"I'm ready, Sensei!"
Hinata Shoyo clenched his fists, eyes blazing with excitement, he could hardly wait to show the results of the past few months of professional training.
Ichinen-sensei had learned from the trauma of being stunned by Yudai Hyakuzawa's jump last time. Determined not to be caught off guard again, she spent a good minute giving herself mental pep talks before the next test.
'No matter what happens this time, I won't lose my composure in front of this so-called "Boys Volleyball Club."'
'I'm the coach of the school's girls' basketball team, after all. I have a reputation to protect.'
She quickly gauged Hinata's height with an experienced glance; she'd coached plenty of students around that size.
'Barely 165 cm, huh? Then that's fine.'
'At that height, basketball, volleyball… none of the big three ball sports are really suited to him.'
'Maybe soccer would be better.'
'Even in basketball, short players have a ceiling. And volleyball? That's a sport of aerial combat, if you can't even reach the net, how do you fight above it?'
'Probably a libero-type player, at best.'
"Alright, let's begin!"
"Yosh!!"
Ichinen-sensei crossed her arms, ready to record whatever ordinary number this small boy produced.
But then,
It was like watching a frame-by-frame animation sequence.
Hinata's body leaned forward, his stride widened, and his acceleration surged, every movement carrying explosive purpose.
Completely unaware of the shock he was about to cause, Hinata focused on the bar in front of him.
A quick sprint, a sharp plant, a powerful swing of his arms,
Then, lift-off.
Hinata soared like a bird spreading its wings.
Ichinen-sensei's jaw dropped.
For a split second, she thought,
"Wait… is he flying?"
Hinata's form in midair was flawless, extended, controlled, beautiful.
By the time he landed, she was still frozen, her expression cycling from stunned, to bewildered, to utterly speechless.
And beside her, Ichinose Guren, who had just caught Hinata's landing posture, smiled knowingly.
The teacher's hands twitched awkwardly at her sides, unsure where to go.
"W–what… what kind of monsters are in this so-called volleyball club…?"
"334 cm!!"
Kawashima, standing by the measurement pole, shouted out the number. His voice carried a mix of shock and admiration.
"That's amazing, Hinata-senpai!"
Hinata grinned proudly and pointed at himself with his thumb.
"Heh-heh, see? I told you I can jump!"
The three new first-years nodded in unison.
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
Hinata laughed, scratching his cheek in mock modesty.
"Alright, senpai'll teach you rookies the secret to jumping high!"
"First you go thump! then hnn! and finally whoosh!, and that's it!"
The three freshmen exchanged blank looks.
'Did you understand that?'
'Nope. You?'
'Also nope.'
Hinata scratched his head sheepishly.
"Actually, y'know… I always thought I was just short but could jump high."
"But then, after I saw Ichinose's spike for the first time…"
"I realized something. Jumping alone isn't my real weapon."
Kawashima tilted his head, genuinely curious.
"Then what is your weapon, Hinata-senpai?"
Hinata grinned wide.
"…I don't know yet."
"I'm still searching for it!"
Before anyone could reply, the PE teacher's voice rang out.
"Next! Ichinose Guren!"
Her shout snapped the four of them back to attention.
"You four! Move aside!"
"Right!"
The group scrambled out of the way.
Kawashima took his place beside the measuring pole, while Hinata and the others lined up to watch.
Now it was time for the one who had quietly guided, trained, and supported them all, not the captain by title, but undeniably the unofficial king of the team: Ichinose Guren.
Watching from the side, Mori and Suzuki whispered to each other.
"Hinata-senpai said Ichinose-senpai can jump really high, right?"
"Hmm… he didn't say it outright, but that's what it sounded like."
"Think it's higher than Hyakuzawa-senpai's?"
"No way! Hyakuzawa-senpai's 195 cm tall!"
Hyakuzawa overheard and chuckled.
"Guren's reach is higher than mine."
The two first-years froze, eyes wide.
"Eh? Seriously?"
"No way! Then how high does he have to jump?!"
Hyakuzawa rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed by their stares.
"I can't really explain it clearly."
"But when Guren jumps… it's not just high. It's… something else."
"It feels pure, like joy itself turned into movement."
Mori and Suzuki blinked, completely lost.
"…We don't get it at all, senpai."
Hyakuzawa laughed.
"You will. You're about to see it."
"Oh, right, Hyakuzawa-senpai, why do you call Ichinose 'bro' if you're not related?"
"Yeah, I was wondering that too! Your surnames aren't even the same."
Hyakuzawa blinked.
"Oh, right, I never told you. My mom's his aunt, we're cousins."
"And besides, Guren's the one who taught me volleyball from the start. Been calling him that since we were kids."
Before the two could ask more, Ichinen-sensei shouted again.
"Ichinose Guren! Get ready!"
"I'm ready."
What happened next would burn itself into the memories of everyone watching.
A gust of wind brushed past as Guren dashed forward, his expression calm but fierce, a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
Step. Plant. Lift.
Every muscle coordinated in harmony, his speed transformed perfectly into upward force.
From the floor, through the knees, through the hips and shoulders, seamless, natural, beautiful.
There was nothing forced about his form; it wasn't just perfect, it was effortless perfection.
As his body rose, he seemed to glide two meters through the air.
Smack.
No one even looked at the number.
For a moment, the gym fell silent, because it didn't feel like an athletic jump.
It felt like art.
A movement so beautiful that it stirred something deeper, a pure, wordless awe.
"...It's like watching a piece of art," someone whispered.
Except for one person, who couldn't contain himself.
"That's insane!!"
"Guren!! That hitting point's crazy!"
"I'm gonna jump like that someday too!!"
"Hey, Kawashima! What's the number?!"
Snapping out of his daze, Kawashima squinted at the bar, then blinked, rubbed his eyes, and checked again.
"Three… three-forty-one?"
He looked once more just to be sure, then shouted at the top of his lungs,
"Ichinose-senpai! 341 cm!! 341 cm!!"
The gym erupted.
"No way! That's insane!"
"He was flying!"
"Was that… wings?!"
"Idiot! Of course not!"
"How do you even block something like that?!"
The numbers might fade with time, but the sight of Ichinose Guren's jump would remain unforgettable.
==========
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