Chapter 31: The Focused Goshiki
Goshiki's pupils contracted sharply as he turned to look at the volleyball that had already rolled past the baseline. His breathing stopped for a moment, his entire body in a state of tense muscles and slightly crouched posture.
After two seconds, Goshiki slowly released this defensive stance, letting out a heavy breath.
Though he was reluctant to admit it, just from that one serve by Ichise Guren, Goshiki had already realized something.
He shouldn't have given the serve to that guy, even though his own plan had seemed so perfect.
The strategy was sound: the opponent serves, his team receives, Shirabu sets up the assist, and he delivers a spectacular spike. Then, facing Yukigaoka's triple block, he'd score a beautiful point.
It would showcase his incredible technique and cool demeanor, earn a point for the team, and break their serve—three birds with one stone.
The logic was crystal clear, but unfortunately, ideals and reality are always so far apart.
The starting point of this strategy was wrong, because...
No one on his team might be able to receive the opposing ace's serve.
"Damn it!"
Goshiki replayed that serve in his mind again. He had just stood there stupidly, unable to make the slightest movement.
If he couldn't receive the ball and complete the first pass, then no matter how powerful his attacks were, they would remain empty talk. If they couldn't even handle the opponent's serve, even if Ushijima-senpai were here, even a skilled cook can't make a meal without ingredients.
'No!'
'If Ushijima-senpai were here, he might have been able to receive that ball.'
'It's just that in matches, due to his tactical position and the team's strategic requirements, he tries not to waste energy on things like receiving.'
'Besides, receiving would also affect the approach distance and timing for his third-attack spikes.'
'Ushijima-senpai's fundamentals are stronger than all of ours.'
Closing his eyes, he took a moment to properly adjust his breathing.
When Goshiki opened his eyes again, fighting spirit blazed within them.
Not the kind of fighting spirit that burns like a small universe, but rather: 'I haven't tried my hardest yet. Standing motionless in the face of a serve—that's not the performance a team's ace should display!'
'I didn't come here from my hometown to play volleyball just to listen to the coach yelling at me in incomprehensible Miyagi dialect every day!'
'Within three balls! I will definitely receive your jump serve!'
"Huff... hah... huff..."
Goshiki adjusted his condition very timely, beginning to concentrate all his attention to face the next serve that was about to come.
The coach and teammates on the bench all noticed that the previously cocky Goshiki, who had ignored the opponent's game footage before the match, was gone.
A Goshiki who had settled down and thrown himself wholeheartedly into the volleyball match had returned.
His highly concentrated attention made him completely ignore all external sounds. Every cell in his body was devoted to this defensive play.
Ichise Guren, already in the serving area and catching the volleyball thrown by the staff with one hand, looked at the opposing Goshiki, who was emanating an aura completely different from his surroundings.
"Now this is getting interesting."
Ichise Guren smiled.
'However, unless you can lead your team to break through my Yukigaoka system, before that happens, you won't have a chance to face me anywhere other than receiving serves.'
'Sorry, this isn't disrespect toward you. It's because, in order to win the national championship, I can't let any opportunity for the team to grow slip by.'
'Not to mention, letting them think for themselves and then compete against excellent athletes like you all.'
'This is the best chance for success.'
Holding his breath and focusing, showing respect to his opponent, but still swinging with full force.
Another heavy bomb—the volleyball whistled as it blasted toward Shiratorizawa's formation again.
'I can see it clearly!'
Compared to the blurry volleyball shadow from the previous ball, this time, with Goshiki's complete concentration, his decent dynamic vision was pushed to its limits. His eyes could now keep up with the volleyball's trajectory.
But being able to follow it with his eyes and being able to follow it with his body were two different things.
Goshiki still didn't succeed this time. Forget receiving it—he didn't even touch the volleyball.
It's just that compared to the previous ball where he had no awareness at all before letting it drop, this time he watched helplessly as the volleyball slammed toward the ground, only managing to stretch out both hands.
He had already prepared himself, he had already tried so hard, he had already thrown himself completely into defending this ball.
But the volleyball still hit the ground for a point, and he hadn't even been able to touch it.
Unable to use the excuse of 'I'm smart, I just don't try hard at studying,' he could only face the harsh reality of his own weakness and powerlessness. This kind of cruel reality often beats people until they're completely devastated.
However, this ball that would have severely discouraged an ordinary person didn't create the slightest ripple in Goshiki's eyes.
He remained immersed in his own world.
Still displaying Shiratorizawa's carefully drilled, textbook-perfect fundamentals.
His form was crisp and precise.
Though his eyes were calm, they projected an unmistakable message toward Ichise Guren:
One more ball.
No anger, no frustration.
What remained was only one hundred percent love and focus for volleyball.
This desire that seemed to emerge from instinct expressed only one thing:
I will definitely receive it!
Ichise Guren's hands, gripping the volleyball, trembled slightly.
"Excellent!"
His hands were getting itchy.
***
30+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces