Inside the Karasuno gym, the volleyball team was diligently training. Suddenly, the sound of leather shoes stepping on the floor echoed from the entrance.
Hinata Shoyo was the first to turn his head, curious to see who it was, whether a man in polished shoes or a woman in heels.
A pair of gleaming, unadorned Oxford shoes stepped in. The wearer wore a six-button, double-breasted suit with padded shoulders, a fitted waist, and sharp lines resembling armor.
Ayasaki Hayato, his hair perfectly combed, entered the gym, followed closely by Karasuno's manager, Kiyoko Shimizu. Behind them were three burly men, each carrying boxes.
Ayasaki politely nodded at the team in training. Confused, the Karasuno players returned the gesture. Except for a few former Yukigaoka Junior High players, everyone else wondered if he might be a school official on inspection duty.
"Oh! Mr. Ayasaki!"
After Hinata greeted him warmly, the rest learned from Hoshino that this stylish gentleman was the Ise family's butler.
The boxes the burly men carried contained team jerseys, two sets per box, custom-made by Ise Clothing, based on Karasuno's current uniforms.
It clicked for everyone: the sudden measurement session weeks ago had been to prepare these uniforms.
After the boxes were placed on the floor, the team eagerly searched for the boxes labeled with their names and tore them open.
"This is so cool!"
Hinata held Karasuno's main-colored jersey in the air with both hands, unable to hide his excitement.
This is the jersey the Little Giant wears at the Tokyo Gym!!
The jersey numbers were assigned as follows:
Daichi Sawamura, the captain, naturally the team leader.
2. Sugawara Koushi
3. Asahi Azumane, temporarily not in the first starting lineup, but numbers follow seniority.
4. Nishinoya Yuu. Traditionally in Karasuno, 4 is assigned to the starting libero, maintaining the team's custom.
5. Ryunosuke Tanaka
6. Chikara Ennoshita
7. Kinoshita Hisashi
8. Kazuhito Narita
9. Daichi considered carefully who should get the last single-digit jersey…
Kageyama Tobio, the genius setter, elevates Karasuno's attack to its peak. Even a messy high ball can become a perfect quick attack with him on the court.
Ichinose Guren, the ultimate ace, possesses the highest attack point in high school, his physical strength, coordination, and reflexes make him the team's ultimate savior, capable of elevating offense, blocking, and defense alone.
After a private discussion with two underclassmen, Kageyama didn't care about the jersey number; as long as he got the uniform and played as a starter, that was enough.
Guren gave Daichi a strange look, teasing:
"Daichi-senpai, you don't think I'm like that wild monkey Hinata, do you? I don't care about numbers. Besides, it's just a single-digit jersey."
Relieved, Daichi assigned the final jersey to the team's all-around anchor:
Kageyama Tobio
10. Hinata Shoyo
"Why does Kageyama get a single-digit number?!"
"10 is for the Little Giant!"
"Ohhh! Hahaha, Kageyama, don't be jealous~"
Tsukishima Kei
12. Tadashi Yamaguchi
13, Yudai Hyakuzawa
14. Hoshino Katsuri
15. Ichinose Guren
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At the Karasuno Gym.
"Whoa!"
"That's a tall guy!"
"Must be over two meters!"
Inuoka and Shibayama watched the giant opposite them, Yudai Hyakuzawa, and couldn't help exclaiming.
Hinata, on Karasuno's side, stared at the opposing setter from Nekoma, realizing it was a player he had met before. His face mirrored surprise.
Two hot-blooded players even shot each other with wary looks, but both teams had calm upperclassmen controlling the scene, preventing any embarrassment.
When both team captains smiled and shook hands, Tetsurouu Kuroo and Daichi shared the same thought:
This guy is tough to deal with.
Setting aside the two bench players who hadn't met before, there was a mutual respect between Nekoma's players and Ukai's "idiot" rapport.
Nekoma finished warming up and circled together.
"We are the blood! To keep the 'brain' functioning, it must flow, delivering oxygen! Let's go!"
Kuroo rallied Nekoma's morale. Karasuno, unwilling to back down, matched the intensity through Daichi: "Hit the wall, and you will rise above!" Even pre-match speeches were filled with rivalry, with neither captain yielding an inch.
"Old Kuroo's chanting his mantra again," muttered Guren, his voice low. Hinata, trying to eavesdrop, couldn't make out what Guren said.
Ignoring the excited, curious "wild monkey" behind him, Guren quickly turned to his setter.
"Kageyama!"
Kageyama turned, locking eyes with Guren. He remembered the words Guren had said before the match. Nodding seriously, he assured his captain he hadn't forgotten.
Good. Hinata, this time I won't hold back.
Guren felt a surge of adrenaline.
Nekoma, this tough-as-nails training bag, is unlike any Junior High opponent we've faced.
Don't disappoint me, team with Daichi-level reception skills all around.
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria