The night before the Miyagi Prefecture Qualifiers for the Junior High Volleyball Tournament
Since entering school in April, the team had been practicing two hours every day under the merciless training of Ichinose Guren. After three months of relentless drills, the three rookies were now so excited about the upcoming official match that they couldn't fall asleep.
Yudai Hyakuzawa and Hinata Shoyo felt the same. Though they'd long grown used to Guren's strict daily schedule, the thrill of tomorrow's match kept them restless until they finally drifted off in a half-dreaming daze.
Katsuta Hoshino, on the other hand, was sleeping soundly at home. Having already played in two prefectural tournaments as the team's libero, he was used to the rhythm. The thought of tomorrow's game wasn't enough to disturb his sleep.
Meanwhile, Ichinose Guren was in his home theater, reviewing footage of Kitagawa Daiichi's matches from the past year.
Kitagawa Daiichi, one of the region's long-standing powerhouses. Unless a school was exceptionally strong, their main lineup was almost always made up of second- and third-year players.
That meant the opponents they would face tomorrow were likely the same ones who had appeared as second-years last year, the same players who'd be their greatest threat this time.
If he could fully understand them, their chances of winning would increase dramatically.
In theory, it would be better to analyze match footage together with his teammates, so they could all discuss techniques and countermeasures.
But considering that, aside from himself, most of the players were first-timers in a major competition, he knew the pressure was already weighing on them.
Showing them the matches of a powerhouse like Kitagawa Daiichi now would only add to that burden.
Better to study alone, he decided. Then tomorrow, I'll explain the essentials clearly.
Seated on a leather sofa, posture perfectly straight, Guren's eyes focused on the screen.
A laptop sat open on the table before him, an Excel spreadsheet running as he recorded data.
He noted down: serving success rate, who had the strongest serve, whether the ball tended to go left or right.
How their stance affected serve placement.
The ball's spin and drift in midair.
Who received the most spikes, which setter favored which attacker, and under what kind of defensive formation they tended to set.
Even how often they attempted second attacks.
While writing notes, Guren's eyes sharpened.
Kageyama Tobio, setter.
His serve was about control and speed, targeting gaps in the opponent's defense rather than relying on raw power.
Fast, not too strong, with a rightward spin.
His first spike option was... Kindaichi?
"No," Guren muttered. Something didn't feel right.
He rewound the footage and watched again carefully, all matches where Kageyama had taken over as the main setter after the third-years retired.
"This guy… doesn't have a first option."
"He just passes to whoever has the best chance of scoring…"
Does he not have close teammates? No preferences? No emotion? Just logic?
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The next morning, in the club room.
The door slid open, and everyone immediately turned toward the entrance.
"Yo, morning, everyone."
"Good morning!" came the synchronized reply.
The three rookies looked a little rough, their dark circles obvious, but otherwise, they seemed fine.
The older players, however, were brimming with energy. Hinata especially looked ready to burst, already halfway into his warm-up stretches.
Seeing his fired-up team, Guren couldn't help but smile, his eyes flashing with determination.
"Bring your uniforms and gear," he said, turning smoothly toward the door.
"Let's move out!"
===========
Sendai City Gymnasium.
"Hinata-senpai! Wait for us!"
"Yeah, slow down!"
Ignoring them, Hinata Shoyo sprinted ahead, his excitement overflowing, it was his first official match, after all.
He bounded down the stairs into the sunken arena and froze at the sight before him.
A massive court. Players in all kinds of school uniforms, already in the middle of their warm-ups.
The familiar psshhh of pain-relief spray filled the air.
Thanks to the addition of Guren, Hyakuzawa, and Hoshino, the team now had real depth.
Originally, Hinata's two childhood friends had planned to fill out the roster, but Guren had told them their names were just for backup.
If anyone got injured, they'd be called in to help, but otherwise, the team would play with seven main members, despite the gap in their ages.
"T-time to… warm up?"
Suzuki, one of the nervous rookies, stammered as he looked at Hinata.
"Yeah, everyone, let's head to our court and start warming up," Guren said gently, his calm tone easing the tension that hung over the group.
They walked to their court and began stretching.
Hinata looked around at the huge gymnasium, his throat tightening.
Three years… You know how long I've waited for this?
He blinked back tears and shook his head.
Meanwhile, two junior high school students standing nearby were watching the team from Yukigaoka, their attention caught by Guren and Hyakuzawa's towering heights.
"Whoa! Look at that team! They're huge!"
"Where? Which one?"
"Over there! See? That lineup's wild, two giants and a bunch of smaller guys!"
"Two kings with a bunch of bronze players, huh?"
"Do you think that tall guy's two meters?"
"Maybe close!"
They whispered to each other, analyzing their heights like sports commentators.
Then they noticed the team's name on the uniforms and gasped.
"Wait, that's them! The one I mentioned before!"
"Huh? Which one?"
"The no-name school that's up against Kitagawa Daiichi in their first match!"
"Oh! That one, the 'Poor Yukigaoka' team?"
"Yeah! Look, it's written right there on their uniforms, 'Yukigaoka!'"
They exchanged glances again, then one of them asked hesitantly, "You think Yukigaoka has a chance to beat Kitagawa Daiichi?"
The other didn't hesitate. "No way they do. I mean… well…"
He hesitated. "Maybe. That tall guy's probably the tallest volleyball player in the prefecture."
"Could be. But Kitagawa Daiichi's got plenty of guys over one-eighty too."
Just as the two kept whispering, the Kitagawa Daiichi volleyball team entered from the players' tunnel.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
"Ah, they're here!"
"So tall! They don't even look like junior high school students!"
"Seriously, are they really junior high school students?"
A wave of pressure rolled across the entire gym, the collective aura of Kitagawa Daiichi crashing over everyone.
As their cheer squad's voices grew louder, the sheer presence of their towering lineup filled the space with overwhelming momentum.
Every player on the court could feel it.
In contrast, the Yukigaoka team, aside from the unshaken Guren, Hyakuzawa, and the seasoned libero Hoshino, was trembling under the weight of that aura.
For the rookies and Hinata, it was their first real tournament. The nerves were unbearable.
Hinata even felt like he might have to run to the bathroom.
Suzuki's voice quivered. "U-uh… our first match… is against them?"
Mori's face was pale. "That kind of aura… they're total championship contenders! Why are we this unlucky?"
Kawashima couldn't even speak, he just swallowed hard.
Then Guren stepped forward, just one step toward Kitagawa Daiichi's direction.
A powerful, almost violent aura radiated from him, subtle yet enough to make every Yukigaoka player feel it.
Their eyes snapped to his back instinctively.
Sensing their gaze, Guren turned around and clapped his hands once.
CLAP.
"Alright, alright."
"They're just junior high school students too. Even if they're taller, none of them are taller than Yudai."
Everyone glanced at Hyakuzawa's towering figure, and instantly, a sense of security filled the air.
"First-years," Guren said, eyes blazing with conviction.
"Just focus on doing what you've done hundreds of times these past three months."
"As for the rest, leave it to us."
"Now… keep warming up."
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