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Chapter 209: From Air to Ground (Double-Length)
🕑 Added 2025-02-05 16:02:01 +0000 UTC[December 9 – Shiratorizawa Academy First Gymnasium, Final Day of the Intensive Training Camp]
"Everyone, you're really lucky today. Ushijima Wakatoshi, who just returned from the Japan Youth National Team training camp, along with the third-year players of Shiratorizawa, have agreed to form a team and play a practice match against you all. This will be a great opportunity to assess your progress during this camp."
Early in the morning, Coach Anabara delivered an unexpected announcement to the training camp participants.
"It's Ushijima-senpai!!"
Nagatsumune Muto, a third-year from Kosen Academy Middle School, shouted excitedly.
As this year's best middle school middle blocker in Miyagi Prefecture, he would be enrolling at Shiratorizawa next spring.
Naturally, Ushijima Wakatoshi was the star player he had idolized for a long time.
"The Youth National Team!!"
"And we even get to play a practice match against Ushijima-senpai?!"
Amidst the murmurs of excitement, Shiratorizawa's third-years slowly entered the gym.
"It's really him!! Ushijima-senpai in the flesh!!!"
"Good morning, Senpai!" Goshiki Tsutomu greeted loudly, his voice tinged with pride.
"Aa, Goshiki," Tendō Satori smirked. "You haven't been acting all high and mighty at this camp, have you?"
"Of course not!!" Goshiki responded earnestly.
The other players, feeling a sense of distance from the seniors, whispered among themselves but didn't approach.
"Uh—Coach, can I play?!" Hinata Shōyō asked, practically vibrating with excitement.
For a moment, all eyes turned in his direction.
Even though Coach Washijō had dismissed him, Hinata had been the most attention-grabbing player throughout the entire camp.
"You can play," Coach Anabara nodded, and Hinata's face instantly lit up. But before he could get too carried away, the coach added, "However, you're not allowed to spike. Coach Washijō has assigned you to the libero position."
Tendō: "Huh?!"
Everyone instinctively looked at Hinata.
This 164 cm player had worked relentlessly to prove that he could compete in the air using his speed and jump height.
His dynamic plays had already left a lasting impression in past matches.
And now, Washijō was making him stay on the ground?
"I can do it!" Hinata clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. "As long as I get to play, I don't care if it's libero!"
From being a ball boy to a libero—Hinata believed there was something valuable to learn from this.
After all, in these past few days of chasing after stray balls, he had noticed countless details about receptions that had never crossed his mind before.
"What a shame," Tendō lamented. "I wanted to try blocking this little guy's spikes at least once."
Seeing the firm resolve in Hinata's eyes, Coach Anabara decided to say no more.
"Alright, everyone, split into teams and work out your signals and coordination. Take this time to communicate as much as possible."
"I'll now announce the lineups for the match."
Starting Lineups
Shiratorizawa Team:
Front row—Middle Blocker Nagatsumune Muto, Outside Hitter Ushijima Wakatoshi, Setter Semi Eita.
Back row—Middle Blocker Tendō Satori (Libero: Yamagata Hayato), Wing Spiker Ōhira Reon and Wing Spiker Matsudaira Kiyomasa (Shiratorizawa Academy Middle School, 3rd year).
Training Camp Team:
Front row—Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Setter Koganegawa Kanji, Outside Hitter Goshiki Tsutomu.
Back row—Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira, Wing Spiker Hyakuzawa Yūdai and Middle Blocker Tsukishima Kei (Libero: Hinata Shōyō).
Once the teams were set, the spectators took a good look at the Training Camp Team's lineup.
As expected of the players selected by Coach Washijō—these were the most physically gifted first-years in Miyagi Prefecture.
Kindaichi Yūtarō – 190 cm
Koganegawa Kanji – 191.5 cm
Goshiki Tsutomu – 182 cm
Kunimi Akira – 183 cm
Hyakuzawa Yūdai – 202 cm
Tsukishima Kei – 190 cm
And finally, standing among them like an indentation in an otherwise even skyline—Hinata Shōyō, 164 cm.
At that moment, they started to understand why Coach Washijō wasn't particularly fond of him.
The warm-ups ended quickly.
The match began with the Training Camp Team serving.
Tsukishima Kei sent the ball over the net with a simple overhand serve.
Seeing such a non-threatening serve, Ushijima Wakatoshi—who had just played against the Youth Team two days ago—felt an odd moment of disconnection.
Yamagata Hayato received the ball smoothly.
"Wakatoshi!"
Semi Eita set the ball high to the middle.
"Double block!"
Kindaichi Yūtarō and Koganegawa Kanji leapt up together.
Hmm, not bad for a double block.
BOOM!
Ushijima spiked a sharp cross-court shot. The ball struck Tsukishima's hands and ricocheted high out of bounds.
[Shiratorizawa 1 – 0 Training Camp Team]
Too easy…
Ushijima's face returned to its usual impassiveness.
"You can rely on your teammates to cover those," Coach Anabara advised. "Communicate and call out your intentions while receiving!"
"Understood," Tsukishima responded.
The serve rotated to Shiratorizawa.
Nagatsumune Muto, a third-year middle schooler standing at 189 cm, stepped up to serve.
Boom!
A jump serve?!
Hinata tensed up.
It wasn't just a height gap—there was also a technical gap between him and these players who had stood at the top of their generation since middle school.
Smack!
Hinata received the ball.
Koganegawa adjusted his position and sent the set outward.
"Too close to the net!!"
Goshiki shouted, sprinting in from the sideline before slamming the ball down.
Smack!
Ōhira Reon received it effortlessly. Because the set wasn't ideal, Goshiki had fewer attack angles to work with.
Semi adjusted and set the ball perfectly into Tendō's attack zone.
Boom!
The ball slammed into Hyakuzawa's arms and bounced off.
[Shiratorizawa 2 – 0 Training Camp Team]
"Hinata, get your receptions on target! Aim for the setter!"
"Yes!"
"Koganegawa, stabilize your stance before setting. Slower and more controlled!"
"Yes!"
Nagatsumune served again, and this time, Hyakuzawa received it cleanly.
Koganegawa quickly adjusted.
"I got it!"
Kindaichi called from the left.
"If it's here, it needs to be a high set."
Koganegawa steadied himself and sent a high ball to the left wing.
Kindaichi charged, and Ushijima jumped in front of him.
At first, Kindaichi had been a bit nervous when he heard they would be playing against Ushijima.
Especially with his seniors from Aoba Johsai—Oikawa and Kaedehara Taichi—not here, he felt like his team lacked a true anchor.
But standing right in front of Ushijima…
Strangely, his nerves vanished.
Maybe it was because he had already defeated Shiratorizawa twice before.
Tap!
Kindaichi tipped the ball behind Ushijima's block.
The back-row defenders, Nagatsumune and Matsudaira, weren't expecting Ushijima's block to leave an opening.
Thud, thud, thud.
The ball landed cleanly.
[Shiratorizawa 2 – 1 Training Camp Team]
"Nice one, Kindaichi!" Koganegawa praised.
"Kunimi, you're pulling your arms back too early when blocking! Don't give up so soon!"
"Got it!"
Without giving the training camp team any chance to recover, Ushijima Wakatoshi stepped onto the service line.
For them, this situation was extremely unfavorable.
"Wakatoshi-senpai, give us a good serve!"
Standing in the middle of the backcourt, Hinata Shōyō clenched his fists.
—So this is the kind of pressure Nishinoya-senpai faced when we played against Shiratorizawa?
Ushijima tossed the ball, took his approach, and jumped.
The moment he struck the ball, Hinata lightly tapped his toes against the floor, lifting his feet slightly off the ground for a brief moment.
He locked onto the ball's trajectory, then used the force of his landing as a springboard to push off and take the first step—fast!
Smack!
He received it!
But—
The sheer impact of the serve sent Hinata tumbling backwards, and the ball was deflected toward the back of the court.
[Shiratorizawa 3 – 1 Training Camp Team]
"Oh?" Tendō Satori's eyes glinted with intrigue as he gazed at Hinata.
To think that the little shrimp actually predicted Wakatoshi's serve on the very first try…It seems like he's gained quite a bit from this training camp.
Even Ushijima himself showed a flicker of interest. No matter where you are, there are always things you can improve upon. He acknowledged Hinata's progress.
And so—
Boom!!
The second serve flew straight at Hinata once again!
Here it comes!
Hinata tensed, adjusting his posture on the balls of his feet. He could see it—the exact spot where the ball would land in the next second…
Smack!
He guessed right!
Once again, he was knocked off balance by the impact, rolling backwards in a full somersault.
But this time, the ball soared high into the air!
Don't waste this chance!
The entire training camp team sprang into action. Goshiki Tsutomu rotated into position and set the ball. The others surged toward the net.
A multi-position attack!
Boom!
Smack!
Kindaichi Yūtarō's spike slammed against Tendō Satori's outstretched arms, bouncing right back into the training camp team's court.
"Ara~ that was a failure~" Tendō waggled his finger playfully. "Your intent was way too obvious, both in the set and the spike."
[Shiratorizawa 4 – 1 Training Camp Team]
Shiratorizawa continued to rack up points!
This incomplete Shiratorizawa squad was making a mockery of these supposedly talented first-years at the training camp!
-----
[Twenty minutes later]
Kindaichi's jump serve was neatly received by Yamagata Hayato. Semi Eita moved into position and set the ball high into the air.
Ushijima launched into a back-row attack, blasting through Tsukishima Kei's block for a clean kill.
[Shiratorizawa 25 – 16 Training Camp Team]
Set 1, over.
-----
[Intermission]
"I didn't expect the gap to be this huge…"
"Well, it's Wakatoshi-senpai. Of course, he's crazy strong!!!"
While the others discussed the game, the training camp team remained silent. Even Koganegawa Kanji was deep in thought.
"We won't be able to synchronize in such a short time," Tsukishima was the first to speak. "So instead of forcing it, let's simplify our strategy."
"Let Goshiki and Hyakuzawa take care of the attacks," Kunimi Akira added. "The rest of us should focus on blocking and defence. With our blocking height, we can't afford to let them score too easily."
"Agreed!" Koganegawa was the first to support the idea, though he wished they'd explain things as clearly as Futakuchi-senpai would.
"I'm good with that." Goshiki gave a simple nod.
"I'll follow your lead," Hyakuzawa Yūdai said. These guys had more experience, after all.
Kindaichi and Hinata exchanged glances.
Kunimi and Tsukishima…actually fired up? Now that's rare.
After a short break, Set 2 began.
-----
Set 2 — Starting Lineups
Shiratorizawa Team:
Front row—Setter Semi Eita, Outside Hitter Matsudaira Kiyomasa, Middle Blocker Nagamatsu Yumeto.
Back row—Wing Spiker Ushijima Wakatoshi and Wing Spiker Ōhira Reon, Middle Blocker Tendō Satori (Libero: Yamagata Hayato).
Training Camp Team:
Front row—Outside Hitter Goshiki Tsutomu, Middle Blocker Tsukishima Kei, Outside Hitter Hyakuzawa Yūdai.
Back row—Setter Koganegawa Kanji, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō (Libero: Hinata Shōyō) and Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira.
Tendō served first.
Kunimi smoothly received the ball, and Koganegawa quickly set it higher.
Hyakuzawa charged in from the back row, leaping inside the three-meter line.
"Double block!"
Matsudaira and Nagamatsu jumped together.
But—Hyakuzawa's spike contact point was an entire hand's width higher than their block!
Boom!
A high-hands kill, slamming straight into Shiratorizawa's court.
Smack! Ushijima received it.
Ōhira rotated in to set the ball toward the left wing. Semi took flight for an attack.
"One, two—jump!"
Tsukishima signalled to Goshiki, and they both leapt to block.
Smack!
"One touch!"
The ball rebounded toward the backcourt, where Hinata sprinted and lunged to save it.
Too far! The ball was floating high toward the other side…
But at this height—
Hyakuzawa jumped and slammed it down with one hand!
Boom!
The ball landed deep in Shiratorizawa's backcourt—point, Hyakuzawa!
[Shiratorizawa 0 – 1 Training Camp Team]
"Hyakuzawa! That was amazing!" Hinata stared in awe.
"Ah, um…thanks…" Hyakuzawa mumbled, a bit embarrassed.
"Nagamatsu, you're crouching too deep when blocking—that's why you're a step behind!" Coach Anabara pointed out.
"Yes, sir!"
"Though, even if he jumped normally, I doubt he could stop that," Tendō muttered under his breath.
"Tendō, what did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing!" Tendō's head shook like a bobblehead—Why is Coach Washijō's hearing getting better with age…?
Side switch—Kunimi to serve.
Kunimi aimed at Ushijima in the back row, sending a floating jump serve his way!
The ball had little movement in its trajectory—clearly, he wasn't used to this type of serve yet.
But to think that the first one to develop a new weapon…was Kunimi, the laziest-looking first-year from Aoba Johsai.
Ushijima effortlessly received the serve and continued his approach without missing a beat.
Semi immediately set the ball high—Ushijima leapt.
"So fast! He's completing his approach as the pass is made!"
Tsukishima locked onto Ushijima's movement, subtly placing his right hand on Hyakuzawa's shoulder.
"Jump!"
They both rose together.
Boom!!
The ball ricocheted off Hyakuzawa's forearm, soaring upward.
"It worked! We stopped him!"
Kunimi quickly set the ball to the left wing. Goshiki jumped—
"You little brat!" Semi shouted, blocking his path.
Boom!
A laser-sharp line shot—point, Goshiki!
[Shiratorizawa 0 – 2 Training Camp Team]
"What the hell! The first-years are scoring back-to-back points!"
"This is completely different from the first set…"
Koganegawa glanced at Kunimi in shock.
That set just now—I couldn't have done that!
Even after these past few days of two-on-two training, one thing was becoming clear.
Kunimi's setting technique…might actually be better than mine.
-----
