The cheers roared in their ears.
The players of Kamomedai High stood frozen on the court for a long moment, as if it finally sank in, they had lost, and the match was over.
"Hey~ That last ball... how did you know it'd be passed to me?"
"Hmm? Isn't it obvious? The clutch ball always goes to the ace!"
Seeing the odd expression on Akashi Asuka's face, Hoshiumi Hikaru paused in surprise.
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"Now then, it's time to officially announce the champions of this year's Spring High School Volleyball Tournament… Aoba Johsai Private High School!"
Clap clap clap~~
Clap clap clap clap~~~
On the podium, the host handed the championship trophy to Oikawa Tooru, standing atop the winner's platform. At that moment, even third-year veterans like Oikawa and Hajime Iwaizumi couldn't hold back their tears of joy.
Together, the team lifted the championship trophy, their faces a mess of smiles and tears.
Applause echoed from below.
Aoba Johsai's school anthem rang out grandly across the stands.
"Aoba Johsai! Aoba Johsai!"
"Woooooo~~ You guys were an amazing, volleyball team!"
"Well done, Aoba Johsai!"
Fans and spectators shouted from the stands, celebrating Aoba Johsai's victory.
To win the national championship on only their second trip to the national tournament was a historic feat, unprecedented, even in the history of the Spring High Tournament.
Once the team awards were handed out, it was time for the individual honors.
As expected...
The MVP title was awarded to Akashi Asuka.
Oikawa Tooru received the award for Best Setter.
Another strong contender for the award had been Miya Atsumu, but Oikawa's victory with his team ultimately gave him the edge.
"All right, Aoba Johsai, can I have everyone gather a bit closer? Time for a commemorative photo! Ready, one, two, three..."
Click!
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A faded photo dropped to the floor.
In the photo,
Akashi Asuka, Oikawa Tooru, Hajime Iwaizumi, Kindaichi Yutaro, Hanamaki Takahiro, Watari Shinji... all with teary eyes and bright, toothy smiles.
Akashi Asuka picked up the photo, a soft smile curling at his lips as he looked at each familiar face.
"What a long journey it's been."
He placed the photo on his desk, right beside a brand-new graduation certificate.
In the corner of the desk, several more photos, similar in style but filled with different teammates, sat tucked into a frame.
Without realizing it, two years had passed since they first won nationals.
That first championship brought Aoba Johsai into the national spotlight. Not just across the country, even within Miyagi Prefecture alone, the school's popularity soared, with its acceptance rate rising dramatically.
After that senior class graduated...
Aoba Johsai was able to recruit several promising newcomers. While they couldn't match freak talents like Akashi Asuka, Kageyama Tobio, or Hinata Shoyo, they had the potential to become pro-level athletes.
However, during their second-year Inter-High Nationals, Aoba Johsai unexpectedly failed to qualify.
It happened during a tough transitional period for the team, as they worked to sync up new and old members.
With the graduation of Oikawa, Iwaizumi, Matsukawa Issei, and Hanamaki, the team had lost most of its core. Oikawa's departure in particular had a massive impact.
Although Yahaba Shigeru and Ryuhei Sanashita stepped up to fill the gap, Sanashita only had good chemistry with Akashi Asuka, and struggled to connect with the rest of the team.
Meanwhile...
Karasuno still had its four strongest players, Kageyama Tobio, Hinata Shoyo, Nishinoya Yuu, and Tsukishima Kei, all of whom had not graduated. Thanks to their physical development, they had grown significantly during this period.
In that year's qualifying final, Aoba Johsai and Karasuno went the full five sets. But even Akashi Asuka couldn't defeat them alone and fell just short.
Karasuno advanced to the national tournament and reached the Final Four before falling to Itachiyama.
But by the following spring...
Aoba Johsai's new lineup had fully meshed. During the qualifiers, Akashi Asuka delivered a godlike performance, singlehandedly overwhelming Karasuno and reclaiming the regional championship.
At Nationals, the team blazed through their opponents once more and secured another national title.
That was the second photo on Akashi Asuka's desk.
By his third year...
His body had matured nearly to adult level. Even against professional players, his skills could hold their own.
At the same time...
Whether old friends or new recruits, the rest of Aoba Johsai had also truly grown into their own.
That generation of Aoba Johsai came to be known as their "Golden Age."
With such a legendary roster, Aoba Johsai won back-to-back national championships during Asuka's third year, both summer and spring, achieving a stunning three-peat.
Even before graduation, several players had already received offers from pro teams.
Not just Aoba Johsai.
Karasuno's stars like Kageyama and Nishinoya had also caught the eyes of scouts.
Although Karasuno had only made it to Nationals once, their performance left a deep impression nationwide. And since they were also from Miyagi, many scouts who came for Aoba Johsai noticed Karasuno as well.
So even without the same shine they had in the original story, Karasuno's stars still couldn't be ignored.
Of all the offers made, only Kageyama Tobio had confirmed he would go pro after high school and join the V-League.
Others, however, had declined or remained undecided.
Nishinoya Yuu declined for the same reason as in the original timeline, he wanted to travel the country and live freely.
Ryuhei Sanashita had never planned on going pro. Like Oda Miki, he only joined the club in high school and planned to focus on academics in college.
Hinata Shoyo also followed his original path, heading overseas to study beach volleyball.
Some things, it seems, were destined from the start.
Hinata Shoyo loved volleyball with every fiber of his being. And that's exactly why he needed to make up for the time he'd lost back in Junior High.
As for Akashi Asuka...
Though he had received countless offers from pro teams, he still hadn't made a decision.
Or rather...
He had never intended to make that decision himself.
"I've borrowed your body for so long… consider this my way of returning the favor," Akashi Asuka murmured to himself.
A gentle breeze fluttered through the window, rustling the papers on his desk. There in the center lay: an acceptance letter from the University of Tokyo, a professional team offer, and a bankbook showing a nine-digit savings balance...