"Hey, Oikawa. Wakutani South wants to schedule a practice match with us. Make sure to inform the team," Iwaizumi Hajime said casually as he leaned against the hallway outside their .

  It ical break between csses at Aoba Johsai High. Oikawa Tōru and Iwaizumi were lounging in the corridor, chatting idly. Not far away, a group of girls giggled and whispered while watg the duo.

  "Look, look! They're always together as soon as css ends!" one short-haired girl whispered excitedly.

  "Well, that's because they're both in the volleyball club," another chimed in, trying to sound reasonable.

  "Ah, you just don't get it!" the short-haired girl tered early. "There are other volleyball team members ihird year, right? But do you see them running over during breaks?"

  "That's only because their s are close to each other," anirl analyzed. "Besides, I heard Oikawa has a girlfriend."

  "They broke up already," the short-haired girl interjected calmly.

  The two irls exged wary gnces. How does she even know this? they thought.

  Isn't this borderlialker behaviour? Kind of scary…

  Oikawa, notig the hushed otion, turned and waved cheerfully at the girls, causing the short-haired oo squeal again iement.

  "Hey! Focus already!" Iwaizumi barked, giving Oikawa a swift kick to the side.

  Oikawa sighed dramatically. "But it's Wakutani South. Do they have a cute manager?"

  "Nope."

  "How about their setter?"

  "It's Hanayama Kazumasa, a third-year."

  "Oh, so nothing special," Oikawa remarked with a smug look, as though his point had been proven.

  "You idiot." Iwaizumi smacked Oikawa on the back of the head. "You know what makes Wakutani Minami dangerous isn't their setter. It's Nakashima Takeru."

  "Ah, yeah, yeah. I know, I know, Iwa-," Oikalied, rubbing the spot where he'd been hit. "They're probably the team in Miyagi that resembles us the most—well-rounded and with a high level of pletion."

  Both teams were st year's Miyagi Prefecture Top Four tenders but didn't have the opportunity to face each other officially, yet.

  But Wakutani South had always been on Aoba Johsai's radar. Like Oikawa's team, Nakashima's squad was led by a star pyer, supported by a banced lineup.

  The simirities didhere. Both relied ohird-year core, had reached the Top Four in the prefecture, and had fallen to Shiratorizawa, missing out on Nationals.

  "Oep at a time. First, we beat Nakashima Takeru. Theake on Ushiwaka!" Oikawa decred loudly, thrusting his fist into the air.

  -----

  Coach Irihata stood before the gathered Aoba Johsai volleyball team. "I have two annous to make. First, we'll have a practice match against Wakutani South weekend. As a strong tender in the prefecture, they could be a major rival ier-High preliminaries, so take this seriously."

  "Sed," the coach tinued, his voice growiy, "today, we will finalize the starting lineup for the Inter-High preliminaries. First, Coach Mizoguchi will annouhe 12-pyer roster. The starting lineup will be chosen from these names."

  The news sent ripples through the team. Excited whispers and murmurs filled the gymnasium, but they quickly died down as Coach Mizoguchi stepped forward. Clearing his throat twice, he anded everyone's attention. The air in the gym turense, every pyer holding their breath in anticipation.

  "This is the official 12-pyer roster for the uping match," Mizoguchi began solemnly. "It was determined after much sideration, based on everyone's ret performand training. Whether you are selected or not, I hope you tio show unwavering effort and team spirit."

  The few seds felt interminably stretched, as if time itself had slowed.

  Every pyer held their breath, their hearts a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. This roster wasn't just a list of names; it was a validation of their relentless effort and a ce to step onto the grand stage of petition.

  "Third-years: Setter Tōru Oikawa, Wing Spiker Hajime Iwaizumi, Wing Spiker Takahiro Hanamaki, Middle Blocker Issei Matsukawa, and Middle Blocker Toshiki Tamiya."

  "Sed-years: Setter Shigeru Yahaba, Libero Shinji Watari, Wing Spiker Eiji Hino, and Opposite Hirasuke Wonda."

  "First-years: Wing Spiker Akira Kunimi, Middle Blocker Yūtarō Kindaichi, and Middle Blocker Taichi Kaedehara."

  "These twelve pyers have made the roster. , we'll hold a 6v6 match, and the starting lineup will be determined based on your performance."

  "Yes, Coach!" The pyers aowledged the annou. Those who made the cut showed measured restraint in their joy, while those left out lowered their heads, fists silently ched in resolve.

  For Inter-High (IH), the starting liypically sisted of seven pyers: two wing spikers (WS), two middle blockers (MB), oer (S), one libero (L), and one opposite hitter (OP). However, as Aoba Johsai currently cked a dedicated opposite, this role might be filled by either a wing spiker or a middle blocker, depending oeam's needs.

  Although the starting seven hadn't been finalized, a few spots were all but firmed:

  Captain Tōru Oikawa, the setter and the team's heart. His exceptional pymaking and offensive prowess made him the driving force behind the team's success.

  Vice-captain Hajime Iwaizumi, a third-year wing spiker. With his experiend reliable sg ability, he pyed a pivotal role as the a the team's attack.

  The libero, Shinji Watari, a sed-year. As the bae of the defence, his responsibilities included receiving serves and safeguarding the bae.

  Beyond these three, the remaining positions were up frabs among a pool of strong tenders: third-years Takahiro Hanamaki, Issei Matsukawa, and Toshiki Tamiya; sed-years Eiji Hino and Hirasuke Wonda; and first-years Akira Kunimi, Yūtarō Kindaichi, and Taichi Kaedehara.

  "Logically, it'll probably be third-years Hanamaki and Matsukawa taking those spots. They're clearly the stro."

  "Yeah, st year they even made it to the semifinals."

  "But Kindaichi and Kunimi are from Kitagawa Daiichi, and their fuals are top-notch. Plus, Kaedehara's been on fire tely."

  "Still, for the third-years, this is their st ce." A first-year pyer suddenly spoke up, and the room fell silent.

  Everyone uood the desire to py on the court—it was the same for all of them. But for the third-years, this season carried a special weight. It might be their final opportunity to make it to Nationals, the culmination of everything they'd worked for over the years.

  "Exactly because it's our st year, we have to win." Hanamaki Takahiro's voice came from behind them, startling the group.

  "If we lose, it won't matter who was on the court," Tamiya Toshiki murmured from the side.

  "But, senpai, you're all s. If you py, you'll definitely win."

  "That's right. And it's not like we're pnning to just hand over our starting spots," Matsukawa Issei chimed in, having approached the group at some point. "You talk as if the starters are guarao be those first-years like Taichi."

  "Hehe, of course not! We've always believed in Matsukawa-senpai!"

  "The's bet on it," Matsukawa said with a grin. "One H?agen-Dazs that we'll hold onto our starting positions."

  The third-year's eyes burned with determination. After three years of hard work, they weren't about to back down now. No one was willing to give up at this stage—not when the ce t their high school volleyball jouro a perfect clusion was within reach.

  Our summer doesn't end here!

  _________

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