Smiling awkwardly and scratching his head, Sawamura Daichi spoke.
"Ah? You mean the team that made it to the national semifinals… the whole third-year group from Yukigaoka is joining Karasuno?"
"Ah~ I have a rough idea, hahaha."
"W-what? The entire team? You better tell me the truth!!!"
"You're coming to Karasuno too?"
"You're coming to Karasuno too?"
Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio had once again met by fate at the gym.
The difference this time: Kageyama came as the defeated one, while Hinata came as the victor.
"You really are a lucky guy, huh? Just riding on your teammates' strength to get into the nationals."
"What, your teammates got into Shiratorizawa, and you weren't selected?"
Though Yukigaoka had largely defeated Kageyama's Junior High team back then, he still believed that a true team required six strong individuals, six powerful players to make a team strong.
Team spirit? He still didn't get it.
Hinata, in Kageyama's eyes, was still technically rough around the edges, but lucky. He had joined Yukigaoka and been carried into the national semifinals by his teammates.
Kageyama couldn't help but look down on him, mixed with a twinge of jealousy and frustration at wasted potential.
By this point, Kageyama was furious. Why had all his intense training and effort not led him to the nationals, while this seemingly careless guy made it to the top four?
"You've got the perfect body, jumping ability, explosive power, and competitiveness, but if you never train, what good is it in matches?!"
"You're a technical mess and a useless rookie!"
Hinata had always felt that his own skills weren't enough during the nationals, that he had been holding Yukigaoka back. Even though he knew he needed constant training to improve, Kageyama's scolding stung.
"What did you just say?!"
Startled by Kageyama's dark glare, Hinata took a step back, but then stepped forward again.
"Don't underestimate me!"
"I admit that during our matches, my skills were far from enough, but, "
"I'm no longer the person I was back then!"
"These past few months, I've trained with everything I've got, not letting up for a single moment!"
Kageyama watched Hinata boldly confront him and grew even more fired up.
"I'll take my revenge in high school! It's fine that you came to Karasuno, but I will beat your other teammates!"
"Then you came to the wrong place! You should be at Shiratorizawa!"
Hinata didn't respond to that, but Kageyama, stung by the truth, fell silent for a moment and muttered:
"I failed the entrance exam."
Though their identities had flipped from their previous encounters, the argument from the match flared up again. The only difference: Kageyama still looked down on Hinata's volleyball skills.
They went through powerful serves and receptions as usual. Though Hinata's receiving had improved significantly, the first ball from Kageyama was still impossible to catch.
Meanwhile, Sawamura Daichi, already coordinated with Ichinose Guren, found an excuse to kick the two out of the gym.
The slightly late Ichinose trio arrived, giving Hinata a look that clearly said: "Don't know what happened, but I knew you'd show up."
They also gave Kageyama a look that read: "Don't know why you're here, but I'm not surprised you'll get kicked out."
Hoshino Katsuri's expression was particularly vivid, perfectly demonstrating how to use one's face to roast and mock.
The two's blood pressure skyrocketed just watching him.
In fact, on the way there, Ichinose had already coordinated the plan with them. Inside the gym, Sugawara and Tanaka also knew about Daichi and Ichinose's arrangement.
Once inside, the six greeted each other comfortably. Hyakuzawa still spoke little, and Hoshino remained formal and polite as always.
This didn't stop them from reaching a consensus: Kageyama was extremely skilled, but he needed to understand teamwork.
Hinata's speed and jumping, combined with Kageyama, could be developed well.
So, aside from Tanaka, the other five with decent wits began discussing how to push these two, especially using Hinata to push Kageyama.
If that didn't work, they planned what to do next.
Finally, Daichi made the decision and set the tone for the plan:
They would preserve each player's individuality while encouraging harmony and collaboration. Building a strong team starts with developing the relationship between these two.
To make Kageyama, who is so serious about volleyball, understand the power of teammates, they needed someone who would never be slower than him, someone who might even anticipate his moves on the court.
That someone was Hinata Shoyo.
His honest, straightforward energy would change Kageyama.
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria