Chapter 75

"Okay! Let's start warming up now!"

Coach Irihata didn't waste any time. He went straight to the topic after entering the venue and organized Qingcheng's players to start warming up.

Tianhai glanced across the audience and frowned when he saw Kitano Shinsuke, who he was very interested in, standing on the bench.

"Coach Kurosu, isn't this player going to play?"

Last year, I came to Inarizaki with Miyaji Miyayu. At that time, Kita's meticulous practice left a deep impression on him.

Coach Kurosu followed Amami's line of sight. .

Where his eyes fell, Kitano Shinsuke quietly packed up the jackets that the team members had taken off, shook the water glass, and confirmed that the water was full.

Tianhai learned from his usual communication with Gong Yu that Inarizaki had no manager.

If it was because of this...

Coach Kurosu saw the puzzled look on Tianhai's face and quickly explained. "

This kid, Shinsuke, does train very hard. But unfortunately, his overall strength on the court is not as good as other players."

He once had the intention of letting North play, but North himself rejected his proposal.

After he tangled up and called Kitano Shinsuke to the coaching room, the boy, who usually had an indifferent expression and seemed a little cold, smiled gently,

"Thank you, coach. I know that I am not strong enough to play. I can win the team uniform and win everyone's support." I must be very happy."

Coach Kurosu recounted the scene to Tianhai. He sighed softly,

"I remember that day very clearly. After our conversation, he wiped the team's volleyball before leaving the school.

I have been a coach for more than ten years, and Bei is the most serious kid I have ever seen. "

Knowing that there was such an experience behind this young man's non-playing, Tianhai was slightly moved - he understood the truth

of being able to continue on for the sake of the team, rejecting the coach's proposal, and giving up his own opportunity to play...

, but when faced with a choice in person, how many people can refuse so simply and neatly?

"To a certain extent, Kita is a kid who is better than all the players here."

As if he felt the gaze, Kita Shinsuke turned his eyes and met Tianhai's eyes.

Tianhai was stunned. He could even see his own reflection in the clear eyes on the other side.

He felt for a moment that his thoughts were being read.

Without enough time to feel the emotion in the young man's eyes, Coach Irihata's shout made Tenkai run to the sidelines.

"Tianhai, today's starting lineup is still the previous lineup, is there no problem?"

The so-called "previous" refers to the starting lineup that Hanamaki and Matsukawa took over from Aoki after Ueda and Maebashi graduated.

"Well, no problem. If possible, three good first-year freshmen can serve as substitutes."

Tianhai intends to train the next main candidate in advance before Nakakuru and Machii retire.

It was Yato Hide, Watanaharu and Kyoutani Kentaro.

"Okay, then I'll let the players play." Coach Mizoguchi selected the players to play and repeatedly asked them to pay attention to their health.

The Spring High Qualifiers are about to take place, and any injury to anyone before then is a huge risk to the team.

Seeing this, Coach Kurosu also emphasized safety to the players - especially Gong Yoo, who always used the excuse of "feeling bad" to not wear kneepads!

"But I always feel uncomfortable wearing kneepads, coach! Can you not wear them?"

Behind Gong Yoo are Gongji and Kakuna, who are holding kneepads on the left and right.

He was still struggling, tightly covering his knees, trying to make the coach relent and not wear knee pads.

Just when Tianhai was about to speak out to persuade, Gong You stiffened.

Kitano Shinsuke's gaze from the bench was like a ray, piercing Gong Yu's defense.

It dug into the knee with a "pop" sound.

Gong Yoo reluctantly took it with him, stood next to Gong Ji with his lips curled up, and shook hands with Oikawa.

"Wait! I'll beat you to a pulp!"

"Huh? This is my line, right, brat?!"

Miyaji and Iwaizumi, with wooden faces, stretched out their hands to grab the two brats who seemed to be in kindergarten. Fart sperm, carry it to a fixed position.

"I'm sorry...our team members are a bit..."

Coach Iriyata took out a small handkerchief to wipe his sweat and apologized to Coach Kurosu.

"Ah... no, so are we." Coach Kurosu was also a little embarrassed.

Fortunately, no matter how naive the two setters are off the court, they still reassure the coach and are reliable on the court.

"Hey! Aji!"

Gong Yoo took the pass from Yin Dao and looked at the positions of the Qingcheng players. The situation on the field was infinitely close to the game in his mind.

He has an idea!

Miyaji was different from his twin brother who was somewhat noisy on the court. His appearance was always accompanied by silence, and only the sound of shoes rubbing against the floor confirmed his arrival.

"Bang!"

The ball reached Gong Zhi's hands within 0.3 seconds after it escaped from Gong Yu's hands. Zhonghe's eyes only blurred as the ball landed at his feet.

"Negative rhythm fast break?!" Zhonghe's face turned ugly,

- Qingcheng relied on this fast break to score a lot of points in last year's spring high school. It also left countless players helpless.

Among them is Inarizaki.

"I didn't expect that in just half a year, this first-year setter would use the same trick on us."

Even the good-tempered player felt provoked. Machii jumped slightly and put away the skills he once defeated Inari. Contempt arising from roughness.

Gong Yoo and Gong Zhi, who became the center of everyone's attention, started to quarrel.

"Aji! The ball just now was obviously going to the right. It would have been easily blocked if it went to the left!"

"Huh? We've already scored! Will we be able to score soon? And the ball you gave me was too low, right? " You don't have time to think about it at all?"

"What do you know? You just have to give the opponent no time to think about it before you can score..."

"..."

Hyogo Prefecture's Kansai accent echoed in the gymnasium. .

"You! Stop! Now!"

Coach Blackbeard's head was getting big.

Why did the coach of Yehu Middle School never say that two foxes can tear apart a house?

Across the noisy net, Oikawa, who should have been happily watching the show, stood in the queue, lowering his head and rubbing his fingertips.

"It's so strange..."

I can no longer find the same feeling of cooperation with my familiar teammates.

In the past, I could think of their moves and ideas. But after these few goals, he found that his judgment had been wrong several times.

"Oikawa." Iwaizumi's voice sounded in his ears.

Iwaizumi frowned, and Oikawa realized from the way he nodded that the other person felt the same way.

"..."

Unexpectedly, what coach Huo Shao was worried about after the national youth intensive camp last year has now come true.

·

"Touji!"

Oikawa said "tsk" as he faced the fox-eyed Kakuna, turned around and passed the ball to Nakakuru on the other side.

——This annoying brat again!

The ball he delivers is very fast and he is able to get rid of the blocker.

If Coach Broad were here, he would definitely praise Oikawa and use this shot as an example of getting rid of blocks.

Even Oikawa doesn't hit such a "perfect" shot many times.

"Thinking in an instant, the angle, strength, height, and speed have all reached the level of professional weightlifters..."

Tianhai's expression was solemn, and there was no trace of relief at all.

"Professional level" is true, but Oikawa's teammates are only high school students.

Kakuna stopped mid-crouch and ran to Oshiro Alan to block the ball, but -

"I can't reach it!" The ball passed directly in front of Touji and flew out of the court.

Machii sprinted over but already landed. Oikawa looked down at his hand again blankly.

Tianhai smiled bitterly: "Now we are in big trouble."

-----------------------

Just spending some time with outstanding peers across the country, There will always be players who don't adapt to the strength of their teammates.

What's more, practicing with professional players for half a month?

Because it was a shared accommodation, there were no strict rules for the competition.

As soon as Amami noticed that Oikawa was not in the right state, he paused the game and signaled to Coach Kurosu to give him five minutes.

"Coach, give me half a half and I'll adjust." Oikawa touched his nose.

Before that, he may give an "outrageous" ball at any time.

Iwaizumi also said that he needs half-time adjustment

- he is the main attacker and is not as closely connected with the team compared to Oikawa. He hasn't shown any discomfort yet.

But he knew that once the second pass dropped, he would be the next one to collapse.

Coach Irihata nodded and agreed to give them half time, and at the same time comforted the two of them, "Don't put too much pressure on them. After all, the practice match is to serve the competition."

The Inarizaki team on the other side was full of confusion.

"Why did the opponent suddenly pause?"

"Did Oikawa's ball fly directly out?"

"He has never done this before..."

Coach Kurosu sighed, "Didn't he go to the club before? Have you participated in the summer camp? Now he still maintains the habit of passing the ball. "

It's not just Oikawa and Iwaizumi who are under great pressure... I'm afraid Aojo's players are even more stressed.

"I caught it, don't worry, don't worry!"

"Here!"

At the sideline, Machii saved Miyagi's serve and passed it to the front row.

Iwaizumi and Hanamaki want the ball at the same time.

Oikawa judged that Hanamaki was in a good position, slowed down the ball, and passed it to Hanamaki's right wing.

But when Hanamaki heard Iwaizumi's shout, he took two steps back, leaving his position to Iwaizumi.

"Wait a minute!"

Iwaizumi quickly moved forward and barely hit the ball. As expected, he was stopped by Big Er Lian.

Takahiro Hanamaki put his hands together and apologized. The goal was caused by his mistake.

"It's okay, come back next time!"

...

"I'll do it!"

Matsukawa judged the position and jumped to block the ball. He collided with Kentaro Kyotani, who had just come on the field. The two bounced away and the ball slipped through the middle.

"Are you okay?" Naoto Toijima helped the two staggering people steady.

"It's okay, it's just a pity that I didn't catch the ball." The two of them didn't collide on purpose. It was a pity that Matsukawa lost the ball.

This happened three or four times in the first game.

Not only the Inarizaki players on the field were confused, but also the players watching the game noticed that something was wrong.

"What's going on in Qingcheng? I feel like the cooperation is not very tacit."

"I'm not sure, but everyone looks pretty good."

"But the lack of cooperation is still two points ahead of us."

Inarizaki The substitute players discussed in low voices that Qingcheng's performance now is not as good as it was in Spring High School half a year ago.

Coach Irihata looked at the players from the sidelines as if they had just met in the field. There was a sense of familiarity but not a tacit understanding, and he was a little anxious.

"Do you want another timeout?"

Coach Mizoguchi took the water cups from the players and looked at the court worriedly.

"Give them a little more time to adjust." Tianhai suddenly said,

"In ten minutes, wait and see."

Wait and see.

·

According to the arrangement of coach Kurosu, no less than 50 people from the entire Inarizaki volleyball club came to watch this training match.

The dull sound of the ball hitting the arm, the "dong" of the ball landing on the floor after jumping, and the "dah" of running against the clock, echoed in this not-so-small volleyball hall.

Summer in Hyogo is very hot. Fortunately, there is a forest next to the gymnasium. Under the shade of the trees, the gymnasium does not look like a steamer.

The players on the field began to gasp for breath, and sweat dripped on the floor along with the violent movements.

The smooth floor even had small puddles in some places.

Gong Yoo is now somewhat grateful to Gong Zhi for holding him down and wearing knee pads so that his knees will not be stained with someone's sweat when he dives to save the ball.

"It's slowing down."

Coach Heishu looked at the Qingcheng players whose gears were gradually biting together. He didn't know whether he was happy or disappointed.

Coach Irihata's tight back muscles also relaxed.

After the short running-in period, the changes in Oikawa and Oikawa were clearly displayed in front of the audience.

"One more ball! One more ball!"

"This serve, I'll go, I'll go!"

Inarizaki's substitute libero covered his eyes with his hands, but couldn't help but peek between his fingers.

Like all the spectators present, he sympathized with Akagi Rucheng who was tortured on the court.

——Who said there are no people in the world who feel the same way?

At this time, the audience couldn't help but pretend to be Akagi, imagining that they were forced to face this serve that broke the man's arm.

"The libero can kill the main attacker without spiking the ball."

Standing in the back row of Qingcheng, Machii explained the libero's situation on the court, "But once a strong main attacker appears, the libero will be the first A living target. "

Whether the opponent is attacking his mentality or his body, the free man is always the target.

Zhonghe patted his shoulder and comforted him.

"After all, you and Iwaizumi are teammates, right? This "killing" serve will not fall on you."

Machii slapped the hand on his shoulder and rolled his eyes, "In normal training, guess who picks them up Who has the most balls? “

It’s him, it’s him!

He is the one who deserves sympathy the most!

"Dudu——"

Inarizaki blew the whistle and made a substitution. Ginjima came off the field and was replaced by an unexpected player.

"Kita Shinsuke?" Tianhai opened his eyes wide and faced Coach Kurosu.

Doesn't that mean he won't play?

Coach Kurosu squinted his fox eyes and explained with a smile,

"As the main attacker, Bei was selected as a team member for a reason."

The game has entered the second game. Facing this player who just came on the field, Qingcheng players' eyes Full of vigilance.

But soon, they knew the reason why Inarizaki replaced this player.

The right to serve at this time still belongs to Qingcheng's Iwaizumi. Iwaizumi still slams the ball hard in the direction of Akagi Lucheng

. Not long ago, coach Tianhai mentioned to him a kind of "intimidation flow" serve, with the purpose of attacking the opponent's ball. confidence.

The ball hit the free man in the center of the back row straight.

"In the middle!! It's still Akagi-senpai!"

Kakuna, who had determined the correct direction to catch the ball, looked back. The speed of the ball was so fast that as soon as he shouted the signal, the ball had already rushed over the back row.

A figure suddenly appeared in front of Akagi.

"It's Senior Bei! He caught it!"

Gong You clenched his fists excitedly and squatted down. Even if the ball passed from the north is a little low, as long as he can catch it, he can hit it!

"Alan!"

Wei Bai blocked a shadow in front of the net and dunked boldly to get the point.

"Score!!"

Although it was only one point, this point was extremely rare given the helplessness of the previous four goals.

Inarizaki suddenly burst into cheers.