Ushijima Wakatoshi finally took a good look at the player in front of him. Clean-cut black hair, a lean yet athletic build, and arms lined with muscles that exuded strength and fluidity.
Kaedehara Taichi, was it?
To keep up with his pace, then muster the energy to sprint in the final stretch, and even outpace him to the finish line—this first-year claiming to be Aoba Johsai's ace might not be entirely joking.
"Why did you choose Aoba Johsai?" Ushijima suddenly asked, his tone serious.
Before Taichi could respond, Ushijima continued, "Was it because of Oikawa? I'll admit, unlike the rest of Aoba Johsai's team, he is a remarkable player."
After a brief pause, Ushijima added, "He should have come to Shiratorizawa."
As expected, Taichi thought to himself with a faint smile.
Ushijima Wakatoshi never missed a chance to recruit Oikawa Tōru. His mindset was practically an extension of Coach Washijo's philosophy.
Shiratorizawa's volleyball program was built on a single ideal: pure, unadulterated strength. Their recruitment strategy involved scouring for information and pulling in power-focused spikers from all over. Ultimately, the team revolved around its ace.
The motto was simple: as long as it didn't hinder the ace's attack, anything else was acceptable.
Coach Washijo's obsession with power stemmed from his own youth. Denied opportunities to play due to his height, he devoted his life to proving that "power trumps all" in volleyball. His teams were always constructed around absolute powerhouse spikers.
Yet, wasn't this philosophy a rejection of his younger self?
Taichi understood the deep-seated bitterness that had lingered in Coach Washijo's heart for over forty years. It was likely the reason he pushed Hinata so hard—expecting greatness while also seeing a reflection of his own struggles.
"Why Shiratorizawa?" Oikawa Tōru suddenly interjected, stepping out from where he'd been eavesdropping. "Are you trying to say Shiratorizawa guarantees a hundred percent victory?"
"For now, that's precisely the case," Ushijima replied without missing a beat, his expression unchanging. "In Miyagi Prefecture, any team with me on it is the strongest. I'm sure you can't disagree with that."
"Ha? Still the same infuriating confidence!" Oikawa walked right up to Ushijima, glaring at him. "You've only won for two years! It won't be long before you taste defeat!"
Ushijima remained unfazed. "It's been five years. You didn't beat me in middle school, either."
"Pfft…" Taichi couldn't help but chuckle, nearly forgetting about their middle school history.
"Sorry, don't mind me. Carry on."
"Taichi! Whose side are you on?!" Oikawa shot an angry glare at him.
Taichi didn't answer. Instead, he moved to stand beside Oikawa, shoulder to shoulder, both of them staring down Ushijima.
"That's all in the past. From now on, the victory will be ours."
Ushijima was silent for a moment before turning and heading toward the gym. "Until you truly defeat me, nothing you say will matter."
As Ushijima Wakatoshi stepped into the gym, Goshiki Tsutomu darted over to him, full of energy.
"I don't want to just be like Ushijima-senpai, with only raw power! I want to become an ace with both control and technique!"
Unfazed, Ushijima responded in his usual calm tone, "I see. Do your best."
"Yes, sir!" Goshiki replied loudly, as if a child being praised.
Ushijima felt unusually drained from the sheer number of conversations he had been pulled into today. All he wanted was to start spiking as soon as possible.
Following behind Ushijima, Oikawa Tōru and Kaedehara Taichi entered the gym. Oikawa was still visibly irritated, likely brooding over his earlier failure to hold his ground during the conversation.
From the opposite side of the gym, Coach Washijo and Coach Irihata arrived, evidently having finalized the schedule for the upcoming practice match.
"Goshiki, I heard you collapsed because you ate too much," Coach Washijo barked, standing in the middle of the gym. The players swiftly organized themselves into formation.
Goshiki stepped forward without hesitation and replied firmly, "Thank you for your concern, Coach! I'm fine now—I threw it all up!"
"…You idiot!!" Washijo's furious roar echoed through the entire gym, causing the surrounding players to flinch.
Yet Goshiki stood there unfazed, looking as composed as ever.
"System, show me Goshiki Tsutomu's stats," Taichi muttered, observing Goshiki with interest.
[Goshiki Tsutomu: Overall Ability: 83, Height: 181.5 cm, Strength: 80, Jump: 88, Stamina: 86, Speed: 78; Key Attributes: Receiving: 82, Spiking: 85.]
An overall score of 83? And he's only a first-year? Taichi had heard that Goshiki was the only first-year chosen as a starter amidst Shiratorizawa's pool of second and third-year candidates.
But this level of skill already surpassed most of Aoba Johsai's starting lineup. As expected of Shiratorizawa's next ace-in-training, though Goshiki himself probably hadn't noticed the special attention he was receiving from Coach Washijo and his teammates.
"Everyone else, start your drills. Shirabu, work on spiking drills with Ushijima. Goshiki, no spiking practice today," Coach Washijo commanded before retreating to the sidelines.
"What?! Coach, how am I supposed to surpass Ushijima-senpai if I can't practice spiking?!" For the first time, Goshiki began to panic.
Tendō Satori strolled over, snickering, "Goshiki, focus on your receiving drills."
As Ushijima walked past Goshiki, he added, in his typical composed manner, "Do your best."
Goshiki frowned. Even Ushijima-senpai was saying this. Resigned, he jogged over to join the first-year team for receiving practice.
Before long, the gym was alive with the sounds of practice—shoes squeaking on the court, the rhythmic thud of volleyballs being hit, and the occasional call from a teammate.
Taichi and Oikawa had returned to stand by Coach Irihata, quietly observing Shiratorizawa's practice.
Shirabu Kenjirō set the ball high and away from the net, placing it at an optimal spot for a power spike.
Ushijima took a few powerful strides, jumped with precision, and stretched his body mid-air, his left arm swinging down with crushing force.
The entire gym seemed to quake as the ball slammed into the floor, deforming momentarily before rebounding high into the air.
"Wow, Ushijima-senpai seems to be in great shape today," one of the players remarked after a brief moment of stunned silence.
"Is it because we're playing Aoba Johsai in a practice match? Maybe he's excited about it."
"No way. Ushijima-senpai doesn't let things like that affect him."
Expressionless, Ushijima glanced briefly in Taichi's direction but gave no further reaction.
"Another one," he said to Shirabu.
"Yes, Ushijima-senpai!"
Shirabu looked at Ushijima standing under the gym's lights, admiration glinting in his eyes. This….This is the kind of volleyball I want to play. On a team of elites, achieving impossible feats.
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