[Actually, the "itachi" from Itachiyama translates to 'weasel', an animal that has a thin body and brown fur that eats small birds and other animals. If used in idiomatically, they can refer to a dishonest person who cannot be trusted. In Japanese mythology, one yokai, called the "Kamaitachi", with a weasel-like appearance, is depicted as a creature enveloped in whirlwind as it flies through the air with wings. Perhaps, this is the inspiration of Furudate when he created the name for Itachiyama. However, I cannot easily incorporate it to my analysis, thus, I'll be using a different metaphor for Itachiyama in this fic – one that is easier to describe lol. Detailed description in the next chapter hehe]
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"When people say 'Ball is life', I agree with them. But I'd like to add this too. Ball don't lie. So show me what you've got, boys. Let me see if the ball vibes with you." Kamiya Juichiro said when all participating athletes gathered around the gym for the next part of the seminar, which is a joint training.
What followed after that was torture for them - hellish 200 serves, endless blocking drills, and pain-in-the-ass receive practices. It went on until lunchtime, basically draining their reserve stamina for their games later. Everyone was exhausted. Everyone except the Asuma Genji, who, according to their coach, 'seems to have an endless energy reserve.'
Afternoon came and the athletes tried to cool down and rest a while before their cap-off game later. The first half of that afternoon was another one-set match. When the lots were drawn, Hiro silently wished that we won't go against Itachiyama, since he wanted to take them on a full-set game for the closing of the camp. Luckily, they got to play against MIrayuki High School from Miyazaki prefecture. Haganezuka Tech will be against Shiratorizawa and Itachiyama will have a match vs Iwatobi.
Hiro can hardly wait for this afternoon's main event. 'Either of the remaining teams we haven't played with yet are formidable, but I would really prefer to go against Shinya and his shenanigans.' He thought.
Maybe because they were so looking forward to the cap-off game, that everyone from Shiroshikata team performed incredibly against Mirayuki. All of their batteries were full. Their engines were heated and they won the match easily at 25 – 16.
Around 3pm, several more spectators started to fill the gym. There were some people from the local press, students from Itachiyama, and other neighboring schools. A couple of minutes later, there seem to be a slight commotion near the entrance. Hiro looked around wondering what the fuss was about, when suddenly someone exclaimed -
"Holy crap, that's Ushiwaka!" Gaito said in glee.
True enough, the famous canon of Japan was there, along with another man and the JVA promoter who did the lecture earlier. Standing at 190cm, Ushijima Wakatoshi, a graduate of Shiratorizawa Gakuen, who currently plays now in the Japanese Volleyball League for the Schweiden Adlers, is one of the most lethal spikers of Japan. He's only months fresh from high school, yet he already made himself a name for his mad skills in volleyball.
"That man with him….I think as early as now, they are already scouting for candidates in the U-19 pool." Coach Soma commented. "That's Hibaraki Shoei. He's the assistant coach of the U-19 team. Still this early in the year, talk about cunning. You've got yourself some interesting audience, boys." He hooted after that.
Meanwhile, the lots were drawn and finally, it's been decided. It's Shiroshikata Gakuen vs Itachiyama Gakuen for the cap-off game of the Golden Week Camp. The line-up are as follows:
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Shiroshikata Gakuen Silver Stags
S – Ginoza Kouen (2nd Year) 183cm
OPP – Ginoza Kouha (3rd Year) 186cm
OH - Sukiyata Maki (3rd Year, Captain) 178cm
OH – Fukuzawa Toshiro (2nd Year) 179cm
MB – Arakata Hiroaki (2nd Year) 188cm
MB – Kakuzo Ryohei (1st Year) 191cm
L – Hiyorin Gaito (3rd Year) 167cm
vs
Itachiyama Gakuen Legion
S – Mitsuki Shinya (2nd Year) 182cm
OPP – Boichi Koenma (3rd Year, Captain) 185cm
OH – Jao Daiki (2nd Year) 186cm
OH – Suki Yahiko (1st Year) 180cm
MB – Toyambi, Espoir (3rd Year) 195cm
MB – Garuma Misohiro (1st Year) 188cm
L – Motoya Komori (3rd Year) 181cm
--
'What a solid line-up.' Hiro thought as he scanned through Itachiyama's members. 'Even without Sakusa, Itachiyama doesn't seem to run out of talents.' The coin was tossed, and Shiroshikata was made to serve first.
Coach Soma started with the same formation they had when in the previous practice matches. In the back, Kouen, Gaito and Maki were positioned, while Toshiro, Hiro and Kouha were manning the front. For Itachiyama, Jao, Komori and Boichi were at the back while Shinya, Toyambi and Suki were at the front.
Kouen served and it was a powerful jump serve right off the bat. However, Itachiyama's formation wasn't fazed because of the excellent receive made by Komori. "Get it, Shinya!"
Mitssuki Shinya always had a great spatial perception and control, so despite that shaky receive, he knew where to properly position himself to get the ball cleanly to his hands for a perfect set. He is very aware of what's happening in the court, like his eyes are all over it. He didn't get the starting spot in the previous season where he was still a freshman, because the former captain of Itachiyama, Iizuna Tsukasa, was an incredible setter as well. Shinya was useful in being a pinch server though. Overall, He's an excellent setter who brings out the maximum potential of his spikers through his incredible play-making and game sense.
Toyambi jumped in the middle for the quick so Toshiro and Hiro reacted to his movement.
'Damn us all.' Hiro internally cursed. Shinya dumped the ball first thing in the afternoon. He gritted his teeth at the setter for this dirty move but Shinya just grinned back.
"You didn't expect it, Hiro? That was legal, I'm telling you. Perhaps you thought I'll toss for a quick?"
Jao served next and Gaito got it cleanly up to Kouen. He tossed to Toshiro and the spike was received by Boichi. But the ball went back to Shiroshikata' side. "Chance ball!" Maki yelled as he got the ball to Kouen.
"Center!" Hiro called for the toss so he jumped in the middle where was expecting it. Shinya and Toyambi's faces were suddenly right before him, but no ball came.
'Huh? Well I'll be damned.' The toss went farther to the opposite direction, where Kouha was flying. He scored a point for the Stags when the ball spun out of Komori's hands in his attempt to receive it. Game now tied at 1 – 1.
Toshiro served next and the ball curved near the sidelines, but Shinya got it up. Hiro, who was teammates with him for three years in middle school, knew that Shinya hates it when he gets the first touch. 'I can't set properly that way', he used to say that all the time.
"Komori!" Shinya yelled.
"Leave it to me!" In an instant, their libero jumped from the attack line, and made a toss towards Jao. He hit it from the left and the double block of Kouha and Hiro tried to stop it.
"One touch!" Kouha managed to touch it, but no one was there to follow up on the block.
"YOSHAAAAA!" Jao yelled in celebration. Apparently, this guy the the loudmouth of the team.
"That's JAO you do it!" Some spectators were cheering as well after that point. The crowd was going along with Jao's celebration. When Hiro looked around, he noticed that those came from Itachiyama students who were watching. He remembered this guy as the rookie from last year who also gave them a hard time on the court.
"Tch." Gaito muttered from the back. That was something else, stirring a memory from the last game they played against Itachiyama – the one play which scored the winning point of the game. A libero toss.
Usually, it's a foul if a libero assists on offense. The L position is restricted by a lot of rules like not being able to serve and spike. He has very limited ways to participate on offense, and one of that is through a libero toss, where the libero can assist for an emergency set given that the toss does not happen inside the attack line. So when Komori jumped earlier from the attack line, without stepping on it, that was actually a legal move. 2 – 1, Itachiyama.
"Komori Motoya." Gaito said once more. "High School's best libero, huh?"