'But wasn't the boys' volleyball club always just a small hobby group?'
'Since when did someone care enough to build them a whole new gym?'
A faint trace of dissatisfaction spread in Ichinen-sensei's heart.
'My girls' basketball team is doing so well this year, we might even make nationals.'
'And yet this barely-breathing little hobby club…'
'Where do they get the confidence to talk about "dominating Japan"?'
'Aren't they just here to make "youthful memories" like every other student?'
There was a hint of annoyance in her thoughts, though it quickly faded.
'They're just kids. It's not like they're doing anything wrong.'
'I shouted about winning nationals back in junior high too.'
'Still, volleyball relies a lot on height and reach. Let's see how high these boys can actually jump.'
'Wasn't there one big, clumsy-looking guy among them? Doesn't seem like he can jump that high.'
Though her irritation had faded, a faint trace of mockery lingered, the sort of curiosity that comes from wanting to watch a good joke unfold.
"One jump each, that'll be your official record."
[Mori – 301 cm]
Ichinen-sensei jotted down the number.
'Mediocre. My team's center is taller than that, and she's a girl.'
[Kawashima – 310 cm]
'He's got some athletic background, but still average for boys' sports.'
[Suzuki – 278 cm]
'Also pretty average. These three new recruits are just here to fill the roster, aren't they?'
'I doubt they'll be of any use in a real match.'
'Doesn't look like any of them have played volleyball seriously before.'
'And all three are wearing generic training shoes, not volleyball shoes…'
'Why doesn't anyone build my girls' basketball team a new facility, huh? Unbelievable.'
While the teacher was still silently grumbling, the three new members' jump tests were quickly finished.
The observer role switched from Yudai Hyakuzawa to Kawashima, the tallest among the first-years at 175 cm.
Ichinose Guren looked at the two remaining third-years, the eager Hinata Shoyo and the calm, steady Yudai Hyakuzawa, and tilted his head slightly.
"Yudai, you go first."
"Got it, Guren."
Yudai rose onto his toes, then lightly bounced a few times, a subtle warm-up to loosen his ankles and knees.
Even though they'd already stretched earlier, it was good to feel out the joints before explosive movement.
As he took his first step,
'Good, solid form.'
Power flowed smoothly from the floor through his ankles, knees, thighs, and hips.
Over the past few months under Ichinose Guren's structured, professional training, Yudai Hyakuzawa could feel how much stronger and more controlled his body had become.
If my regular conditioning already feels this good,then my technical performance in volleyball must've improved a lot too.
He began to accelerate.
There was no overly flashy sprint, no loud thundering of footsteps, just a calm, measured approach filled with controlled agility.
Though his steps weren't quick, each stride was long,
two of his steps covered the same ground as three of Hinata's.
And for someone 196 cm tall, Yudai's approach speed was surprisingly fast.
Beside the measuring device, Kawashima suddenly felt a chill, like prey being locked onto by a predator.
It was as if a brown bear had appeared in the forest and fixed its gaze on him.
He stiffly turned his head just in time to see Yudai charging straight toward him.
In less than ten meters of approach, the once-gentle, slightly goofy aura Yudai had vanished, replaced by sheer physical intensity.
"Oh?"
Ichinose Guren's lips curved into a small smile.
"Not bad. He's already entering combat mode even for a jump test."
With a powerful final stride, Yudai lowered his center of gravity and leapt upward.
A gust of air rushed past Kawashima's face.
Yudai's broad arm swung upward and smacked cleanly against the measuring bar.
"W-whoa! Amazing force, Hyakuzawa-senpai!" Kawashima exclaimed.
Then he quickly called out the number displayed on the scale.
"337 cm!"
Ichinen-sensei's eyes widened in disbelief.
'He's only a third-year in Junior High, right?'
'If he keeps growing and passes 210 cm, and with proper training…'
'He could actually become a national-level basketball player.'
'That kind of agility in a tall player is extremely rare!'
She coughed lightly to hide her astonishment.
After recording Yudai's vertical jump, she cleared her throat and called out the next name.
"Uh… next up… Hinata Shoyo."
Hinata's eyes sparkled.
"I'm up!"
==========
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