Date: April 20
Location: Higashiyama Campus Gymnasium, Nagoya University
Event: A friendly exhibition match between the DH Club and Nagoya University's volleyball team.
Note: After being ignored by soone before the match, a certain soone wanted to make himself unforgettable—through volleyball.
-----
BOOM!!!
The volleyball slamd down hard on Nagoya's side of the court, clearing the blockers.
Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike.
[DH 5 – 0 Nagoya]
"Damn it!"
Groans erupted from the spectators cheering for Nagoya University.
"Why is it always him?!"
Coach Hirakoba's eye twitched subtly, his emotions a tangled ss. As a fan of the DH Club, he was thrilled to see such a powerful new recruit on the team. But as the coach of Nagoya University's volleyball team…this scoreline was downright brutal.
"Taichi, aren't you being a little too intense?" Iizuna Tsukasa asked with a friendly tone.
"Not at all."
Kaedehara Taichi smiled sweetly. "I'm holding back plenty."
"…Is that so."
Iizuna sighed. Outside hitters were always a handful. For the sake of maintaining good relations between the club and Nagoya University, he figured he'd better cut back on setting to Kaedehara Taichi for the ti being.
DH served again.
Even the audience could tell they weren't serving seriously—each ball flew straight at Nagoya's libero.
Smack!
The serve was received with ease.
Nagoya's setter, Suzuki Hiroshi, moved quickly to get in position.
—!
There it was again—that feeling of being watched.
Suzuki knew Kaedehara Taichi was on the left wing.
Based on their previous failed attempts at attacking, he made up his mind to avoid that block at all costs.
Whoosh—!
The ball flew toward the right wing.
And then, out of the corner of his eye, Suzuki caught a glimpse of Kaedehara Taichi's silhouette moving behind the net.
No way…
"Seta-senpai! Watch the block!"
BOOM!—
—Smack!
The spike flew from Seta Takeshi's hands—
Only to be slamd straight back to Nagoya's side of the court at an even faster speed.
Thud!
Kaedehara Taichi scored with a block.
[DH 6 – 0 Nagoya]
"Nice to et you, Seta-senpai." Taichi bead. "This ti, I definitely rember you."
In the bleachers, a scout from the Tachibana Red Falcons club took a deep breath, then tore a page from his notebook and shut it with a snap.
"There's no point observing this match anymore…"
On the torn page, one could faintly make out words like:
Kaedehara Taichi—Speed: S-tier / Power: S-tier / Jump: S-tier / Technique…
The scout crumpled the paper and stuffed it into his pocket.
"You can't see anything aningful. That kid…he is playing easier than he did in high school."
"Beep! Nagoya calls for a tiout."
Less than five minutes in, and Nagoya had already used both of their tiouts.
But Coach Hirakoba was out of options. That high schooler on the other side—
No, calling him a high schooler didn't do him justice. He was stronger than your average pro.
-----
When the tiout ended and play resud, Kaedehara Taichi was benched by his coach.
Iizuna Tsukasa continued the match with the rest of the second team.
Nagoya's score finally started to move.
The rallying between both sides grew livelier, with back-and-forth action that kept the energy high.
From a visual standpoint, the match had beco much more entertaining now that Taichi was off the court. But after witnessing his earlier performance—which had felt more like a one-man show—this "intense match" now felt…underwhelming.
[DH 25 – 18 Nagoya]
[DH 25 – 22 Nagoya]
[DH 23 – 25 Nagoya]
[DH 25 – 21 Nagoya]
In the end, the DH Club won easily, 3–1.
Even in the final set, the assistant coach never once let Kaedehara Taichi back onto the court.
-----
"That was a great match. Hopefully we'll get another chance to play again," Iizuna said kindly.
Seta Takeshi let out a helpless laugh. "I knew Taichi was strong…but I didn't expect the gap to be that wide."
"Yeah, that surprised even us," Iizuna replied with a smile. "He adjusted to pro-level intensity on his very first day with the club. Honestly, we're still not sure what his true potential is."
"I-I see…"
Seta froze for a second—then accepted this seemingly absurd reality.
Going straight from second year of high school into the pro league, skipping the V3 and V2 leagues altogether…
Anyone would be shocked by such a teoric rise.
But Kaedehara Taichi had taken it even further.
Seta rembered it had taken him a whole month just to adjust to university-level volleyball. And Taichi? He needed just one day to get used to professional play?
"Sticking to your goals and charging ahead isn't so bad either," Iizuna said warmly. "Getting into a top university like this is sothing a lot of people couldn't pull off, right?"
"…Thanks."
Seta looked once again at Kaedehara Taichi in the distance, who looked half-bored, mid-yawn.
But in his mind, he suddenly recalled that confident smile and resolute gaze Taichi had shown at the press conference.
"V1 League champions, huh?"
Seta smiled in resignation.
"Then you guys better give it your all this season."
"We will," Iizuna replied softly.
-----
That afternoon, back at the DH Club's gym—
"Tsukasa, Taichi—you're back!"
Nitta Asahiro waved them over. "How'd the synergy go?"
"Did our ace pull off another 18-point set?"
Kitajima Kippei asked excitedly.
"Three-one again, right? Did Taichi rack up over 40 points this ti?"
Tom Wilde chid in too.
"You two are betting again, aren't you?"
Iizuna Tsukasa brushed the two aside and responded to Nitta instead.
"Synergy was fine, I guess? Pretty much felt like normal practice."
"…That's not an answer."
Seeing that Iizuna wasn't going to give them a straight reply, Kitajima and Wilde both turned toward the main subject of their bet.
"Taichi, co clean—how many points did you score today?"
"Six points," Kaedehara Taichi said, casually placing his backpack near the wall by the entrance.
"Sixty? Then that ans you—"
"Wait, six points?!" Tom Wilde exclaid in disbelief.
"What happened?"
"Did Taichi get injured?!"
Nitta Asahiro and Kitajima Kippei's voices imdiately turned serious. They knew—six points was definitely not a normal score for Kaedehara Taichi.
"Relax, senpai." Iizuna Tsukasa gave Taichi a rare side-eye. "Taichi isn't injured. Coach just benched him."
"Huh?" The team looked even more confused. Wasn't this practice match specifically arranged so Taichi and Iizuna could improve their coordination? Why limit his court ti then…
Iizuna quickly recapped the match against Nagoya University.
"Four points from spikes, two from blocks, and you forced Nagoya to burn through all their tiouts after a 6–0 start in the first set?" Kitajima Kippei looked like he didn't know what to say.
"That's so cool! I wanna do that too…" Tom Wilde slipped into a daze.
"You're really sothing…totally shaless." Nitta burst out laughing. "Didn't Coach tell you this was a friendly match?"
Taichi thought for a mont. "Coach said, 'Play however you like.'"
"Wow, and this is your idea of 'however you like.'" Yoshii Hiyu had wandered over at so point and joined the circle. "If Coach hadn't subbed you out, were you planning to end it 25–0?"
"Not really." Taichi scratched his head sheepishly. "That'd be too much. Plus, it'd put a lot of pressure on the server."
"I thought maybe sothing like 10–0 would be enough."
Kitajima Kippei: "….."
Nitta Asahiro: "….."
Tom Wilde: "Cool! I'm gonna try that next ti!"
"You were actually thinking like that?! And you were even worrying about the server? You're unbelievable…" Yoshii had been with DH Club for seven years, and this was the first ti he'd t soone like Kaedehara Taichi.
"Oh, that reminds ," Kubo Wataru suddenly pulled out his phone. "Taichi has done sothing like this before."
"During the Spring High prelims, Aoba Johsai beat Shinzan Tech with scores of 25–3 and 25–2," Kubo read off the webpage. "All the two points in the second set were from service errors. That match set a new record for the biggest point differential in a single set in Miyagi's Spring High prelim history."
Every teammate—including Iizuna—turned their heads stiffly to stare at Taichi.
"Oh, and by the way, he was a first-year back then," Kubo added.
"Demon," Nitta comnted flatly.
"Unforgivable," Kitajima said, as if he were the one who had to suffer it.
"Cool!" Tom Wilde chirped, then coughed awkwardly as the team stared at him. "Ahem, I an…inhuman beast!"
Taichi: "..." What the heck is going on here…
"Didn't think you were already that evil back in your first year," Yoshii muttered, an odd expression on his face. He'd always thought Taichi was obedient during training, respectfully calling his seniors senpai without fail—but maybe the sliver of a devil he showed during matches was closer to his true nature.
Even Iizuna gave him a aningful glance. "Good thing Coach subbed you out today. Otherwise, we might've broken off diplomatic ties with Nagoya University."
"Co on, giving it your all in a match is how you show respect to your opponents." Taichi puffed up his chest. "I was just trying to have a serious conversation with them!"
"If you want to talk about really evil personalities, it has to be Oikawa-senpai! Iizuna-senpai, you've t him, right? Compared to him, I'm practically innocent."
"You an Oikawa Tōru? I've heard of him," said Nitta. "He was in the sa grade as you, right, Tsukasa? Back then, a lot of clubs lacking a setter extended offers to both of you."
"Yeah," Iizuna replied naturally. "Oikawa Tōru was nad Best Setter at Spring High the year he graduated."
"I played against him once in the Spring High finals, and we were also on the sa team during the youth training camp," he recalled. "He's an exceptional setter. Can sync with his teammates quickly and deliver comfortable sets."
"Even you say that? I really want to see him in action," Nitta said, twirling a finger around his beard. Those who knew him could tell—he was really interested now.
"But…what does that have to do with being evil?" Yoshii steered the conversation back to Taichi.
"Everything!" Taichi said with conviction. "Iizuna-senpai, think carefully."
"Hmm…" Iizuna looked thoughtful. "Didn't really get the sense that Oikawa was a bad person. He just smiled a little too flirtatiously sotis."
"Exactly!" Taichi clapped his hands. "That says it all! That flirty smile—he was always scheming sothing!"
"Maybe I picked up a bit of that deviousness from him," he added, his smile tinged with sothing bitter.
"Ohh, so that's where it cos from!" Tom Wilde gasped in understanding.
Nitta Asahiro: "…"
"Heh…is that so…?" Yoshii still looked sceptical.
-----
anwhile, at CA San Juan Volleyball Club in Argentina—
"Oikawa, it's a pity you couldn't win the championship last season." The voice on the phone was steady and firm. "About what we discussed earlier—have you made up your mind?"
"Yes, I've made my decision." Oikawa Tōru looked out the window, the dazzling cityscape of Argentina bustling with life.
—Just recently, Oikawa's team, CA San Juan, had lost the finals of the Argentine league in a narrow 2–3 defeat. It had been a long ti since he'd tasted the bitterness of loss, but this ti, he hadn't shed any tears.
After the match, the president of the Argentine Volleyball Federation had approached him with a bold offer:
"Would you be willing to acquire Argentine citizenship and join our national team?"
That question had hit Oikawa like a hamr to the heart, sending ripples through his mind.
To be called up to Argentina's national team was no small feat—it was a powerful affirmation of his skills. The opportunity to compete on the world stage alongside the best of the best was the kind of dream most athletes could only hope for.
But he couldn't help thinking back to his high school days at Aoba Johsai, sweating and striving alongside his teammates in pursuit of their Spring High dream.
"Oikawa, we understand this is a big decision. You have a month to think it over before the training camp starts. We greatly admire your abilities and hope to hear from you soon."
"Thank you," Oikawa had replied, doing his best to keep his voice calm.
He had once made a promise with Kaedehara Taichi—whether as teammates or rivals, they would et again at a higher level.
Just as Oikawa was wavering, he'd received a call from Coach Irihata.
Taichi, he learned, would be going pro right after his second year of high school.
"That guy…he's moving way too fast," Oikawa chuckled. "But that's so like him."
And in that mont—hanging up on Coach Irihata—Oikawa had already made up his mind.
"I'll join the Argentine national team."
"That's fantastic! After watching that final, I had a feeling you'd say yes." The voice on the phone sounded elated. "And good luck next season. I hope you get to wipe away the regret and take the title."
"Thank you!" With his decision made, Oikawa felt lighter inside.
Next ti we et, it won't just be on the professional stage. It'll be on the world stage.
Right, Taichi?
"Achoo!"
"Oikawa, please don't catch a cold. National team training starts next week."
"It's nothing. Probably just soone talking behind my back," Oikawa joked.
"Haha, maybe an old rival you beat once?"
"Haha…could be a teammate, too."
"Well then, see you at training."
"See you!"
_________
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