"Leaving today?"
"Yeah, I'm heading out with Coach José."
"What about the club?"
"I won't be going. I already said my goodbyes last ti."
"In that case, Issei and I should at least see you off."
"No need. Iwa-chan's coming with —that's enough. You two should focus on the career guidance seminar. When I get back, you'd better treat to a feast!"
"…You're the one who's going pro and earning more money."
"Haha, see you then."
"See you."
-----
In mid-February, Oikawa Tōru said his farewells to Hanamaki Takahiro and Matsukawa Issei before setting off for Argentina.
-----
"The National Tournant really is a special place. The players who ca back…their expressions seem different sohow."
Inside Aoba Johsai's clubroom, Coach Mizoguchi Sadayuki spoke thoughtfully after finishing a training session with the team.
"They've gained a new perspective," Coach Irihata Nobuteru replied with a smile. "And more than that—they've now felt, firsthand, the reality of the path ahead of them."
"Speaking of which, that Oikawa brat…he's leaving for Argentina today, isn't he? I wonder how his Spanish is coming along." Coach Mizoguchi suddenly rembered.
"According to Coach José, Oikawa's pronunciation is already quite natural."
"Hah, that kid's got real determination. Feels like he might just beco a setter recognized on the world stage one day."
Coach Irihata chuckled. "For now, though, maybe we should worry more about whether he can survive on his own in Argentina."
"I don't think that'll be a problem. After all, in the end, volleyball is a universal language, isn't it?"
"That's true. He was always the one holding the team together."
-----
[On the Flight to Argentina]
"The Argentine n's team relies on a fast-paced, dynamic offence. Their attack speed is high, their scoring threats are spread out, and they don't depend on a single-star player. Instead, they rely on team cohesion, using rapid, varied attacks to control their opponents."
On the plane, José Blanco explained Argentina's playstyle to Oikawa.
"You didn't choose Argentina because of , did you? You chose it for this."
"Haha, I should've known Coach José would see right through ." Oikawa wasn't the least bit embarrassed. "But it's true that you were the reason I beca a setter in the first place!"
José nodded. After all, on the very first day they reunited, Oikawa had handed him an old kneepad with his signature from years ago—though it was clear it had been washed many tis.
"You're a highly gifted player. Compared to when I first saw you a year ago, you've already blossod into your full potential. That's precisely why I approached you."
But then José frowned slightly.
"What I don't understand is this—you've already experienced the thrill of 'using' a star player to their full potential. So why are you still pursuing a system based on team play?"
"You already stood at the top, didn't you?"
Oikawa fell silent.
It took a while before he finally lifted his head.
"…I want to know."
He clenched his fists.
"If a player like Taichi had never co to Aoba Johsai—could we have still won?"
José's gaze remained steady. "That's a pointless thought. Everyone already knows—Aoba Johsai reached the finals of Spring Nationals because you were the strongest team."
"It wasn't just you. It wasn't just Kaedehara Taichi."
"It was every single one of you that made it happen."
José's voice was firm.
"Of course, if we're talking about the deciding factors, it was definitely you two. Neither of you was replaceable."
"I know that." Oikawa took a deep breath. "But what I want to know is…if Taichi and I had been on separate teams, who would have reached the top?"
There was a sharp, almost obsessive determination in his gaze.
"…Taichi already has his answer."
José's eyebrows raised slightly.
For the first ti, he found himself intrigued by this Kaedehara Taichi—a player he had never t.
"When I left Aoba Johsai, Taichi firmly believed that he could still lead the team to another national championship.
"That's the answer he gave ."
Oikawa smiled as if he could see Taichi's face right before him.
"And as for my answer…I'm going to find it in Argentina."
José let out a quiet chuckle.
To him, this question didn't really have an answer.
It was nothing more than a mont of uncertainty—one that two young players had encountered as they climbed toward the top.
"…Youth is a wonderful thing."
"Hm?" Oikawa turned to him, confused.
"Nothing." José grinned.
"Oikawa, I hope you're ready. Professional volleyball is far more unforgiving than high school."
"Of course."
Oikawa's lips curled into a smirk.
His eyes glead with confidence.
"I ca here to grow."
-----
"Kindaichi, are you watching your own interview again?"
During their break after training, a figure suddenly lood over Kindaichi Yūtarō's back, shouting loudly.
"N-No, I wasn't!"
Kindaichi quickly hid his phone, scrambling to his feet as he shoved Kaedehara Taichi away.
"It's only two minutes long. I'm amazed you managed to watch it for this long," Kunimi Akira comnted offhandedly from the side.
"No, uh… I just stumbled upon it. I hadn't watched it in a long ti…And besides, it's actually two minutes and fifty-eight seconds…" Kindaichi's voice grew quieter, his face turning redder by the second.
"You two should stop bullying Kindaichi already. That's too an," Yahaba Shigeru chid in.
Kunimi glanced at Taichi, who leaned in slightly and whispered—just loud enough for the others to hear, "Kunimi, don't you think Yahaba-senpai has been acting a lot more serious ever since he beca captain?"
Kunimi nodded in agreent. "He definitely has."
"You two—!" Yahaba felt an overwhelming urge to kick them both out of the clubroom.
"Yahaba-senpai, there's a beautiful girl at the door!" Taichi suddenly pointed toward the entrance.
"Where?—Wait, no, I'm not falling for that!" Yahaba had already started to turn before he realized the trick and lunged at Taichi.
"The tournant brackets are out!"
Chiba Kaho burst into the room, panting as he waved the printed match schedule for the Kanagawa Prefectural Tournant.
Yahaba: "…"
Taichi: "See? Was I lying?"
Yahaba: "…"
He sighed.
There was no dignity in being captain.
But on second thought, Oikawa-senpai had been punched on a near-daily basis and constantly forced to treat the team to food. In comparison, getting teased by the first-years wasn't that bad.
And just like that, Yahaba felt a renewed sense of motivation.
-----
[anwhile, on a plane to Argentina…]
"Ah-choo—!" Oikawa Tōru suddenly sneezed.
"Sir, are you alright? Would you like so hot water or a tissue?" A passing flight attendant asked politely.
"Thank you, but I'm fine. Soone must be thinking about …Being this charming is truly a blessing and a curse." Oikawa flashed a dazzling smile.
"…Right. Okay."
The flight attendant's expression turned cold. Just another narcissist trying to flirt.
-----
"Chiba, how's the bracket looking?"
The Aoba Johsai players gathered around Chiba Kaho as she caught her breath.
"The seeded teams are all in separate groups. Aoba Johsai is in Group A—there aren't any opponents we need to be particularly wary of."
"I see…"
Taichi nodded. That much was expected.
The Miyagi Prefectural Tournant wasn't a major event, and the group-stage matches weren't even held in the sa venue. Most of the ti, nearby schools were simply scheduled to compete against one another for convenience.
The real challenge would begin in the quarterfinals or semifinals.
"If we make it past the group stage, our quarterfinal opponent will be…Shiratorizawa."
"Shiratorizawa, huh…"
At the ntion of that na, none of the Aoba Johsai players reacted with any particular emotion.
Shiratorizawa without Ushijima Wakatoshi…was like a white eagle without its talons.
"Looks like Shiratorizawa's luck isn't too great this year," Taichi remarked with a grin.
"It's about ti the white bird learnt what it feels like to be the prey."
_________
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