Chapter 50: I'm Going
Washijo Tanji, dressed in a black suit, looked at Ichise Guren before him—somewhat respectful yet speaking words of refusal. His brow furrowed slightly, but his fondness for powerful players still prompted him to ask:
"Could you tell me the reason?"
Ichise Guren first respectfully said "yes," then began explaining his reasons for not wanting to go to Shiratorizawa.
"Since I was very young, I've heard about the deeds of the national top-three ace, possibly even the nation's number one attacker, Ushijima Wakatoshi-senpai."
Washijo Tanji nodded. The story of Miyagi Prefecture's "volleyball prodigy" was more or less known among volleyball players. It was perfectly normal for Ichise Guren, who played volleyball in Miyagi Prefecture, to have heard about Ushijima.
Ichise Guren continued:
"Since then, I've decided that I will personally defeat every single one of the nation's top aces!"
Washijo Tanji, who had been listening with lowered eyes, slowly raised his gaze. Under those extremely thick eyebrows, eyes full of fine lines looked seriously at the young man before him.
Ichise Guren's gaze didn't waver at all—he simply looked earnestly at the elder before him, expressing that what he'd just said was exactly what he thought in his heart.
After this old man and young man stared at each other for several seconds, Washijo Tanji was the first to withdraw his gaze and briefly said, "I see."
He reached for the green tea Ayasaki had served on the coffee table, took a careful sip, and praised:
"Good tea ceremony skills, very professional."
Ayasaki, who had remained silent since serving the tea, finally bowed slightly in response to Washijo Tanji's praise.
"My skills are inadequate. I apologize for the discourtesy before you."
Washijo Tanji waved his hand, indicating no need for such modesty.
He then collected the [Shiratorizawa Athletic Scholarship Recommendation Letter for Examination-Free Admission] from the coffee table in front of him, slowly stood up, and after tucking the recommendation letter into his suit jacket's inner pocket, he buttoned up. After bidding farewell to Ichise Guren and Ayasaki, he walked toward the entrance.
Ichise Guren hurriedly followed: "I'll see you out."
Ayasaki had already quickly walked to the entrance. Without opening the door, he respectfully handed over a bag of the Ichise family's greeting gift—special small confections made by pastry brands that cooperated with the Ichise Group.
After thanking him, Washijo Tanji took the gift bag and opened the door himself, walking forward a few steps to where the Shiratorizawa driver had been waiting outside the main gate.
When the old man reached outside the iron gate, he slowly turned back, looked at the two people bowing, waved his hand, and said:
"In that case, the next time we meet, if Ichise-kun is still playing volleyball in Miyagi Prefecture, it will probably be on the competition court."
"At that time, we'll be opponents, and I won't have my players hold back."
Ichise Guren also slowly straightened up, changing from a bow to a nod.
"Yes, that's only natural. I'll also give my all."
Washijo Tanji remained noncommittal, waved his hand indicating he was really leaving this time, then had the driver open the car door, got in, and the car slowly started and drove away.
Ayasaki glanced at Ichise Guren but didn't say much. He was well aware that after all the time and energy his young master had spent on volleyball over the years, building such strong confidence and ability, wanting to defeat all the aces was a perfectly normal thought for a young person to have.
The outside world didn't know that Ichise Guren had refused Shiratorizawa's invitation, and Washijo Tanji wasn't the type to gossip around. So outside of Miyagi Prefecture, rumors still spread that Miyagi Prefecture's best middle school player—best spiker—best server—middle school demon king—the man who led Yukigaoka to the national semifinals, would join forces with Ushijima Wakatoshi.
They would launch an assault on the national championship.
Ichise Guren, having returned to his room and let Ayasaki off work, pulled out his phone that had been vibrating constantly. Looking at the group chat named [Yukigaoka Volleyball Club] with messages flashing frequently, he slid his finger to open the app and check the messages.
"Hey! I got an invitation from Seijoh Nishiba!!"
"Invitation photo"
"Where are you guys going?"
"Let's play volleyball together in high school too!!!"—Hinata Shoyo
"So noisy, I got one too. What's so great about uploading photos?"
"Also, it's Aoba Johsai, idiot."—Hoshino Masaru
"I got one too, but also a meeting invitation from Shiratorizawa. Shiratorizawa's coach called me yesterday too."—Hyakuzawa Yudai
"Senpais are so amazing!!!" x3—Mori, Suzuki, Kawashima
"Ahaha, otherwise how could we be your senpais?"—Hinata Shoyo
"You can't really tell from height that you're a senpai, can you?"—Hoshino Masaru
"You're not that much taller than me either, Masaru!!"—Hinata Shoyo
"What's the point of comparing heights? You're all shorter than me anyway."—Hyakuzawa Yudai
"Do you have multiple personality disorder?" x2—Hinata Shoyo, Hoshino Masaru
"Typing on a keyboard is much more comfortable than talking face-to-face, and communication is much more convenient~"—Hyakuzawa Yudai
New message.
"Have you guys decided which school you want to go to?"—Ichise Guren
"Ooh! Guren!"
"Let's all go to Karasuno together!"
"This time we'll definitely win the national championship!"—Hinata Shoyo
"You want to go to Karasuno because of the Little Giant, don't you?"
"Why drag us all along?"
"The captain will probably go to Shiratorizawa."—Hoshino Masaru
"Yesterday I told Shiratorizawa's coach that it depends on where Guren-nii goes."
"If Guren-nii goes to Shiratorizawa, I'll go to Shiratorizawa too."—Hyakuzawa Yudai
"Ah? Damn! Then next time we meet, we'll be opponents!"
"I'll defeat you guys!"
"Though I'm really scared!"—Hinata Shoyo
"You don't need to say your inner thoughts out loud!"—Hoshino Masaru
Looking at his phone, where new message notifications kept increasing after he'd sent his message, Ichise Guren scratched his head and thought:
'I never said I was going to Shiratorizawa.'
Then a video call came through. After a while, video windows popped up one after another.
Hinata Shoyo, currently wearing a white hoodie, was the first to answer the video call, showing his face shot terrifyingly close to the camera.
Then, laughing heartily, he placed his phone on a stand on his desk. Next to the stand was a group photo taken at the gymnasium when Yukigaoka's volleyball club advanced to nationals, complete with their "Dominate Nationals" banner.
In the group photo, Hinata Shoyo was laughing and jumping up with his arms around Ichise Guren and Hyakuzawa Yudai's necks. Hoshino Masaru, annoyed that Hinata had disrupted the formation, stood angrily behind them looking like he wanted to pull Hinata down.
The three first-years were carefully trying to mediate on the side, and this scene was professionally captured by Ayasaki, who was serving as temporary photographer.
Among everyone's ten photos each, Hinata had selected this one—his favorite photo—framed it, and placed it on his desk.
Then came Hyakuzawa Yudai, who suddenly closed his mouth, the helpless-looking Hoshino Masaru, and the other three happily waving first-years.
Once everyone had gathered, Ichise Guren greeted each member, then directly spoke:
"I'm going to Karasuno."
***
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