Meeting Tenma Udai was just a minor episode in Yuma Kikuzawa's daily life. After that day, the two occasionally kept in touch via email, and
Meeting Tenma Udai was just a minor episode in Yuma Kikuzawa's daily life. After that day, the two occasionally kept in touch via email, and Udai's first manga "Zombie Swordsman Zobix" gradually took shape during their conversations.
In his emails, Udai mentioned he had rushed out drafts for the first three chapters and might contact an editor soon.
Yuma felt happy for Udai - for exactly three seconds before putting down his phone and picking up a volleyball again.
"The IH tournament is coming soon, what should I do!" (Note: Yuma wasn't talking about the qualifiers - he started worrying about the actual tournament three months in advance)
Inside the Aoba Johsai gym locker room, Yuma wrapped a towel around his head and rolled back and forth on the central bench while hugging a volleyball.
Anxious. Very anxious. Extremely anxious. Super-duper-explosively anxious.
"After all my hard work! Why are my stats rising so damn slowly!"
[Yuma Kikuzawa, Age 16, 189.7cm, 71.5kg, Jump Reach 340cm, Power 89, Speed 93, Stamina 73, Intelligence 72, Spiking 92, Setting 87, Serving 93, Blocking 84, Receiving 85] Overall 85
Yuma scrutinized his intelligence stat several times before reluctantly admitting - it hadn't increased at all!
"This doesn't make sense." Yuma couldn't figure it out. "Even my worthless stamina went up by 4 points. Why won't this brain improve? Am I not using my head when playing?!"
Knock. Knock...
The sound of knocking made Yuma turn to see Yuuki standing expressionless at the doorway.
"Iwaizumi-senpai said there were strange noises coming from the locker room."
Maintaining his usual deadpan expression, Yuuki nodded at his troublesome older brother.
"Seems there aren't any ghosts."
Yuma suddenly felt an itch in his fists - like he wanted to knock something. Like his little brother's skull.
Taking deep breaths to suppress his violent impulses, Yuma pulled up Yuuki's stats.
[Yuuki Kikuzawa, Age 16, 190.1cm, 72.3kg, Jump Reach 339cm, Power 88, Speed 94, Stamina 74, Intelligence 95, Spiking 89, Setting 94, Serving 94, Blocking 92, Receiving 95] Overall 90
Hey! Your receives are higher than your sets now!
Yuma mentally criticized this setter who couldn't stick to his proper role.
...
Leaving the locker room and returning to the court, Yuma and Yuuki were about to rejoin practice when they noticed all teammates gathered around Coach Irihata and Coach Mizoguchi.
Coach Irihata waited for the twins to join before speaking calmly: "The IH qualifiers are approaching. Cramming now won't improve much. Instead, let's use this final period to arrange one more practice match against a strong school to solidify our current lineup."
Exchanging glances with Coach Mizoguchi, he continued:
"We've discussed it - since this is our last practice match, rather than wasting time with weaker teams, we should challenge the strongest directly."
Before the words finished, everyone at Aoba Johsai immediately understood who "the strongest" referred to.
Shiratorizawa.
The absolute top school in the prefecture, and the formidable opponent that had defeated Oikawa and others time after time - Wakatoshi Ushijima's school.
If Aoba Johsai wanted to advance to nationals, they first had to overcome Shiratorizawa this towering mountain.
Mention of facing Shiratorizawa plunged the gym into silence. Second and third-years had lost to them many times, while first-years kept their distance from this overwhelmingly strong school. The thought of challenging such powerful opponents made everyone hesitant.
Seeing the team's low morale before the coaches could speak, Oikawa stepped forward.
"Everyone!"
Oikawa's shout snapped teammates from their thoughts.
"I know Aoba Johsai has never beaten Shiratorizawa - not in practice matches nor official games. Having that experience, your fear is understandable."
Oikawa smirked and continued: "But fear doesn't mean surrender. No matter how nervous or scared we feel, Aoba Johsai's goal remains unchanged - defeat Ushijima, defeat Shiratorizawa, advance to nationals! Isn't that why we've trained so hard? Will we let fear stop us even from a practice match?"
His words made everyone reflect. Seeing their captain who always encouraged them upfront, they felt ashamed of their momentary hesitation.
"Um... Oikawa-senpai."
A silver-haired player raised his hand, lightening the tense atmosphere.
Yuma pointed at himself with a cheerful smile: "I'm not scared at all. I've always believed Aoba Johsai can beat Shiratorizawa and go to nationals. After all, we're strong."
(＊￣︶￣＊)
Yuma's matter-of-fact confidence proved contagious, easing the tension and lightening the mood considerably.
Deeply moved, Oikawa vigorously ruffled Yuma's hair: "Yuma-chan's attitude is perfect! Exactly what I like! No need to fear - let Oikawa-sama lead you all to defeat little Ushiwaka hahaha...!"
Iwaizumi slowly raised a fist watching his childhood friend's antics.
Oikawa immediately straightened up, putting on his most serious expression.
Their interactions completely restored normal atmosphere. Watching the kids, Coach Irihata smiled.
They're all growing up well.
...
The practice match against Shiratorizawa was scheduled two days later.
The volleyball club got half-day leave from school. Team members gathered early morning to board the school bus heading to Shiratorizawa.
Yuma sat by a window in the back, chin propped on hand as he watched scenery pass by.
Trees flashed past as the bus moved. Shops along the street were just opening, employees placing today's specials boards outside while pedestrians came and went - the streets full of life.
He felt like he'd forgotten something again.
Resting his head against the window frame, Yuma breathed fresh air through the gap.
The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted in, making his empty stomach growl as he remembered.
"Forgot breakfast."
Normally at this time Yuma would be secretly eating bread in class while avoiding teachers' eyes. But today he'd been herded onto the bus immediately after arriving at school - completely empty-handed.
Most high schoolers ate breakfast at home, while late risers ate on their way to school. Only a rare few brought food to eat secretly at school.
Thinking this, Yuma looked around past rows of seats - finding teammates either resting with closed eyes or chatting quietly. Not a single one was eating.
"Damn it, are you all perfectly scheduled goody-two-shoes?"
Yuma immediately grabbed and shook Yuuki beside him.
"Wake up, eat something or you'll have no energy for the match."
Groggily removing his eye mask, Yuuki slowly sat up from the comfortable seat back. It took several seconds to process Yuma's meaning.
He silently reached under the seat to get bread from his bag - then froze abruptly, expression visibly stiffening.
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