The match was over!
Looking at the volleyball rolling across the floor behind them, the members of the White Team were momentarily stunned.
Although they had already accepted that defeat was a possibility, the third years still found it hard to believe that it had really happened right before their eyes.
The Red Team members were equally dazed for a moment.
“Did… we actually win?”
Kindaichi found it unbelievable.
Having been Oikawa Tooru’s junior at Kitagawa Daiichi High School, he knew better than anyone just how strong his senior really was.
Yet now, he had personally defeated him.
“Just how strong is this guy?”
Kindaichi looked at Asuto, who was looking at Iwaizumi Hajime on the opposite side.
Iwaizumi no longer displayed the same passion he had shown at the start of the match. He seemed rather quiet.
In fact, one of Ushijima Wakatoshi’s evaluations of Oikawa in the original story was particularly accurate:
‘Barren soil cannot produce abundant fruit.’
A setter is indeed the brain of a volleyball team. However, it is the Ace Spiker who strikes the opponent during a match. If that fist lacked power, no matter how brilliantly the brain controlled it, it would be futile.
The value of an ‘Ace’ is demonstrated by their ability to score at critical moments.
Unfortunately, Iwaizumi’s fist simply did not possess enough power.
This wasn’t because he didn’t work hard.
Nor was it because he lacked fighting spirit.
He simply lacked talent.
It’s cruel…
But it’s realistic.
Meanwhile, nearby, Shinji Watari was loudly teasing his fellow second-year, Shigeru Yahaba, while Asuto and the other first-years politely greeted and shook hands with the upperclassmen one by one.
Using every possible method during a match was perfectly normal as long as it stayed within the rules; giving your all in competitive sports was the greatest respect you could show your opponent.
But if someone continued to act hostilely after the match had finished, then they clearly had issues.
“You smug little first-year brat! Next time, I definitely won’t lose to you.”
When Asuto reached Oikawa during the handshake line, Oikawa suddenly grabbed his hand tightly and spoke to him in a rather ferocious manner.
Asuto fell silent for a moment.
Then he smiled brightly and said:
“What are you talking about, Oikawa-senpai? From now on, we’re teammates. There’s no such thing as winning or losing between us.”
Oikawa: “…”
· · · · · ·
“Everyone played brilliantly today. Especially the new first-years, you all have very solid fundamentals.” Coach Irihata Nobuteru gathered everyone together and announced: “Starting tomorrow, Asuto, Mishita Ryuhei, Yutaro Kindaichi and Akira Kunimi will begin training with the first string.”
The so-called ‘first string’ was essentially Aoba Johsai’s main volleyball squad.
In official volleyball matches, a standard team consists of twelve players in total, including starters and substitutes.
However, substitutions happen frequently during matches, so even though some players were labeled ‘substitutes’, in a normal game without unexpected situations, at least seven or eight players, or even more, got playing time.
As for Asuto and the others being promoted to the first string, Oikawa and the others didn’t react much.
After all, the so-called ‘welcome match’ was effectively a trial for selecting players.
Considering the performance those first-years had just shown, it would have been strange if they hadn’t been promoted.
“All right, next we’ll begin training. If the newcomers have any stamina left, they can join the team. If you’re exhausted, you can head home early today.”
The welcome match had ended slightly earlier than expected, so the remaining time couldn’t be wasted.
Hearing this… The very first person preparing to run was Akira Kunimi.
Today’s energy expenditure had long since exceeded his limit.
Right now, Akira Kunimi only wanted to go home, collapse onto the sofa, and move absolutely nothing.
However, after glancing around and seeing that the other three had no intention of leaving, Akira Kunimi could only temporarily suppress his desire to slack off.
“Oh! The first-years this year sure are courageous!”
Seeing that none of the first years intended to leave, Takahiro Hanamaki spoke up.
“But training and matches are two completely different things. Don’t think that just because you got lucky and beat us once, you’ll be able to keep up with our training pace that easily.”
Clearly, some of the third years were still bothered by the result of the match.
“There’s no need to worry about that, Hanamaki-senpai.”
Kindaichi, who was both honest and straightforward, spoke up.
Asuto chose to stay because his usual training volume was already quite intense.
Mishita Ryuhei stayed because he knew Asuto would need a teammate for extra practice afterwards.
But Kindaichi stayed for one simple reason.
He just wanted to train harder.
Nothing more.
As a long-established powerhouse, Aoba Johsai didn’t use many flashy training methods.
In fact, precisely because they were such a well-established team, they placed an even greater emphasis on fundamental training.
The first practice drill was spiking.
Although the newcomers were allowed to train alongside the upperclassmen today, even among the veterans themselves, smaller groups naturally formed based on familiarity and relationships, let alone with freshmen who had only joined today.
To improve training efficiency, everyone was ultimately divided into three small groups.
Oikawa, Iwaizumi, and Issei Matsukawa formed one group.
Shigeru Yahaba, Kindaichi, and Akira Kunimi formed another.
Mishita Ryuhei, Asuto, and Takahiro Hanamaki formed the last group.
Each group consisted of one setter assisting two spikers.
As Shinji Watari was a libero, he didn’t need to practice spiking. He only needed to practice receiving on the opposite side of the block.
······
“Akashi, Hanamaki-senpai, are you ready?”
“No problem!”
“Don’t worry, first-year. You can set me whatever kind of ball you want…” Takahiro Hanamaki declared confidently.
Hearing this, Mishita Ryuhei gave Hanamaki a somewhat surprised glance before silently nodding.
Then the training officially began.
First, Asuto tossed the ball to Mishita Ryuhei.
Mishita Ryuhei then set the ball for Asuto to spike.
After Asuto finished his spike, Takahiro Hanamaki would step in next while Asuto returned to his starting position, thus forming a continuous rotation cycle.
Among the three practice groups, the one progressing most smoothly at the start was Oikawa’s group. Since the other two groups both included first-years, they needed some time to build coordination.
And because of that, Takahiro Hanamaki seemed to discover a certain kind of “fun,” constantly shouting things like:
“Hey, freshman, speed up the rhythm a little!”
“Faster! At this pace, I’m not even breaking a sweat!”
“What’s wrong, first-year? Is this already your limit? Looks like the gap between us is still huge!”
······
And so, after training for around ten minutes, Mishita Ryuhei gradually found the proper rhythm.
He exchanged a glance with Asuto.
After the two lightly nodded at each other, Mishita Ryuhei said:
“That should be enough. Warm-up’s over now.”
“Hanamaki-senpai, are you ready?”
“Our real training is about to begin.”
Takahiro Hanamaki, whose forehead had already started sweating:
“(＿)?????”
(End of Chapter)