Kakugawa Academy ultimately fell to Karasuno, which was expected.

  While Hyakuzawa Yūdai had made siderable progress, Karasuno simply had more pyers capable of stepping up when needed.

  Shaking off his thoughts, Taichi resumed his relentless running on the beach.

  Each step fought against the resistance of the sand, strengthening his ankles. With time, the increased iy of his training sculpted the muscles in his legs, making them more defined and powerful.

  "Is that the 'Left-Handed Magi' from the East?" a young boy with a backpack asked at the club's bar, pointing to Taichi as he jogged past the entrance.

  The boy was short—barely 170 timetres tall—with dark blue hair and sun-bronzed skin, giving him the appearance of a local kid.

  However, his facial features hi his Asiaage.

  "Yo, Daiki, you're back!" Coach Kuno greeted with a wide smile. "How did the tour go?"

  "Of course, I won," Nakamori Daiki replied nontly.

  "That's incredible!" Coach Kuno gave him a thumbs-up and slid ss of lemonade.

  Daiki's parents were both Japanese, but he had grown up in Hawaii due to his father's work.

  He attended middle school locally and fell in love with beach volleyball.

  The tour Coach Kuno referred to was a junior cup hosted by 30 beach volleyball clubs across Hawaii. Open to pyers under 15, it was not just a petition but also a promotio for the participating clubs, with a 3,000 prize for the winning team.

  "You just got back, and you've already heard that niame?"

  "I was hanging out with Norton for a bit, aold me," Daiki replied. "How old is he? Is he really that good?"

  "I think he's in high school. As for his volleyball skills, he's primarily an indoor pyer who only retly started learning beach volleyball."

  "Oh…" Daiki lost i immediately.

  Notig his rea, Coach Kuno chuckled and added, "But he's improving fast. You should see for yourself tomorrow."

  "Fine," Daiki shrugged as he jumped off his stool. "Oh, and Uncle Kuno, remember our deal—I won the championship, so I get to train with the high school group now. Those middle school kids are way too weak."

  "Alright, alright," Coach Kuno waved him off, watg as Daiki ran outside. "You're just a kid yourself."

  -----

  The m, Taichi arrived at the training grounds earlier than usual, only to find a short tanned-boy already sitting there.

  Curious but uaichi went straight into his warm-ups.

  Daiki blinked in surprise. What? He's not even going to aowledge me? He clearly hasn't heard of my reputation.

  Determio get his attention, Daiki walked up to Taichi and said, "Hey, I heard your serves are pretty amazing."

  Japanese? So, this kid was here for him after all.

  Taichi finally took a good look at the boy. Calloused hands and scarred knees showed signs orous training. Despite his small stature and lean frame, his muscle definition suggested strength.

  However, the boy's attitude was far from endearing. Taichi leaned forward slightly, pretending not to uand. "Ah, did you get lost, little one? Need big brother to help you find your mom?"

  "???"

  Even with his tanned plexion, Daiki's face flushed bright red in anger.

  "I'm Nakamori Daiki! The only reized genius in this club!"

  "Ohhh—" Taichi drew out the sound meaningfully. "I'm Kaedehara Taichi. So, genius-, what do you want from me?"

  "I want to see how strong your serves really are," Daiki said, getting straight to the point.

  Daiki had deliberately set his arm for 4 a.m. and arrived at the beach by 5, thinking he would have the pself for a while.

  But to his surprise, Taichi was already there, deep into his training routine.

  His sleepiness evaporated instantly, repced by curiosity and annoyahis guy is seriously something else. And seriously annoying!

  Taichi gave him a quice-over. "You're…?"

  "A middle schooler!" Daiki shouted preemptively, determio avoid being mistaken frade-schooler. "But I'll be in high school year, and starting today, I'm training with the high school group."

  "Got it." Taichi smirked. "Let's begin."

  "That fast?" Daiki blinked, caught off guard by hotly the versation ended. Still, he quickly ran to the court and signalled for Taichi to serve.

  As Taichi stepped up to the service line, he recalled hearing the boy's name before.

  Pyers at the club often praised Nakamori Daiki's skills, and just st night, he'd learhat Daiki had won a local championship.

  In that case, there's o hold back.

  "e at me!" Daiki lowered his tre of gravity, his posture suddenly serious and focused. His earlier arrogance vanished, repced by a sharp iy that surprised Taichi.

  Taking the match seriously, Taichi tossed the ball high and began his approach. His feet moved effortlessly across the sand, a testament to the progress he had made since his early days on the beach.

  With a powerful leap, he struck the ball mid-air.

  Boom!

  The ball sped over the with ford precision.

  Daiki's eyes narrowed. From the approach to the jump, everything about Taichi screamed strong.

  The ball zipped across the , reag Daiki in a split sed.

  He took a long stride toward the ball, l his body and pushing off with his left leg for extra speed. His body trol was impressive as he dove for the ball, his left hand brag the sand while his right arm extended forward.

  Thwack!

  The ball ricocheted off Daiki's arms and flew out of bounds.

  Daiki nded smoothly, dispersing the impact with practised ease, before scrambling to his feet.

  "Ahhh—!" he yelled in frustration. "It went out! Damn it!"

  He gred at the ball lying outside the court, his face twisted i.

  Taichi's eyes sparkled with intrigue. Even though the power and spin of his serve were reduced on sand, Daiki had mao make ta the very first attempt.

  This kid was a natural.

  More than that—he was the perfect sparring partner. A mischievous grin spread across Taichi's face.

  "So, this is the infamous left-handed spin, huh? Let's go again!" Daiki said, his excitement undiminished.

  "Sure!" Taichi replied, readying another serve.

  Taichi maintaihe same serving teique as before, unleashing his sed serve.

  This time, Nakamori Daiki reacted more quickly. He predicted the ball's trajectory, positioned himself early, and at the moment of tact, used a subtle flick of his wrist to alter the ball's dire.

  Bang!

  The ball soared high, nding just outside the boundary line.

  "Darn it! So the wrist angle o be even sharper..." Nakamori Daiki muttered to himself, frustrated.

  How eaining~!

  To Taichi, that serve was already a successful reception. While it wasn't a perfect pass, the height and distansured his teammates could save it.

  Time to up the difficulty! A delighted smile spread across Taichi's face.

  This was his happiest day since arriving in Hawaii—like a kid finding his favourite oy.

  Kaedehara Taichi served the third ball.

  This one seemed faster tha, but Nakamori Daiki repared.

  "I definitely receive this!"

  A victorious grin appeared on Nakamori Daiki's face.

  Bang!

  The volleyball struck his arm and ricocheted straight to the ground.

  Nakamori Daiki: "???"

  It was a standard right-spin?

  He looked up sharply at Taichi. "Did you just serve with yht hand?"

  "Hmm?" Kaedehara Taichi didn't deny it.

  "Aren't you the Left-Handed Magi?!" Nakamori Daiki felt utterly betrayed.

  Pfft! What a child.

  Kaedehara Taichi spread his hands ily. "I never said that. Besides, who made a rule that says you 't switch to yht hand after serving with your left?"

  "But...but…" Daiki was dumbfounded. He'd never seen a server like this before.

  "How about I only serve with my left hand?" Kaedehara Taichi offered with a benevolent smile.

  "No! Don't!" Nakamori Daiki shouted angrily. As his club's prodigious genius, this was the first time he'd felt so humiliated—pletely toyed with!

  "Again!"

  "You got it!" Kaedehara Taichi's grin widened.

  Bang!

  Kaedehara Taichi uhe fourth serve.

  This time, Nakamori Daiki focused ily on Taichi's striking hand and firmed it was indeed his left.

  The volleyball flew over the with remarkable speed.

  Just as Nakamori Daiki sensed something was off, the ball plummeted suddenly.

  It was a jump float serve!

  He dove forward, but the ball nded just in front of him.

  "Arghhhh!"

  Nakamori Daiki pouhe sand in frustration.

  "HAHAhaha!" Taichi couldn't hold back his ughter any longer.

  Usually surrounded by older and more reserved teammates, he found teasing kids much more eaining.

  Nakamori Daiki gred at him fiercely. "Again!"

  "Alright, alright…" Taichi replied cheerfully. After all, he needed someoo fetch the balls for him.

  -----

  [One hour ter]

  The two y side by side on the sand, taking a break.

  "Taichi-senpai, let's form a permaeam!"

  "Sure, why not."

  Once he admitted defeat, Nakamori Daiki became surprisingly docile—a trait Taichi quite liked.

  The sun was fully up now, and other pyers from the club began arriving. Spotting the duo, everyone greeted them enthusiastically.

  "You two are teaming up?" Coach Kuno's expression looked a bit odd.

  "Yeah!" Nakamori Daiki leaned closer to the coach. "Uaichi-senpai is already amazing!"

  "Is that so…" Coach Kuno didn't ent further and happily approved their registration.

  -----

  [Another hour ter]

  Nakamori Daiki finally uood why Coach Kuno's expression had been so peculiar.

  Kaedehara Taichi's receiving aing skills were...average at best. In beach volleyball, where each team has only two pyers, such weaknesses could be fatal.

  "Don't tense your wrist so much—rex at the start!"

  "Be gentler when receiving! The ball's boung back to the other side!"

  "That's too close!"

  "That's too far!"

  "Your tact time is too long!"

  "Taichi!!!"

  Taichi earned himself some meticulous one-on-one coag from Nakamori Daiki but lost his title of senpai in the process.

  Meanwhile, Coach Ku a close eye on the boys' progress. Though Nakamori Daiki might not realize it yet, the coach saw Kaedehara Taichi adapting to beach volleyball at a startling speed.

  Even with his indoor volleyball background, this kind ress was rare.

  Moreover, his instinctive feel for the ball and sharp court sense allowed him to mask his weaknesses and maximize his strengths.

  But what if he had no weaknesses?

  Coach Kuno chuckled and shook his head, dismissing the fanciful thought. How could such a perfectly versatile pyer exist?

  -----

  Weeks passed quickly, and Kaedehara Taichi's Hawaiian volleyball journey s end.

  Nearly a month of beach volleyball training had signifitly elevated his stamina, teiques, and uanding of the game. His skin, now tao a healthy bronze, bore wito tless hours uhe Hawaiian sun.

  Standing on the golden sands at suaichi gazed at the sun sinking into the horizon, filled with a sense of bittersweet refle.

  "Taichi, do you really have to leave? We haven't even reached the first pce yet!" Nakamori Daiki crouched beside him, the su casting a faint golden glow over his sun-kissed skin.

  "It is a pity, but school starts the day after tomorrow," Taichi replied, his thoughts already drifting back to the court in Tokyo. "I've got unfinished goals waiting for me there."

  In the past week, their duo had started to rack up wins after a rocky start. By Nakamori Daiki's estimate, they could reach the top of the club rankings by month.

  "Is indoor volleyball more fun than beach volleyball?" Nakamori Daiki suddenly asked.

  "I'm not sure, but with six people, there's a lot more uability," Kaedehara Taichi answered, feeling a twinge of nostalgia for his Aoba Johsai teammates.

  "Ugh, I'll have to find a new partner again." Nakamori Daiki stood up and kicked at the sand, visibly annoyed.

  Taichi pced a hand on his head. "Do yret teaming up with me?"

  Nakamori Daiki spped the hand away and didn't respond.

  "You said you'd win Nationals, so don't back out now," Nakamori Daiki said seriously.

  Kaedehara Taiodded firmly. "I won't!"

  " year, I'll be moving to Japan fh school. If you win Nationals, I'll partner with you again!" Nakamori Daiki decred with a sly grin.

  Kaedehara Taichi blinked in surprise. He hadn't heard about that.

  "Hardcourt volleyball isn't as simple as beach volleyball. If you're not good enough, I'm not carrying you," Kaedehara Taichi teased.

  This ued journey didn't feel like it was ending anytime soon...

  _________

  [T/N] - If you guys want to read 50 Chapters in advance of the current story, you support me on my Patreon. Trust me, it's awesome!

  Link - (P)atreon./Iseebck [Remove the brackets]