"I'll ask Ayasaki to record the rest of the matches for us. What we need to do now is focus on ourselves, go home, take a proper bath, eat, and get some sleep."
After briefly watching the first half of Kousen Academy vs. Suisui Junior High's third set, Ichinose Guren sent the Yukigaoka players home.
He had Ayasaki and the three pre-arranged cameramen continue filming. Later, Guren would spend the evening reviewing all three matches on tape and analyzing them.
Hiring professionals to analyze videos felt unnecessary to him. Junior High matches didn't require outside experts. He could handle coaching part-time himself; the rest could wait.
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Back at home, Yukigaoka's team barely settled when a group chat notification popped up:
"Tomorrow's opponent is Kousen Academy."
Immediately, the five friends started typing energetically, extending the adrenaline from today's thrilling match.
"That libero from Suisui was insane! How can anyone beat Kousen?" - Hinata Shoyo
"We noticed early on, Suisui can't finish points decisively. Their excellent reception is their defense, but Kousen's stamina isn't lacking. Long rallies will favor Kousen." - Hoshino Katsuri
"Those three tall guys at Kousen have terrifying spikes and blocks. I need to figure out a 'flying knife' to counter them." - Mori
"What? Mori! Don't actually throw knives at them!!!"- Hinata Shoyo
"Idiot. Mori means a 'flying knife' as a Go tactic, a trap or surprise play. Strategically, it's about striking unexpectedly, not literally throwing anything." - Hoshino Katsuri
"Hoshino-senpai's right. I wouldn't actually throw anything." - Mori
"You scared me! I thought you were that reckless, haha."- Hinata Shoyo
"But seeing those giants, I feel like my spikes and blocks won't matter. I'm a little scared." - Suzuki
"Same here. I'm a bit taller than Suzuki, but against nearly 190 cm opponents, I feel inadequate." - Kawashima (;Д`)
"Don't worry. I'm taller than all of them. They can't block me! Tomorrow, I'll fight alongside you all!" - Yudai Hyakuzawa
"Haha, Yudai, you sure talk a lot on chat. Hearing that makes me feel reassured." - Hinata Shoyo
"I don't know, picking up the phone just makes me want to say things. Don't be fooled, I often argue online too." - Yudai Hyakuzawa
"Really?!" - Hinata Shoyo
"Really?!" - Hoshino Katsuri
"Really?!" - Mori
"Really?!" - Kawashima
"Really?!" -Suzuki
"Really!"- Ichinose Guren
"Go eat! You guys start chatting the moment you get home! Are you even going to eat?" - Ichinose Guren
"Yes, sir~ Captain has spoken! Everyone, go eat."- Hoshino Katsuri
"Ok!"
"Ok!"
After getting everyone to eat, Guren finally put down his phone. He made himself a quick meal, wolfed it down, and turned seriously to the big screen.
He analyzed spike directions, frequency, habitual approach steps, preferred positions for different attacks, libero tendencies, and potential weaknesses in blocking.
Guren was trying to use the "big data" from three matches to deconstruct Kousen Academy's play style and habits, creating a possible counter-strategy. Preparing before a match required extreme focus and effort.
While three-match prep might not match professional-level readiness, the way small tasks were approached determined how well one could handle big tasks. Habitual discipline amplified effects.
Guren's professional training gave him the ability to understand his opponents better than they understood themselves. A half-professional approach in Junior High volleyball? It was essentially a game of dimensional superiority.
A bright lamp illuminated his workspace. A cup of warm water with a straw sat nearby. On the small screen, he meticulously recorded his technical analysis of the three matches.
With the large screen off, Guren's next step was to organize the data into a coherent methodology, a strategy to teach his teammates for tomorrow's match.
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Kousen Academy – Coaching Team
"Matsushita! Haven't you finished analyzing the behavior patterns of their setter?"
"Sorry, Coach! The videos of Yukigaoka's matches after the Kitagawa match aren't very helpful. Aside from serves, the setter probably wasn't playing seriously most of the time."
"What? You mean he was slacking off?"
"No, not slacking. He wasn't playing with the intention of giving full effort."
Matsushita paused, looking at his head coach.
"He was controlling the pace, treating it like training for his team."
Even before the prefectural finals began, the battle had already started, between the coaching teams. It was Ichinose Guren versus Kousen Academy's coaches.
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