During club activity hours, thanks to a large recent donation to Karasuno and a portion of new educational funding, budgets for all school clubs had increased significantly.
Among them, the volleyball club benefited the most. Not only was a gymnasium dedicated exclusively to volleyball club activities already under construction, but the club's assets had also grown substantially.
That said, the nature of this increase was a little different, so there was no jealousy from the other clubs.
This was because the volleyball club hadn't received much cash. Instead, most of what they got came in the form of donated training equipment. Although, if converted into cash, the value of these devices would far exceed the operating funds of other clubs, they weren't freely spendable funds.
The equipment included though was not limited to reaction-speed training targets, intelligent high-speed serving machines with precision targeting, adjustable passing rebound boards, various foundational strength-training devices, and several specialized functional volleyball training tools.
When Kageyama Tobio and Hinata Shoyo saw these machines, the two of them displayed the same rare expression, an eager, excited look, brimming with anticipation.
"Hinata, sure but I didn't expect Kageyama to make that face too."
"Yeah, I thought Kageyama would prefer those monk-like, old-school volleyball training methods."
"Now that you mention it, I kinda get that vibe too. Like some totally unscientific training coach?"
As usual, Tanaka, Sugawara, and Sawamura Daichi were chatting about what kind of training Kageyama Tobio would supposedly like.
With his sharp hearing, Kageyama caught the conversation. Taking volleyball extremely seriously, he actually joined in this time, looking straight at the three seniors with a solemn expression.
"That's not it," he said.
"I personally like training methods that most efficiently improve volleyball skills."
"Whether they're traditional or advanced doesn't matter to me. What I care about is whether they're effective, and whether they carry a risk of injury."
Sawamura Daichi, who had been casually chatting, was startled by Kageyama's sudden seriousness. He froze for a moment, only responding after Sugawara poked him.
"O-Oh!"
"I-I see, hahaha… Kageyama, you really do love volleyball, huh."
"Yes!"
After seeing that his seniors understood his views on training, Kageyama nodded politely and ran off to explore the machines together with Hinata Shoyo.
Nishinoya Yuu also wandered off on his own to inspect the new toys especially the high-speed serving machine. He carefully examined the control panel first, realizing it was touchscreen-based and extremely easy to use.
Once he discovered that the machine could fire high-speed serves randomly within a set range, Nishinoya immediately jumped down from the control platform and shouted toward Ichinose Guren, who was more familiar with the equipment.
"Guren!"
"If I put a board in front of this serving machine, wouldn't that simulate the ball trajectory after a spike gets blocked?"
Ichinose instantly understood what Nishinoya was trying to train. Even so, he hadn't expected this normally carefree senior to be so concerned about the iron-wall block their absent ace had faced during the last Spring High.²
He nodded.
"Yeah, I get what kind of training you want to do. Shouri did something similar before—you can ask him. The board he made himself should still be at his place."
"Oh! As expected of a libero you think just like me!"
With his action stat maxed out, Nishinoya immediately ran off energetically to find that half-dead-looking junior libero resting off the court.
After that, Ichinose Guren began acting as a part-time trainer. Anyone on the team with training needs came to consult him what kind of training to do, which machine would be most effective, and what to watch out for during practice.
Among them, Sawamura Daichi, like the two liberos, focused heavily on receiving drills. Kageyama Tobio and Sugawara Koushi, meanwhile, were having the time of their lives with a device designed for threading passes through narrow openings.
Hyakuzawa Yudai and Hinata Shoyo were comparatively easy cases. They had already encountered similar equipment back at Yukigaoka, so they quickly adapted to the upgraded versions.
Since both were keenly aware of their own strengths, they soon began training independently, without needing any extra guidance from Ichinose.
The other players followed suit, choosing training routines that suited them. Among them, Tanaka Ryunosuke was the least troublesome of all.
He barely touched the complicated-looking machines. Instead, he headed straight for the standard gym equipment and began furiously working on his strength.
Low weight, high repetitions, fast tempo targeting the muscle groups essential for his specialty: spiking.
Ichinose Guren trained beside him in the strength area, doing his own functional workouts. After a while, Tanaka couldn't help but ask,
"Ichinose, why aren't you training for strength?"
"Look at you—you're way too skinny. How're you supposed to be a wing spiker like that?"
Ichinose stopped mid–double-under jump rope, wiped the sweat from his face, and replied calmly.
"I train strength, Tanaka-senpai."
"I just deliberately control my methods so I don't increase upper-body muscle size too much."
"Extra upper-body weight lowers my jump height and increases stress on my bones, joints, and ligaments when landing."
"What I'm aiming for isn't overwhelming power that smashes through everything—
it's absolute height that ignores the block entirely."
…
While the players trained and chatted enthusiastically, Takeda-sensei arrived at the gym entrance in his ever-unchanging grass-green jacket, jogging lightly as he announced the Golden Week training camp with a smile.
On the final day of the camp, a team from Tokyo Karasuno's traditional rival and their promised Dumpster Battle opponent would come for a practice match.
Everyone was thrilled by the news. However, Sawamura Daichi and Sugawara Koushi felt a sense of unease not because Nishinoya Yuu wouldn't be playing, but because of the starting lineup.
In the previous practice match against Aoba Johsai, Ichinose Guren had voluntarily stepped down from the starting roster. But if he didn't do so this time, then between Hyakuzawa Yudai and Tanaka Ryunosuke, one would have to start—and one would be benched.
On one side was a two-meter-tall traditional middle blocker, excellent in both offense and defense at the net, and surprisingly reliable at receiving. Unless faced with a Miyagi-level server like Oikawa Tooru, Hyakuzawa wouldn't become a liability in Karasuno's backcourt.
On the other side was a teammate they had fought alongside for an entire year someone bound by deep camaraderie, a fiery presence on the court who always lifted team morale. While Tanaka's receiving range might not be as wide as Hyakuzawa's, his superb athletic instincts and physicality often produced spectacular saves.
Takeda-sensei noticed the third-years' concerns. After finishing the announcement, he pulled the two aside.
"I know what you're worried about—but it's okay!"
"With news from Nekoma, I might even be able to invite that coach."
"And honestly, worrying about who to choose for the starting lineup? That's a happy problem to have. Don't stress over it too much!"
Seeing Takeda-sensei smiling, his eyes gleaming with quiet determination, Sugawara and Sawamura felt much of their anxiety melt away.
As the two regained their spirits and began shouting for everyone to train even harder, Takeda-sensei quietly started formulating his motivational speech in his head.
There should still be one more chapter.
=============
Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria