"Uh… what?"
Hinata Shoyo had originally wanted to suggest a match against the upperclassmen to decide whether he and Kageyama Tobio could officially join the volleyball team. But now, he was utterly shocked by Sawamura Daichi's proposal.
His whole body trembled slightly, and his voice even carried a quiver.
"Me… going up against the 'King', Ichinose Guren and Yudai Hyakuzawa?! Really???"
Kageyama shot Hinata a disdainful glance and stepped forward.
"No problem! If we win, then I'll officially join the volleyball team as the setter!"
"Hey! Don't make decisions for me!! You little, "
Hinata jumped up in anger, grabbing Kageyama by the collar.
"Do you even realize how strong those two are together?!"
Kageyama didn't indulge him, casually tossing Hinata aside.
"Don't be foolish, rookie. Do you really think you won't face anyone this strong in the future?"
"If you actually thought that, then why are you even playing volleyball?!"
Hinata's anger flared, but he squared up to Kageyama, meeting him eye-to-eye without hesitation.
"You don't think I'm scared, do you? It's precisely because I know how strong they are that I'm trembling with excitement!"
He waved his left hand back over his chest, and a fierce fighting spirit ignited across his face.
"Cough cough~~"
Sawamura cleared his throat. Once both of them looked at him, he finally spoke.
"You two need to recognize the power of a team. You have to treat everyone on this side of the net as your teammates if you want to join the volleyball team."
"If Hinata is paired with Ichinose, Hyakuzawa, and Hoshino, it defeats the purpose, right?"
"They were your teammates back in Junior High. Even if Kageyama is just a tool-type setter, you won't fear any team."
"We need to break your dependence on your former teammates!"
"By the practice match, you need to clearly see that everyone on this side of the net is your teammate!"
"It's decided.
"Tsukishima, Ichinose, Hyakuzawa, and Hoshino will be on one team."
"And Yamaguchi and Tanaka will be yours."
Bang!
The volleyball club's iron doors slammed shut.
No matter how much Hinata and Kageyama bickered outside, Sawamura ignored them, quietly discussing with Ichinose.
"I don't know why you wanted Tsukishima and the others on your team against Kageyama and Hinata, but I trust your judgment."
"Thanks to your training advice over the holidays, I feel like our volleyball skills have improved significantly."
Ichinose smiled faintly.
"It's nothing. Your fundamentals were already solid. I just provided some functional, advanced training methods."
"Without your prior effort and practice, these methods wouldn't have done much."
"Practice, accumulation, and effort, those were always yours. You just needed a key."
Sawamura nodded thoughtfully. Lacking formal coaching, they had been exploring stronger volleyball techniques through personal effort and reflection.
The third-years had accumulated enough skill to confidently receive balls without losing to anyone else, yet they still felt their game could improve, they just hadn't found that key yet.
"Anyway, thanks for your help."
"By the way, I had originally planned to put Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and I against Kageyama, Hinata, and Tanaka."
"If you hadn't said that Hinata, with Kageyama as setter, could overpower those three, I probably would've done it."
Ichinose shook his head, looking out at the two already far away.
"It's not just about making Kageyama and Hinata cooperate. Our goal is to integrate the King into the team. We apply pressure to force growth."
"They need to realize that relying solely on the strongest teammate isn't the solution. Six strong players together aren't always enough."
===========
That evening, while practicing, Hinata encountered Tsukishima's usual teasing and provocation.
But this time, for some reason, perhaps from hearing Ichinose's relentless trash talk over the holidays, Hinata's reaction was different. Mimicking Ichinose's sly, confident smirk, he teased back:
"Oh? Holding back?"
"Please, don't do that. I expect you to fight with 200% effort until the very end, then we'll utterly and delightfully crush you."
He made a funny face and dashed off, leaving Tsukishima fuming, feeling as though a mischievous monkey had mocked him.
"Where did that wild monkey come from…"
Tsukishima's forehead literally seemed to grow as he fumed.
"You really want to win, huh? Then I'll just make sure you don't!"
Watching Hinata's taunt and his fiery response, Yamaguchi felt a bit uneasy.
What is that short orange-haired guy thinking? He's already got 185–189cm Tsukishima riled up… and I'm supposed to play with him? This might drag me into trouble…
===========
Finally, the day of the practice match arrived.
Though mentally prepared, Hinata was floored to see the three opponents all towering over 190cm.
"Huh?"
He stared in disbelief at his "giant" former Junior High teammates and asked about their heights.
"Guren! Yudai! Did you guys grow again?"
Hyakuzawa replied flatly, earning a glare from Hinata.
"I'm up to 201cm now."
Ichinose added, teasing his "little brother":
"And I grew 4cm too, probably around 187cm."
Hinata froze, utterly defeated, collapsing to the floor.
Damn it! Damn it! Two meters?!
Yudai's fine, but Guren grew 4cm too?!
Seeing Hinata's despair, Ichinose couldn't help but speak with a tone of sympathy.
"You've probably grown too, right?"
Hinata suddenly sprang up like a resurrected zombie.
"Hi! Reporting, team captain!"
"I grew 3cm too! I'm now 168cm!!"
Chest out, stomach tight, Hinata looked proud as if asking for praise, resembling a playful dog rather than a cawing crow.
"Good, good! Keep it up, almost at 170~"
Hoshino's sharp remark behind Hyakuzawa cut into the height rivalry, and Tsukishima's subtle dig made it even worse.
"You're not 170 yet."
Then Tsukishima's barbed comment hit Hinata like a cold shower.
"And I only grew 4cm, up to 189cm."
Almost 190…
Ouch. That stung.
=============
Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria