Chapter 57:
In an irregular-numbered practice match, the rotation and positioning became much more casual. The server could also participate in blocking, which would definitely be a violation in an official match.
Ichise Guren didn't go easy on blocking defense just because it was an internal practice match. Instead, he put forth his full effort in marking and switching defense, alternating between them in an all-out mode that spared no physical energy.
Hyakuzawa Yudai had also been told early on that the purpose of this practice match was to use the iron net formation composed of three 190cm tall players to put pressure on Kageyama Tobio and Hinata Shoyo.
Using this super iron wall's high pressure to see if they could compress the aloof Kageyama Tobio and the enthusiastic Hinata Shoyo into a unified whole, thereby making Kageyama Tobio begin to understand what teamwork meant.
However, an unexpected person was affected by the blocking: Tsukishima Kei.
'What's with these guys? Aren't we all the same age? How can there be such a big difference?'
As it turned out, despite also being a tall player reaching 190cm with shoes on, excluding the already two-meter-tall giant Hyakuzawa Yudai, Tsukishima Kei's blocking height was completely suppressed by Ichise Guren, who had jumped later.
'Well, he is the MVP after all. It's only natural that I can't match up to him.'
Ichise Guren, who had blocked this ball, glanced at Tsukishima Kei's face.
'He's clearly also a guy with a strong competitive spirit, yet he dislikes expressing it so much.'
'His naturally tsundere nature is one aspect, but the psychological burden of feeling like his own interests put pressure on his brother is probably another aspect.'
Although Tanaka Ryunosuke's spike was swiftly dealt with by Ichise Guren for a successful block score, there was still a little fanboy offering his heartfelt praise.
"Ah! Tanaka-senpai! That sounded so powerful!!"
"It looked so explosive! Is this the spirit of a real man?"
Hinata Shoyo's straightforward personality made him naturally gifted at flattery.
Tanaka Ryunosuke hadn't been praised like this in a long time. Usually when he completed scoring spikes in the team, his close teammates would just heckle him. What's more, this was a spike that got blocked, yet someone was calling him senpai and praising him like this.
In his imagination, transforming into a handsome face, Tanaka Ryunosuke pretended to be composed as he patted Hinata Shoyo's shoulder, saying in a low voice:
"It's nothing. I got blocked this time, but I'll score next time."
"Ooh! Even more manly!"
"Heh heh heh heh, I think so too."
Unable to maintain his composure for even five seconds, Tanaka Ryunosuke started heartily patting Hinata Shoyo while laughing loudly.
Then he immediately got heckled by several second-year teammates at the scoreboard.
"The monk-head got blocked, hey."
"Baldy's spike got shut down."
"Acting like a senpai, let us see you score 1 point~"
Ichise Guren didn't pay attention to the second-years' playful banter, just continuing to serve on his own. However, this time he aimed at Tanaka Ryunosuke, who had just spiked before the match.
All actions were built on continuously approaching his original goal: getting Kageyama Tobio to integrate into the team, starting with coordinating with Hinata Shoyo.
Having Tanaka Ryunosuke make the first pass would naturally prevent Kageyama Tobio, as the undisputed setter, from spiking.
And Hoshino Masaru, this guy focused on defense, even if the current practice match rules allowed him to spike, his completely unpracticed attacking technique would probably be useless.
This way, Kageyama Tobio's passing target could only be Hinata Shoyo.
The volleyball wasn't as tricky as the previous ball, but increased in speed as it flew toward Tanaka Ryunosuke. Ichise Guren's goal with this ball was simple: make Tanaka unable to participate in the attack after receiving.
"Eh!"
Tanaka Ryunosuke frantically received this fast serve, but his entire center of gravity shifted, making him unable to move in the short term.
'Perfect, that's exactly the effect I wanted.'
Ichise Guren quickly moved up to the net and joined the blocking defense, performing his core defensive role of marking the setter and then providing help defense.
And Hinata Shoyo, who had already improved considerably, faced the super-tall double block, with Ichise Guren ready to provide backup defense at any time, and Yamaguchi Tadashi behind him who had been instructed to watch for Hinata's dumps.
He leaped with all his might, striking a spike through the gap in the double block.
But it was blocked down by Hyakuzawa Yudai's long arms in the air.
Looking at the high wall before him, Hinata Shoyo couldn't help but feel somewhat dazed. He seemed to see Yukigaoka without the three classmates, also participating in the sports festival, but facing Kitagawa Daiichi's high wall, Yukigaoka was cleanly eliminated 2:0.
In that world, he was just like now, unwilling to accept defeat yet powerless, only able to deliver his harsh words to Kageyama Tobio after the match, yet still carrying a hint of a defeated dog's whimper.
Seeing Hinata Shoyo looking somewhat dazed after his spike was blocked, Ichise Guren couldn't help but feel worried.
'Did I protect him too well in middle school?'
'One block and he's already shaken?'
He immediately spoke up, encouraging Hinata Shoyo in his own way.
"Shoyo!"
From his daze, Hinata Shoyo looked up in surprise at the serious-faced Ichise Guren.
"Shoyo, the three of us just formed this blocking formation. We have no coordinated teamwork, we don't even time our jumps together, each of us judges for ourselves."
"And within Miyagi Prefecture, there's Date Tech, the traditional iron wall that specializes in blocking. They're slightly shorter than us but have stronger coordination and blocking ability."
"They're probably at our level, or possibly even stronger!"
"If you can't even break through our blocking, don't even think about becoming the person who stays on the court the longest."
Seeing Hinata Shoyo looking a bit stunned by his words, Ichise Guren continued dropping heavy information.
"But Date Tech has been completely suppressed by Aoba Johsai for the past two years, only managing to reach the top four."
"And Aoba Johsai has been suppressed for two years by someone with a nationally top-three, arguably the strongest ace, Ushijima Wakatoshi, never winning once."
"Do you know what this means?"
After asking this question, Ichise Guren stared intently at Hinata Shoyo's face. He was waiting for Hinata's response. He didn't want to hear any kind of negative words come out of Hinata Shoyo's mouth, that would mean he might as well have joined Shiratorizawa's middle school with Hyakuzawa Yudai.
"I know."
Hinata Shoyo's head, which had been raised, lowered, and the shadow of his bangs covered his orange pupils, making his expression and complexion unreadable.
Ichise Guren, who hadn't been nervous even when reaching the national top four, was now a bit nervous.
"It means! Within Miyagi Prefecture, I can keep facing really strong opponents, right?!!!"
Hinata Shoyo raised his head, showing no daze or bewilderment, only an excited smile covering his face. Like a child seeing a beloved new toy, a kitten seeing a cat teaser, a puppy seeing a meat bone.
The shadow's cover was just an illusion; the sun's brilliance was the norm. Without the typical blonde male protagonist's talk-no-jutsu, Hinata Shoyo's way of inspiring others was never through persuading them, but through speaking his heart directly and doing his utmost to accomplish what he should do.
Just like the sun, burning himself.
***
25+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces