This year's competition day starts on August 3rd. As is customary, they have to travel to Tokyo a day earlier in order to prepare for the next morning's race.

Due to the large amount of daily training in Shiratorizawa, a week before the competition, Washigami Forge began to ask the participating players to gradually reduce the time of additional training, in order to prevent them from overtraining and affecting their physical condition. Therefore, on the night of the 1st, after the regular meeting, all the players were expelled and were not allowed to stay in the gymnasium.

And because of the competition, Shibasaki Katsu directly rejected Ryo Hoshino's job request. Therefore, when Ryo Hoshino stood in front of the gymnasium and looked at the time less than seven o'clock, he was a little dazed.

"Hey, Hoshino, what are you doing in a daze, let's go." Hanhe Jiang Yong, who had put away his things, slapped him from behind.

Hoshino was stunned: "Oh." ”

Because the five-color worker's home was different from theirs, the three of them separated not far from the school gate, leaving only Hoshino Ryo and Hanhejiang to walk together.

The two men walked side by side in the night. I don't know why, General Hanhe Jiangyong, who talks a lot on weekdays, seemed very silent today, and Ryo Hoshino didn't speak, so the two walked silently all the way to the fork in the road.

But neither of them said goodbye, and just stood there.

"Hoshino." After a long time, Hanhejiang finally spoke.

"Hmm."

The inch-headed boy raised his head, the street lamp only illuminated his side face, I don't know if it was because of the night, his expression looked a little serious for a while.

But when he turned his head, Ryo Hoshino found that the other party's expression was indeed extremely serious.

"You're going to Tokyo tomorrow." The boy spoke.

"Hmm." Ryo Hoshino just responded. Kankawa was not on the bench list, so he couldn't go to Tokyo with the team this time.

"Ever since I was in elementary school, I thought you would definitely go to the whole country. Until now, I have believed so. General Hanhe Jiang Yong looked at him, "It's a pity that I can't see you fighting in the national arena with my own eyes this time." ”

Ryo Hoshino looked at him silently. saw the boy suddenly grinning: "However, next time, I will definitely see it!" Wait for me, when you lose points in the ring, I'll laugh at you right away! ”

Hoshino Ryū's face eased imperceptibly, and he sighed softly: "Just you?" Worry about whether you will lose points. ”

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Two teenagers laughed under the streetlights. After a while, the two finally said goodbye.

General Hanhe Jiang Yong stretched out his hand and whispered, "You must win." ”

"You have to win a lot, and the more you win, the better."

Hoshino lowered his eyes, held his hand, and the two bumped shoulders: "-Of course." ”

After the separation, Ryo Hoshino walked for more than ten minutes before arriving home. When I opened the apartment door, there was no familiar cat meow coming from inside.

Oh, and the cola was sent to Mr. Shibasaki by him.

Hoshino blinked knowingly. He didn't have to cook, he took an early shower, then took the folder in front of the bedside table, sat at the desk and quietly flipped through it. As he watched, he automatically conceived the corresponding picture in his head, and from time to time he took a pen to add some details to the blank space on the paper.

Meanwhile, in a similar room elsewhere in Miyagi, the light-haired setter was lying on the bed with a volleyball in hand, and the brown-green haired setter was practicing

Ace was using the equipment to relax the muscles of the whole body, and the younger sister head imp ran downstairs to the house with the ball to practice by herself......

For some people across the country, tonight is destined to be sleepless.

*

In order to recharge their energy, the consultant teacher deliberately chose the departure time at noon. The team members gathered at the school after lunch, and when everyone arrived, the bus started.

Like last time, the whole journey took more than five hours. The boys started to get sleepy not long after they got on the bus, and by the time they got up from sleep, most of the time had passed. After waking up, Ryo Hoshino didn't sleep again, just kept looking at the scenery outside the window, and before he knew it, he arrived at his destination.

As one of the school's best-performing clubs recently, the volleyball club has allocated a lot of funds. Therefore, they booked a hotel that is relatively close to the competition venue, and the environment is very good. Ryo Hoshino and Goseko are in a room, and after they put their things away, they go downstairs to gather.

The pre-competition training needs to be mastered, not excessive, but also not relaxed. Washimi knew this, and he knew that these boys were prone to getting hot-headed as soon as they came to the national competition, especially the two first-graders.

"Everyone, from the hotel to the gymnasium, two laps back and forth. Ruoli, you lead the team. Queue up and get ready! ”

The team members never questioned Washikor's decision. So, more than a dozen older boys obediently lined up and began their first practice in Tokyo.

It turns out that ginger is still old and spicy. When you are in a high mood and your blood is up, running is indeed a good exercise to adjust, especially when there is a leading Ushijima Wakari in front of you. He controlled the speed with precision, so that everyone was in a tired but still able to persevere.

After the run, it was time to eat. After dinner, the group gathered in the pre-arranged gymnasium for daily training. Since tomorrow is the first time in the morning, the training time is not very long.

After returning to the hotel and taking a shower, Ryo Hoshino and Goseko went to bed to rest.

I don't know if it's because I've already slept in the afternoon, Ryo Hoshino doesn't feel the slightest sleep. He opened his eyes in the dark, looking at the ceiling, a little distracted.

No matter what he thought about volleyball, he knew what the word "national" meant to all volleyball players. When he was still in the volleyball club, he also imagined countless times that he would lead the team to the whole country after he entered high school.

He didn't think he would get emotional about it, but when it really came to this point, he found that he still was

Uncontrollably anticipatory and excited about the upcoming matches.

It's really terrifying.

Ryo Hoshino hooked the corners of his mouth a little self-deprecatingly.

"Hoshino, are you asleep?" Suddenly there was a message from next door.

"Nope."

"It's tomorrow, are you nervous?" The younger sister asked softly.

Nervous? Maybe. But he just asked, "What about you?" ”

"I think I'm so excited. This is a national competition! ”

"Hmm." Hoshino paused and said, "Then get excited." ”

Yes, since you can't restrain it, let it get excited. But—

"Now we're going to get some rest and go to sleep."

Have a good rest, in order to go with your best mental outlook

Stand on the national stage.

"Good night."

*

August 3, nine o'clock in the morning.

"Today is the first day of the 2013 Volleyball National Conference! The college teams from the first game have already arrived at the scene, and after half an hour, they will do their best to show us one wonderful game after another. Let's wait and see! ”

In the rest area of Shiratorizawa, all the team members are stretching without saying a word. It didn't take long for the staff to come and inform them that they were ready to enter. Ryo Hoshino followed the others and walked into the venue.

As soon as he stepped inside, the familiar ceiling headlights made him squint slightly, and after getting used to it, he cast his eyes into the distance. There are a total of 5 courts in the entire stadium, which is quite atmospheric at a glance. They were in field 2, and by the time they came in, there were already two schools warming up.

At this moment, a line of people wearing dark green uniforms walked out of the opposite door. Ryo Hoshino glanced at the words on their chests - the great division of labor is high. That's their opponent in the first game. Just one glance, Ryo Hoshino withdrew his gaze.

There wasn't much time, and after Shiratorizawa sorted out his things, he took the lead in warming up. After the two teams took turns to warm up, the referee team was all in place for a brief pre-game mobilization.

Finally, the players of both sides bowed.

"-Please advise!"

The substitutes came off the pitch one after another, and the starters took their positions. Ryo Hoshino stood in the No. 3 position, moving his wrists and ankles, his expression calm.

"Great division of labor, come on! Great division of labor, come on! ”

"Shiratorizawa ——! Shiratorizawa ——! ”

The support group beat the fierce drum and cheered for the team members.

The referee looked around to make sure all the players were ready, and he stretched out his right arm, which was the field of the big division. Then, as he blew his whistle, he waved his hand.

The game begins.

Hidenobu Shida, who was standing on the tee, let out a long breath, and then, raised his hand, and served.

Hayato Yamagata picked up a pass, and the white cloth that ran to the front row immediately followed the second pass.

The first ball, without any hesitation, flew to the left.

The hearts of everyone in the big division of labor sank.

Here it comes!

Ushijima ran from the left flank, he stared at the ball tightly, jumped - smash the ball!!

A heavy cannon blasted through the double barricade of the big division of labor and smashed directly into the ground.

The short whistle sounded, and the winner of the first goal, Shiratorizawa.

"Good smash ——!!"

In the cheering, the five-color worker who trotted to the tee took the ball thrown by the player. He held the ball in both hands and adjusted his breathing.

It was his first national tournament and he thought he had calmed down after a long night's rest.

However, when he stood on the court, when he actually touched the ball, he found that the pent-up excitement burned up again like a fire.

[Then get excited.] 】

The moment these words flashed in my heart, the whistle sounded. The brunette boy tossed the ball.

As he has done countless times over the past few months, he started running with his eyes on the ball, and every step was just right. He kicked and jumped close to the boundary line, and his muscles that had been fully stretched and warmed up smoothly pulled to the extreme.

The black-haired boy who had soared to the apex took a deep breath, and then shook his arm suddenly.

The ball shot out.

The libero in the white jersey reacted quickly, lowered his body, and stretched out his arms. The next second, the ball smashed menacingly on his wrist and bounced out.

"Beep!"

The little ghost of the sister who landed on the ground was stunned for a moment, and then he saw the referee's arm stretched out to this side.

Got, scored?

He thought a little sluggishly.

Before he could react, his teammates had already gathered around.

"Good boy! Hair beautifully! Yamagata smiled and tapped him on the shoulder.

Only then did the five-color worker come back to his senses, and then, he heard the sound of support coming from behind him.

"Five colors! Colored! Well done—"

They were shouting his name.

The first-year boy's eyes seemed to suddenly glow. He finally smiled and raised his arms.

"-Okay!!"

Shiratorizawa's first ball, serve scores!