After that Spring High ended, Karasuno began their long reign!
During the three full years that Akira attended high school, no matter how strong other schools across the country were...
No team could take the championship from Karasuno's hands!
With their overwhelming strength and dazzling achievements, it was only natural they attracted more fresh talent.
Many top junior high volleyball players from across Japan chose Karasuno as their destination.
This, in turn, further strengthened Karasuno's dominance!
Later generations would come to refer to that era as...
The Karasuno Dynasty!
...
Five years after that Spring High, the Sendai City Gymnasium was bustling once again.
Today was a V1 League tour match day, and two of the league's strongest teams, the Schweiden Adlers and MSBY Black Jackal, were set to face off here!!
At that moment, the match on the court was in full swing.
And anyone who had watched the Spring High tournament five years ago could immediately recognize them...
The players now active in this arena were the same familiar figures from the past.
Adlers' setter Tobio Kageyama, wing spiker Kōrai Hoshiumi, Wing Spiker Wakatoshi Ushijima...
Black Jackal's blocker Shōyō Hinata, wing spiker Kōtarō Bokuto, outside hitter Kiyoomi Sakusa, and setter Atsumu Miya...
Compared to their high school days, everyone now possessed top-tier professional skill!
They were no longer the same as they once were!
As the game neared its end, Daichi Sawamura, Kōshi Sugawara, and Kei Tsukishima sat in the audience, watching the match with rapt attention. Suddenly, Daichi felt a hand on his shoulder.
He turned around, slightly puzzled, only to see two very familiar smiling faces.
"Haha! Akira! You're here! And Shimizu! Long time no see!!"
"Yeah! We haven't seen each other since you moved back! I didn't expect you to come back this time!!"
Daichi stood up in surprise, and Sugawara and Tsukishima, also caught off guard, quickly turned and were equally astonished. Once they realized it was Akira and Kiyoko Shimizu, they enthusiastically gathered around.
"Haha, yeah! Daichi-senpai, it's been years!"
Akira scratched his head with a sheepish grin, and beside him, Shimizu smiled softly, holding his arm.
After graduating high school, Akira had returned to China for university.
And later, Kiyoko had moved to China as well to be with him after finishing her studies. Rumor had it the two were planning to marry in a few years.
Not long ago, Akira had contacted Daichi and the others, saying he was taking advantage of vacation time to visit Miyagi Prefecture again.
Just in time for this match!
While they chatted, the referee's whistle blew on the court, signaling the end of the game!
In the end, Black Jackal emerged victorious, defeating the Adlers with a score of 3–1!
"Haha! Let's go! Let's go check out those guys!"
The group immediately made their way toward the court.
The match had just ended, and the players were still giving various post-game interviews.
Akira's eyes met Hoshiumi's, who was walking closest to the sidelines. Hoshiumi froze for a second, then lit up with recognition and walked over excitedly.
"You! You just vanished for years!"
He walked up and playfully punched Akira's shoulder.
"I think you're the one who disappeared!"
"Haha! What are you saying! Hoshiumi-senpai, I update my socials all the time!"
Akira grinned in reply.
The commotion drew the attention of several other players still being interviewed. Once they noticed what was happening, they came over as well.
"Whoa! Who's this? I almost didn't recognize him!"
"Haha! I was planning to visit you in China, but you came back instead!"
"Akira's appearance changed so much—at first I didn't realize it was him..."
"We haven't seen each other in years—did your skills get rusty? You're not gonna lose to me if you step on the court again, are you?"
Akira smiled and responded to everyone's greetings, joking along the way.
On the court, they might have been rivals—or teammates—but off the court, most of them had become friends.
During his three years in high school, Akira had formed many genuine bonds through volleyball.
"Of course my skills haven't rusted! There are tons of great players in the Chinese University League!"
"Really?"
Hinata leaned in with interest.
"Aren't there more top players in the pros though?"
"In two years, I'm planning to go overseas and compete! Maybe I'll see you guys on the other side!"
"Haha, you're always welcome!"
...…
The friendly chatter continued, warm and full of life. Before they knew it, most of the crowd had already left the gym.
Suddenly, Akira seemed to recall something and turned to Ushijima.
"By the way, Ushijima-senpai, I ran into Tendō-senpai on a trip not long ago!"
Hearing that, Kageyama, Hinata, and the others paused in surprise.
"I met Oikawa in Brazil!" Hinata added.
"Yeah!"
Akira nodded, smiling.
"I heard he gained Argentine citizenship and was selected for their national team!"
"If we run into him in an international match... you'd better be careful not to get spiked into the floor!"
"Hey, hey!!"
"You should be worrying about yourself first!"
Kageyama grinned wickedly.
"If we face off then, I'll beat you first!"
"Haha! I'm not scared of you!!"
Akira raised his head, flashing a confident smile.
(End of Book.)
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