After Tendou Satori received an answer, he quickly moved on to the next question.
"Did you see that guy with the crazy high attack points?"
"Yeah, Ichinose Guren. He's from our prefecture. A while ago, he actually refused Coach Washijo's recruitment."
"Wh–what?"
Tendou's eyes widened in surprise. To him, Shiratorizawa was the perfect place for Guren's kind of monster to gather. He had assumed that once school started, there would be a new spring-loaded phenom joining them. He never expected Guren to outright refuse old man Washijo's offer.
Seeing his friend's astonishment, Ushijima Wakatoshi explained what Guren had said to Coach Washijo at the time.
"The assistant later told me that when the old man returned, he said in his usual calm tone that the kid wanted to play for our Shiratorizawa, so he turned down my invitation."
"R-really?"
Tendou was even more shocked, eyes wide.
Such bold words! In two years at Shiratorizawa, he'd never seen anyone speak to Coach Washijo like that.
"It should be true. I'm just repeating what the assistant said. Whatever he wants to do, if he really comes before us, we'll just play him seriously in a match."
Ushijima's face remained impassive, which made Tendou think, No wonder Ushijima doesn't get shaken even facing a strong newcomer.
While the top two high schools in Miyagi Prefecture were buzzing about Guren, Tsukishima Kei from the Ichinose Group's procurement department arrived at the Tsukishima house carrying a beautifully packaged bottle of nutritional supplements.
Ichinose's eldest son wouldn't lie to me, right?
He recalled memories of young Guren playing volleyball at the Ichinose Group training gym when Tsukishima first started working there.
He's loved volleyball since childhood, and with a family this wealthy, getting supplements like this makes sense.
Besides, who casually sends a truckload of supplements just like that?
Two days ago, on his way home, Guren had coincidentally run into Tsukishima, who was also driving back. After lowering the windows, they chatted briefly.
Tsukishima had only noticed the neatly packaged drink in Guren's hands. Thinking it was a new product from the Ichinose Group's beverage acquisitions, he asked casually.
After Guren explained, Tsukishima mentioned that he had a younger brother also growing fast and playing volleyball. Guren asked about his brother's flavor preferences, and today, a truck arrived at the Tsukishima house.
Two movers carried several large boxes of supplements inside. The shipment was from the Ichinose Group, and the payment had been processed company-to-company.
Looking at the strawberry-flavored bottle in his hands, Tsukishima Kei felt conflicted. Too many bottles, if his brother didn't drink them, they'd just take up space. Throwing them away could get him in trouble.
In the end, he knocked on the door.
A calm voice called from inside:
"Who is it? What do you want?"
"Ah, ah! It's me, your older brother."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Well, Mom said I should get you some vitamins to help you grow. I brought a bottle to see if you like it. Haha… ha ha ha."
Tsukishima Kei scratched his head awkwardly, forcing a laugh through the door.
Inside, Tsukishima Akiteru tilted his head in curiosity but still let his older brother in.
He spun around in his chair to face the slightly nervous and embarrassed Kei.
"Mom always thought I was a bit too tall. Why would she have you bring growth supplements?"
After a long pause, seeing that his brother wasn't trying to lie, Akiteru's glasses caught a glint of resolve.
"Fine, give it here. I'll see if I want to drink it."
He held out his hand. Kei hurriedly passed over the supplements, relieved to have survived the encounter.
Finding an excuse, Kei then quickly left Akiteru's room.
Akiteru examined the bottle, noting the label: strawberry flavor. Then, rolling his eyes at his older brother's questionable intelligence, he checked the production license and patent number. Sure enough, it came from the Ichinose Group.
Since Kei worked in Ichinose's procurement department, Akiteru guessed this was just a small gift. Seeing that the production and expiration dates were fine, he drank the supplement.
As he drank, his brow lifted.
Not bad at all.
Happy that it suited his taste, Akiteru drank it throughout the holiday.
When school started, he realized his brother had been honest, the growth supplements really worked. They compensated for the nutrients he'd missed due to his small appetite, pushing his height up to 189 cm.
Interhigh, let's have Karasuno play and grow.
Spring High will just make the opponents stronger~
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria