"There are five days left until the World Championships in Mexico. After discussions in the team, tomorrow afternoon, we will travel to Tijuana, Mexico, for pre-match acclimatization training. The Under-19 coach looked around the week and said, "As for the Under-21 team, they will come and take our place after we finish the game and play the rest of the game. ”

The schedule of the World Championships is very different from that of Chungao, with the first five days of round-robin matches in the group, and after the round of 16, the round of 16 is decided for a day off, and then the next matches will be continued. That is, the entire competition cycle takes 11 days. The Under-21s are scheduled to play after the Under-19s, so the training plans of the two teams are different.

"If everybody's clear, then I'll announce what today's training is about."

……

"Well, I've heard that it's almost 14 hours to fly from Tokyo to Mexico! I didn't expect to go so far away for the first time I went abroad. ”

"What is this? I'll tell you, there's a 14-hour time difference between us and Mexico, which means that when we fly over here, it's still the same afternoon! ”

"So amazing?!"

After the morning practice, the team members walked towards the canteen in twos and threes, chatting about the World Championships as they walked.

"14 hours...... It seems that the time difference will be adjusted. Gu Senyuan also sighed, "But don't say it, I haven't really been to Mexico, what's delicious there?" ”

Ryo Hoshino thought for a moment, "The most famous one should be Taco." ”

"Huh! I've heard that Mexican crepes are delicious! At the mention of eating, Xinghai Guanglai was also a little excited.

"No matter what is delicious, it is not something we can think of when the time comes." Gong Yu immediately poured a basin of cold water on them.

As soon as several people thought of the ban, they immediately wilted: "Yes......"

Ryo Hoshino was not too disappointed, and quickly returned to normal, chatting about the grouping of the World Championships: "What do you think of the opponents in Group B this year? ”

Speaking of this, everyone's faces were not clear, and Gu Senyuan also shook his head: "It's difficult." Because of the disadvantage of physical fitness and development time, our country has not been very strong in the men's volleyball team. This year's international rankings came out, and our national team was only ranked 19th. And even if we look at the Under-19 record alone, we don't have an advantage. ”

"That's right. Needless to say, Argentina and Cuba, Turkey's men's volleyball team is not bad, and Chile's U19 men's volleyball team is also developing well. Judging from the historical data, we are indeed at the bottom of Group B. ”

"If that's the case, I don't think our shipping is the worst." Ryo Hoshino is different from their focus, "Do you think, Group C has Russia, Iran and France, Group D has Brazil and the United States, which is the fuel-efficient lamp?" ”

He said it reasonably, and no one else refuted it.

Ryo Hoshino continued: "We all know the situation of our national team in the international competition, since we have chosen to participate, let's let go of our hands and feet, win one is one, and if you can get into one, you say, right?" ”

A few people nodded thoughtfully, and just as they wanted to respond, they heard a sentence from behind: "Hmm." ”

Everyone turned their heads one after another, it was Ushijima Wakari, Iizuna Sho and Mutu Kotaro, and the response just now was what Ushijima Wakari said. Ryo Hoshino looks at the clear person,

Before he could speak, the corners of his mouth were hooked first.

"Hello seniors."

They shouted.

"That's right! Don't lose your morale before you even start playing, the most important thing is to play at your level on the field, so that you don't regret it. ”

Iizuna applauded, and Kotaro Kitoku raised his arms and shouted, "That's right!" We are the strongest!! ”

"That's not what I mean......"

The two groups of people naturally mixed together and walked towards the dining hall. And Ryo Hoshino quietly fell from the front to the back.

"Captain." He bent his eyes and lowered his voice and said, "Did I just say that?" After finishing speaking, his chin was slightly raised, like a cat that had only done good deeds, with a hint of inviting merit.

It's kind of cute.

Ushijima Wakari lowered his eyes.

- I want to touch it.

The moment this thought came to mind, Ushijima Ruoli had already raised his hand. But at the moment when he was about to fall, he hesitated. But in the next second, the silver-haired boy took the initiative to put his head on his hand.

The fine strands of hair rubbed lightly in the palm of his hand, like a cat's claw scratching at his heart. In the moment before the touch was about to disappear, Ushijima Ruoli dropped his hand and patted the boy's head very lightly: "...... Well said. ”

Ryo Hoshino smiled: "I know." ”

In the distance, Iizuna noticed them and shouted, "Ushijima—what are you two doing?" Walk so slowly. ”

"Let's go." Ushijima Worri put down his hand, "Go eat." ”

"Hmm!"

……

No matter what mood you are in, you still have to do the exercises

Do. After lunch, Ryo Hoshino and his group skillfully gave up their lunch break and chose to go back to the stadium to train, of course, including the three of Ushijima Wakari. In the afternoon, as soon as the coaches walked into the court, they gathered all the players from both teams and announced the training program for the last afternoon.

"The last afternoon was actually for our two teams to play a practice match." Assistant attacker Kato said as he moved his limbs, "The coach really figured it out. ”

"I think that's good. It has always been an intra-team game before, and everyone is very aware of the strength of the other party. But the opponents of the World Championships are not well known, and the coach probably wants us to familiarize ourselves with them in advance. ”

"Makes sense."

Gong Yu retracted his gaze and looked at the person beside him: "Hey, Ryo Hoshino, you shouldn't release water to deliberately let your captain win later, right?" ”

"It's like I can win without putting water." Hoshino glanced at him lightly: "I thank you for looking up to me so much." ”

Gong Yu snorted, and just wanted to choke back, he continued: "Besides, the word release should not appear on the field. It's not just disrespect to him, it's disrespect to volleyball. ”

Gong Yu looked at him deeply, snorted lightly, and said nothing.

"And, there's one thing you're thinking about." Ryo Hoshino turned his head to look at him, a fire burning in his eyes, "-I want to win him more than anyone here." ”

"Beep!" The coach blew the whistle, "The warm-up time is over, and the first team is on the field!" ”

Gong Yu raised his chin and hooked the corners of his mouth: "Go, the senior will take you to win him!" ”

Ryo Hoshino raised his eyebrows and smiled when he heard this: "It's not certain who will win with whom."

To bet or not to bet? ”

Gong Yu didn't think twice: "Bet! ”

……

"Right side!"

“ONETOUCH！”

"Cover!"

"Hoshino!!"

The silver-haired attacker jumped up and smashed a ball hard at the highest point. The ball shot diagonally and was saved by the free man.

"What a pass!" Iizuna shouted and trotted into place, and raised his hand to be a neat ball, "Ushijima!" ”

Where the ball was passed, a brown-green haired figure jumped up suddenly, the muscles of the upper arm of his right hand were tense, and the ligaments were relaxed one by one along the movement.

"-Bang!!"

The ball smashed into the barricade with the intention of breaking through the net, smashed into the hand of Motoya Furumori, and then flew out diagonally.

"Beep!" The coach blew the whistle and announced the end of the ball and the end of the game.

"Shhhh......h Gu Senyuan's face was distorted and he shook his arm, "This strength is really perverted." ”

"So who wins?" Gong Yu clasped his hands on his chest.

Ryo Hoshino glanced at him: "Draw? ”

"Okay." Gong Yoo immediately nodded in agreement.

"The first team rests, the second team is ready to play!" Over there, the coach shouted.

……

The practice matches between the two teams lasted from the afternoon to the evening, with people on and off the field changing back and forth, and members of the first and second teams also randomly matched together. By the time the coach finally announced the end of the practice match, everyone was exhausted.

"Today, no, additional training, right?" Gu Senyuan was also so tired that he was panting.

"Agreed." Kato was the first to respond, "I really can't move......"

"I ...... too"

"I've played enough today, and it's counterproductive to practice again." Ryo Hoshino's physical strength also bottomed out, he held his knees and slowed down, straightened up and said, "I have to catch a plane tomorrow afternoon, let's go back and rest first tonight, right?" ”

Others agreed.

So, it was rare for the group to leave the stadium directly after the disbandment and go to the bathhouse to take a bath together.

After a quick decision, Ryo Hoshino dragged his tired legs back to the dormitory, ready to go to bed after writing his daily summary.

But maybe it was because he was too tired, or maybe it was because the hot bath just now had heated his brain, and a sudden feeling of sleepiness hit him, and he fell asleep on the table unconsciously.

In a daze, he felt someone pick him up and place him carefully on the bed. As soon as it comes into contact with the soft futon, the body automatically and consciously begins to adjust its posture until it finds the most comfortable one, and then completely relaxes.

The frowning brows were gently pushed away, and the body began to fall, and consciousness gradually became dissipated.

I don't know how long later, just before he was about to lose consciousness, he felt a soft object rub against his earlobe.

Immediately afterward, a low, familiar voice whispered to him, "Good night." ”

I don't know why, but a sense of peace of mind suddenly welled up in my heart. In the next second, he fell completely asleep!