"A player is not a soloist, but a member of the entire symphony. Even if one person thinks, 'I'm special,' the team is already on the brink of defeat." Bernardinho, Brazil Men's Volleyball Coach
"If it were me, I'd totally spike that set and score!"
"Why?! Why can't you guys just do it?!"
What Kindaichi thought, Kageyama Tobio had no way of knowing. But what he couldn't bear anymore was this self-centered style of setting. The previous argument hadn't solved anything. The brief cooperation before had been just two people sacrificing themselves for victory.
Now, seeing the preconditions for victory slipping away, their conflict was about to erupt again.
On the other side of the net, Ichinose Guren quietly called for the ball, gave a quick high-five to his teammate, and then resumed his stance, hands on knees.
His eyes, however, never left the opposition.
"The gap between genius and talent cannot be bridged by mere communication."
"Just as Jordan could not coach basketball players."
"People like them can't understand why something isn't working, they just think the teammates aren't trying hard enough."
"Their combined effort and talent have already far surpassed the team's level."
Soon, a classic moment unfolded, the kind that would etch itself into the memory of a middle-school Kageyama Tobio.
The setter delivered a ball, and nobody went for it.
For the volleyball prodigy who poured his entire being into the sport, this was the first time on the court he faced something harsher than schoolyard isolation.
The isolation by his own teammates.
This match, between the national hopefuls and a first-time team, wasn't as thrilling or brutal as imagined. Only the opening of the first set had that feeling of tactical chess and clever duels.
The rest of the match, Yukigaoka dominated by having their role players do their jobs while leaving the rest to the star players' strategies, completely crushing Kitagawa Daiichi.
In the final moments, Kitagawa Daiichi's physical advantage and Akira Kunimi's explosive plays only narrowed the score slightly.
Ichinose Guren's consecutive points at the very end sealed the game.
The seed team, aiming for nationals, was annihilated in the first round.
Yukigaoka closed the match cleanly, 2:0, advancing to the second round.
After the match, as Yukigaoka celebrated their victory and prepared to board the bus back to school, Kageyama Tobio finally stepped out onto the stairs of the prefectural gym.
Hinata Shoyo, who had been running and jumping near the front, nearly jumped out of his skin.
The same guy who had almost attacked his teammate on the court was now standing there.
He bolted behind the tallest teammate, Yudai Hyakuzawa, peeking out with his small head and waving his fists:
"You, what do you think you're doing?! Don't forget, our ace is a giant! Not afraid of you!"
Ichinose Guren stopped Hinata's outburst and stepped forward to meet Kageyama.
He halted three steps away.
"What's the matter? What brings you here?"
Faced with Yukigaoka players exuding the aura of victory, Kageyama opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately stayed silent. He stared at each of them for a moment, as if memorizing their faces.
Then he gave a slight bow, adjusted his shoulder bag, and turned to leave with a brisk pace.
"What the heck? Was he trying to provoke us?"
Hinata jumped out from behind Hyakuzawa, indignantly pointing at Kageyama's retreating back.
"Come back here! I'll teach you a lesson, you little brat!"
He quickly switched topics, turning to Guren:
"Guren! Who's our opponent tomorrow? I'm so hyped!"
Before Guren could answer, Hoshino Katsuri cheekily interrupted their conversation:
"Hinata, as you wished, that guy came back. Go teach him a lesson!"
"What?!"
Hinata froze in a dramatic, almost geisha-like pose, unable to move below the neck. Fear twisted him, inching his head backward.
Only to see that behind him, there was nobody, Kageyama had already gone.
He turned back to Hoshino, ready to retaliate:
"Damn it! You invisible seventh man! Take this, Millennium Kill!"
"Hey! Watch this, Kamehameha!"
Hoshino spun around, striking a dramatic anime pose. Hinata, charged up and unable to stop, fell flat on his butt from the sudden attack.
"Ha, a battle power of 5, pathetic."
Hoshino mocked Hinata mercilessly.
"Uh, senpai, stop horsing around here."
Mori stepped forward to intervene, only to get a playful headlock and butt tap from Hinata.
For a moment, a lively, playful energy filled the entire team's airspace.
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