"Ahh, we're finally back!"
"Even though we got one day off, playing matches every day is seriously exhausting."
"I don't see what's so great about Tokyo. Miyagi's still the most comfortable place."
On the night of May 7th, the entirety of Aoba Johsai's team safely returned from their Tokyo training expedition. Excluding the one-day break, Aoba Johsai had played training matches against twelve schools in Tokyo.
And the result? A complete sweep.
Even counting by sets, the only blemish on their record was a single set loss to Itachiyama on the final day.
Even Volleyball Monthly—rarely one to cover re practice matches—ran a piece on Aoba Johsai's showing:
"The Spring High Champions Storm Tokyo with a Perfect Run! Aoba Johsai Gunning for the IH Title?!"
"They only pegged us as the third seed in their IH title predictions before this...Adults really are so fickle," muttered Shishin Tōchi as he lay on his dorm bed, scrolling through volleyball news on his phone.
Tōchi's performance during this Golden Week had been nothing short of a surprise. Though he was plagued with nerves and hesitation before each serve, the mont he stepped up to the service line, his mindset would settle.
Out of eight rotation subs, he had served in six of them and directly scored with his serve each ti. In one match, he even racked up three consecutive points, sealing the ga on his own.
Among the five first-years brought into the tournant roster, he was the only one who wasn't a starter, yet had the most consistent performance in scoring.
"The whole article is just praise after praise for Taichi-senpai...even though the other senpai are just as strong," comnted Yamabuki. Over the past few days, he had personally witnessed the strength of the team—Kyōtani-senpai, focused on offence, and Kunimi-senpai, more defence and playmaking oriented.
He had co to fully understand why the two were so powerful.
"The dia always hone in on the strongest one, right?" said Kaoru Tōma, sitting cross-legged on the floor. "The article even said Taichi-senpai might go pro right after high school. And he's only just entered his second year?"
"Well, that just ans he already has close-to-pro level skill," murmured Daiki, lying on his back.
His mind drifted back to the single set they had lost to Itachiyama.
—"Daiki, you've seen the kind of quicks Oikawa-senpai used to set for , right?" Taichi had asked him. "Can you try setting that kind of ball? I want to give it a shot."
Yeah...that kind of super quick attack. It was definitely the kind that made your blood rush.
But during their match against Itachiyama, they tried it three tis—and failed every single one. That's how they lost the second set, and both of them had gotten chewed out by Manager Mizoguchi afterwards.
"Speed and precision...you can't miss either," Daiki muttered to himself. "But right now, I haven't reached the standard on either front."
"Even so, Taichi still asked to do it...knowing that."
"Which ans I have to make it happen. There's no way I'll lose to that guy."
anwhile, Yōji Yūki was still reviewing match footage nearby, eyes serious.
"A real blocker," he said quietly, "is soone who can even shut down an ace."
As night deepened, Aoba Johsai's Golden Week quietly ca to a close—with every player deep in their own thoughts.
-----
One week later—
"The IH brackets are out!"
Manager Mizoguchi Sadayuki arrived right on ti, bringing the news every Aoba Johsai player had been waiting for.
Group A: Date Tech gets a first-round bye.
Matchups: Shinyama Tech vs. Sakura High, Kimoto vs. Kawanami Agricultural, Shiranami vs. Tokisaka.
Group B: Ohgiminami gets a first-round bye.
Matchups: Hayashi vs. Yoshinobu, Kajihara vs. Midorikawa, Shiranami Tech vs. Dewa No.2.
Group C: Shiratorizawa gets a first-round bye.
Matchups: Konuma vs. Hakusuikan. Also, Izumigata gets a bye.
Matchup: Ōunan vs. Kanemori.
Group D: Johzenji gets a first-round bye.
Matchups: Chigasawa North vs. Ōmizaki, Tsunobue vs. Dewa No.1, Wakunan vs. Kawanami First.
Group E: Karasuno gets a first-round bye.
Matchups: Senjō Tech vs. Dewa No.3, Momijihara vs. Yugama, Minetaka vs. Kajiki.
Group F: Sengoku Tech gets a first-round bye.
Matchups: Sakui vs. Higashida, Kuroda vs. Nishida, Sunayama vs. Uhara.
Group G: Kakugawa Academy gets a first-round bye.
Matchups: Tōzai South vs. Amaru Comrcial, Tōhoku First vs. Hitsukawa Agricultural, Izumigata Academy vs. Senshū Comrcial.
Group H: Aoba Johsai gets a first-round bye.
Matchups: Suzuhara vs. Ōtani, Shiranami Comrcial vs. Niikawa, Kajiyama vs. Minetaka Comrcial.
Since Date Tech had won the Prefectural Tournant, they were seeded into Group A. As for the other major title contender, Aoba Johsai was placed in Group H.
The landscape in Miyagi hadn't changed much—except for the fact that Wakunan had completely faded out of the power rankings.
Still, as so schools declined, others rose. Previously unknown schools like Kakugawa Academy and Sengoku Tech had gradually gained recognition through consistent performances over the past year.
The brightest among them was none other than Kakugawa Academy's Hyakuzawa Yūdai. Standing at two ters tall, the so-called "giant" was now widely regarded as the only ace in Miyagi capable of going head-to-head with Kaedehara Taichi.
After returning from Golden Week, Aoba Johsai no longer held practice matches with other schools. They needed enough ti to fully digest the experiences of their Tokyo expedition.
Each player had their own challenges to confront. Beyond individual technique, the handling of every ball in critical monts, the execution of every tactic—all of it could reveal areas for improvent through replay and reflection.
Whoosh—!
Smack!
Taichi's arm sliced through the air, but the volleyball flew wide from the left wing, landing out of bounds.
"That's it for today," Taichi said calmly after landing.
Nakamori Daiki's expression held a trace of frustration. He could feel that he was this close to delivering the kind of toss Taichi wanted. But the question remained—which direction was that tiny missing piece supposed to go? Daiki still hadn't figured it out.
"I've already finished my jump float serve receiving drills. I can stay and train longer today," Daiki insisted, his voice laced with stubbornness. He was a genius, after all. There was no reason why he couldn't master a toss that several others had managed to learn.
"But this particular drill isn't essential," Taichi replied coolly. "We've got plenty of weapons. There's no need to be fixated on this one."
"I'm going to practice tosses with Kunimi in a bit. You should work on sothing else."
"Tch." Daiki clicked his tongue in annoyance.
As a libero, he didn't need to practice serving or spiking, but there was still plenty for him to learn. Daiki needed a systematic understanding of indoor volleyball's rules and strategies. Every day, Manager Mizoguchi dragged him into the office for theoretical lessons.
"Taichi, go practice with Kindaichi. I'm not feeling well," Kunimi Akira said with zero enthusiasm, slouching on the sidelines.
"Kindaichi's training with Yūki and the others." Taichi yanked Kunimi to his feet. "Just an hour. It'll go by quick."
"Look at —I'm already at my limit," Kunimi protested, thoroughly unmotivated. "Let off the hook."
"Aren't you always like this?" Taichi said without a hint of sympathy. "Co on, get tossing already…"
"Ugh…"
Kunimi gave in with a sigh and reluctantly started practising tosses.
As the IH prefectural qualifiers crept ever closer, the usual noise and fiery intensity of practice matches faded from Aoba Johsai's third gym. In its place ca a quiet period of calm and refinent.
Each player imrsed themselves in their own training. Silently, each of them honed their skills, sharpening their techniques bit by bit. In the gym, only the sounds of practice remained.
Coach Irihata stood by the court, watching his players with quiet satisfaction.
"Just keep up this rhythm," he murmured. "Victory and defeat alike—once the players have tasted both, they'll beco calr, more focused. This Seijoh will accumulate strength in silence… and return to the court with a more mature presence."
And then—
Once more—
_________
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