beaten us once—just on these st few years."

  "Spending so much time with this group of pyers, I feel youhese days, Washijō." Irihata's eyes twinkled with satisfa as he saw the irritation oher coach’s face.

  Anabara Takaaki had been trying to excuse himself from the brewing tension, but no opportunity arose.

  Sharing the room with two of Miyagi’s most venerable coaches—one of whom had coached him ba his student days—left him feeling pletely out of pce.

  "Anabara, find a nearby izakaya for ter," Washijō suddenly ordered. "I’m going to drink this old man uhe table."

  "Hah, you’d better make sure someone’s around to carry you baan," Irihata sneered.

  Their eyes locked, and sparks seemed to fly as their gazes cshed.

  _________

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