"Yo, not bad for a rookie."
"Oh? Looks like we've got a pretty interesting new student here."
Reon and Tendo spoke one after the other. On the opposite side of the net, Wakatoshi Ushijima felt a flicker of surprise.
That kid looks so thin… with arms that slender, how did he manage to receive that ball?
Has my spike gotten weaker?
Ushijima reflected seriously, his face as expressionless as ever.
Nearby, Hayato Yamagata—who hadn't managed to receive Ushijima's heavy spike—was completely stunned.
What the hell, are freshmen all this strong now?! Then isn't my position about to get stolen?!
Ignoring the chaos in everyone else's heads, Goshiki—standing next to Ryosuke—suddenly dashed forward and dropped to his knees in a full dogeza.
"Senior Ushijima! I—I want to challenge you! I'll become the ace!"
The people around them burst into good-natured laughter.
"Alright. I'll wait for you to challenge me," Ushijima replied calmly to the new junior.
"Pfft, Wakatoshi really is straightforward," Tendo said with a grin, standing beside him.
"Welcome to the volleyball club, you two."
"Feels like we've got some promising newcomers."
Everyone chimed in, welcoming the two first-years.
Meanwhile, Ryosuke was looking around anxiously.
Where is he? Is he not here today? Then doesn't that mean my surprise is going to fail? Ah—damn it!
"What are you all crowding around for?! Why aren't you training yet?! Everyone, add a hundred balls! Honestly, why are you all so sloppy day after day?!"
A furious shout rang out from behind them.
Ryosuke's eyes lit up instantly. That familiar tone, that familiar formula—
It's Washijō!
Washijō, on the other hand, was already seething. A bunch of little brats—always slacking off…
Ryosuke turned around and suddenly saw that familiar little old man. His eyes immediately welled up.
It's been so long since I've seen Washijō…
His cat-like eyes blurred into teary, scrambled shapes.
Washijō was just about to continue yelling when his voice abruptly cut off. He stared in disbelief at a certain curly-haired kid.
This child… wasn't he still in Tokyo? How did he suddenly end up here?
In truth, one of the biggest reasons Ryosuke had come from Tokyo to Miyagi was because of Washijō.
Ryosuke's parents had passed away early. The rest of his family were cold and indifferent—no one bothered to comfort a child who had just lost both parents.
When everyone else was ready to give up on Ryosuke, Washijō—an old friend of Ryosuke's grandfather—appeared at the funeral with a will and took Ryosuke with him. For the next five or six years, Washijō traveled back and forth between Miyagi and Tokyo, taking care of him.
To Ryosuke, Washijō was one of the very few people in his life who truly cherished him.
Countless memories surged through Washijō's mind. He still couldn't believe it. Ryosuke had already returned to the Hanyu family—he'd thought they might never meet again.
So what was going on today?
Tch! He must've run away again! I told him that Hanyu household was no place for him! He never listens—he must've been treated badly again.
For the Shiratorizawa players, this was the first time they'd ever seen the stern, unapproachable Coach Washijō completely lose composure. They all stared at him in shock.
"Wa–Washijō Grandpa, I'm back!" Ryosuke called out loudly, forcing back the tears threatening to fall.
"Huh??"
Everyone froze for a moment before erupting into chatter.
"Is that the coach's grandson?!"
"No way, their surnames are different!"
"Cut it out! Everyone get back to training!" Washijō barked, snapping the team back into line. Then he turned to Ryosuke, who was standing there with his head lowered.
"What are you standing around for?! Get over here!"
Ryosuke hurried after him, his nose twitching as tears threatened to spill. (Sad cat.)
Inside, his thoughts spiraled.
I'm done for… Washijō looks angry. Does he not want to see me? Was I too selfish?
The more he thought about it, the worse he felt. Even the little curls on his head seemed to droop. Tears pattered down—cat tears falling.
When Washijō saw that, he groaned internally.
This kid—how old is he, still crying?
With a headache-inducing sigh, he led Ryosuke away.
As soon as they left, the gym completely exploded with chatter. Everyone immediately surrounded Goshiki.
Goshiki was still completely out of the loop.
No way… my new friend is this incredible? And he's got such an amazing grandpa? How did I not know?!
Tendo leaned in behind him, speaking in an oddly eerie tone.
"Oho~ little underclassman, that Ryosuke-kun… could he be Coach Washijō's grandson~~~?"
Goshiki jumped.
"Tendo, your tone is weird," Ushijima commented flatly from the side.
"Ahaha, ahaha, I know~"
"Um… I really don't know. I just met Ryosuke today."
"Ehhh~~~"
Shirabu spoke up from the side.
"But Coach Washijō doesn't really look like someone who'd have a grandson."
"Yeah, and the height doesn't line up either," Taichi Kawanishi added coldly.
"Ah! Then could he be his son?!" Tendo clapped his hands together excitedly.
"No way!" Hayato Yamagata shot back. "There's no way he's his son."
"Hey, Goshiki, you seriously don't know?"
"Goshiki probably doesn't know," Ushijima said quietly.
"Come on, Goshiki~~ tell us~ won't you share this earth-shattering secret with your seniors~~~?"
Goshiki was so terrified by Tendo's bizarre tone that the color practically drained from his soul. For a moment, he looked completely colorless. (Terrified.)
"Alright, that's enough. Back to training!" Reon Ōhira finally spoke up.
"Ushijima, stop following Tendo into nonsense.
Kawanishi, watch your mouth—don't casually comment on the coach's height.
And Shirabu, don't stir things up with that look."
As he spoke, Ōhira reached out and pulled Goshiki out of Tendo's grasp, rescuing the poor new student.
"Okay~" Tendo drawled.
"I didn't," Ushijima said seriously, his face full of innocence.
"Senior Ushijima is absolutely right," declared Shirabu, the ultimate Ushijima devotee.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser