"By the way, with Kagami around, how come this guy hasn't improved? Like his serve receives. If you were here, he could've gotten the best practice possible, right?"
"Ah… well, receiving is a bit tricky. We only managed to borrow the whole court a few times. And with the mom-volleyball ladies and the girls around, I couldn't hit anything too strong. Even in personal practice, I had to hold back a lot."
"And yet you still have that kind of power. What's up with you?"
"If you're gonna say that, Kageyama's sets are insane too. They're so accurate it's almost creepy."
Kageyama and Kagami were getting really into their conversation.
Feeling left out, Hinata naturally started booing.
"What do you mean I haven't gotten better!? I have! I totally have improved!!"
"Don't get cocky when you can't even receive a single clean ball."
"Say what!? Kageyama, you can't receive Seiya's serves sometimes either!"
"I can do it a thousand times better than you!"
Was adding fuel to the fire supposed to look like this? Or maybe it just meant they were close—close enough to fight seriously. Kagami thought so and laughed.
Kageyama's junior high teammates probably never bit back at him the way Hinata does.
"Shōyō's always had good reflexes. Now you just have to stop being scared of the ball."
"W–wha!? I—I'm not scared… not at all… I'm in high school now…"
"Thanks for the easy-to-read reaction. But you need to actually look at the ball and absorb the impact, or else—even if not every time—there's a high chance the ball will go flying off somewhere. In a 3-on-3, doing that makes you an easy target."
Seeing Kagami doing practice swings—whoosh, whoosh—made Hinata shiver.
He was excited, that part was true, but the "secret weapon" was going to be aimed at him directly. Kageyama's serves were already insane, but Kagami's seemed even worse.
"By the way, is it really okay for you to practice with us? Aren't you our opponent?"
"Hm? It's fine. We practice with other teams too sometimes. And even if we're split this time, we're still all Karasuno. Besides, I don't have any punishment waiting for me whether I win or lose~"
"Ghh!!"
"Ugghh!!!"
Kageyama gritted his teeth bitterly at the reminder of the punishment. Hinata, jealous that Kagami was an officially registered member of Karasuno's volleyball team, let out a weird noise too.
"…I have zero intention of taking any punishment. I'm winning on the day of the match."
"Hmph… I will, huh?"
"What?"
"Nothing. I mean, it goes without saying, but same here. I'm going all out."
Kagami tossed the ball high… took a running start… and jumped. Without breaking his form midair, he struck the ball perfectly on the sweet spot. A sound like something exploding echoed through the gym, and the ball landed deep in the right corner of the court.
Hinata's eyes sparkled. Kageyama burned the sight into his memory.
"Getting a chance to redo my revenge match from middle school this quickly… honestly, it couldn't make me happier."
Seeing Kagami's serve up close was incredibly helpful—almost as informative as receiving it directly. Kageyama grinned.
"That's the plan. In junior high, we won the match… but there's something I'm still not satisfied with."
"Yeah. I'll take you on!—well, not that I'm someone important enough to be challenged. Hey Shōyō, you better be ready! I'm going full secret-weapon mode!"
"Uoooooh!! I won't lose!!"
Hinata imitated Kagami—tossing the ball high and jumping.
Kageyama—
…No way, is he also…
For just an instant, he had a look filled with shock and a tiny bit of expectation.
And then it vanished. His face returned to blank neutrality.
Because the attempt spectacularly failed.
Hinata tossed the ball weirdly off to the side, jumped beautifully, then desperately tried to make contact, but it was impossible. The ball grazed him, bounced off his head, and rolled across the floor all the way to Kagami.
"Even with insane physical ability, you don't have the copying skills. You can't just do it because you saw it once—no way."
"Ugh… I really thought I could…"
"I always say this—steady practice is the best shortcut. There are no shortcuts. Just practice!"
"You idiot!! Hinata, you dumbass!! If you do that in a real match, I'm not forgiving you!!"
A chaotic early-morning practice had been going on for about an hour.
Kageyama was drilling Hinata in brutal receive training despite his whining, while Kagami and Tanaka finished a round of spikes. Then Tanaka suddenly stopped the ball, remembering something, and called everyone over.
"Hey, you guys. I forgot to mention one thing."
""?""
Tanaka looked deadly serious. Only Kagami could roughly guess what he was about to say.
"…Captain Daichi-san is normally really gentle, but when he gets mad, he's terrifying. Seriously terrifying."
""? We know that.""
"Good. Makes this faster. …If he finds out you two came here for morning practice after he forbade it, we're screwed. I'm especially screwed. Not that I'm scared or anything, nope. Not scared at all."
Tanaka was usually bold, but he couldn't stand up to Sawamura. Sawamura was the type who's gentle but very scary when angry—strict with rules, a model student. Hinata and Kageyama had already experienced his wrath, but realizing he could scare Tanaka this much made them reconsider their opinions.
"Tanaka-san risked his life to prepare this for Kageyama and Hinata, so don't forget to appreciate that."
"Thanks."
"Thank you so much, Tanaka-senpai!!"
It wasn't exactly what Tanaka meant, but having them thank him again didn't feel bad. (Though the "risked his life" part he didn't quite agree with.)
But he still hadn't said the most important thing, so his expression quickly returned to serious.
"Anyway—of course you should thank me! But listen! The only ones who know about this morning practice are the four of us! You MUST keep it secret or—
'Ooooh! So it was morning practice!'
WH—?!"
Even though Tanaka had just warned them to keep it secret, the situation immediately fell apart. Despite it being far from 7 a.m., a new visitor appeared at the gym.
"Ossu!"
"!? S–Suga-san!? Why…!? It's only 6!!"
But at least they weren't dead yet.
Because the one who came wasn't Sawamura—it was Vice-Captain Sugawara.
"I mean, you were acting super weird yesterday, right? And I heard your conversation with Kagami. How oblivious do you have to be to let even the new guy notice?"
"Gahh!"
"And you suddenly volunteered to manage the keys, even though you're always barely on time."
"Ugh… guh…"
"Sorry…"
Kagami apologized reflexively. He knew Sugawara wasn't the type to scold harshly, but hiding something from an upperclassman still felt wrong—even if Hinata and Kageyama were hopeless cases.
"Nah, it's fine. I'm not telling Daichi. And it's nice seeing the first-years so motivated. Besides, early-morning practice? Sounds like some kind of secret special training—kinda gets you excited, doesn't it?"
Sugawara was indeed kind. The Daichi–Sugawara combination really balanced each other—both gentle, but able to switch between praise and discipline when needed.
"Well, since I'm here, I'm joining too. Let's get moving and warm up."
It was getting close to 7 o'clock.
If they stayed until the very last minute, they might get caught, so the plan was to wrap up ten minutes early.
"Uuugh… Seiya, you're so unfair."
"Don't look at me like that. …But seriously, this time I'm not covering for you, got it? Ignoring Captain Sawamura's warning AND sending the vice-principal's toupee flying—yeah, that's too much."
"Ughhh… I-It wasn't on purpose!"
"If you could aim for that on purpose, you'd already be a master."
And with a bunch of things happening along the way, their morning practice finally came to an end.
It hadn't been easy, but regardless, they'd definitely made at least one solid step forward.
"Dammit, Kagami! Next time I'm getting my revenge! And I'm stopping your spikes myself!!"
"Ahaha… Tanaka-san's spikes actually hurt…"
"Tanaka, your course is way too predictable. You totally lost the mind game—Kagami completely outplayed you~~"
"Oi, Sugawara-san, please stop provoking him…! I only managed to read his straight shot by chance!"
After this, the group split into those going back to their classrooms and those staying behind for official morning practice.
It wasn't just Hinata—Kageyama also looked like he desperately wanted to stay.
While watching Hinata leave with clear reluctance, Kageyama turned to follow as well—but Kagami called out to him.
"Shōyō's got talent—raw talent that'll shine if you polish it. Whether that talent lives or dies depends on you, Kageyama. Handle him properly."
"…I told you, I don't think he's someone we need to win right now."
"Yeah. I heard you."
Hinata had undoubtedly improved—more than the Hinata Kagami used to know. His volleyball skills were still rough, but he was working hard.
Even so, he still didn't seem necessary in Kageyama's eyes.
And in today's early-morning practice—
Hinata didn't spike even once. Kageyama didn't set to him at all.
All he said was: focus on your receives.
Most likely because Kagami was on the opposing side. Because he knew Kagami's serves. He wanted Hinata to sharpen his receiving skills at least until Saturday.
And receiving wasn't something you could master quickly.
Ironically, it was because Kagami was here that Hinata's environment changed and he could improve. Because Kagami was here, Hinata was forced to receive the strongest serves, so naturally, just as Kagami expected, their practice ended up being receive-focused.
"How many points did Shōyō score against us? Back then, when we played?"
"…What?"
"Do you really think Shōyō doesn't have the ability to score? Kageyama… you should reconsider what Sawamura-san told you."
"......"
Kagami said this while grabbing his towel from the window sill and wiping his sweat.
Kageyama looked unconvinced, but not completely dismissive—he clearly understood there was meaning behind the words.
"Kageyama, your sets are amazing. Being able to hit those freely, being able to get into a set-up position naturally and strike from it—if someone can do that, I'm sure they can take on any block. On a first-time play? They could probably score easily."
"A setter's job is to deceive the block and open the path for the spiker. That's the ideal setter. That's what I'm aiming to be. No matter what block is in front of me, I slip past it, set it up… and if they can hit my toss—"
"Haha, I get it, I get it. …But listen, Kageyama. You're amazing, that's true. But your ideal toss and the spiker's best possible toss—they seem the same, but actually aren't. At least, that's what I think."
"What!?"
Kageyama snapped back. Because these were the words of someone who genuinely knew volleyball deeply—someone who reminded him of his old upperclassman whom he once admired and wanted to learn from.
Even if the words were harsh—he wanted to hear every one of them. To turn everything into fuel. To get stronger.
He wanted to hear the rest—
But that was where the conversation stopped.
"Hey hey, Kageyama, Daichi and the others are coming back."
Sugawara urged him to return.
Kageyama nodded and gestured for Kagami to continue, but—
"We'll talk next time. Think about it yourself. Rather than someone else telling you, it'll mean more if you shape it in your own way. …Man, listen to me sounding all self-important."
Kagami laughed, showing his teeth.
"In junior high, we didn't have time—or people. Here, you have both. So hurry up and join the volleyball club with him already."
"That's not something someone blocking my way should be saying."
Kageyama said this before turning and heading back.
Outside the gym, Hinata was waiting.
Kagami thought he'd already gone ahead, but apparently he'd heard everything. He stared straight at Kageyama.
"In junior high, I relied on Seiya for everything. For hitting spikes, for practice, even for scoring points in matches."
"...…."
Hinata spoke before Kageyama could say anything.
"But I can't rely on Seiya forever! I have to fight him too someday! That's why—you better not change your style! I'll give you a receive you'll be satisfied with! I'll get it down before Saturday! And if you're convinced, if you think I'm someone needed to win—if I can receive properly—then set to me! And don't hold back!!"
"…Hah? If you're gonna say all that, then try it. Trash-receiver. And what makes you think I ever hold back in volleyball, idiot."
Filled with new determination, Hinata looked forward.
He was still inexperienced, still just a fledgling. But he was moving forward, one step at a time. As a member of Karasuno's volleyball team, aiming to fly high.
"......"
Watching Hinata and Kageyama's exchange, Kagami couldn't help but smile.
"…Hey, Kagami, can I ask you something?"
"Yes? What is it, Sugawara-san?"
"Kagami… are you really a first-year? Same age as those two? You didn't repeat a grade or something? Or are you their guardian?? Is Daichi your grandpa?"
"What—what's THAT supposed to mean!?"
"You're way too calm and wise for your age! Seriously, I'm starting to understand what Daichi meant. You feel like someone who's gone through high school twice already."
Sugawara looked suspicious for a moment… but quickly broke into a grin.
"Just kidding, just kidding. Really, we're counting on you. And hey, you can rely on us too, okay? Now let's get ready for the real morning practice."
Kagami knew he was being teased. But Sugawara was actually remarkably sharp.
"Yes! Please take care of me!"
For a split second, Kagami felt a cold shiver down his back—Sugawara's words had been way too on point. But he quickly calmed down.
After all, his birthday and student ID could prove his age. As for his "past"?
There was no way to prove it anyway—so why panic?
Soon after, the official morning practice began.
Trying to act calm so Sawamura wouldn't suspect anything, the three of them behaved as if absolutely nothing had happened.
Though Tanaka suddenly being quiet was extremely suspicious, Sugawara worried about how to handle it—until Shimizu arrived, restoring the usual noisy atmosphere. Problem solved.
"…I can't wait to see what kind of match it'll be."
It was still some time away, but Kagami looked genuinely excited.
Seeing that, Sugawara smiled.
Yep. That was the face of someone his age, after all.
Standing next to him, Shimizu understood Sugawara's meaning immediately and smiled as well—while Tanaka became even louder than usual.