"One touch!"
"Got it!" Bodhi yelled as he received the deflection off of the blocker, Tatsuki this time.
The ball flew high towards the setter, it being a b-pass meant they had to move under, but it proved to be no problem as they got under it and prepared to set.
"Here!" Tatsuki called, beginning his approach, making sure to remember what Bodhi had told him over the past few days they had been practicing. Each day the practice times seemed to grow longer as both boys were learning from each other. Bodhi had imparted some of his beach volleyball wisdom onto Tatsuki in the form of constant motion and some drills in working on his explosiveness, both in lateral and vertical motion. By keeping yourself in constant motion you are less likely to have your feet rooted in the sand and potentially delay your reaction time to get the block, receive, etc. Also, since your feet sink into the sand regardless of when you jump, increasing your explosiveness negates that problem somewhat at the cost of a potentially lower hit point, but your opponent would have a similar problem as well.
Tatsuki in his ever levelheadedness told Bodhi outright his blocks sucked, which after a short outburst from Bodhi that may or may not have involved some choice words about his sister and mother, and a short but none the less intense chase scene, Bodhi admitted his shortcomings. When he was younger, he always thought that blocking was not as important as other aspects of the game. Typically growing up the blockers were not as intense at blocking and normally let the spike through, so Bodhi focused more on receives and spikes, thinking that if he could always keep it in the air, he always had a chance to return it with equal, if not greater force and bypass the already weak blocking.
Tatsuki could understand where Bodhi was coming from. Blocking from a young age was normally pretty niche and typically you saw players start to specialize in it when they hit a growth spurt early or when they became high school age (Grades 8-10). So Tatsuki decided to have him focus on something that would help him become more reliable in a blocker's eyes, something known as mirror blocking, this was all Tatsuki could think of in the short time they had practiced together, seeing as how Bodhi already had a solid foundation if not superb in some aspects of the game. Mirror blocking is a simple drill, you have both middle blockers, or in this case, a middle blocker and a wing, stand opposite each other on different sides of the net, and quite simply mirror each other.
This allows both players to get a feel for how each other would react when faced with different attacks. Some might put a priority on straights or cut shots, angling their arms ever so slightly, or have their jump timed slightly differently to reach their max height at the same time as the attacker. By doing this drill you get a feel as to how your blocking partners will react and can plan accordingly to all types of situations.
These were what they practiced together over the 4 days they had been at it. Normally finishing it with a scrimmage with whoever happened to be around. Today it had been some college guys just looking for some light fun, but it quickly turned competitive as Bodhi and Tatsuki began to overwhelm the older guys.
Planting his feet into the sand, Tatsuki leapt up with explosive force, reaching his apex quicker than normal despite being on sand, and the setter, who was the odd man out from the older guys, responded in kind, setting a simple high set at first tempo. Despite him not nearly being as good as Akaashi and on top of not knowing his tendencies, Tatsuki could see the effort and ease he tossed the ball to him, Tatsuki returned that in kind and smashed the ball past a weak block into the sand, splashing it everywhere.
"Right, mate! Wicked kill!" the setter, Mark, said. Clapping him on the shoulder.
"Attaway Tattoo! Those drills seem to be payin' off eh mate?" Bodhi said I kind, alluding to the sand sprints and side-to-sides they had done together. Increasing both of their leg strengths.
Tatsuki grimaced at the use of the awful nickname he had somehow garnered during his time here but could not stay mad as he did feel the difference and improvement from the first day he played.
"…Mmm…" was all Bodhi heard in reply. So with a shrug, they continued to play, the entire team of college guys falling further and further behind, and with a resounding clap of hand meeting ball, Bodhi had slammed the ball home, winning the set and game 25-17.
"WOOHOO! YOU GO BOOBEAR!" they all heard, all six of them turning their had to the person who had been lounging in the sand, working on her tan.
Akane had been the ever-present shadow of Tatsuki, always coming to watch him practice with her boo and cheering him and Bodhi on during their scrimmages. Not that either boy would admit it, but they enjoyed the cheers. For both Bodhi and Tatsuki hearing the 'crowd' always riled them up and pushed them ever onwards, even if it was only one person, their cheers would be enough for them to power on through anything.
"…That's enough Akane…people are staring…" Tatsuki said with is patented stoic face, which only caused her to cheer harder. It was safe to say Akane had absolutely no shame and would continue to live her life to the max!
Something Bodhi could totally roll with. Not that he would ever tell her that…She may really jump his bones then…
"So, you leave tomorrow, right? Pretty early in the morn yeah?" Bodhi asked, chugging down his water and pouring some over his body, eliciting some noises from the peanut gallery of one and passersby.
"That would be correct. I have to get back and prepare for our Spring Tournament Qualifiers." Tatsuki responded, somewhat wistfully. He had truly enjoyed his time playing with Bodhi. But it didn't stop there. The two often hung out with each other after practice and just shot the shit. Bodhi had introduced him to some of his Blokes and he often came back late to the hotel room with a slight smile on his face that didn't go unnoticed by his parents and sister who would ask what had happened, but Tatsuki had never said anything, only saying it was a great time with the blokes.
"That's a bummer…No doubt though, you and I?" Bodhi said, gesturing between the two of them, "We'll play again on a proper court with our respective teams, call it a hunch mate!" he finished with a smile.
Tatsuki could only shake his head and reply with a simple nod. No doubt believing the same thing.
Reaching out at the same time, both Tatsuki Washio and Bodhi 'The Maverick' Hamada connected their fists, hearts echoing the desire to play each other again. Both boys left that night with not only a rivalry that would help them bloom into the all-stars they can become but a friendship that would last a lifetime.
__________
Early next morning as Tatsuki was boarding the plane to head back to Tokyo his phone vibrated in his pocket, alerting him to a text that had him smiling from ear to ear.
Rival (Bodhi Hamada): I'll smash past you nxt time!
Shaking his head, Tatsuki could only reply in kind.
Tatsuki: I'd like to see you try!
Both boys despite being leagues away from each other could see the smile on each of their faces, promising a fitting battle between the two.
A battle between The Maverick Bodhi Hamada and Tatsuki Washio the Stoic Owl!
Present Time
As Bodhi reminisced about the previous summer. He never believed he would get a chance so soon to play against Tatsuki again. The ever-burning blaze of their rivalry hummed with new life, a promised battle that would happen come July, just over two weeks away.
"Hey! Just what the hell is going on!" Iwaizumi yelled, not knowing what just happened, the other third years echoed similar sentiments. Not only had they just been told to forget what they had learned up to this point in their careers, but to improve upon themselves in a way they hadn't before. This training camp could be both a blessing and a curse.
"I believe the person responsible for this opportunity should explain," Coach Irihata said, totally throwing Bodhi under the bus like he just hadn't agreed to it.
"…Well the guy I mentioned just so happens to play for Fukurodani-" That was all Bodhi could get out as it was Oikawa who interrupted him this time.
"FUKURODANI! Aren't they one of the top teams in Tokyo!" Oikawa yelled. Wondering just how the new student had such connections.
"…As I was saying," Bodhi began, ignoring the outburst from his senior. "I met Tatsuki when he was on vacation down under, real nice bloke and I guess you could say we struck up a great friendship and rivalry. One that spouted from his cradle robber of a sister."
The third years present and the two coaches were with up until he mentioned how their initial meeting went and it would be safe to say how baffled they were.
"Nothing came of it obviously…" Bodhi said with finality, noticing the looks they had all developed on their faces. "Tattoo is a great middle blocker, and he repeatedly mentioned their team had a top 3 or now a top 5 ace in the nation. They'd be great practice partners that's for sure."
As Bodhi finished, Coach Irihata echoed the same sentiments. "This will be exactly what we need to break free from the shackles that bind us to our old ways. Nothing like jumping right into the deep end boys! Mizoguchi! Come we must notify all the parents of our upcoming training camp!" he said, marching off Mizoguchi following behind, muttering something along the lines of 'troublesome'.
"…That just happened," Matsukawa said as silence descended upon the group.
"You can say that again," Hanamaki replied.
"That-" Matsukawa started before he was smacked upside the head by Iwaizumi.
"Not literally dumbass!"
They all laughed at the situation, the initial shock of it wearing off which was replaced by an eager air, all of them wanting to know what was waiting in store for them all. That air surrounding them all broke, as a stomach growl echoed throughout the courtyard where they were standing.
*Grrrr*
The growl sounded again, the need for sustenance letting itself be known to all.
"…First year buys," all of the third years said in unison as Bodhi's stomach growled one more time.
With an eye roll Bodhi nodded. Noticing how he hadn't eaten anything all day seeing as his lunch was ruined. "Let's go, I'm starving!"
"No shit Sherlock," Iwaizumi replied. The other third years nodding and chuckling along.
"Just let me get my bike," Bodhi said, heading over to the parking lot and pushing his bike over to the group.
"Somehow that makes sense…" Oikawa said. "Of course, our new junior was the cause of the commotion this morning involving the motorbike."
"Huh? I swear it's legal!" Bodhi said assuredly, he had doubled and even triple-checked with the fed-up salesperson that this bike was under the allowed CC size for his age and license.
"Oh, we know grumbles. It's just that rumours about you spread all throughout the grades today. Something about a, and I quote, 'pretty boy gaijin, coming for our women', quite an egregious statement, no?" Hanamaki said, sending an arrow reading 'Gaijin' into the chibi body of Bodhi.
"Really? I heard he was a gang leader sent to collect debts from those unfortunate to do business with them," Matsukawa added, as an arrow labelled 'gang leader' impaled Bodhi once more.
"Huh? You're both wrong, grumbles only came here because it was the last place available to him, seeing as he had been kicked out of all the other schools in the prefecture due to being a womanizing scumbag!" Oikawa said, throwing his two cents into the conversation.
"Shittykawa, if that was the case you'd be needing a new school too, dumbass," Iwaizumi said, two more arrows landing in Bodhi and Oikawa this time, labelled 'Womanizing Scumbag'.
"OKAY! I GET IT!" Bodhi yelled, having had enough of the rumours sprouting from him simply riding his motorbike to school.
"…You don't yell at your seniors there junior," Iwaizumi said his face darkening, promising punishment if Bodhi continued, knuckles cracking as he didn't get a reply right away.
"YESSIR!" Bodhi saluted the older boy.
"…That's what I thought…now let's eat!"
Taking a deep breath Bodhi nodded, following the seniors to Ozaki's. Forgetting to do something quite important. But Bodhi currently only had one thing on his mind and that was quite simply…
Meat.
With no other thoughts, Bodhi continued on, utterly ignorant of the shit storm that would soon blow his way.
Hurricane Sayaka was inbound and would most definitely wreak havoc.