Chapter 3: New Member Introductions and Vertical Jump Results
Yukigaoka, New Indoor Gymnasium
PE Teacher No. 1, a middle-aged woman of average build.
Although her face bore some traces of time, you could tell she had been quite beautiful in her youth.
Without much small talk, PE Teacher No. 1 very naturally and calmly began explaining the purpose of today's gathering.
"Well, I don't understand volleyball, but following the conventions from my middle school days, let's test everyone's vertical reach today."
"First, it needs to be filled in on the registration form attachment, and second, the setter should probably know the spiking height."
"Also, you have four new club members, right? Please introduce yourselves first."
Since Hinata Shoyo's two childhood friends had their own club activities to attend and were also preparing for the middle school athletic tournament.
The number of people gathered in the gymnasium today was only seven.
Including the newcomers: Mori, Kawashima, Suzuki, and Hoshino Katsuto.
First, the three newcomers introduced themselves.
"H-hello everyone! I'm Mori, height..... I didn't participate in any sports clubs in elementary school, I'm not good at anything, I like playing Go! Please take care of me!"
"Hello everyone! I'm Kawashima, height..... I played basketball in elementary school, but I want to try a different sport in middle school!"
"I'm Suzuki, height ..... I'm not good at sports, so I want to exercise more in middle school!"
At this moment, Hinata Shoyo assumed what he thought was a cool senior pose.
Preparing to show off his senior dignity in front of the three newcomers.
"Ooh! Everyone's so energetic! I—"
"Shoyo! There's still someone who needs to introduce themselves, don't interrupt yet."
Hinata Shoyo, who was about to give a lecture, was directly pulled aside by Ichise Guren.
Hinata Shoyo: "Huh? Where's someone else? That joke isn't funny or scary at all."
"I'm not that easily fooled."
Hinata Shoyo muttered quietly with an indignant expression.
At this moment, a listless voice eerily sounded behind Hinata Shoyo.
"Ah, sorry, indeed, there's still me~"
*Thump*
Hinata Shoyo, who had just felt confused, felt his heart skip a beat the moment he heard someone speaking behind him.
A spine-chilling feeling shot from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head, his entire body enveloped in coldness.
With his whole body stiff, Hinata Shoyo's face turned pale as he turned around with a very dazed expression, moving jerkily.
When he saw there really was someone wearing team clothes behind him, he ran at a speed that surpassed all his previous athletic performances.
He quickly darted behind Ichise Guren, only poking out half his head after a long moment.
"He appeared!!!"
"The missing seventh person!"
"The volleyball team ghost story is real!!!"
After shouting these three sentences with a red face and thick neck, Hinata Shoyo gradually realized something was wrong.
Because everyone present was looking at him hiding behind Ichise Guren with speechless expressions.
While the blue-haired boy who had spoken from behind him smiled apologetically.
"I'm really sorry, I've had a low presence since childhood, and I accidentally scare people without meaning to."
The volleyball team members:
"Indeed, I almost forgot there were seven people just now."
"Yeah, I thought we were going to start training after we three finished introducing ourselves."
"But Hoshino-senpai seems to be a third-year. Is he a transfer student?"
The three newcomers began discussing Hoshino Katsuto's existence.
"Hey hey!"
Ichise Guren clapped his hands, wearing a smile but with an unquestionable tone, stopping the chatter.
"Everyone, let's wait until Hoshino finishes his introduction before chatting!"
As if intimidated by Ichise Guren's senior aura just now, the three hurriedly bowed and apologized for their behavior.
"Ah, sorry!"
Ichise Guren didn't say anything more, but indicated for Hoshino Katsuto to start speaking.
Although Hoshino Katsuto seemed rather shy, he was surprisingly clean and efficient when doing things.
"Hello everyone, I'm Hoshino Katsuto, height 171cm, I was a volleyball club member in both elementary and middle school, position is libero."
He paused, then said with a very confident tone what he was best at.
"I'm good at receiving, and I will continue to be the most solid support for my teammates!"
Sparse applause rang out.
Ichise Guren began speaking.
"Very good, first let's welcome our four new members."
"We've already registered for this year's Middle School Athletic Tournament."
"Although this is our first time competing, we have only one goal for this competition!"
---
PE Teacher No. 1 gestured to the seven people toward the vertical jump measuring device placed nearby.
She then took out a pen and notebook, waiting for the jumpers, and had Hyakuzawa Yudai stand next to the measuring device to observe the values on the horizontal bar.
PE Teacher No. 1 appeared very calm on the surface, but she actually felt somewhat dissatisfied and helpless inside.
Even with a hint of contempt.
'Although it's a requirement from the school leadership that we take turns as supervising teachers to accompany and compete.'
'But hasn't our boys' volleyball always been just an interest group?'
'How could someone suddenly build a building and gymnasium for the volleyball club?'
A faint dissatisfaction spread from PE Teacher No. 1's heart.
'My girls' basketball team is doing quite well, we have a chance to compete in the national tournament this year.'
'This kind of interest group that's been half-dead for so many years.'
'Where does the courage come from to say they want to dominate the nation? Want to create youthful memories?'*
A slightly disgusted emotion arose, which was immediately dismissed by Teacher No. 1.
'They're all children, they haven't done anything wrong. There's nothing to complain about.I think I used to shout about dominating the nation in middle school too.'*
'But I remember in volleyball height is also very important, let me see how high these guys can jump. Speaking of which, there's a tall guy, right? He doesn't look like he can jump very high either.'
Although the disgusted emotion was gone, the negative feelings remained, just transformed into a sense of watching a joke.
"One vertical jump attempt, directly recorded as the result."
[Mori, 301cm]
PE Teacher No. 1 began recording the vertical jump results.
'Just so-so, this height isn't even as high as our center, and she's a girl.'*
[Kawashima, 310cm]
'Has some athletic foundation, but pretty average for male sports clubs, right?'
[Suzuki, 278cm]
'Also quite average, these three newcomers are just making up numbers, huh?'
'In a real competitive match, they probably won't be of any use.They don't look like they have volleyball experience either.'
'All three are wearing cross-training shoes, they probably don't have volleyball shoes.'
'Why doesn't anyone donate a building to our girls' basketball? How unreasonable.'
While Teacher No. 1 was muttering in her heart, the three newcomers' vertical jumps were all recorded.
The observer also changed from Hyakuzawa Yudai to Kawashima, who at 175cm was the tallest among the three newcomers.
Ichise Guren looked at the eager Hinata Shoyo and the calm Hyakuzawa Yudai, tilting his head.
He spoke: "Yudai! You go first."
"Okay, Guren-nii."
Hyakuzawa Yudai tapped his feet and jumped in place a few times.
He used relatively light movements to activate his ankle and knee joints.
Although he had already warmed up, it was proper to feel and activate his joint condition before intense running and jumping movements.
As Hyakuzawa Yudai took his first step.
'Very good, in excellent condition.'
Power was steadily transmitted from the floor to his ankle, knee, thigh, and hips.
Hyakuzawa Yudai clearly felt that over these few months, following Ichise Guren's systematic professional training, his athletic ability and physical condition were much better than before.
If his physical condition was this good just during daily training, then the volleyball techniques developed through functional training would probably improve much more than his previous beginner level, right?
He began accelerating, without explosive sprinting or power-filled starting.
But Hyakuzawa Yudai's approach run had a stable, agile feeling that hit everyone present head-on.
Although his step frequency wasn't fast, he couldn't help having large steps, one step equaling two of Hinata Shoyo's steps.
Moreover, at 196cm tall, Hyakuzawa Yudai's approach run speed actually wasn't slow.
Next to the measuring device, Kawashima, who was responsible for observation, suddenly felt like he was being targeted by a beast.
A feeling of fear, as if being targeted by a brown bear in the forest, enveloped him.
He stiffly turned his head to the left, only to see Hyakuzawa Yudai charging toward him.
In the short approach run of less than ten meters, Hyakuzawa Yudai's usual gentle demeanor gradually disappeared, and a strong aura began to emerge.
"Oh?"
A slight smile appeared on Ichise Guren's face.
"In good condition today, entering battle mode just for a vertical jump."
Hyakuzawa Yudai took one huge step, followed by lowering his center of gravity and jumping with both feet.
Wind surged and buffeted Kawashima's face.
Thick arms swung up, precisely striking through a section of measuring bars.
"Hyakuzawa-senpai, what amazing presence!"
Kawashima couldn't help but exclaim.
Then he announced Hyakuzawa Yudai's vertical jump record.
"337cm!"
PE Teacher No. 1's eyes went perfectly round.
"!!!"
'Hyakuzawa Yudai is only in third year of middle school, right? If he can grow a bit taller, reaching over 210cm, and receive better training.'
'He might have a chance to become a Japanese basketball national team member! This kind of agility is rare among big guys!'
She coughed to cover her shock.
After recording Hyakuzawa Yudai's vertical jump height, she began reminding the next third-year student.
"Ah, next is Hinata Shoyo."
"I'm coming!"
****
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