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Chapter 157: Discovering a Prodigy (Double Length)
🕑 Added 2025-01-15 16:01:01 +0000 UTCKakugawa Academy ultimately fell to Karasuno, which was expected.
While Hyakuzawa Yūdai had made considerable progress, Karasuno simply had more players capable of stepping up when needed.
Shaking off his thoughts, Taichi resumed his relentless running on the beach.
Each step fought against the resistance of the sand, strengthening his ankles. With time, the increased intensity of his training sculpted the muscles in his legs, making them more defined and powerful.
"Is that the 'Left-Handed Magician' from the East?" a young boy with a backpack asked at the club's bar, pointing to Taichi as he jogged past the entrance.
The boy was short—barely 170 centimetres tall—with dark blue hair and sun-bronzed skin, giving him the appearance of a local kid.
However, his facial features hinted at his Asian heritage.
"Yo, Daiki, you're back!" Coach Kuno greeted with a wide smile. "How did the tournament go?"
"Of course, I won," Nakamori Daiki replied nonchalantly.
"That's incredible!" Coach Kuno gave him a thumbs-up and slid over a glass of lemonade.
Daiki's parents were both Japanese, but he had grown up in Hawaii due to his father's work.
He attended middle school locally and fell in love with beach volleyball.
The tournament Coach Kuno referred to was a junior cup hosted by 30 beach volleyball clubs across Hawaii. Open to players under 15, it was not just a competition but also a promotional event for the participating clubs, with a $3,000 prize for the winning team.
"You just got back, and you've already heard that nickname?"
"I was hanging out with Norton for a bit, and he told me," Daiki replied. "How old is he? Is he really that good?"
"I think he's in high school. As for his volleyball skills, he's primarily an indoor player who only recently started learning beach volleyball."
"Oh…" Daiki lost interest immediately.
Noticing his reaction, Coach Kuno chuckled and added, "But he's improving fast. You should see for yourself tomorrow."
"Fine," Daiki shrugged as he jumped off his stool. "Oh, and Uncle Kuno, remember our deal—I won the championship, so I get to train with the high school group now. Those middle school kids are way too weak."
"Alright, alright," Coach Kuno waved him off, watching as Daiki ran outside. "You're just a kid yourself."
-----
The next morning, Taichi arrived at the training grounds earlier than usual, only to find a short tanned-boy already sitting there.
Curious but unfazed, Taichi went straight into his warm-ups.
Daiki blinked in surprise. What? He's not even going to acknowledge me? He clearly hasn't heard of my reputation.
Determined to get his attention, Daiki walked up to Taichi and said, "Hey, I heard your serves are pretty amazing."
Japanese? So, this kid was here for him after all.
Taichi finally took a good look at the boy. Calloused hands and scarred knees showed signs of rigorous training. Despite his small stature and lean frame, his muscle definition suggested strength.
However, the boy's attitude was far from endearing. Taichi leaned forward slightly, pretending not to understand. "Ah, did you get lost, little one? Need big brother to help you find your mom?"
"???"
Even with his tanned complexion, Daiki's face flushed bright red in anger.
"I'm Nakamori Daiki! The only recognized genius in this club!"
"Ohhh—" Taichi drew out the sound meaningfully. "I'm Kaedehara Taichi. So, genius-chan, what do you want from me?"
"I want to see how strong your serves really are," Daiki said, getting straight to the point.
Daiki had deliberately set his alarm for 4 a.m. and arrived at the beach by 5, thinking he would have the place to himself for a while.
But to his surprise, Taichi was already there, deep into his training routine.
His sleepiness evaporated instantly, replaced by curiosity and annoyance. This guy is seriously something else. And seriously annoying!
Taichi gave him a quick once-over. "You're…?"
"A middle schooler!" Daiki shouted preemptively, determined to avoid being mistaken for a grade-schooler. "But I'll be in high school next year, and starting today, I'm training with the high school group."
"Got it." Taichi smirked. "Let's begin."
"That fast?" Daiki blinked, caught off guard by how abruptly the conversation ended. Still, he quickly ran to the nearest court and signalled for Taichi to serve.
As Taichi stepped up to the service line, he recalled hearing the boy's name before.
Players at the club often praised Nakamori Daiki's skills, and just last night, he'd learned that Daiki had won a local championship.
In that case, there's no need to hold back.
"Come at me!" Daiki lowered his centre of gravity, his posture suddenly serious and focused. His earlier arrogance vanished, replaced by a sharp intensity that surprised Taichi.
Taking the match seriously, Taichi tossed the ball high and began his approach. His feet moved effortlessly across the sand, a testament to the progress he had made since his early days on the beach.
With a powerful leap, he struck the ball mid-air.
Boom!
The ball sped over the net with force and precision.
Daiki's eyes narrowed. From the approach to the jump, everything about Taichi screamed strong.
The ball zipped across the net, reaching Daiki in a split second.
He took a long stride toward the ball, lowering his body and pushing off with his left leg for extra speed. His body control was impressive as he dove for the ball, his left hand bracing the sand while his right arm extended forward.
Thwack!
The ball ricocheted off Daiki's arms and flew out of bounds.
Daiki landed smoothly, dispersing the impact with practised ease, before scrambling to his feet.
"Ahhh—!" he yelled in frustration. "It went out! Damn it!"
He glared at the ball lying outside the court, his face twisted in regret.
Taichi's eyes sparkled with intrigue. Even though the power and spin of his serve were reduced on sand, Daiki had managed to make contact on the very first attempt.
This kid was a natural.
More than that—he was the perfect sparring partner. A mischievous grin spread across Taichi's face.
"So, this is the infamous left-handed spin, huh? Let's go again!" Daiki said, his excitement undiminished.
"Sure!" Taichi replied, readying another serve.
Taichi maintained the same serving technique as before, unleashing his second serve.
This time, Nakamori Daiki reacted more quickly. He predicted the ball's trajectory, positioned himself early, and at the moment of contact, used a subtle flick of his wrist to alter the ball's direction.
Bang!
The ball soared high, landing just outside the boundary line.
"Darn it! So the wrist angle needs to be even sharper..." Nakamori Daiki muttered to himself, frustrated.
How entertaining~!
To Taichi, that serve was already a successful reception. While it wasn't a perfect pass, the height and distance ensured his teammates could save it.
Time to up the difficulty! A delighted smile spread across Taichi's face.
This was his happiest day since arriving in Hawaii—like a kid finding his favourite new toy.
Kaedehara Taichi served the third ball.
This one seemed faster than the last, but Nakamori Daiki was prepared.
"I can definitely receive this!"
A victorious grin appeared on Nakamori Daiki's face.
Bang!
The volleyball struck his arm and ricocheted straight to the ground.
Nakamori Daiki: "???"
It was a standard right-spin?
He looked up sharply at Taichi. "Did you just serve with your right hand?"
"Hmm?" Kaedehara Taichi didn't deny it.
"Aren't you the Left-Handed Magician?!" Nakamori Daiki felt utterly betrayed.
Pfft! What a child.
Kaedehara Taichi spread his hands innocently. "I never said that. Besides, who made a rule that says you can't switch to your right hand after serving with your left?"
"But...but…" Daiki was dumbfounded. He'd never seen a server like this before.
"How about I only serve with my left hand?" Kaedehara Taichi offered with a benevolent smile.
"No! Don't!" Nakamori Daiki shouted angrily. As his club's prodigious genius, this was the first time he'd felt so humiliated—completely toyed with!
"Again!"
"You got it!" Kaedehara Taichi's grin widened.
Bang!
Kaedehara Taichi launched the fourth serve.
This time, Nakamori Daiki focused intently on Taichi's striking hand and confirmed it was indeed his left.
The volleyball flew over the net with remarkable speed.
Just as Nakamori Daiki sensed something was off, the ball plummeted suddenly.
It was a jump float serve!
He dove forward, but the ball landed just in front of him.
"Arghhhh!"
Nakamori Daiki pounded the sand in frustration.
"HAHAhaha!" Taichi couldn't hold back his laughter any longer.
Usually surrounded by older and more reserved teammates, he found teasing kids much more entertaining.
Nakamori Daiki glared at him fiercely. "Again!"
"Alright, alright…" Taichi replied cheerfully. After all, he needed someone to fetch the balls for him.
-----
[One hour later]
The two lay side by side on the sand, taking a break.
"Taichi-senpai, let's form a permanent team!"
"Sure, why not."
Once he admitted defeat, Nakamori Daiki became surprisingly docile—a trait Taichi quite liked.
The sun was fully up now, and other players from the club began arriving. Spotting the duo, everyone greeted them enthusiastically.
"You two are teaming up?" Coach Kuno's expression looked a bit odd.
"Yeah!" Nakamori Daiki leaned closer to the coach. "Uncle, Taichi-senpai is already amazing!"
"Is that so…" Coach Kuno didn't comment further and happily approved their registration.
-----
[Another hour later]
Nakamori Daiki finally understood why Coach Kuno's expression had been so peculiar.
Kaedehara Taichi's receiving and setting skills were...average at best. In beach volleyball, where each team has only two players, such weaknesses could be fatal.
"Don't tense your wrist so much—relax at the start!"
"Be gentler when receiving! The ball's bouncing back to the other side!"
"That's too close!"
"That's too far!"
"Your contact time is too long!"
"Taichi!!!"
Taichi earned himself some meticulous one-on-one coaching from Nakamori Daiki but lost his title of senpai in the process.
Meanwhile, Coach Kuno kept a close eye on the boys' progress. Though Nakamori Daiki might not realize it yet, the coach saw Kaedehara Taichi adapting to beach volleyball at a startling speed.
Even with his indoor volleyball background, this kind of progress was rare.
Moreover, his instinctive feel for the ball and sharp court sense allowed him to mask his weaknesses and maximize his strengths.
But what if he had no weaknesses?
Coach Kuno chuckled and shook his head, dismissing the fanciful thought. How could such a perfectly versatile player exist?
-----
Weeks passed quickly, and Kaedehara Taichi's Hawaiian volleyball journey neared its end.
Nearly a month of beach volleyball training had significantly elevated his stamina, techniques, and understanding of the game. His skin, now tanned to a healthy bronze, bore witness to countless hours under the Hawaiian sun.
Standing on the golden sands at sunset, Taichi gazed at the sun sinking into the horizon, filled with a sense of bittersweet reflection.
"Taichi, do you really have to leave? We haven't even reached the first place yet!" Nakamori Daiki crouched beside him, the sunset casting a faint golden glow over his sun-kissed skin.
"It is a pity, but school starts the day after tomorrow," Taichi replied, his thoughts already drifting back to the court in Tokyo. "I've got unfinished goals waiting for me there."
In the past week, their duo had started to rack up wins after a rocky start. By Nakamori Daiki's estimate, they could reach the top of the club rankings by next month.
"Is indoor volleyball more fun than beach volleyball?" Nakamori Daiki suddenly asked.
"I'm not sure, but with six people, there's a lot more unpredictability," Kaedehara Taichi answered, feeling a twinge of nostalgia for his Aoba Johsai teammates.
"Ugh, I'll have to find a new partner again." Nakamori Daiki stood up and kicked at the sand, visibly annoyed.
Taichi placed a hand on his head. "Do you regret teaming up with me?"
Nakamori Daiki slapped the hand away and didn't respond.
"You said you'd win Nationals, so don't back out now," Nakamori Daiki said seriously.
Kaedehara Taichi nodded firmly. "I won't!"
"Next year, I'll be moving to Japan for high school. If you win Nationals, I'll partner with you again!" Nakamori Daiki declared with a sly grin.
Kaedehara Taichi blinked in surprise. He hadn't heard about that.
"Hardcourt volleyball isn't as simple as beach volleyball. If you're not good enough, I'm not carrying you," Kaedehara Taichi teased.
This unexpected journey didn't feel like it was ending anytime soon...
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