Monday morning.
Akashi Asuka completed his simple one-hour morning workout and arrived at school early.
The time was 7:45 AM.
With over an hour remaining before the first morning reading period, the campus was sparsely populated. The sun hung in the east, casting comfortable rays through the tree-lined entrance, and a light breeze stirred the leaves. The atmosphere was one of quiet, serene beauty.
Until...
"Yo! Akashi, you're running late today!"
Omae Masato's booming, self-satisfied voice instantly shattered the tranquility. Even the tree branches seemed to halt their swaying, as if expressing annoyance.
Akashi Asuka turned with resignation toward the sweaty Omae Masato. "I'm not late, you're just exceptionally early. So, what exactly are you doing?"
Omae Masato placed his hands on his hips and laughed heartily, radiating pride. "Ha ha ha... training, of course! It's not just me; everyone in the volleyball club arrived early today. We've agreed that from now on, the club will hold morning practices every day."
"Akashi, looks like you missed the jump this time!" Omae Masato was clearly elated, as if he had won some sort of competitive "race."
After his moment of triumph, Omae Masato finally noticed the books Akashi Asuka was holding. "Speaking of which, what are you doing with those?"
"Studying."
"Oh! So you're just... Wait!" Omae Masato's face contorted in alarm. "Y-y-you... what did you just say? Studying? Akashi, did getting blocked yesterday knock the sense out of you? Should we take you to the infirmary? No, perhaps a check-up at the hospital would be safer."
"What are you talking about?"
Akashi Asuka rolled his eyes. "We are students. What is youth truly for? Is it for playing ball? Of course not. It's for studying and taking exams. If we can't handle our academic responsibilities, how can we possibly talk about club activities?"
Akashi Asuka's tone was righteous, firm, and ringing with conviction.
Omae Masato was instantly struck dumb.
"No, no, no, that's wrong. Absolutely wrong! There is no way you would spontaneously choose to study! Have you forgotten our pact to remain 'mutual academic failures'?"
"Besides, that's not what you said yesterday!"
"What did I say yesterday?"
"You clearly said we needed to train hard to take revenge on Kitagawa First in the National Tournament in October!"
Akashi Asuka nodded. "That's correct. I did say we need to train hard, but the immediate concern is that the term-end exams are less than two weeks away."
"If any of us fail a subject, we will be forced to stay for supplementary summer classes. If we're stuck in remedial classes, won't that interfere even more with our training time?"
Having made his point, Akashi Asuka turned and walked toward the school library.
Left standing alone was Omae Masato, his figure appearing petrified, like a statue struck by lightning, isolated and helpless beneath the fallen leaves.
...
The Summer Training Camp
The library was virtually empty.
It had to be admitted that Senkoku Middle School was indeed a very ordinary institution, in both academics and sports clubs.
Akashi Asuka pulled out the new study materials he had purchased yesterday. The collection included not only the required junior high textbooks but also high school-level materials, which he had bought specifically near the prefectural gymnasium.
In his past life, Akashi Asuka's academic results were average—just enough to get into a decent university.
But now, he was re-learning the material, and combined with the fact that the Japanese education system differed from the one he was familiar with, Akashi Asuka found a surprising sense of engagement and pleasure in the study process.
While Akashi Asuka settled down to study in the library, Omae Masato was sprinting frantically toward the volleyball clubroom.
"Big trouble! The term-end..."
Omae Masato burst through the door, panting heavily, about to spill his revelation, but he stopped dead mid-sentence.
Inside the clubroom, besides the usual members, Coach Shimokawa had also arrived, accompanied by a woman in professional attire.
This was Tanno Sawa.
Age 31.
Japanese Language teacher... and the homeroom teacher for Omae Masato and Akashi Asuka.
Tanno Sawa appeared to be addressing the club members. Seeing Omae Masato enter, she slowly raised her head and gently adjusted the glasses on her nose.
A momentary flash of light glinted off the lenses.
Immediately, Omae Masato felt chilled into silence.
"Gulp! Good... good morning, Teacher Tanno," Omae Masato managed to utter.
"Good morning, Omae-kun," Tanno Sawa replied expressionlessly.
"You're just in time, Omae. Teacher Tanno and I discussed a few matters yesterday, and since everyone is here this morning, we wanted to let you know. By the way, have you seen Akashi?"
"Ah! I just bumped into him. He went to the library to study."
"Eh?"
The moment Omae Masato finished speaking, not only the club members and Coach Shimokawa turned around in shock, but even Tanno Sawa looked surprised.
Clearly, they were stunned by Omae's announcement.
While the rest of the club's academic performance wasn't great, Akashi Asuka and Omae Masato were consistently vying for the lowest scores.
For Omae Masato to claim that Akashi Asuka had voluntarily gone to study was truly astonishing.
"Um... should I go and call him over?" Omae asked nervously.
"No, that won't be necessary. If he is studying, we shouldn't disturb him."
Tanno Sawa waved a dismissive hand, then spoke formally to the team. "The matter is this: your Coach Shimokawa approached me yesterday, hoping to arrange a summer training camp for all members of the volleyball club..."
"A summer training camp?"
"Really?"
"Olé! Long live the Coach!"
...
Tanno Sawa's statement was immediately met with enthusiastic cheers.
Organizing study trips or holiday training camps is common in Japanese middle and high schools. However, they are more often held for high school students, who are closer to adulthood and pose fewer safety management concerns.
For middle school teams, obtaining approval for a holiday camp is often a bureaucratic hassle.
In the past, because Senkoku Middle School's clubs were generally too "ordinary," the school did not see the necessity and typically denied applications. However, the volleyball club's achievement of matching the historical record provided Coach Shimokawa with excellent leverage for his request.
"However..."
At this point, Tanno Sawa changed her tone abruptly. "Only students who pass all subjects in the upcoming term-end exams will be eligible to attend the camp. Otherwise, you will be required to attend mandatory remedial summer classes."
The team: "..."
Omae Masato: "?????????????"