The first day of the training camp was filled with continuous matches, with each team playing two sets against every other team.
Shiratorizawa—7 wins, 1 loss (dropped a set to Aoba Johsai)
Aoba Johsai—7 wins, 1 loss (dropped a set to Shiratorizawa)
Date Tech—3 wins, 5 losses (lost to both Shiratorizawa and Aoba Johsai, as well as one set to Jousanji)
Jousanji—2 wins, 6 losses (lost all sets to Shiratorizawa and Aoba Johsai, and dropped a set to Kakugawa)
Kakugawa—1 win, 7 losses
In Shiratorizawa’s exclusive coaching room, coaches from various schools gathered to discuss players with promising potential.
Aoba Johsai—Kyōtani Kentarō, Kaedehara Taichi, Kunimi Akira, Kindaichi Yūtarō.
Coach Irihata basked in the envious glances from the others before he spoke slowly, savouring the mont:
"Kyōtani’s growth has been a bit lopsided. He’s an aggressive attacker, but his height is insufficient for effective blocking as a middle blocker. His receiving skills are weak, making him a liability as an outside hitter..."
Feeling the dangerous glares intensifying, Irihata cleared his throat and shifted the topic
"Let’s move on to other teams."
Shiratorizawa—Kawanishi Taichi, Goshiki Tsutomu.
Coach Irihata smirked to himself, thinking, Our Taichi is definitely the stronger one.
Coach Washijō seed to read Irihata’s thoughts and snorted. "Goshiki is our next ace, but his composure still needs work. He requires careful refinent."
Date Tech—Aone Takanobu, Futakuchi Kenji, Kanji Koganegawa.
Although Date Tech’s results hadn’t been particularly impressive, Coach Oiwake had much to say. Aone and Futakuchi’s blocking had been nearly perfected at the last Inter-High tournant. With the addition of Koganegawa, a 191cm first-year, Date Tech had a promising future.
"Koganegawa may be rough around the edges, but with his height, he could develop into an excellent large-scale setter."
Other notable players included Terushima Yūji from Johzenji and Hyakuzawa Yūdai from Kakugawa.
"Terushima is an all-rounder, but his erratic personality makes him an unstable factor in matches. As for Hyakuzawa—if he were part of a strong team, he’d be a nightmare for opponents in the next two years."
Kakugawa lacked a specialized coach and was led by a faculty advisor. Only Coach Washijō’s keen eye for talent and refusal to waste potential had prompted Shiratorizawa to initiate contact with Kakugawa.
Coach Anabara thought to himself: In the next two years, Aoba Johsai and Date Tech will likely beco Shiratorizawa’s greatest threats. The era of Shiratorizawa reigning as the lone powerhouse in Miyagi Prefecture may soon change.
-----
After dinner, all the players gathered again in the gymnasium.
"Based on overall strength and performance, the coaches have decided to reorganize you into six mixed teams. Each pair of teams will form a group, competing in one match each morning and evening. The remaining ti will be used for self-training."
"The team assignnts are as follows..."
Irihata Nobuteru's Team—Setter Shirabu Kenjirō, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Outside Hitter Goshiki Tsutomu, Outside Hitter Futakuchi Kenji, Middle Blocker Tendō Satori, Middle Blocker Aone Takanobu, Libero Iwaizumi Haji. Substitute: Kanji Koganegawa.
Washijō Tanji's Team—Setter Oikawa Tōru, Outside Hitter Ushijima Wakatoshi, Outside Hitter Terushima Yūji, Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Middle Blocker Hyakuzawa Yūdai, Libero Yamagata Hayato. Substitute: Kyōtani Kentarō.
Oiwake Takurō's Team—Setter Semi Eita, Outside Hitter Hanamaki Takahiro...
Anabara Takayuki's Team—Setter Yahaba Shigeru, Outside Hitter Ōhira Reon..
Mizoguchi Sadayuki's Team—Setter Futamata Takeharu, Outside Hitter Higashiyama Katsumichi...
Saitō Akira's Team—Setter Komaki Yuzuru...
As soon as the list was announced, murmurs rippled through the gym.
"Oikawa and Ushijima on the sa team?"
"The best setter and best spiker in the prefecture? How do you even beat that?"
Even Ushijima Wakatoshi and Oikawa Tōru exchanged glances. Long-ti rivals, this was their first ti playing as teammates...
More puzzling to many players was the positional switch for several individuals. Kaedehara Taichi was now listed as an outside hitter, and Hyakuzawa Yūdai had been reassigned to middle blocker. These changes were surprising but acceptable.
What truly shocked both Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa players was Iwaizumi Haji’s new role as libero. This decision stripped him of his offensive capabilities—sothing no one had expected.
Coach Washijō offered no explanation, rely giving his final instructions: "Use tonight's free practice to familiarize yourself with your teammates. Matches will begin tomorrow morning at eight."
With that, he gathered several players from his team for a brief, last-minute session, focusing on giving Hyakuzawa personalized guidance.
The most contentious decision during the coaches' earlier discussions had been Iwaizumi's position.
—An Hour Earlier—
"Iwaizumi as an outside hitter is more than adequate," Coach Irihata said, his brows furrowed. "Among the outside hitters here, he’s easily top five. Putting him at libero wastes his potential."
"I won’t argue with that," Coach Washijō replied. "But being 'adequate' isn’t enough when facing teams at the national level. Iwaizumi's skill set makes him capable of becoming exceptional in receiving."
Coach Irihata paused, considering the point. Though their coaching philosophies differed, both had decades of experience and sharp eyes for talent.
After all, Washijō was the sa coach who relegated a highly capable setter like Semi Eita to the bench—but that move pushed Semi to develop a deadly jump float serve as his secret weapon.
Irihata recalled Aoba Johsai’s match-ending rally against Shiratorizawa in the recent tournant. It was Iwaizumi’s perfect receive against Ushijima’s spike that kept the play alive, leading to Aoba Johsai’s decisive point.
Still, moving Iwaizumi from a key offensive role to a defensive specialist seed a cruel fate. He had already sacrificed much, putting his heart into defence to strengthen the team’s foundation.
Stripping him of the title of outside hitter—one of the most dynamic roles—felt like too great a blow.
"I’ll allow him to play libero for the training matches," Irihata finally said. "Experiencing different positions may broaden his vision. But unless Iwaizumi himself requests it, I’ll make sure he wears the number 4 jersey and finishes his high school volleyball career as an outside hitter."
"Stubborn as always," Washijō snorted. "Well, Aoba Johsai is your team, not mine."
Irihata smiled confidently. "And as an outside hitter, Iwaizumi will help Aoba Johsai defeat Shiratorizawa at Spring Nationals."
Washijō laughed bitterly. "Such big talk for a man who’s only beaten us once—just once—in these last few years."
"Spending so much ti with this group of players, I feel younger these days, Washijō." Irihata's eyes twinkled with satisfaction as he saw the irritation on the other coach’s face.
Anabara Takaaki had been trying to excuse himself from the brewing tension, but no opportunity arose.
Sharing the room with two of Miyagi’s most venerable coaches—one of whom had coached him back in his student days—left him feeling completely out of place.
"Anabara, find a nearby izakaya for later," Washijō suddenly ordered. "I’m going to drink this old man under the table."
"Hah, you’d better make sure soone’s around to carry you back, old man," Irihata sneered.
Their eyes locked, and sparks seed to fly as their gazes clashed.
_________
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